Xbox One FAQ: Your questions answered.
Everything you need to know about the Xbox One.
The Xbox One is a powerful beast, full to the brim with exciting features and offering a store front full of top notch titles from AAA blockbusters to indies.
Microsoft’s answer to the PS4 and successor to the Xbox 360 has been around for over two years now and a lot has changed since that time.
But, for those of you still debating whether to buy an Xbox One, there are some key questions you may want answered first.
We’ve endeavoured to answer those questions for you in one handy Xbox One FAQ guide, to make sure you feel informed before you part with your cash.
Can the Xbox One stand up on its side?
Unlike the Xbox 360, which was capable of being positioned on its side or horizontally, the Xbox One can only be placed one way.
The Xbox One has been designed to be sat horizontally, with Microsoft saying that “vertical positioning of the console is not supported”.
Keep your Xbox One flat Position it away from direct heat sources Don’t put objects on, under or directly next to your Xbox One Keep the vents free from clutter in order to prevent overheating.
Can the Xbox One download games when off?
Yes, through Instant-On mode. When you first boot up your Xbox One, you’ll be offered the choice of two power-off modes – don’t worry, you can change your mind later.
What does the Xbox One come with in the box?
If you’re wondering what you’ll get when you buy a basic Xbox One, such as whether the Xbox One comes with an HDMI cable, here’s everything you get in the box:
500GB or 1TB Xbox One console Xbox One Wireless Controller HDMI Cable Power Brick Power Cable Xbox One Chat Headset.
Does the Xbox One come with a headset?
In the box with your new Xbox One, you’ll receive the Xbox One Chat Headset. Separately it costs around £20. It’ll only offer you mono sound, but it does come with a microphone.
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Does the Xbox One have Bluetooth?
Sadly, the Xbox One doesn’t support Bluetooth. So that means if you want to use your expensive non-gaming wireless headphones or a wireless mouse and keyboard, you’re scuppered.
Does the Xbox One have DLNA support?
One of the big things Microsoft has focused on delivering over the course of 2014 is improving the entertainment features of the Xbox One – taking it tantalisingly close to being the all-in-one entertainment console it always promised to be.
Can I use an external hard drive with the Xbox One?
Yes, to store all your games, apps and other content.
Does the Xbox One support 4K?
The Xbox One supports both 3D and 4K Blu-ray discs at present. Microsoft insinuated at launch that there was a possibility of the Xbox One offering support for 4K games and other content in the future, if they’re rendered at that resolution.
“There’s no hardware restriction at all,” said Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi at the time to Forbes.
Is the Xbox One cloud used for more than just storage?
Cloud support and storage doesn’t sound very exciting, but on the Xbox One it will actually be really useful for games. Primarily it’ll be a place to save settings, game progress and other information.
Game developers will also be able to add new features, fix bugs and improve the way games play. Take Forza Motorosport 5, for instance, where the cloud support powers the new Drivatar feature. The developers can see which cars and races prove popular and improve the AI of virtual opponents to make one race play out in a dramatically different way from one week to the next.
What’s new about the Xbox One Kinect?
It’s a bigger unit and you’ll need to make a little extra room for it, but there are some really clever things this second-generation motion-sensing controller can do. For starters, it has a wider field of vision that means you only need to be 1.4 metres or so away, making it more suitable to use in smaller rooms. It can now track six people at once, tell who’s holding the controller, work in the dark and can even track facial expressions. So it’ll know when you’re smiling after you’ve finally got through the mandatory day one update…
How much is Xbox Live Gold?
Xbox Live Gold costs £5.99 a month in the UK, or you can pay £39.99 for an annual subscription. If you can afford the lump sum, we’d suggest you opt for the yearly membership, as the one-off payment will save you over £30 off the monthly payments.
Not only does Xbox Live get you access to online multiplayer gaming, with faster matchmaking, but you’ll also get free games every month through the Games With Gold offer.
There are also Deals With Gold to take advantage of, too, giving you discounts of up to 75 per cent off selected games in the Xbox Live store each month.
Previously, you’d need an Xbox Live Gold membership to access entertainment features such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video or even the Xbox One OneGuide EPG, but Microsoft changed its policies in 2014.
Does the Xbox One have improved matchmaking?
The Xbox One is designed to find your perfect partner online.
Now, when we say ‘perfect partner’ we obviously don’t mean it in the online dating sense. The new Smart Match feature will help you find a suitable gaming mate, all without having to sit waiting in a lobby. The new matchmaking system, Smart Match, runs in the background and matches you to other players based on characteristics such as skill level, reputation and language. It’ll even tell you when it’s found a match so you can get ready to get it on. (Your game face, that is.)
How do I watch TV through my Xbox One?
Natively the Xbox One is compatible with cable or satellite TV services like Virgin Media or Sky, so if you’re lucky enough to subscribe to one of those, you can feed them straight in.
Can I watch TV and play games at the same time?
A feature perfect for multitaskers, the Xbox One will let you run two applications at the same time, so you can play games and catch up on Game of Thrones at the same time. It uses the same ‘Snap’ feature as Windows 8-running devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro 2, enabling you to also double up with other apps like Skype chats. Now you can pretend you’re listening to friends and family overseas while you slash through another enemy in Ryse.
Are there dedicated servers for all Xbox One games?
This should be a source of good news for all Xbox One multiplayer gamers. Tapping into the cloud, Microsoft has revealed there will be dedicated servers for all Xbox One games and they will be free to all developers. Essentially this means games against friends will be played on more stable connections, so you can have no complaints when you get another hiding on FIFA 14.
Can you play Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One?
We’ve explained the Xbox One backwards compatibility in detail already, but to put it simply. Yes. Xbox One backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games is real and really easy to do.
There are currently over 100 games supported by the service, and to run them all you need to do is insert the Xbox 360 disc into your Xbox One, or re-download the titles from the store to play them on your latest console.
Can you use an Xbox 360 controller with Xbox One?
If you’re thinking of using your old Xbox 360 controller with your new Xbox One, you’ll be disappointed. The Xbox One is only compatible with the new Xbox One wireless controllers.
Can you remap the Xbox One controller buttons?
Yes. If you want precise control over your Xbox One Wireless Controller you can download the Xbox Accessories app on your Xbox One.
Remap controller buttons Swap sticks Swap triggers Invert the Y axis on sticks.
Does Xbox Live filter trolls?
Nobody likes a troll, whether it’s on Twitter or the nasty, swearing types on Xbox Live. Microsoft is addressing the situation with its new reputation system. Ditching the Xbox 360’s five-star grading system, the One’s sophisticated monitoring can intelligently identify ‘proper’ players from the offensive trolls, creating a parallel Xbox Live environment where similarly unpleasant gamers can be left to annoy each other while the rest of us get along nicely. At least, that’s the theory – we’ll keep a close eye on how things go to see if that’s the reality.
Will my Xbox 360 achievements carry over?
Good news, Xbox 360 owners – achievements will follow you over to the Xbox One and can unlock new content on the next-gen console. The nature of how achievements work is changing slightly as well. Powered by the cloud, Microsoft is adding achievements for non-gaming content, so if you use a particular streaming service for a set period of time, you’ll be rewarded for your loyalty.
Can I use Skype on my Xbox One?
Skype, the popular VoIP service bought up by Microsoft back in 2011, is deeply integrated into the Xbox One thanks to Kinect. Utilising the 1080p HD cameras and stereo microphones, you can make video calls and the Kinect camera will zoom and pan as you move around the room.You can make group video calls with up to three other people and there’s even support for instant messaging via the on-screen keyboard. Skype will also power the Xbox One’s party chat, which supports up to eight users when you’re playing multiplayer.
How does Xbox One remote play work?
With Windows 10 came the ability to steam Xbox One games to your Windows 10 PCs and tablets. It works in a similar way to the PS4 Remote Play with the PS Vita and select Sony Xperia devices.
Can the Xbox One play used games?
Although this wasn’t the case when the Xbox One was first announced, Microsoft changed its mind and made it so the Xbox One can play used games.
Xbox One S - UHD Blu-ray, HDR and Verdict.
Sections.
Page 1 Xbox One S Page 2 Specifications and features Page 3 UHD Blu-ray, HDR and Verdict.
Xbox One S – A fine UHD Blu-ray player.
The Xbox One S doubles as a UHD Blu-ray player. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the real reason to consider getting one.
It’s a far more affordable option than the two dedicated UHD Blu-ray players currently on the market. The Samsung UBD-K8500 costs £430 and the Panasonic DMP-UB900 costs £600. Sony has one on the way, which is nice because the PS4 Pro doesn’t do 4K Blu-rays. As for the Xbox One S? The base 500GB model costs £250, while the 2TB model (reviewed here) costs £350.
