Sony Releases "Ultimate FAQ" for PS4, No Support for External Hard Drives

[roseofbattle]

Sony Releases "Ultimate FAQ" for PS4, No Support for External Hard Drives

Sony's "Ultimate FAQ" answers many lingering questions leading up to the PS4's launch, but some of the answers are not what people hoped for.

Sony posted the beginning of its long "Ultimate FAQ" to its PlayStation blog, answering questions about the contents of the PS4 at launch, hard drive specifications, hardware performance, what the console will and will not support, and much more. Sony will continue to update the FAQ leading up to launch and will answer any necessary questions post-launch. Launching Nov. 15 in the US and Canada, the PS4 will not support external hard drives, media servers, and DLNA support for streaming videos from a home PC.

PS4 owners can replace the PS4's 500GB hard drive, a 5400 RPM SATA II hard drive, as long as it complies with the PS4's standards for hard drives, is no thicker than 9.5mm, and is larger than 160GB. However, the PS4 will not support external hard drives, so owners will have to swap out and replace the existing hard drive for additional storage.

Unlike the PS3, the PS4 will not support media servers or DLNA functionality, which allows users to stream media from a PC. With the PS3, users can access their PC's media from the PS3's XMB.

The FAQ also noted PS4 and PS3 users can play together cross-platform, stating the functionality is "technically possible." No games support this functionality yet, but developers can choose to support PS4 and PS3 cross-platform.

While the PS4 has a button on the DualShock 4 dedicated to sharing, the PS4 does not allow sharing to YouTube. When using the share button, users' videos can be shared via Facebook or streamed on Ustream or Twitch. Certain in-game areas may not allow recording as decided by the developer. The PS4 automatically records gameplay at a maximum of 15 minutes at a time, but it will not be shared or take up space on the hard drive until the share button is pressed. There is no time restriction for livestreams instituted by Sony, but the post notes some services may have time restrictions.

Upon launch, the PS4 requires a system update in which users must connect to the internet. However, PS4 owners can request a Blu-ray activation disc if they cannot connect to the internet on their PS4 or simply don't want to connect to the internet. Those interested should contact SCEA Consumer Services for a disc. The update can also be installed via a USB drive.

Source: PlayStation Blog [http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/10/30/ps4-the-ultimate-faq-north-america/]

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[FinalDream]

I can live without the external drive, since we can put our own inside the machine, but no MP3! Wa...eh? That's a little, well, stupid if you ask me. So no background music for racers or the like, hoping this is patched in at some point. Because I'm not signing up to Sony's music service...

 

[luvd1]

Hmmm, swings and roundabouts. Not really fussed, the exHHD is a bit annoying but liveable for the first few years.... Might change like the MP3. The cross ps3/ps4 play is very interesting, shame the divs haven't taken that up. Take assassins creed black flag that's out. How sweet would that be playing with a friend who doesn't want to upgrade.

 

[james.sponge]

This sounds a little bit restrictive. Can we expect lawsuits whenever anyone tries to mess with your hardware sony?

 

[EclipsiumRasa]

The "We have't forgotten the shit you pulled on GeoHot" community of hackers releases statement on forthcoming Custom Firmware for PS4.

Hilights:

PS4 owners can replace the PS4's 500GB hard drive, a 5400 RPM SATA II hard drive, with an adaptor available from cheap chinese manufactures on eBay which will let you connect it to external drives.

Unlike the PS3, the PS4 will not support media servers or DLNA functionality, which allows users to stream media from a PC. With the PS3, users can access their PC's media from the PS3's XMB. Unless you have custom firmware. Which is why Sony may pull a 180 on this nonsense.

While the PS4 has a button on the DualShock 4 dedicated to sharing, the PS4 does not allow sharing to YouTube; an option will be available to remap this so it becomes a button dedicated to sharing on YouTube.

Additionally: Linux. All the linux. And that means Steam on PS4. And that means using the PS4 as just a Steambox when you're tired of massive pointless weekly security updates.

Welcome to the future, please ignore the deja vu.

 

[ThunderCavalier]

Hm, I don't really mind the lack of that sharing software, mainly due to a quote I do like from one of my favorite YouTube reviewers, Stuart Ashen:

... However, if you're uploading unedited footage directly to the Internet for other people to see, you don't really deserve to have a video camera, or the ability to breathe. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6ds-SGrHTMg#t=260]

 

[AgentLampshade]

All this makes me appreciate how well designed the PS3 and 360 actually are. I can't even play MP3s?! That is a ridiculous move.

 

[Arawn]

Alot to digest. I actually went to the blog to see it all for myself. None the less I'm sure there will be some happy and others upset with the info. Regardless seems reasonable to some extent. And I'm even more certain those against PS4 will use this ammo well. Still looking forward to the complete release:


When does PS4 come out in different countries and regions?

North America: November 15th, 2013 (Canada and the United States)
Europe: November 29th, 2013. (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia , Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom)
Latin America: November 29th, 2013 (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru)
Japan: February 22nd, 2014
Asia regions: The middle of December 2013
Other regions: TBA

Perhaps when everyone has the PS4 we might see some patches and fixes to the issues people might have.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

God damn it, I hate when these companies don't let us use standard HDD's for storage. All they want is for us to buy their pre approved hardware so that they get a cut of the revenue.

The rest of it I don't really care about.

 

[s_h_a_d_o]

God damn it, I hate when these companies don't let us use standard HDD's for storage. All they want is for us to buy their pre approved hardware so that they get a cut of the revenue.

The rest of it I don't really care about.

Erm... the PS4 does support a standard [third party] HDD.

To me, "the rest of it" is what provides the primary motivation to cancel my pre-order.

 

[Rad Party God]

So. No external harddrives (although the internal one can be replaced, so that's something), no media streaming and the share functionality is so limited I think it's better to not use it at all (share directly to FB?, no thanks).

I hope these can be fixed, because compared to what the PS3 can already do, it's quite limited, to say the least.

CAPTCHA: Less is more. Shut yo face captcha.

 

[CriticalMiss]

And yet it still looks better than the Xbone. Not being able to upload stuff to Youtube is odd though, I know they have a partnership thing going on with Twitch but think of how many people watch lets plays and gameplay stuff on Youtube. They're ignoring a lot of people who could be watching game footage and potentially buying their stuff in the future. Although I guess LPers won't be using the built in recording feature and rely on something better anyway, then they can upload it where they please an not have to stitch together 15 minute chunks of gameplay.

 

[songnar]

But... I like my DLNA server! I worked very hard to build that thing. I suppose I'll just have to turn my console off and switch to my PC when I want to access my Plex or XBMC DLNA servers.

Also... wait, no external HDDs allowed? So, how does that update from USB work?

 

[heroicbob]

no external hard disk, no media server, man that sucks. And the more information they release about the video capture stuff the less i understand why anyone would want to use it.

at this point i could very easily jump ship to xbox the two consoles are very similar and without backwards compatibility there's no reason to stick with PlayStation, it is still cheaper though

 

[oldtaku]

Upon launch, the PS4 requires a system update in which users must connect to the internet.

Again, it's not required. I realize it's quibbling because most people will want it, and a lot of the internet functionality won't work without it and you can't play movies without it. But being able to get your game console home, put a game in it, turn it on, and play the game should be the minimum acceptable standard for any console. Even the Wii U managed that.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Nothing here bothers me at all except, maybe, the no sharing to Youtube functionality. Then again, I really don't know if I'd use it anyway and I would be sort of surprised if it didn't pop up at some point later on.

 

[Frost27]

Is it generally assumed that 5400 rpm is the fastest drive the system will accept, like the ps3?