The PlayStation 3, Folks: Your DVD Library Just Got Upgraded!

Ken Kutaragi Speaks:

"Users will be able to store their content in an online storage server called the 'Cell Storage.' And the Cell processor, when it's not being used, can refine the content's quality. We call it the 'aging' process. For example, users can 'age' their Standard Definition (SD) video and up-convert it to High Definition (HD) video. We have many plans [for the PS3], but this 'Cell Storage' service is something that we definitely intend to launch. By using the Cell's security feature, users will be able to rip DVDs that include copyright protection and lay it in the storage area to refine its video quality."

Basically, what this means, if they can really get it to work, is that the Cell processor will upload your DVD video, then interpolate the pixels that "should be there" to up the resolution to HDTV standard, and give it back to you.

This is just one of the many things Kutaragi had to say about PS3, but it's a very, very interesting one, and one which begs a question: seeing as the PS3 is BLU-Ray capable, why upgrade to BD-DVD movies when you can convert your existing DVDs using this Cell-aging process?
Hmmmmm.
Also interesting was this little bit:

"In terms of codecs, the Cell has the power to easily transcode high-quality [pictures and audio] in real-time. So [file] formats won't really be too important," added Kutaragi.

Which means that basically as long as the format is something that the PS3 can understand AT ALL, it can transcode and return it in whatever form you like. I want to see the apps to do that; I really, really do.
More importantly, though, is that I'd like to see an eventual release of the OS the PS3 uses, to make an SDK available for open-source developers. After all, the PS3 does sport a hard drive; you can certainly upload to it basically anything you feel like, if it'll run. One can hope, although despite their promises not to make future consoles Sony-specific in terms of hardware / software (Memory Stick just LEAPS to mind,) it does seem somewhat doubtful. Kutaragi can say that he and Sony consider SD and Memory Stick to be one and the same if he wants to; I've seen tooooooo many manufacturers go down the hellish road of proprietary equipment to take it for granted. I hope you're not kidding, guys; I'll believe it when I see it.