It isn’t simply a price thing either, since the performance is more than respectable for the money. The Xbox One S does a fine job handling 4K Blu-rays. Load times are fast and it produced decent pictures across all three of my test discs ( Mad Max: Fury Road , X-Men: Days of Future Past and San Andreas ).
The console shows off the advantages of 4K: remarkable clarity, minute details and lifelike textures. I could make out the consistency of the motor oil Charlize Theron smears across her face as war paint.
You also get a noticeably higher dynamic range. It isn’t just about fierce bright areas and inky blacks: the fine increments between are subtly drawn too, and you get plenty of shadow detail. You also get the wider colour gamut that HDR promises. There’s a part in Mad Max: Fury Road where somebody gets shot with a flare gun. When the reddish-orange smoke explodes, it’s hard not to marvel.
UHD Blu-rays represent the pinnacle of home-cinema picture quality, and this console can wield them as well as a dedicated player. The Panasonic does look better, with more subtle processing. The finer details look sharper and the colours are more neutral, but there isn’t a huge difference considering the price gap.
The only clear disadvantage to using the Xbox One S as a 4K Blu-ray player is that it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos audio. Well not yet, anyway – Microsoft has promised an update. For now, you’ll have to settle for regular surround sound. It’s a small price, considering how much cheaper the console is. I’d also argue that anyone who can afford a home Dolby Atmos is likely to shell out for the premium dedicated player anyway.
Overall, the Xbox One S’ UHD Blu-ray player will be a big selling point for AV fans. UHD Blu-ray is still in its infancy, and this console might just help it grow. The Xbox One S’ features and performance make it the best-value UHD Blu-ray player on the market.
And don’t worry too much if your 4K Blu-rays haven’t arrived in the post yet. The Xbox One S’ Netflix app is compatible with 4K and HDR straight off the bat, so you can get ogling straight away. No such luck with the Amazon Video app, which is awaiting an update.
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Should I buy the Xbox One S?
The Xbox One S is far better than the original Xbox One, with improvements on every front. It’s smaller, it’s prettier and it includes a greater number of features. Sure, the gaming element is almost unchanged, but HDR gaming compatibility means at least a degree of future-proofing. Then there’s the 4K output: although it’s upscaled, rather than native, right now this is the best you’ll get from a console.
But the real worth is the ability to play UHD Blu-rays. This is the most affordable 4K Blu-ray player on the market, and it’s a competent performer to boot. If you own a 4K TV and you want your movies and games looking their best, the Xbox One S is a no-brainer.
Microsoft faces competition from Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro. While the Sony offers 4K and HDR in gaming, it doesn’t play UHD Blu-rays. That’s a major omission in my book, leaving an open goal for the Xbox One S.
It’s only timing that’s an issue. The upcoming Xbox Project Scorpio is due next year, which will be a proper step up. As a happy first-generation Xbox One owner, I’m tempted to wait for that. By the time it launches, I might even own a 4K TV full time.
A better Xbox all round, but essential only for 4K TV owners.
PS4 vs Xbox One: which is the better media player?
Should you just stick with PlayStation 3?
By David Bierton Published 02/02/2014.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
This article was originally published in February 2014, and much of the information is now out of date. But not to worry - Digital Foundry re-assessed the media functionality of PS4 and Xbox One in December 2014, and you can read the revised piece here.
With the arrival of Xbox 360 and PS3, console manufacturers realised that games consoles could be so much more - they could be the media player that takes centre-stage in your living room, able to deliver movies and TV shows streamed from the internet as well as traditional disc-based entertainment. With the arrival of next-gen console, the potential is there to bring media integration to a whole new level - indeed, that's the core proposition of Xbox One, with PS4 also featuring a rich array of movie and TV services. So the question is, just why do the next-gen consoles appear to perform less capably than their predecessors? Our tests produced some disappointing results, with the PlayStation 3 in particular providing a clearly superior experience overall.
On the face of it, besides the ability to pump live TV through Microsoft's system (a feature that currently lacks the potentially game-changing One Guide functionality found in the US), both machines feature very similar features, such as the ability to play back Blu-ray and DVD discs, along with dedicated apps covering a range of streaming video services, including those exclusive to both Sony and Microsoft.
However, alarm bells start ringing straight away when you realise that neither console offers users the means to play their own media files - either from attached storage or from network shares. These are functions common to the last-gen consoles, but are mysteriously absent in their successors - although Xbox One can receive "stream to" content from Windows 8 PCs. In terms of other user-generated video, it's worth pointing out that the Microsoft console plays burned DVDs but stubbornly refuses to process BD-Rs, while PlayStation 4 happily runs both.
However, it's clear from the outset that both Microsoft and Sony are keen on locking out homegrown (and yes, pirated) content, but in our tests, the lack of functionality and too many bugs impact the support of 'official' material.
Blu-ray playback - a mixed bag.
First impressions of Xbox One Blu-ray playback seem positive once all of the updates are out of the way and the bespoke app is installed: the machine loaded up every disc we threw at it, and we weren't confronted by any obvious incompatibilities. Our experience is initially less pleasing on the PS4, with the original release of James Cameron's Avatar crashing to a black screen across two different units after around a minute of playback. Thankfully, we didn't encounter any issues on other discs we tried, and we imagine that problems such as this can easily be fixed with a software update. Still, as first impressions goes, it's not a great indicator of the overall stability of the system.
In terms of actual picture quality, both consoles output a pure 1080p image without artificially changing the source material in any way, meaning colour accuracy, sharpness and detail are identical. Considering that the Xbox One has to convert Blu-rays from digital component to RGB this is great news, restricting any differences to how individual HDTVs handle these sources.
1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both next-gen consoles and PS3, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both next-gen consoles and PS3, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both next-gen consoles and PS3, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both next-gen consoles and PS3, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
Blu-rays in the 25p progressive format encoded at 1080i50 are incorrectly de-interlaced by the PS4, resulting in a minor loss of detail (seen here on the grass to the left), with information being vertically shifted by one pixel, with very subtle blending from one frame into the next. Meanwhile, the PS3 and Xbox One correctly handle this material without introducing unwanted artefacts.
User reports of compromised 24Hz playback on the Xbox One, however, are disturbing for a console so heavily focused on non-gaming usage. 24fps is a core part of the Blu-ray specification, and any modern device worth its salt should be able to correctly handle that frame-rate without issue. Indeed, the PS3 plays back material at 24Hz flawlessly without introducing any unwanted side effects, and we found the PS4 to be equally solid in this regard. And yet we are on shaky ground with Xbox One. Initially we found the machine outputting a solid 24Hz signal free of any anomalies, but testing a number of discs over a two-hour period revealed some serious audio sync issues where the sound would often lag behind the video by a couple of seconds regardless of what audio setting is selected, making films viewed in this mode unwatchable.
At this point in time the solution is to switch the Xbox One to 60Hz when playing Blu-ray discs, but doing so introduces noticeable judder as the 24fps source is displayed unevenly through a 60Hz output - not exactly an ideal fix. In fact, we noticed some judder when using 24Hz playback from time to time, indicating that the Xbox One isn't always correctly handling this frame-rate. Microsoft is aware of these issues and is investigating the cause, but there's so sign of an update to fix it thus far - a particular disappointment given the Xbox One's huge multimedia focus.
Basic 1080p playback is more stable on the PS4, although Sony's system isn't completely without its own quirks. The console struggles to correctly de-interlace progressive 25fps content encoded at 1080i50 without throwing away a small amount of picture information and blending detail from one frame into the next, duplicate image (all of our test consoles output 1080i50 at 1080p50, resulting in each frame being duplicated). Manually switching the console to 1080i shows no improvement, indicating that the machine is internally de-interlacing the signal regardless of the output resolution.
On the other hand, the Xbox One gets the de-interlacing part right, but then converts the 50Hz output to 60Hz causing judder - for every five "native" frames, a sixth duplicate is added. To put things in perspective, the PS3 comfortably handles all high-definition material on disc without compromising the output in any way. And let's not forget that the PS3 also handles 3D Blu-ray movies too - a feature that is currently missing on both of the next-gen consoles.
DVD playback analysis.
Moving onto DVD, neither console manages to show standard-definition material in the best light. Playback is serviceable: you get an image that is watchable but doesn't hold up against a decent - but not necessarily expensive - standalone player. The PS4 appears to scale images more crisply than Microsoft's console, although the lacklustre video processing introduces another problem that significantly degrades image quality.
Despite the overly soft image, the PS3 preserves more detail when upscaling DVDs than either next-gen console. The PS4 actually resizes images more crisply than the PS3, but picture quality is let down by poor video processing in other areas. [Update: the 1.61 PS4 firmware resolves the processing issues and we have adjusted the images accordingly. Of all the media machines tested, Xbox One has the worst image, owing to an overly soft presentation.]
