The last time Sony removed a feature from the PlayStation 3 hardware, the ability to boot alternate operating systems such as Linux, there was a vocal revolt, albeit from a minority of the Internet.

Kotaku was tipped off to a new feature on the chopping block for the next model of PS3s, wherein high-definition output would be become an HDMI-only feature, dropping support for component.

Technically, that's true--but only for movies, according to a statement from Sony released to Ars Technica. Games and streaming content will continue to output in HD via component and HDMI.

"The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with AACS standards," said the company.

AACS standards?

AACS stands for Advanced Access Content System, an organization responsible for setting hardware standards. Earlier this year, new regulations were adopted that required the phasing out of HD output through component, dubbed the "analog hole," over the next three years. It's an anti-piracy measure, as it's believed analog (component) is easier to copy than digital (HDMI).

This is a Blu-ray specific restriction, by the way. Your Xbox 360 isn't affected.

I'm struggling to figure out how removing component support for HD output will curb torrenting.

The last time Sony removed a feature from the PlayStation 3 hardware, the ability to boot alternate operating systems such as Linux, there was a vocal revolt, albeit from a minority of the Internet.

Kotaku was tipped off to a new feature on the chopping block for the next model of PS3s, wherein high-definition output would be become an HDMI-only feature, dropping support for component.

Technically, that's true--but only for movies, according to a statement from Sony released to Ars Technica. Games and streaming content will continue to output in HD via component and HDMI.

"The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with AACS standards," said the company.

AACS standards?

AACS stands for Advanced Access Content System, an organization responsible for setting hardware standards. Earlier this year, new regulations were adopted that required the phasing out of HD output through component, dubbed the "analog hole," over the next three years. It's an anti-piracy measure, as it's believed analog (component) is easier to copy than digital (HDMI).

This is a Blu-ray specific restriction, by the way. Your Xbox 360 isn't affected.

I'm struggling to figure out how removing component support for HD output will curb torrenting.

Bad for consumers. And dumb. Also, ugly. Poop.

I miss my launch PS3 :( - So much has been taken from me :(

A shame for people that don't own a PS3 yet. But honestly, HDMI cables aren't that expensive and most TVs I've seen have the jack for them anyways. I can't see too much of a reason to complain over this.

It's not really an issue to me and HDMI ports are pretty much the standard these days, so this is like when Sony decided for everyone else that "True HD" was 1080p.

I use component ports for capturing game footage though, so if I still can do that I don't have a problem.

Although this may not be Panic levels of craziness, it is a really stupid move overall and like Patrick, I don't really see how this stops pirating in any way.

It won't be a problem for me, but I know there will be a number of people who have a problem because of this. It will also deter some people from picking up Blu-Rays if they know they'd have to re-wire their TV set-up to watch it (if perhaps they have many devices hooked up to one TV or whatever).

This isn't a bad thing and since HDMI is nicer than component anyway, it seems like it would have happened at one point or another.

I still have my 80g BC ps3 so I'm still happy.

Wait why are they removing the support from new consoles and leaving it in the older models? that does not make any sense.

Actually none of this makes sense why would you play a bluray and capture the component out when you can just use a Bluray reader on a PC and rip the file straight off like a DVD?

It's just more stuff that Sony is removing from the PS3. How about adding things instead of limiting it more and more retards.

I just dont really care for Sony's policy of taking away features and pushing a narrative that suggests its not a bad thing. For example, lowering cost at the expense of functionality isn't a savings- its an entirely different product. I know folks on either camp will spin this how they want- but a bad business decision is a bad business decision.

It's just more stuff that Sony is removing from the PS3. How about adding things instead of limiting it more and more retards.

Unless something was changed in a later software update, this is something that has already been done on the 360 for some time. http://hd.engadget.com/2006/09/21/xbox-360-hd-dvd-playback-maximum-1080i-via-component-1080p-vga/ Not that people really used the HD-DVD player, but over component or VGA it was restricted to 1080i. Games are unaffected, but HD content was restricted for the same piracy concerns. It's more interesting that Sony allowed it on the PS3 for as long as they have considering their usual stance on these kinds of things.

Do people not hook up their PS3s with HDMI when they watch blu-rays?

But wasn't it always the case? Didn't blu-ray movies always require HDMI in order to output in HD?

@MetalMoog said:

It's just more stuff that Sony is removing from the PS3. How about adding things instead of limiting it more and more retards.

It is in compliance with a new regulation from the AACS. It was not Sony's decision.

Reading the article always makes for a better comment.

Fucking dumb.

@sirdesmond said:

@MetalMoog said:

It's just more stuff that Sony is removing from the PS3. How about adding things instead of limiting it more and more retards.

It is in compliance with a new regulation from the AACS. It was not Sony's decision.

Reading the article always makes for a better comment.

Well it is Sony's decision, because they're not required to comply by law, but then the new consoles would be uncertified, which people don't trust.

@example1013 said:

Well it is Sony's decision, because they're not required to comply by law, but then the new consoles would be uncertified, which people don't trust.

Yea. Technically, that is true.

People rip off HDMI all the time already. Analog ripping may be easier but not by a substantial amount.

I'm more curious about this new 3000 model. What else is there?

It'll be annoying if they do a system update and I can't watch bluray movies anymore thru component. You only have so many hdmi ports on tvs and unhooking cables every time you want to watch a movie is dumb.
If they do block component with an update, I'm pretty sure at that point, I'd sell off all the blurays I own and never buy them again. 
There is no need to continue stripping away features on these devices, you'd think in 2011 we'd get more options per device not less.

and everybody copies fucking blurays from the disc and decrypt using the  fucking   Processing Key after hackers busted the noob  encryption algorithm and found the key for all bluray disc  and even HD-dvd since they only use one.
 
