Sony's video download cards revealed?

The Wall Street Journal -- citing "people familiar with the situation" -- claims that Sony is poised to enter video-downloading services whole-hog. Think Go!PSP, only extended with new "products and services to let users download television shows and movies" to Sony's sweet, suite of PS3s, PSPs, and Bravia televisions "similar to the way" people use the Apple ecosystem. Go!PS3, Go!Bravia, Go!Rolly? Sure, why not. Unfortunately, the WSJ piece doesn't provide any dates or any real details to speak of. Regardless, none of this comes as a surprise what with PS3s doubling as DVRs in Europe, video-capable Walkmans finally released in the US, and the looming shutdown of Sony's ATRAC-based Connect music services. Hell, Stringer already ceded portable music dominance to Apple back at the June shareholders meeting in Tokyo where he noted that Sony has "worked very hard to catch up so that in the age of video we will not suffer as much as we did in audio." We'll see. Hey Howie (sorry, Sir Howie), we hear NBC could use a new on-line storefront soon. You know, quick-wins and all.

[Via GigaOM]

[bharatk12 @ Sep 4th 2007 7:31AM]

nice.............ps3 >PSP>BRAVIA>

i like the way they r starting to inter connect every gadget of theirs

[AC @ Sep 4th 2007 7:37AM]

On Sony... we love you really :) All that stuff before, it was just tough love, ya'know?

[Nyerere Billups @ Sep 4th 2007 7:38AM]

I look to Engadget for all my Gadget needs. My wife hates this site. She knows that if I'm on here, I'm about to buy something!! lol

[dave @ Sep 4th 2007 7:38AM]

This is all nice and such, but what about the games! Of course you can just convert your video for free without having to pay for the luxury. Ah well, i suppose we cant complain, dont have to use it if we dont want to :) the GPS PSP device is kinda cool. Wonder what settings/resolution they will use on the PSP.

[needlegun @ Sep 4th 2007 8:02AM]

Hmmm, the only thing that worries me is that given Sony's obsession with DRM, copyright protection, rootkits, etc., any system they implement is going to be "restriction-city". Let me see now...

1. Download movie.
2. Request all no-authorized personnel to leave your living room.
3. Close blinds (to stop outsiders seeing in).
4. Active white noise generator outside the room (to stop anyone outside hearing the movie).
5. Check in using the TV set's retinal scanner.
6. Provide blood sample for DNA analysis for cross-matching against registered downloader.
7. Take phone off the hook (if you get interrupted, tough - you can't pause or rewind.
8. After movie, wait while data files are deleted (using NSA 7-pass overwrite).
9. Remember that you signed a legally binding agreement not to discuss the movie with anyone...

[ricefarmer @ Sep 4th 2007 9:16AM]

As cool as this may sound, Sony will probably screw it up with DRM up the wazoo and force some reiteration of SonicStage on the users.

[Temple @ Sep 4th 2007 10:17AM]

Oddly enough, Sony did the DRM on downloadable games on the PS3 right. Which allows the user to be able to play games on up to 5 different PS3s. With the exception of Warhawk(which is tied to your log-in) it allows you to share your game downloads with your friends.

Hopefully, any video service for the PS3 can follow this route. However, the NBC/Apple fight was about DRM (according to NBCs rebuttal of Apple's accusation of doubling retail price of DLs). So who knows if studios will allow their content to be distributed on systems with light DRM.

[Bob @ Sep 4th 2007 9:58AM]

That would be so cool!!!!!

[Mike @ Sep 4th 2007 12:54PM]

Sony announced the DMX-NV1 a while ago. It was due to ship at the end of July, but is still MIA at their resellers.

Here are some docs to view, to give you a sense of what Sony has in the works. Looks like the box will only work with compatible 2007 Bravias (in addition to HDMI connection to the TV, there is also an XMB connection to the XMB menua bar interface - the only way to interact with the box.

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/DMXNV1.pdf for the manual

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/DMXNV1_qs.pdf for the quick setup guide

Perhaps Sony will try to one up the AppleTV?

Mike

[Mark @ Sep 4th 2007 1:15PM]

I don't trust *any* Sony product, whether its physical or a service. They always manage to fill it with so much DRM that it is practically useless.

[Jay @ Sep 4th 2007 6:14PM]

Yeah, I much prefer services like iTunes which allow you to take your paid-for music and video anywhere on any device and without any limits.....

People constantly use the pathetic DRM excuse to attack anything Sony does. Gorgeous new Bravia? No thanks, their DRM policy pi$$es me off. Scrapped CONNECT allowing you to use a myriad selection of other services? No thanks, their DRM .... etc etc ad nauseum ad infinitum.

If Sony cured cancer and gave the technology away free you'd still all complain about DRM and "proprietary technology".