Despite the overly soft image, the PS3 preserves more detail when upscaling DVDs than either next-gen console. The PS4 actually resizes images more crisply than the PS3, but picture quality is let down by poor video processing in other areas. [Update: the 1.61 PS4 firmware resolves the processing issues and we have adjusted the images accordingly. Of all the media machines tested, Xbox One has the worst image, owing to an overly soft presentation.]
Despite the overly soft image, the PS3 preserves more detail when upscaling DVDs than either next-gen console. The PS4 actually resizes images more crisply than the PS3, but picture quality is let down by poor video processing in other areas. [Update: the 1.61 PS4 firmware resolves the processing issues and we have adjusted the images accordingly. Of all the media machines tested, Xbox One has the worst image, owing to an overly soft presentation.]
Most DVDs include a progressive-scan flag to allow for lossless interlaced-to-progressive conversion. The PS4 fails to detect this on PAL discs, leading to loss of detail and noticeable jaggies, where as this is not a problem for either PS3 or the Xbox One. [Update: Sony has now fixed this issue with the 1.61 firmware upgrade, resulting in clean playback and sharper upscaled images than the PS3 and Xbox One.]
Most DVDs are encoded as interlaced video with progressive flags embedded in the signal to tell the player how to de-interlace the content without any loss of detail, but on PAL discs the PS4 fails to correctly de-interlace the source material, resulting in unwanted jaggies and line twitter. This is a shame given that its predecessor correctly de-interlaces both PAL and NTSC discs, and also allows for unmolested 576p anamorphic widescreen output. Scaling quality on the console is admittedly too soft for our liking, but it holds its own against both the PS4 and Xbox One.
[Update 20/2/14 13:05 GMT] With the release of firmware revision 1.61 Sony has now fixed the de-interlacing issues on PAL DVDs. The correct cadence is detected and the results are dramatic: edges now appear smooth, and far more of the finer details contained within the video stream appear to be resolved. With the botched de-interlacing now gone, the update also reveals that the PS4 scales DVDs to a higher standard than the PS3 and Xbox One, producing sharper images.
Ideally we'd like to completely bypass any console processing in terms of resizing the image and let our HDTV do the work itself, since it stands a good chance of doing a better job. However, this isn't really possible to do on either next-gen console. With the Xbox One you are stuck with the machine's own scaled 720p or 1080p output, while the PS4 only provides a compromised 576p signal that fails to preserve the anamorphic 16:9 presentation contained in the 4:3 encoded video on DVDs.
The Xbox One's complete lack of respect for PAL 50Hz signals across all services - including TV signals from the HDMI input - also extends to playing DVDs, with the machine converting everything to 60Hz. As when viewing live TV through the console, the only way to disable this is to manually force the console into a global 50Hz mode via the dashboard, but then this causes judder in games which are rendered at 60Hz. The situation is far from ideal.
The PS3 is the only console in our tests that allows for a pure anamorphic 576p/480p output when playing back DVDs, making it possible to have your HDTV or external video processor perform higher quality scaling than the console. Xbox One owners are stuck with 720p or 1080p out from the machine. Attempting to get a native resolution output from PS4 leads to grim results, so it's best stick with the internal scaling options.
The PS3 is the only console in our tests that allows for an unmolested anamorphic 576p/480p output when playing back DVDs, making it possible to have your HDTV or external video processor perform higher quality scaling than the console. Xbox One owners are stuck with 720p or 1080p out from the machine. Attempting to get a native resolution output from PS4 leads to grim results, so it's best stick with the internal scaling options.
The PS3 is the only console in our tests that allows for an unmolested anamorphic 576p/480p output when playing back DVDs, making it possible to have your HDTV or external video processor perform higher quality scaling than the console. Xbox One owners are stuck with 720p or 1080p out from the machine. Attempting to get a native resolution output from PS4 leads to grim results, so it's best stick with the internal scaling options.
The PS3 is the only console in our tests that allows for an unmolested anamorphic 576p/480p output when playing back DVDs, making it possible to have your HDTV or external video processor perform higher quality scaling than the console. Xbox One owners are stuck with 720p or 1080p out from the machine. Attempting to get a native resolution output from PS4 leads to grim results, so it's best stick with the internal scaling options.
Netflix and LoveFilm - more issues.
Both next-generation consoles support a decent line-up of streaming services, including key providers such as Netflix and LoveFilm, although there are a few apps that only appear on one of the next-gen platforms, and some that are absent entirely. For example, Sky Player is nowhere to the found on the Xbox One, which is surprising given that the service forms a core part of the 360's multimedia functionality (Sky itself says there are no plans for Xbox One integration). BBC iPlayer is also missing from the Xbox One repertoire, though it has made an appearance on PS4.
The PS4 and Xbox One support native 1080p for Netflix and LoveFilm by default, and video quality for each service is mostly identical across these platforms, bar small differences in colour temperature and saturation. The PS3 now also offers up native 1080p streams for LoveFilm, matching the two next-gen consoles. Impressively, both services feature similarly high quality video encoding and minimal compression artefacts at 1080p, as long as the connection stays stable.
With the Xbox One, Netflix playback during our testing kicks off to a decent start, but after around 10 minutes we noticed that the video stream began to judder, and then a few minutes later the audio dropped out of sync with the picture, with the problem intermittently reappearing across different films we tried. LoveFilm streams are also affected by unwanted judder, although the issue was a little more subtle and occurred less frequently. Thankfully, we encountered no audio sync issues, but we were only able to extract stereo sound output from the console using this service - despite forcing DTS output. On the plus side we had no trouble extracting 5.1 DTS output when using Netflix.
In terms of image quality, Netflix 'Super HD' 1080p streams are almost identical between platforms, the difference being a slightly warmer colour temp on the Xbox One. However, motion is compromised on Microsoft's system due to intermittent judder, while playback is smooth on the PS4.
In terms of image quality, Netflix 'Super HD' 1080p streams are almost identical between platforms, the difference being a slightly warmer colour temp on the Xbox One. However, motion is compromised on Microsoft's system due to intermittent judder, while playback is smooth on the PS4.
720p Netflix streams are identical across all the PS3, Xbox One, and PS4 in terms of image quality, and feature fairly minimal compression artefacts during faster-paced scenes.
Lovefilm supports native 1080p across the PS3, PS4, and Xbox One. Video quality is identical bar the slightly more muted colour saturation on the PS4. Motion handling is borked by heavy judder on the PS4, and to a lesser extent on the Xbox One.
On the PS4 we find Netflix playback smooth and free from any lip-sync issues, although from an audio perspective we could only extract a stereo output via both optical and HDMI, even though the service is supposed to support surround sound on the platform. Interestingly, we see the same problem on LoveFilm - again, stereo-only sound - but on top of that we have some serious problems with stutter during playback, almost like video is speeding up to compensate for the judder/uneven frame cadence while maintaining audio sync. It's hugely distracting and in our opinion makes the service unusable at this point. The biggest problem is that these bugs are frequent, though they appear intermittently, so major issues can simply crop up after a few minutes of solid playback.
Once again, the PS3 powers through these services without nearly as many issues. We couldn't get surround sound output from LoveFilm working on the console, but at least the audio stayed in sync with the video at a steady, smooth pace. Curiously there have been reports of inconsistent video quality across both services on the next-gen consoles, with streams breaking up into a stuttering low-resolution presentation. Over the past few weeks we encountered this variable video stream issue across multiple devices, suggesting to us that the problem is perhaps related to available bandwidth and connection issues - perhaps on the service side - rather than a deficiency in how consoles handle the incoming video stream.
Xbox One vs PlayStation 4: which is the better media player?
It's early days for the next-generation consoles and right now both Sony and Microsoft are still working on getting a number of features up and running on their respective platforms, indicating that neither system was truly finished in the run-up to launch. With Microsoft in particular, we understand that resources were strained owing to the last minute decision to drop the cloud-based DRM in favour of a disc alternative, necessitating a large repurposing of internal resources. But the bottom line is clear - across a range of media tests, both Xbox One and PS4 have their issues, while the last-gen PlayStation 3 copes brilliantly in almost all scenarios.
It's Xbox One's poor showing overall that saddens us. This is a piece of hardware built from the ground up to be the centre-piece of the living room - but its innovative OneGuide TV functions have no support outside of the USA, there's zero respect for 50Hz content and there are fundamental problems with playback of disc-based media, while we have issues with the all-important Netflix client, which simply isn't fit for purpose in its current state.
