PS3 media capabilities explored

The PlayStation 3 is just over three weeks from release in Japan, so unsurprisingly units have begun to find their way into the hands of Japanese press, including Impress Game Watch, which has produced a rather nice report on the media capabilities of the console.

Starting with the basic stuff, the PS3 is able to rip CDs to its hard drive into a number of formats, very much in the same fashion of the Xbox and Xbox 360 – although now almost a given, it is a first for the PlayStation. The PS3 can also access files from a PSP and playback a range of formats including MP3, AAC and ATRAC3 up to bit-rates of 352Kbps. The PS3 will also check an online database to retrieve album and track info, auto updating your collection with the correct information.

Sticking on the subject of audio, the report also reveals set-up options to suit your home theatre or lack of. The Cross Media Bar (XMB) allows users to select the audio output they require. Options include Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, AAC, or Linear PCM with 2ch, 5.1ch and 7.1ch available in 44.1kHz, 88.2kHz, 48kHz and 192kHz. In addition to the audio format, the delivery method can also be set, be it over HDMI, optical or AV Multi. If all this is getting rather confusing then you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s also an auto option.

Much has been made of the PS3’s Blu-Ray player and this will include the ability to pre-select menu language and audio options from within the PS3 system menu, meaning you get straight to a film without having to check the set-up options on each viewing. Movies will start up in less than ten seconds, but wait for user confirmation before loading.

PS3 owners won’t be limited to video on Blu-Ray either – the console is capable of playing MPEG2 files from the hard disk up to the full 1080p resolution. There isn’t any info on any other supported formats, but the assumption is that the PS3 will be able to handle much the same as the PSP, with the benefit of high definition.