Hi, I've been around the PSP and WII scene for a while, but I am a newbie in PS3 scene. I just got a PS3slim last week (due to the price obviously, but with the sacrifice of "other OS" feature ).
After researching online to see what I can play around with the PS3 (my interest are mainly hacks, homebrew, tricks, etc.), I am disappointed to see there aren't much (especially for slim).
I do have couple of questions though. I tried to find them online, but not a lot of people are talking about them. (in fact, I think more people are interested in the games themselves than playing with the PS3's "other" aspects.) Anyway, here are my questions:
1. My PS3 slim comes with FW2.76 by default. What is the best firmware to stay on? Or we have no choice but to upgrade to the latest? Because I heard people having tons of problem with each updates. It is the same with PSP, except we are "recommended" to stay in a best firmware until the later one is "customized". Same with WII. I am just wondering whether it's the same with PS3. Is 3.01 good enough to go for?
2. About audio of PS3: Just curious, can 7.1 audio (DolbyTrueHD or DTSMasterAudio) go thru optical out? Or it can only go thru HDMI? I only have a 5.1 system, so I have no way to verify, but I see the display of info being different if I play AVCHD that have 7.1 (even thru my optical). It says "multi-channel" instead of "5.1"
3. I heard that 7.1 doesn't play in "file mode" of PS3. Only plays in "bluray/disc/avchd mode". Why is that? Is it still the case as of 3.01 fw?
4. What's the different between LPCM and bitstream? I read some info online saying something about seeing the TrueHD or hd.cfm" class="forum_link" target="_blank">DTS-HD text in their receiver, but I still don't get it. Are they the same? Is LPCM analog output? Is LPCM the inferior one? Any quality lost with LPCM?
5. About Video of PS3: I know PS3 support VC-1 format. How is it comparing to the more popular H.264 format?
6. Is 1080/24p only happening in movies (bluray, avchd, etc.)? I see the back of games show compatible resolution, but never one of them said anything about 24p.
7. This is more like a side track. When playing bluray movie, my tv(Samsung LN46A540) shows "1080 @24Hz"(it is not 1080i, because it will show), is that 24p mode? But my tv doesn't have 120Hz or 240Hz, so is that still possible to have 24p in my tv? I cannot find anywhere that says my model have/doesn't have 24p.
8. I have Sony's micro vault Tiny 8GB not being recognized by PS3. Anyone have the same experience? Why can't Sony recognize its own brand device? I am just puzzled...
Sorry for being a bit long. Thanks in advance for any comments/ideas!
1.)Newest firmware is the best to stick with, the ps3 isn't hacked or even close to being hacked so its pointless to remain on an older firmware and lose out on the features. Besides Sony is relatively quick at fixing major problems with the firmwares.
It looks like it might use some encryption or compression tool. May be the problem, not entirely sure. Its suppose to be PnP though. Just reading through the website for it. Nothings coming up on google about it not working on the ps3 either. Not really sure what to sell ya, not much I can think of telling you to try besides maybe another reformat.
Regarding 7, I know that seems like tv need to be in 120Hz or 240Hz in order to support 24p, that's why I am puzzled. But my tv did show 24hz when playing bluray (shows up differently because some ps3 content that are 1080p will show up as 1080 @ 60Hz) That's why I am puzzled. But my eye is not good enough to tell the difference I guess...
And regarding 8, the micro vault 8 GB is not in any compression mode, and I be sure to format it as FAT32 multiple times using swissknife already. So that's not the issue there. I tried other USB stick, it did work, so it is not the PS3. That's fine though I am just wondering if anyone have the same situation, or at least tell me that they have the same brand but PS3 can load so I know what I did wrong. I guess I just need to call Sony to find out (if I have the time)
#2, the PS3 can decode DTSHD-MA and Dolby TrueHD internally and send out to the receiver as PCM.
For your audio ansewers, you can check out http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=40872 It will give you a good idea on how to set up your audio. I am not up on the new slim. I know that it now does something else HD audio wise that it used to not do. Dont remember what it is.