"If your primary media consumption lies with 1080p Blu-ray, the PS4 is generally up to the task, but its predecessor offers a better all-round experience."
With all the benefits of a mature platform, it's the PlayStation 3 that remains the media player of choice, and we can't help but feel disappointment at the vast array of bugs, glitches and problems found during our testing.
If your primary media consumption lies with 1080p Blu-ray, the PS4 is generally up to the task, performing as well as any standalone player in this regard, bar the odd incompatibility issue. However, the console's handling of DVD content [ Update: mostly resolved now in firmware 1.61] and 1080i Blu-rays will upset the purists given Sony's previous media focus with the PS3, which generally does everything right. However, it's clear that of the two next-gen machines, the PS4 offers the preferable experience right now in terms of general usage - even though there are some issues with the key Netflix and LoveFilm apps.
With that in mind, it's currently hard to give a concrete endorsement to either next-gen console as a direct media hub replacement for the PS3 when there are so many issues. Some of the intermittent bugs are annoying to deal with and make the whole experience more frustrating than it should be, and the lack of quality assurance in general is disappointing - even basic testing shows up some serious issues that shouldn't have made their way into a shipping product, especially on Xbox One. This is a shame considering that picture quality for 1080p content is accurately displayed on both machines, and there has been some thought into the number of configurable audio/video options available on each system.
With a bit more time and work we could see the PS4 and Xbox One deliver an even more engaging entertainment experience than previous consoles, merging gaming, user-uploaded content, film and TV into one bespoke package that complements the modern loving room. But as of now, just getting the core functionality completely nailed would be a start - and in that respect, the stalwart PlayStation 3 covers all bases.
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TechRadar.
Microsoft responds to the PS4 Pro's absent 4K Blu-ray drive.
Does Blu-ray have a place in the streaming future?
It's going to be a busy couple of years for console launches. After months of speculation, Sony has finally unveiled the PS4 Pro, a souped up version of its existing PS4 console, which is also receiving a more traditional slim-down of its own.
Not to be outdone, Microsoft also has a pair of new consoles. The Xbox One S came out just last month, and next year the company plans to launch what it's currently calling Project Scorpio, its own more powerful version of its current generation console.
Although on the surface the two companies appear to be following very similar hardware tactics, the truth is that the four consoles differ greatly in terms of their hardware and features.
For example, Sony has kept its 4K capabilities exclusive to the PS4 Pro, leaving the PS4 Slim as a dedicated 1080p machine, while Microsoft has brought 4K to both of its new consoles.
Meanwhile, the Xbox One S offers a 4K Blu-ray player and 4K upscaling for games, and the Scorpio will give developers the horsepower to run games in native 4K if they choose to do so.
The differences are striking, especially when you consider how Microsoft and Sony have traditionally approached their consoles.
Media machines.
Sony has always prided itself on including the latest media hardware in its consoles. The PS2 was one of the first mass-market DVD players, and the PS3 was a trojan horse for the Blu-ray format.
Meanwhile Microsoft's Xbox 360 never supported Blu-ray and only ever supported HD-DVD with an optional add-on.
So why has Microsoft chosen to include a 4K Blu-ray player in the Xbox One S? We asked one of Microsoft's senior directors, Albert Pinello, for his thoughts.
"We wanted to be able to tell a complete 4K story with the Xbox One S," he said, "I think Blu-ray was definitely an important part of that."
But why would Microsoft embrace the physical format when the world is increasingly moving towards streaming as a solution?
"As far as physical media goes, I could not agree more, I think that the future is digital. But if you look at a global basis, not everybody has access to the same streaming content that we have, and I think physical media is and will continue to be important. around the world discs still play an important part of people's lives."
This is an interesting point. In order to stream 4K content, Netflix recommends an internet connection speed of 25 mbits, which is difficult to achieve in developed economies such as the UK and US, let alone emerging markets around the world.
For their part, Sony has publicly said that it believes the future to be in streaming. Speaking in a recent interview with The Guardian, Sony's Andrew House said, "Our feeling is that while physical media continues to be a big part of the games business, we see a trend on video towards streaming."
Sony declined to comment when contacted by TechRadar directly.
Undoubtedly as internet speeds around the world continue to improve, the possibility of streaming 4K content will increase, but for now at least Microsoft believes that discs are necessary to get the most out of the new resolution.
Leaving Sony behind.
Worldwide internet speeds aren't ready for 4K video streaming, which begs the question of why Sony would leave an Ultra HD Blu-ray player out of its first 4K games console.
"It's one of the more surprising decisions that they made." Pinello observes, "Given their history with being on the forefront of media transitions like they have. So I don't know, I think it's a really great question, I'm not sure."
It sounds counter-intuitive, but Sony's desire to be at the forefront of these media transitions might be exactly what's prevented it from including an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive in its PS4 Pro.
As a consumer electronics company, Sony has tended to manufacture its own media drives in its consoles. The PS3's Blu-ray drives were almost entirely manufactured by Sony, with just a couple of later iterations featuring drives that were provided by Renesas.
Meanwhile Microsoft is happy to purchase its drive components from third-party suppliers. Pinello wouldn't confirm who exactly has provided the drive in the Xbox One S, but thanks to an iFixit teardown of the console we know that the DG-6M5S drive has been provided by Philips and Lite-On Digital.
Sony's preference for its own components appears to have backfired when it comes to Ultra HD Blu-ray. The simple truth is that the company's own drive simply isn't ready.
As John Archer pointed out in a recent column for Forbes, Sony's first 4K Blu-ray player isn't due out until March next year, and even then it's a prosumer device aimed at the custom installation market.
The issue is further compounded by how early decisions about hardware specifications have to be made. With regards to the One S's inclusion of a 4K drive, Pinello explains "We have to make these decisions well in advance of when we're launching things, and so these are decisions that were locked quite some time in the past," and the same is true of Sony.
The result was that by the time the Xbox One S was announced Sony had committed to its final design spec, and so couldn't upgrade the PS4 Pro to have a drive of its own.
Advantage Xbox.
Streaming might be the future, but the inclusion of a 4K disc drive in the Xbox One S is a huge advantage to those of us living in the present with our restricted internet bandwidth and download caps.
It seems that with this latest iteration of consoles, Microsoft might have developed a better understanding of the real world situations in which people use their hardware, after it so catastrophically got it wrong when it originally announced the Xbox One.
But with the PS4 Pro yet to hit store shelves, Sony could still pull something out of the bag in this console war that's fast becoming hotter than ever.
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Launch Day Verdict: The Xbox One S is a Respectable Ultra HD Blu-ray Player but the 4K Video Streaming Needs Help.
Beware of HDCP 2.2, Atmos, and DTS:X pitfalls.
October 26th 2016 Update: Audio bitstreaming has been promised as "coming soon" in an official announcement. That means Dolby Atmos support. (See here.)
Editor's Notes: 2TB Xbox One S loaner console tested for Ultra HD Blu-ray playback. System was tested using the latest updates available on July 29th, which did include 4K support, Ultra HD disc playback and more. Console was tested using a LG 65UH7700 and a Denon S910W. A loaner 'Star Trek' Ultra HD Blu-ray was used as well as seven other Ultra HD Blu-rays. Netflix, Amazon Video, and Vudu were tested for streaming support.
It's August 2nd, and as promised at E3 2016, Microsoft has released the very first game console to support Ultra HD Blu-ray playback, the 2TB Xbox One S. Along with the addition of that major feature, as compared with the original Xbox One (or any announced game console), comes several related firsts such as HDR10 support and 4K streaming video. (Check out the full review here.)
I've written before about several important details for the Xbox One S Ultra HD Blu-ray playback, including that the system would use an updated version of the familiar Blu-ray player app, that there would only be one HDMI out, that there would be HDR10 support (and not Dolby Vision), and that, like the original Xbox One, there is no support for direct bitstreaming of audio, which means no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. On this last point, Microsoft is "exploring" such support, but there's no change in stance beyond that.
I once had an AVR with HDMI 2.0 but without HDCP 2.2, but it is long gone. Ditto for two AVRs I had that each only had one HDCP 2.2 HDMI port. Now, the combination of the Xbox One S, Denon S910W, and LG 65UH7700 has made for one happy HDCP 2.2 chain. There was just one very important exception to harmonious state, the setup of the Xbox One S.
Right out of the box I hooked the Xbox One S to the S910W, which was hooked to the LG 65UH7700 (as well as a Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player) with the LG's HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color setting engaged. That didn't really work out. Instead, I hooked the Xbox One S directly to the TV and allowed the system to update. It went through two updates (a 3.4GB followed by a 1GB update), during which the onscreen images of the Xbox One hardware changed from the old, black Xbox One to the new white Xbox One S. The controller images also changed. Having gotten the system up to date, I was then able to use it with the AVR, TV, and the HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color setting without issue.
