Some PS4s Shipping With Problematic HDMI Ports (updated) - Printer Friendly version without Comments

Appeared on: Friday, November 15, 2013
Some PS4s Shipping With Problematic HDMI Ports (updated)

Faulty HDMI ports on the brand new PS4 devices shipping today might become a headache for Sony's PS4 over the next few days.

Acording to reports from both IGN and Kotaku, some Ps4 retail units have faulty HDMI jacks that would not output a signal.

Sony confirmed the issue:

"A handful of people have reported issues with their PlayStation 4 systems. This is within our expectations for a new product introduction, and the vast majority of PS4 feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We are closely monitoring for additional reports, but we think these are isolated incidents and are on track for a great launch.

"There have been several problems reported, which leads us to believe there isn't a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of systems. The number of affected systems represents less than .4% of shipped units to date, which is within our expectations for a new product introduction."

The PS4 system is now available in the United States and Canada at a suggested retail price of USD $399 and CAD $399, arriving with a lineup of over 20 first- and third-party games, including exclusive titles like Knack and Killzone: Shadow Fall. Sony says that the PS4 system will have a library of over 30 games by the end of the year while more than 180 games are currently in development.

The PS4 system features a supercharged PC architecture - including an enhanced Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and 8GB of GDDR5 unified system memory.

The PS4 system enables gamers to immediately share their gameplay moments with friends. With a press of the "SHARE" button on the DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, images and videos can be shared with other players in the activity feed on their PS4 system's Dynamic Menu, or on social networking services such as Facebook. Gameplay images can also be shared with friends through Twitter. In addition, players can broadcast their gameplay in real-time using live internet streaming services such as Ustream and Twitch. During live broadcasts, friends can even make comments on the streamed gameplay.

The PS4 system integrates second screens, including the PlayStation Vita system (PS Vita), smartphones and tablets, to connect gamers to the PlayStation ecosystem wherever they are. Through Remote Play, gamers can play most PS4 titles on their PS Vita system via Wi-Fi on their home network, freeing up the television for other uses. The "PlayStation App" will allow iPhone, iPad, and Android based smartphones and tablets to become second screens. Once installed, users can, for example, see maps on their second screens when playing an adventure game on the PS4 system, purchase a PS4 game while away from home and download it directly to their system, or find and watch shared PS4 gameplay. PlayStation App is now available for free on the iOS App Store and Google Play.

The PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) membership service has been enhanced on the PS4 system. At launch, PS Plus members will have access to Resogun from SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) and Contrast from Compulsion Games for free as part of Instant Game Collection, along with DRIVECLUB PS Plus Edition from SCE WWS anticipated in early 2014. PS Plus gives PS4 system users access to online multiplayer worthy of the next generation, one GB of online storage for game saves, automatic save data backup, and game patch automatic downloads.

The PS4 system launches with blockbuster games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag from Ubisoft Entertainment, NBA 2K14 from 2K, Battlefield 4, FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Need for Speed Rivals and NBA LIVE 14 from Electronic Arts. PS4 also launches with a list of indie games including Blacklight Retribution from Zombie Studios, Warframe from Digital Extremes, and Super Motherload from XGen Studios.

PS4's games portfolio expands in 2014 with games like the h inFAMOUS: Second Son from SCE WWS, as well as brand new IP including The Order 1886 from SCE WWS, Watch_Dogs from Ubisoft Entertainment and #DRIVECLUB from SCE WWS.

The PS4 system also a curated portfolio of entertainment apps at launch. The entertainment apps, which can be found on PlayStation Store in North America, include Amazon Instant Video, Crackle, Crunchyroll, EPIX, Hulu Plus, Music Unlimited, NBA Game Time, Netflix, NHL GameCenter LIVE, Redbox Instant by Verizon, Video Unlimited, VUDU and YuppTV.

Looking ahead, the PS4 system will evolve through PlayStation's cloud gaming services, available in the U.S. in 2014. Based on Gaikai's cloud technology, the services will enable users to have access to a catalog of PlayStation 3 (PS3) games on the PS4 and PS3 systems, followed by the PS Vita system.

If you are among the lucky buyers of the new PS4, make sure to prepare yourself and immediately update the device's firmware to v1.50. More information is available here.

Update: As hundreds of thousands of gamers have started plugging in their new PlayStation 4 consoles, Sony acknowledged that some users are having trouble connecting to the PlayStation Network.

"PSN seeing very high volume, some gamers may experience difficulty connecting, thanks for your patience," Sony tweeted from the official PlayStation account. "If you're getting a network error on the PS4, please sit tight," reads an early-morning tweet from the official Ask PlayStation account. "As you can imagine, we're seeing heavy traffic tonight!"

Some of that traffic is coming from players downloading the 300MB firmware 1.5 update.

However, the interesting response came from Electronic Arts, which claims potential PS4 game crash or connection issues on Sony's firmware 1.5 update.

"Sony has released a firmware update for the PlayStation 4 that is required for many features on the console. However, this update also results in stability issues while playing games on the system," the statement reads. "This affects all games on the PS4, including EA titles, causing crashing/freezing and non-responsive connections between the player's console and their TV Screen."

Soon after this statement went on air on EA's website, it was removed.

We are expeting official comments from Sony and EA.

Specifications PlayStation 4

Main processor

- Single-chip custom processor
- CPU: low power x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
- GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next engine

Memory: GDDR5 8GB
Hard Disk Drive: Built-in

BD-ROM drive:
BD 6xCAV
DVD 8xCAV

I/O, connectivity:

- Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUX
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
- IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR)

AV output:

- HDMI
- Digital Output (optical)

Specifications DUALSHOCK 4

External Dimensions: Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm (width x height x depth) (tentative, excludes largest projection)
Weight: Approx. 210g (tentative)

Key Switches

- PS button, Share button, OPTIONS button
- Directional buttons(Up/Down/Left/Right)
- Action buttons(Triangle/Circle/Cross/Square)
- R1/L1/R2/L2, Right stick, Left stick, Touch Pad button

Touch Pad: 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive type
Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing systems(three axis gyroscope, three axis accelerometer)

Other Features: Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker Ports: USB (Micro B), Extension Port, Stereo Headset Jack

Wireless Communication: Bluetooth Ver 2.1 + EDR

Battery

- Type: Buit-in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Voltage: DC3.7V (tentative)
- Capacity: 1000mAh (tentative)

Specifications Camera

External Dimensions: Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm (width x height x depth) (tentative)
Weight: Approx. 183g (tentative)
Video Pixel: (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2

Video Frame Rate

- 1280x800 pixel @ 60fps
- 640x400 pixel @ 120fps
- 320x192 pixel @ 240fps

Video Format: RAW YUV (uncompressed)
Lens: Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
Capture Range: 30cm~∞
Field-of-View: 85°
Microphone: 4 Channel Microphone Array
Connection Type: PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
Cable Length: Approx. 2m (tentative)