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Connectivity Of The PlayStation 3
Connectivity with PS3 suggests far more than simply hooking to your digital camera and MP3 player, or even cruising online. PlayStation 3 has three network ports, two of which are ‘through’ types enabling the console to become a server in addition to participating as a terminal at the end of someone else’s network. The third is purely for input devices, such as a high definition camera with ultra-precise motion-sensing capabilities.
We’ve already mentioned that PS3 is ready to connect wirelessly to a network, without the need to purchase any adaptor. Having your PS3 function as a server means you can interact with it from afar, transferring media files onto your PSP for example while on holiday. Now that really is very cool.
High Definition is the heart of PS3, and it’s cocky enough to have two HDMI outputs – driving two high-definition monitors at once, or any combination of high- or standard-definition display. It’s super, duper unlikely that you’ll make use of this feature at home, but specialist venues could make something of it.
The new controllers wirelessly connect via Bluetooth, and its possible to have seven linked up simultaneously for multiplayer games that require it. Sports games, especially, will benefit a great deal from this feature.
There are slots for Sony’s Memory Stick Duo, one for SD, and one for compact flash memory. Up to six USB devices can be used at any one time, with four ports at the front, two at the back. Some of this caters for backwards compatibility with existing peripherals, but it’s mostly forward thinking for a console with much more than your traditional games on the horizon.
Connectivity and PS3 is possibly more than even the sum of all the stuff mentioned here. But to talk about that we’ll need to look at Cell.