The conclusion I draw from this little setup drama is that, for the time being, it's best to get these launch systems updated before trying to use 4K specific features or any features that might call for HDCP 2.2. Post updates, and the system was smart enough to report that I should set it to 4K output, with the 10-bit setting (for 60Hz and 24Hz, but not for 50Hz), and to allow HDR and 24Hz. This is with the TV's HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color setting engaged. Without it, the Xbox One S would only suggest 4K output.
Channeling the launch era of the original Xbox One, the Xbox One S did not come with the Blu-ray app installed. After a quick download from the store, and the Xbox One S was happy to play the 'Star Trek' Ultra HD Blu-ray. The visual interface, icon, and controls are unchanged from the Blu-ray app found on my Day One Xbox One. This includes the information toggle which shows bitrates.
Over the course of a few days, I ran through 'The Martian Extended Edition,' 'Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut,' 'Sicario, 'The Revenant, Creed, 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition', and 'Chappie' Ultra HD Blu-rays, and being frank, I was impressed by the Xbox One S. It appears to be a lot better at playing Ultra HD Blu-rays than the Xbox One was at playing Blu-rays. Not once did the Blu-ray app crash to the dashboard. Admittedly, I have rarely used the Xbox One to play Blu-rays, but on those rare occasions, it never impressed me.
Compared with the Samsung UBD-8500, the Xbox One S does not support Atmos (or DTS:X) which, with the discs and hardware mentioned here, is a sad omission. As I was jumping around to different scenes on different discs, I noticed that the Xbox One S had a tendency to sometimes hiccup right at the beginning of a selected scene. This never happened during normal play and was not something that I could easily reproduce.
Using the Xbox One Media Remote (which is from 2014 and uses IR), I found that navigating Ultra HD Blu-rays was easier than on the Samsung UBD-8500 thanks to dedicated fast forward and rewind buttons. Of course, this remote is not included with the Xbox One S and must be bought separately.
Using the Xbox One though several day-long testing sessions (but in an air-conditioned environment), it never seemed to get hot, or really, to become audible in a hardware sense.
I've enjoyed owning a Samsung UBD-8500 and being able to wire it directly to the TV and directly to any HDMI 1.4 AVR. But with all HDCP 2.2 equipment in place, the Xbox One S is a welcome option. If Microsoft would add Atmos support to the Xbox One S, it might easily usurp the UBD-8500's place as my go-to Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Streaming video support is another matter altogether.
For 4K HDR streaming, I usually use either the UBD-8500 or the LG's internal apps. The recent switch to Dolby Vision for Amazon on the LG makes the app fun to try against using the HDR10 version on the Samsung.
On the Xbox One S side, the streaming apps aren't really up to snuff. During testing, the Netflix app could play 4K content but the entire app tended to engage HDR mode on the TV, much to the determinate of whatever content I picked out in Netflix. I suspect that this is a bug that will be sorted out soon and that the Netflix app will be as adroit as its LG and Samsung counterparts. As for Amazon and Vudu, on My Xbox One loaner unit, neither has yet been updated for 4K support. My understanding is that the Amazon update will roll out soon with other unspecified partners to follow.
Of course, the mere existence of the Xbox One S as an Ultra HD Blu-ray player appears to have had the positive effect of lowering prices on players already in the marketplace. For early-adopters of the format, this is pretty much win-win. Focusing back on the Xbox One S, it has some glaring flaws (like the lack of Atmos), but its Ultra HD Blu-ray playback is better than basic. I expect it will easily outsell all other Ultra HD Blu-ray player in no-time flat.
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Starting Today, New Media Player App, New SmartGlass Features, and More Included in Xbox One Update.
Updated at 10 a.m. PDT, Aug. 29 to include new video below offering a closer look at multiple GameDVR deletes.
Today, we will begin rolling out new features and updates to Xbox One for fans all over the world. These updates include new ways to bring your personal media to your Xbox, updates to the party system, more ways to interact with your Xbox, and new social features for Xbox SmartGlass.
Party on in the new and improved Party App: Be the leader of your party with the new party leader setting. As the party leader, you can change whether the party requires invitations and you can remove others from the party. The updated app also lets you see what activities everyone in your party is doing and who is playing in the same game with you in addition to being able to quickly perform common actions like muting, joining, or sending game invites.
New features for SmartGlass: You can now post status messages from the Activity Feed and comments, or share items from both your Activity Feed and Game Clips. Along with the new comment and share features, a personalized Activity Feed has been added to your profile and messages have been updated to a new layout supporting a full conversation view. Additionally, we are adding the ability to record game clips directly from the Now Playing bar. Finally, for users who upgrade the app directly, we have introduced a What’s New page highlighting the features of each release.
“Xbox On” capabilities in Australia, Canada (French), Italy, Spain and Mexico : New regions will have the ability to use the “Xbox On” Kinect voice command to power on their consoles when they’re in connected standby (Instant On) mode.
Please continue to share your feedback on our dedicated Xbox Feedback site and you might see your suggestions become a reality in future system updates. Look out for new features lighting up consoles in our preview program in the coming weeks.
Управление воспроизведением дисков Blu-ray и DVD на консоли Xbox One.
Для управления воспроизведением дисков Blu-ray и DVD на консоли можно использовать геймпад Xbox One. На этой странице рассказывается, как это делать, а также какие элементы геймпада предназначены для этого.
1 Левый мини-джойстик.
3 Кнопка «Просмотр»
4 Порт зарядки USB.
5 Кнопка зарядки Xbox.
9 Порт расширения.
10 Правый мини-джойстик.
Примечание. Полное описание имеющихся на беспроводном геймпаде кнопок см. в разделе Знакомство с беспроводным геймпадом Xbox One.
В следующей таблице перечислены команды геймпада для управления воспроизведением дисков Blu-ray.
Поставить на паузу и возобновить воспроизведение.
Перейти на одну главу назад.
Y , затем выберите Перейти назад.
Перейти на одну главу вперед.
Y , затем выберите Перейти вперед.
Правый курок (каждое нажатие увеличивает скорость)
Левый курок (каждое нажатие увеличивает скорость)
Открытие элементов управления воспроизведением на экране.
Открытие дополнительных элементов управления воспроизведением.
Открытие всплывающего меню диска Blu-ray.
Нажмите вправо на мини-джойстик или вправо на крестовину (нажатие влево закрывает меню)
Примечание. Некоторые диски не поддерживают эту функцию.
Открытие панели треков диска Blu-ray.
Нажмите вправо на мини-джойстик или вправо на крестовину.
Примечание. Некоторые диски не поддерживают эту функцию.
Дополнительные элементы управления воспроизведением, отображаемые на экране консоли при воспроизведении дисков Blu-ray, позволяют:
включить субтитры; сменить расположение камеры; сменить звуковой канал; отобразить информацию о воспроизведении.
В следующей таблице перечислены команды геймпада для управления воспроизведением дисков DVD.
Поставить на паузу и возобновить воспроизведение.
Перейти на одну главу назад.
B , затем выберите Перейти назад.
Перейти на одну главу вперед.
B , затем выберите Перейти вперед.
Правый курок (каждое нажатие увеличивает скорость)
Левый курок (каждое нажатие увеличивает скорость)
Открытие элементов управления воспроизведением на экране.
Открытие дополнительных элементов управления воспроизведением.
Дополнительные элементы управления воспроизведением, отображаемые на экране консоли при воспроизведении дисков DVD, позволяют:
включить субтитры; сменить расположение камеры; сменить звуковой канал; отобразить информацию о воспроизведении.
Sony PS4 Performs Worse Than PS3 As A Blu-ray & DVD Player.
By David Mackenzie 17 December 2013 Verdict: Qualified Recommendation Typical price: £350.
New home entertainment console launches only roll around once every 6-7 years, with hardware shortages, pre-release hype, and the rabidly competitive nature of the gaming industry coming together to make each one a noteworthy event. That’s of course the case with Sony’s PlayStation 4, which has so far been doing fine business for the Japanese giant, and naturally follows in the footsteps of the PS3, which remained of interest to AV users for its perfectly accurate Blu-ray Disc output quality. The PS3′s adeptness at playing Blu-ray was arguably a key point in doing away with the rival HD DVD format.
Sony’s decision to include Blu-ray (BD-ROM) drives in every PS3 unit wasn’t a hugely popular one at the time, with the then-fledgling technology contributing to the machine’s $599 US launch price tag. But history proved Sony correct, with all three next-gen consoles using Blu-ray in some form. Microsoft’s Xbox One is a bona-fide BD machine, and for games, Blu-ray Disc Association founding member Panasonic supplied a “black-book” format which is derived from Blu-ray (they also supplied “DVD-like” technology and drives for the Nintendo Gamecube and Wii, although Nintendo machines have never been officially able to play films from disc).
