It has been a year since I last wrote on my blog so I though that I would update my experiences with both consoles.
In March last year I stated that I was slightly in favour of the PS4. However, since then X Box One has been updated to a greater extent and my preference now tips towards X Box One.
Progress with the 7 items mentioned in my previous post is as follows:
No 1 Voice messages – No progress and this remains the one remaining disappointment on X Box One.
No 2 Game Install Times – X Box One has fixed this by providing a choice about updates at install time. If you have slow internet like me, always select the install later option. Both PS4 and X Box one are now about the same.
No 3 – Compulsory Game Install to Hard Drive. Same on both consoles and this is not going to change but is mitigated see 2 and 6.
No 4 Media Extender.
X Box One fixed.
How to:
- Install the free Media Player App on X Box One (from the Store)
- On your computer, make sure that picture / music / video files are shared and in their respective libraries
- Ensure that the X Box One is ticked as “allowed” in Control Panel / Network and Sharing Centre / Media Streaming Options
This app will play all files including the Media Centre Recorded TV .wtv files.
No 5 Playing videos on external drives.
X Box One – fixed. Plays .wmv and .mp4 (will not play .wtv files – but see “4” above.)
PS4 – I plugged in a USB 2 and USB 3 thumb drives with .wtv .mp4 and .wmv and did not see the drives.
No 6 Hard Drive size.
X Box One has mitigated this issue by allowing an external Hard Drive to be attached and added to the storage space. I now have a 2TB USB 3 External Hard Drive plugged in at the back of the console with this drive fully integrated into the console’s storage space. (Set this up in Settings / System / Storage.)
PS4 has not changed in that you can install a bigger (internal) drive.
I could not get my PS4 console to see either a USB 2 or 3 thumb drive but according to “the internet” you can attach an external drive for video and music storage but not saved games. It must only work with a powered drive.
No 7 Access to Videos / pictures / music over home network.
X Box One – now works just like X Box 360 – See No 4
PS4 – No progress but said to be coming in 2015.
OTHER
- Both consoles now support 3D Blu ray
- X Box One has a basic media remote but there is no official media remote for PS4 (I want media remotes like the 360 and PS3 had.)
CONCLUSION – UPDATED
With updates, the X Box One now has only to get voice messages to have everything that the X Box 360 had. I see that you can also get a Free to Air digital tuner for X Box One (for Australian Channels) so that you can use the Kinect voice controls to watch TV. I have not bought one and it still cannot work with Foxtel like it does with cable TV in some other countries.
The PS 4 has fallen a little behind in the terms of the items mentioned above. But it remains that if you want to play one line with your friends you have to retain or get the same console as they are using.
Otherwise I think that X Box One just might be ahead at this time.
I have both and I now rarely play on 360 or PS3. Also I have to say that the best game I have played on either new console is “The Last of Us” which is exclusive to PS4. On the other hand “Far Cry 4” which I have on X Box One is also very good.
The Last of Us
This is a great game but I played it through twice before I realised that there is not enough of the pills or machine parts to max out Joel’s abilities and his weapons. It was only after reading some of the “walkthroughs” on line that I realised that you have to restart as the “continued” game so that you retain your pills and parts from the previous play through and can max out everything on the second play through. I must be getting old!!!