A trademark filed by Sony Corporation in the US hints that support for high-resolution audio could be coming to a host of new devices, including the PlayStation 4.
The filing sees Sony trademark its 'Hi-Res Audio' logo, but also lists a number of 'goods and services' for its use.
Gaming sites, such as Dualshockers, have leapt on the inclusion of "computer game programs for home video game machines... hand-held games with liquid crystal displays". This could point to the inclusion of high-res audio on the PS4, PS Vita or even the forthcoming PlayStation TV.
MORE: High-resolution audio: everything you need to know
The Sony Music Unlimited streaming service is currently Sony's focus where music is concerned – could Sony be gearing up to include high-res files?
Qobuz is currently the only streaming service to support better than 320kbps quality audio on a subscription streaming service, offering CD-quality streams (as well as high-res downloads).
That said, the trademark ruling also lists "optical disc players, digital audio players, audio speakers, DVD players and recorders" and plenty more product categories besides. So it could simply be a case of Sony covering all potential bases. We shall see.
PlayStation TV, Sony's answer to Apple TV that'll also bring with it second room PS4 gaming, is due in the UK this Autumn, and is likely to be the next PlayStation product launch in the UK.
MORE: PlayStation 4 review
by Joe Cox