With Blu-ray now entrenched as one of several possible ways to watch films at home (and obviously the highest quality one) and HD DVD no more than a curiosity, there’s less riding on the success of the PS4 from an AV perspective. In fact, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) have been playing coy and have marketed their system as the anti-Xbox choice from the earliest opportunity, reassuring players who were disappointed with Microsoft’s heavy emphasis on television integration features by reminding them that PlayStation is “for the players” and is all about gaming.
HDTVTest took delivery of a Sony PS4 pre-Christmas, and we’ve been checking the system’s media playback features out (as well as also playing a good amount of Warframe , but don’t tell anyone that). It’s a games machine first and foremost, but for curious users still on the fence about the next-gen, how well does it fulfil its secondary features? Let’s find out.
Note: this review concerns the most recent PS4 system software at the time of publication (December 16, 2013, version SU-30733-6).
Clearly remembering the criticism of the original PS3 design, Sony has (almost) nailed it first time with the styling of the PS4. Most of the system uses sleek matte black plastic, and the entire design is slanted: rather than being boxy, the edges are tilted backwards. The Blu-ray drive is hidden on the front, as are two USB ports. Most impressively, there is no external power supply needed – despite the system’s small size, that’s been built in.
Our only real criticism of the machine is that one of the panels on top is gloss black, which means it will no doubt soon succumb to scratches when it’s cleaned. Other than that, it’s a very sleek unit.
The PlayStation 4 makes an immediate good first impression with its streamlined menus. They’re simple but tasteful at the same time in a way which the boxy Windows 8-ish interface of the Xbox One is not. On top of that, there’s (optional) background music. Call us sentimental, but this small touch gives a soothing feeling and might well create a sense of wonder in all but the most stoic of gamers.
There are few AV options to set up, with [Video Output Settings] containing controls governing resolution, TV size (for certain 3D content), as well as video levels settings for RGB and Y/Cb/Cr output formats, which we never had to touch.
Blu-ray Playback.
To us, the Sony PS4 appeared to have Blu-ray playback software on board from the get-go. Apparently that’s not actually the case, but it was downloaded so seamlessly that it may as well have been.
Unlike the Xbox One, the PS3 happily played back our recordable Blu-ray Discs containing our custom test patterns. BD-R playback isn’t a killer issue for most people who are only watching store-bought movies on factory-pressed discs, but blocking it is such a comparatively useless anti-piracy measure that we wonder why Microsoft bothered.
In any case, we were effortlessly able to confirm top-notch, totally accurate, unadulterated playback of Blu-ray movies against several other known-good reference players. That’s a small advantage over the Xbox One’s very good Blu-ray playback, which has a small (but generally not noticeable) lightness inaccuracy in its output.
There’s no noise reduction or other unwanted processing, no loss of resolution in the luma (brightness) or obvious loss of resolution in the chroma (colour) channel, pixel cropping, chroma upsampling jaggies, or other nasties to spoil the party with 24p content, which accounts for the majority of footage on Blu-ray. With 24p content, you provide the disc, the PS4 dutifully reproduces it. This alone will be enough to make the Sony PlayStation 4 a very usable BD player for most gamers.
That’s the end of the good news, however. If you play 1080i content on the PS4, you’ll find that the system deinterlaces it, and does a poor job of it. There doesn’t seem to be any semi-advanced motion-adaptive deinterlacing on the PS4 at all, with the entire screen (and not just the moving areas) being deinterlaced with a fairly crude algorithm. Visually, that translates into fine details flickering slightly. Of course, it’s more obvious in test charts than it is in content, but the resolution is being lost either way.
Nearly all films are stored at 24p so don’t count on seeing any issues with those, but if you play a video-based concert or documentary on the machine, you’ll be getting lessened vertical resolution compared to what you’d get from a better Blu-ray player such as the PS3, or nearly any standalone player.
Don’t think about setting the output to 1080i to send 1080i discs out in their native format, either: this compounds the problem. Even with the output set to 1080i, all 1080i content is deinterlaced internally and then output. There’s no native path for 1080i Blu-ray content on the PS4 (yet?), everything goes through the sub-par 1080p conversion process.
The diagonal interpolation test (which tests for a player’s ability to smooth jaggies during interlace to progressive conversion) didn’t return good results either, with jaggies being obvious on steep angles.
Unsurprisingly with all of this in mind, there is no provision made for film mode deinterlacing (detecting the presence of film content stored in an interlaced signal). Just so it’s clear, here are the tests from the 60hz tests on the Spears & Munsil disc:
2-2 (30fps inside 60i): Fail 2-2-2-4: Fail 2-3-2-3 PF-T (24fps inside 60i with MPEG metadata): Fail 2-3-2-3 (24fps inside 60i): Fail 2-3-2-3: Fail 2-3-3-2: Fail 3-2-3-2-2: Fail 5-5: Fail 6-4: Fail 8-7-8-7: Fail Time-adjusted: Fail.
Likewise, for European users watching European content (BBC TV shows are an obvious example), it’s worth knowing that the Blu-ray format does not have provision for 25p, so all of this content is encoded at 50i, and accordingly falls foul of the PS4′s lack of deinterlacing capabilities. With 1080i HD content, this is actually not a gigantic problem, and we imagine most users won’t notice owed to the high HD resolution masking the resolution loss. It’s still poorer quality than many standalone players, however.
It’s a strange decision on Sony’s part, because when first launched, the PS3 system simply output 1080i content as 1080i (natively), meaning that the other components in the user’s AV system (AV receiver or TV) would do the deinterlacing. We’d hope this is something Sony addresses with a system update – either give us good deinterlacing with film mode detection, or just output the 1080i content as pure 1080i and let another device that has the same capabilities take care of it.
DVD Playback.
The PS4′s lack of deinterlacing prowess is a much bigger problem in the standard definition realm, where there’s much more interlaced content, and where every last drop of available resolution is precious.
The good news is that progressively flagged content on DVD is fine. That means that almost every American NTSC DVD containing a film will play back without any obvious artefacts on the Sony PS4. Film content that’s been encoded as interlaced, where the studio has passed the duty of interlace-to-progressive conversion onto the consumer’s playback hardware, will display with the aforementioned jaggies, of course magnified owed to the lesser SD resolution. As with HD, there is no film mode detection at all beyond the common reading of MPEG metadata (repeat field flags).
Adding to the PlayStation 4′s suitability as a DVD player – for American/Japanese-centric NTSC content – is its high quality scaling. The PS3′s spatial interpolation (literally how new pixels are created to fill the HD resolution from the low-res SD source) was novel for its time, and the PS4 appears to follow much of the same lead but without quite as much a synthetic finish (diagonal edges appear slightly less smoothed over, and you’ll likely never see a hint of aliasing even if you do find one of the few DVDs that has any sharp high frequency detail in it to start with).
That’s fine for the NTSC territories, but European users will not be too surprised to hear that PAL DVDs are not optimally handled by the Sony PS4. There are several esoteric features inside the DVD spec that allow a disc and the video on it to be marked as interlaced or progressive, but the long and short of it is that none of the PAL discs we tried played back optimally even if the flags on the disc were properly set (in PAL-land, almost none of them are). There is no 2:2 cadence detection for PAL films – in this area the PS4 is beaten by the Xbox One, which does do correct film mode deinterlacing.
The bottom line: the Sony PlayStation 4 treats all standard-def DVD content except for NTSC progressively flagged DVDs as interlaced, and its deinterlacing is not good. At least, the PS4 doesn’t make the Xbox One’s mistake of outputting 50hz content as 60hz, so doesn’t create judder. Instead, its lack of film mode detection means that PAL DVD – and we imagine many of our readers do have significant DVD collections – displays with lessened vertical resolution when compared to a good standalone.
Conclusion.
Although at first glance it appears to be a more polished media device than the Xbox One, the PS4 disappointed us in several areas with its media playback capabilities (or lack thereof).
If you’re using the device to play 24p movies on Blu-ray (which admittedly will be most people’s usage as far as that format is concerned), it’s all good news. Outside of that use, it’s a worse disc player than the PS3 was at launch, and we hope to see its performance with interlaced video content improved. Also, unlike the PlayStation 3, the PS4 doesn’t support 3D Blu-ray playback at this time of writing.
Both next-gen consoles have failed in some areas, with neither the Xbox One or the PlayStation 4 being able to play PAL DVDs optimally: the PS4 produces jaggies owed to the lack of film mode detection for PAL content, and the Xbox One produces stutter owed to using an incorrect refresh rate.