Here is the fucking code in hexadecmial  as it lives in ram during the bootup to do it your self it's been passed around the internet since bluray launched and they can't fucking do anytrhing about it since it would lock out early bluray players.  The entire world knows how to hack bluray disc and DVDs by now the new disc with the so called new Sec code don't help them either .
 
 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0  
 
Change all the values of that in Ram with the volume id at the end of the disc check with your software and the disc will let you walk right into it's contents ready to be converted into in format you choose.
  
Enjoy that  and say fuck  AACS every time you use it but you already had it since even the pope and the daili lama and the amish have seen it too and know how to copy a bluray movie and have this and everything else they need.

Don't forget bluray was made mostly by sony and they are part of the aacs group, so that explains why the are so easy to hack and then they do crap like that to piss hackers off and then they get pwned.  They hacked bluray for this AAcs crap almost as soon as bluray came out.
 
All the aacs is doing is pissing people off it's not going to stop anything any noob can Hack a bluray disc and you get crap video quailty with analog recording anyway. 
 
Oh and there is tons of players out there that still have the analog working just fine with out AAcs blocking and they can keep copying videos as long as they want. 
 
The only reason this is being taken out is because of the AAcs group wants it and sony is part of the group and they are too clueless and think this will help them (Hint it wont just like taking out linux did and thinking they had awsome network Sec and it was lulz proof)

That's a shame. But I am always amazed that these groups that lay out the rules for output technologies exist. They seem so more effective out making decisions than the American government.

nice try but not going to stop piracy. just give up rofl.

@TheHT said:

I'm more curious about this new 3000 model. What else is there?

ANTI PIRATE 2000

@TheHT said:

I'm more curious about this new 3000 model. What else is there?

"in" there? you should probably phrase that as "what's LEFT in there" since there sure as hell won't be any stuff added in. maybe a few gigs of HDD space that don't really matter.

It's really annoying to watch the PS3 turning from a feature rich device turn into this bare minimum-machine.

Did they add back the ability for a PS3 to play SACDs?

Didn't think so...

Amazing.

I'm more curious about this new 3000 model. What else is there?

This is so stupid. Blu-Ray ripping is done on PC using straight up Blu-Ray drives, it's much more hassle to copy it from a component feed. (and iirc, quality suffers doing it this way)
 
This won't solve anything, only annoy somebody that goes out and buys a PS3 hoping to plug it into that spare component slot.
 
(I know that will be a very small minority but the reasoning is still dumb)
 
Won't affect me though. Had mine hooked up via HDMI for years and years.

This isn't worrying at all. I'm more pissed off they introduced HDCP to it's blu-ray playback signal so that I haven't been able to watch blu-rays ever since the update. I'm now in the process of buying YET ANOTHER TV due to this.

I fail to see how this is an issue. I honestly didn't even know you could buy component cables for your PS3, I've been using HDMI since day one.

So they want to sell more HDMI cables...

@MetalMoog - i don't know if Sony games division are the "retards" here? Maybe people who can't read the article are? i dunno, just saying, seems like you didn't really comprehend what was said. Its not the Sony branch who makes the PS3 that wants to do this, they are being led to do this by the AACS (Advanced Access Content System), it says it right there in the article, I'll wait for you to go up and read it again...... Is someone in Sony a member of this group? Maybe, I don't know, Patrick should research that for us. But this group saw component as a problem, voted to change it, and as Brad has said many times on the podcast if a agreed upon standard gets changed, the PS3 or whomever else makes tech can't ignore it. Don't blame the Sony games division.

Umm, who is ripping movies using the analog hole? AACS has been cracked so anyone with a blu reader in their pc can rip them. This only hurts legit customers and does nothing to "pirates".

If copy protection in Hdmi is for security,how is it possible that i can play a Br-rip on my Ps3?

Blame the movie distributors for this move, though technically Sony are movie distributors as well. Changing brands won't do you any good anyway. Getting old blu-ray player models/PS3s is really the only solution now, which shouldn't be too hard to do since people who are affected by this enough to be bitching on the internet likely already own the player models that don't require this standard.

Talk about pointless drama. This change makes some ignorant stuffed shirt in a board room happy, big deal. If my television was such a decrepit, old piece of junk that it didn't have HDMI, I'd have to be brain damaged to spend my money on a $300 PS3 with a bunch of $30 Blu-ray movies. Though I'm sure that's justification enough for hacker groups to attack Sony again and steal my personal information.

So they want to sell more HDMI cables...

I'm still thinking about buying one of those new PS3s. I only use HDMI anyway so its no big deal.

This won't change anything except annoy consumers without HDMI, why bother?

why would you watch blu-ray on something other then HDMI?

I just hope I can still watch my MKVs on it.

Nothing really to get all angry about but by now HDMI should be everywhere. I'm also talking about you Nintendo -_-

Why is it that Microsoft and Sony are always updating their consoles, but Nintendo never does?

I personally like component video because it's just as good as HDMI as far as quality, AND IT ALWAYS WORKS. HDMI, not so much. Silently downscaling the video signal because of a digital handshake failure is dumb.

now all the people who've been playing blu rays with component cables are gonna be like... so it wasn't hd the whole time... mind blown...