That’s a little disappointing given the precedent set by the PS3. That Sony’s machine was promoted as being for gamers first and foremost makes it a little more understandable, and perhaps less worthy of scorn than Microsoft’s lofty claims of their equally troubled Xbox One being the only box necessary underneath your TV. As with that machine, we look forward to seeing the PS4′s video processing quality improve, because it’s a seriously nice-feeling piece of hardware. If you’re a video enthusiast who wants to get the best from all their discs, don’t count on either of the next-gen consoles replacing your standalone player just yet.
Which is the better media player? PlayStation 4 and Xbox One revisited.
Digital Foundry re-assesses multimedia functionality and performance.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
Ten months ago, we tested the media playback functions of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 extensively, using the feature-set and the quality of the veteran PS3 as the standard. Our verdict? PlayStation 4 passed muster, albeit with a few serious issues on specific applications, while Xbox One was close to an abject failure owing to fundamental deficiencies across the whole media offering. But in truth, neither of the new consoles could supplant the PlayStation 3 as the media centre of choice. Ten months on, has anything changed?
A quick heads-up before we continue: a lot of this article is going to centre on the Xbox One experience, as it's fair to say that Microsoft has rolled out an impressive range of significant upgrades in the intervening months. The console was designed from the ground-up as a gaming multimedia centre, which made its poor performance in our last test all the more disappointing. However, things have changed. The plain and simple fact is that those upgrades have paid off - Xbox One still has some minor issues, but in the here and now there is no competition: the Microsoft media offering works and the OS integration is impressive, if a little inconsistent. Perhaps the real question now is just how relevant that is in an era where media playback apps proliferate across a multitude of devices.
But let's begin by addressing the major gripes we had with Xbox One back in February: Netflix was virtually unwatchable owing to hideous skipping, BBC iPlayer was conspicuous by its absence, while Xbox 360 upgraders might have been dismayed to find that the new console lacked the Sky Go functionality of its older counterpart. On top of that, Blu-ray 24fps playback didn't work properly and 3D functionality was absent. Meanwhile, TV integration in European territories was ruined by the console steadfastly sticking to a 60Hz output, producing horrible judder owing to a lack of support for our native 50Hz content. And let's not forget that the OneGuide didn't work at all outside of the USA, while those of us who don't want to give Rupert Murdoch or Richard Branson a monthly ransom for TV services were left with no TV integration at all - unless we went out and bought a set-top box for terrestrial digital transmission.
How things have changed: Netflix works fine now, BBC iPlayer has arrived (with excellent voice support by the way), and while Sky Go still isn't available, at least there's the sister service - Now TV. Things have improved radically elsewhere: the Blu-ray player supports 24fps, 25fps, 30fps and 3D content, seamlessly switching between display modes for judder-free playback. Xbox One also treats 50Hz content effectively - on live TV and Blu-rays at any rate - with the console switching between display refresh rates automatically, just as it should. The lingering disappointment concerns DVD playback - upscaling is still as blurry as ever and that in itself may be a dealbreaker for those with extensive DVD libraries. More positively, in the UK at least, the OneGuide now works effectively, and Microsoft has even released a Ј25 USB digital tuner for those of us in Europe without set-top boxes - and it's excellent.
Simply plug it in to the Xbox One, attach your antenna, and after a short set-up period where the console scans for available channels, you're good to go. Standard def and HD channels are supported, as is surround sound. Smart Glass integration is pretty decent too, with the ability to stream live TV to your tablet or phone - the quality is pretty poor, but it's serviceable enough.
All of the normal TV functionality works just fine with the dongle, including Snap-based picture-in-picture. It's interesting to note that while gaming is the major focus, Xbox One retains a 60Hz output, causing some judder on the smaller TV picture-in-picture feed - a necessary evil and not unduly intrusive. As soon as you maximise the TV image, the console once again switches to 50Hz. At this point we should point out that picture quality is excellent, with standard definition sources upscaled very effectively. Picture quality actually seemed better than the results of the internal scaler on our HDTV.
There are some minor annoyances though. BBC iPlayer is based on 25fps content, but the app resolutely sticks to a 60Hz output. In this respect it is much like its other iterations for various devices (including PS4), but this is Xbox One and the opportunity was there to do better based on what the surrounding technology is already delivering. The fact that voice support works so well demonstrates that a good degree of effort was already put into the app - 25fps/50Hz support would be the icing on the cake and similar auto-refresh switching would be welcome on all other media streaming services too.
Plex is a simply brilliant app for those with home media servers, and the Xbox One version doesn't disappoint. Except in one regard: you need to Plex Pass subscription to use it, and it's not exactly cheap.
But the Xbox One media enhancements don't end there. In our previous article we bemoaned the lack of local media playback - the implication of its absence being that Microsoft (and indeed Sony) would prefer us to subscribe to content providers (like them, perhaps) rather than allowing us to use our own media. That's a clear functionality downgrade from the last-gen machines. Well, Xbox One's new media player app attempts to sort that out, offering a surprising amount of playback functionality - including the ability to run MKV files.
In our tests, this actually turned out to be somewhat disappointing - high-bitrate 1080p h.264 files stutter horribly, while audio support is limited to AAC and Dolby Digital, with DTS and DTS-HD off the table. Our own in-house 1080p60 MP4s and MKVs - the files we upload to YouTube - drop frames on playback, which isn't ideal. The media player app is probably only good for low bitrate pirate MKVs, and that's somewhat bizarre considering that Xbox One has a hardware h.264 decoder onboard. The startling reality is that the Ј25 Raspberry Pi offers superior local media decoding than the mighty Xbox One.
However, the Microsoft console does have an ace in the hole: Plex. For those out there with media servers, Plex is the app of choice for organising your collection, with artwork, synopses and even title music downloaded and streamed across from the server to the client. Transcoding is also supported, so while the Xbox One's local media player may not run Blu-ray rips, the Plex server can and does transcode into an acceptable format. Plex is superb (there's voice and gesture control) but at launch, using it required a hefty subscription of $4.99 a month, $39.99 a year, or $149.99 for lifetime access. By the time you read this, that requirement should have been lifted. [ UPDATE 20/12/14 1:53pm: Plex is now available for both PS3 and PS4.]
Due to the proliferation of media playback options, disc-based support is now a key advantage for both of the current-gen consoles. 1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both machines, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
Due to the proliferation of media playback options, disc-based support is now a key advantage for both of the current-gen consoles. 1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both machines, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
Due to the proliferation of media playback options, disc-based support is now a key advantage for both of the current-gen consoles. 1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both machines, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
Due to the proliferation of media playback options, disc-based support is now a key advantage for both of the current-gen consoles. 1080p Blu-ray playback is identical across both machines, with each system outputting a pure image without any unwanted tampering.
Blu-rays in the 25p progressive format encoded at 1080i50 are incorrectly de-interlaced by the PS4, resulting in a minor loss of detail (seen here on the grass to the left), with information being vertically shifted by one pixel, with very subtle blending from one frame into the next. Xbox One correctly handles this material without introducing unwanted artefacts.
Overall, it's fair to say that the Xbox One media experience has undergone revelatory improvements since we first looked at it in February. However, it remains some way off the revolutionary product it should be, with a variety of minor annoyances that take the sheen off the experience. For example, the inconsistency of support for voice control across apps is disappointing - the core feature-set for the media experience should work everywhere, and it is definitely missed when it doesn't work. The removal of Kinect as mandatory pack-in will almost inevitably result in even less support going forward.
All of which means that Smart Glass, or more likely the standard Xbox One controller, becomes the default interface - both do the job but they are not really as comfortable as a standard remote. That's a Ј16 optional extra on Xbox One (though there are many third party substitutes) but it remains somewhat surprising that there is still no equivalent for the PlayStation 4. The best you can do there is use the Dual Shock 4, or else hope that your TV supports HDMI-CEC, meaning that your TV remote will work (though we had no luck using Viera-Link on a Panasonic VT20, which works just fine on a Raspberry Pi). To be honest, it's a bit puzzling why the standard PS3 Bluetooth remote remains unsupported - it's out there, it's a good product, why not support it on PS4?
Revisiting the PS4 side of the equation, there's definitely a feeling of a lack of momentum but this is almost certainly by design - Sony has never outright prioritised media in the same way that Microsoft has. That said, Xbox One system software upgrades come thick and fast (perhaps too frequently if you're a member of the preview programme) but core functionality upgrades to the PS4's media player are few and far between. We've seen improvements to the DVD player in firmware 1.61, addressing some of our DVD deinterlacing concerns, while 1.75 introduced stereoscopic 3D Blu-ray support. In short, Sony has a very different approach to Microsoft - it covers off the essentials with competence, reliability and quality but obviously it is not attempting to redefine the media experience. We note that our major issue with PS4 media playback - a horrible LoveFilm (now Amazon Instant Video) performance issue - wasn't a problem during our most recent testing. On top of that, surround sound is now definitely supported from both apps on both consoles. Curiously, it seems that PS4 (and indeed PS3) now enjoy Sky Go and NowTV, which may appeal greatly to subscribers.
When it comes to DVD playback, there's no competition. PlayStation 4 upscales standard definition quality rather well, while the image remains very blurry on Xbox One - just as it did in our previous test back in February.
When it comes to DVD playback, there's no competition. PlayStation 4 upscales standard definition quality rather well, while the image remains very blurry on Xbox One - just as it did in our previous test back in February.
When it comes to DVD playback, there's no competition. PlayStation 4 upscales standard definition quality rather well, while the image remains very blurry on Xbox One - just as it did in our previous test back in February.
When it comes to DVD playback, there's no competition. PlayStation 4 upscales standard definition quality rather well, while the image remains very blurry on Xbox One - just as it did in our previous test back in February.
Revisiting console media: big improvements but how relevant are they?
Flawed in places, but enormously improved with some really cute functionality, Xbox One is now a completely viable media proposition as a result of the vast improvements made over the last ten months. Our major issue now concerns the quality of DVD upscaling, which remains very, very poor. Bearing in mind that the major advantages of the consoles over streaming boxes is the support for disc media, this remains a surprising oversight. For its part, PlayStation 4 hasn't changed too much but there have been some improvements to functionality. It does what it needs to with the minimum of fuss and a workman-like competence - PS4 makes no pretence about being a media powerhouse. Its core focus is, after all, "#4ThePlayers".
And therein perhaps lies the crux of the matter. Microsoft designed Xbox One in an era where consoles were being used just as much for media playback - if not more - than they were for gaming. Placing so much emphasis on this proved to be a costly error both in terms of initial marketing and hardware design, but the logic at the time was sound. However, the reality is that media playback is now ubiquitous across virtually all devices - streaming from smartphone or tablet to an HDTV is ridiculous easy, assuming your HDTV doesn't already have smart functionality onboard to begin with. Media playback boxes - like the Roku offerings and their subsidised NowTV sibling - offer a higher level of streaming app support than Xbox One, at prices starting from Ј9.99. In short, Xbox One is a premium level media device in a market now saturated by perfectly functional commodity hardware.
The proliferation of media playback support outside of the console is quickly serving to make the console offerings somewhat surplus to requirements - unless you need a Blu-ray/DVD player of course, where both Xbox One and PS4 offer very similar performance overall. In conclusion, the Microsoft's radical improvement as a media centre is obviously welcome, and we enjoyed using voice and gesture controls, but the bottom line is that access to content trumps this grand vision of the living room of the future. While inexpensive streaming boxes - and indeed in-built Smart TV media hubs - offer access to more TV shows, more movies and a wider variety of content providers in general, both consoles feel somewhat surplus to requirements.
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Using the Xbox One S as a 4K HDR home cinema system: Everything you can do.
10th August 2016.
Microsoft’s Xbox One S isn’t just an awesome games console, it can also replace your home cinema system. Here’s how to stream 4K UHD video, watch HDR movies and TV shows and more, with a detailed break-down of the Xbox One S’ video connections, media features and how it compares to other 4K Blu-ray players.
Microsoft’s Xbox One hasn’t been out a ridiculous amount of time, but the upgraded next-gen Xbox One S is already hitting UK shelves. Of course it can play the biggest new games, but it’s also designed to be an up-to-date home media centre.
From playing 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs to streaming 4K Netflix shows with HDR, this is the ultimate complimentary gadget to partner with your 4K TV. Sadly the Xbox One S can’t handle 4K gaming, but should be a great way to get more 4K video content in your home while also proving more affordable than dedicated Ultra HD Blu-ray players.
Here’s everything you can do with the Xbox One S to set it up as your home cinema centre.
Microsoft Xbox One S as a 4K home cinema system: What ports does it have and can it connect to a 4K HDR TV?
One of the most important upgrades in this system over the previous Xbox console is connectors. While the Xbox One S can’t manage 4K gaming, it’ll be able to play native 4K video content with High Dynamic Range, where the current Xbox One’s physical connections limit it to 1080p Full HD.
On the back of the Xbox One S you’ll find an HDMI 2.0 output that, crucially, is good for HDCP 2.2. That essentially means you’ll be able to connect the console to a television or projector with the same ports and 4K video can flow freely at glorious UHD quality, with HDR support.
Microsoft has also upgraded the graphics chips and processors for the Xbox One S, meaning the playback of these high quality videos should be buttery smooth.
A front-mounted IR blaster and USB 3.0 port mean that access is easy without the need to move the Xbox One S. You can use a remote or plug in a flash drive to access content easily, probably easier than on a dedicated Ultra HD Blu-ray player.
On the rear of the Xbox One S are even more ports, including two USB 3.0, HDMI in and out, IR out for control via an IR blaster, optical audio and Ethernet. For anyone who wants to use voice controls via the Xbox Kinect, there is an adapter available that will allow it to connect via USB – since Microsoft no longer ships the console with that microphone packed extra.
Microsoft Xbox One S as a 4K home cinema system: How does it compare to other Ultra HD Blu-ray players?
At the time of publishing, the Xbox One S is priced lower than all the Ultra HD Blu-ray player boxes on the market. Considering this is also a fully fledged games console, that makes the One S a very attractive offering indeed.
The base model Xbox One S with 500GB storage will be £249 at launch. A 1TB version will cost £299 while the 2TV model comes in at £350.
Ultra HD Blu-rays offer one of the most high quality versions of 4K content available in the home right now. The console also supports HDR so those discs with High Dynamic Range will offer those greater ranges of bright and dark and more enhanced colours on an HDR-ready 4K TV.
This new Xbox model is also smaller than the last (40 percent smaller to be exact), meaning it’ll take up even less space in your TV stand. Plus the large power brick of old is gone, so keeping cables tidy should be easier too. On top of all that the Xbox One S will also stand upright, so varied placement options are there should you need them – something most Blu-ray players don’t offer.
Microsoft Xbox One S as a 4K home cinema system: 4K streaming services.
The Xbox One S comes with Netflix UHD support, meaning you can stream all of Netflix’s 4K and HDR content directly to your 4K HDR TV. This will pop up as you sign in, so you can see what movies and shows are available now – a very tempting pull away from a planned gaming session.
Amazon Prime Video and YouTube should offer 4K streaming on the Xbox One S with future updates. And expect even more apps to support 4K in the near future. You can also run your Sky box through the Xbox for control of everything in one place, so this will likely get 4K support when Sky Q Silver Ultra HD rolls out fully.
Microsoft Xbox One S as a 4K home cinema system: Should I buy one?
If you’ve not got a current games console or an Ultra HD Blu-ray player, then buying an Xbox One S is a must. Of course, there are other factors to take into account.
Microsoft has already announced that its next console, dubbed Project Scorpio, is coming soon and will also be able to support 4K gaming – which the Xbox One S won’t. Sony will also be bringing its 4K offering to the table soon (announcement expected September 2016), for those with PlayStation loyalty.
Buying the Xbox One S console for 4K apps is a bit of a waste, since pretty much all 4K TVs will have 4K apps like Netflix and Amazon Video already available.
However, even for those that already own an Xbox One, the Xbox One S is an upgrade that will get you an Ultra HD Blu-ray player for cheaper than anything else out there – plus a console upgrade.
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Xbox One X and HDR: What does the One X’s HDR10 support mean?
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Can I suggest you do some actual research on this rather than just re-writing the Microsoft PR blurb. I upgraded my TV and Onkyo amp so I too could benefit from all this 4k goodness. Trouble is it doesn’t work! The Xbox won’t play 4K native content through the amp as it can’t see the signal correctly. Having spent ages on the phone with Microsoft they admitted that the Xbox should really be connected directly to the TV to work. Not very helpful when you might want to benefit from surround sound. Only suggestion was using an optical cable to connect to the amp for sound. Not great as means downgrading my 7.1 to 5.1. So basically I should have stuck with my old Xbox One as the picture would have been upscaled anyway.
You should also read.
Best Philips 4K HDR TVs for 2017: 9002 OLED, 7502, 6482 and 6412.
Microsoft’s Project Scorpio is the ultimate home cinema system: 4K, HDR, UHD Blu-ray, Dolby Vision and more.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium tips, tricks and hidden features.
Xbox One X and HDR: What does the One X’s HDR10 support mean?
Best 4K HDR projectors 2017: Our favourite projectors for outdoor viewing this summer.
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