That is not what I have been reading.  The 1.80 firmware release provides for horizontal scaling, but no vertical scaling.  Also, there doesn't seem to be a concensus on how the firmware is doing the scaling, i.e. - which hardware resource it is using.

Can you provide a link that gives more information regarding the hardware scaler?

Well, in the absence of anyone willing to provide links to references, I found one on my own: http://www.beyond3d.com/content/articles/16/2

It's a well written article, and appears to be derived primarily from the developer community, which is a good thing as it is likely more authoritative as a result. Here is a quick summary of some of the highlights:

1. The latest SDK provides for horizontal, but not vertical scaling
2. Having only horizontal scaling doesn't allow for going from 720p to 1080i/p, but it does allow for going from a 720p-like resolution, 960x1080, to 1080i/p.
3. The author speculates this is implemented via a hardware scaler, but has no information to back it up
4. Specific details surrounding the scaling are being kept close-to-the-chest by both Sony and the developer community... the author vaguely refers to factors that are driving this, but refuses to elaborate
5. No information is currently available regarding future updates that would include vertical scaling

Switching 720p-native resolution data to the odd 960x1080 resolution is definitely possible, but could prove to be impractical for a variety of reasons. For PS3-exclusive titles, this could be a poor-man's way of getting 1080i/p upscaling, but it would definitely require a different approach to texture resolutions, etc.

It would be nice to know if Sony really does have a hardware scaler under the hood (or if the new SDK/firmware is simply using part of the Cell or GPU to do this), but for now it doesn't appear that we will have a definitive answer.

I am going to assume that there isn't a hardware scaler until someone produces a link demonstrating otherwise. Here's why:

1. If a hardware scaler is in the PS3, then it's a mystery why Sony would not have used it for both DVD/game upscaling (they're currently upscaling DVDs in software).

2. If the box has a scaler and they plan to provide access to it, then Sony would be much better off simply telling the Sony community that the PS3 has the hardware and that a solution is coming. Instead, they have decided to remain quiet on the subject, and according to the article, they have apparently asked their devs to do the same

I already provided links to dailytech.com and others to hotchips.com.

^^ I will take a look when I get home.

Okay.  I read the dailytech.com article, but it just referred to the beyond3d.com article that I linked to.  As far as the hotchips link... I was the one that provided that.

So we really have 3 links so far:

1. hotchips, which talks about the SCC but only speculates that it might be in the PS3

2. dailytech, which refers to the beyond3d link

3. beyond3d, which talks about the 1.80 release and the horizontal scaling it provides, but only speculates that there might be a hardware scaler involved

I still can't find any direct reference to a hardware scaler in the PS3... just speculation.  There very well could be one in there, but it's a mystery to me why it's taking Sony so long to provide a full SDK interface to it if that's true.  Either Sony had problems integrating it into the system, they're using the scaler for something else that can't be interrupted, or it's not there.

I'm open to suggestions as to other possibilities.

At least with the horizontal scaling in 1.80 it *is* possible to provide upscaling from the funky 960 x 1080 resolution.  Time will tell if developers decide to use it, or opt to wait for full upscaling functionality.

No need  I'm a psychic and I read MikeB's mind, here's his indesputable factual opinion on the matter:

-The powr of Th3 Cell in the PS3 lets it scale to any resolution ever created by mankind

-Th3 Cell is so powerful the PS3 doesn't even need a TV, it transmits straight to your brain

-The C3ll is so amazing the PS3 fought Chuck Norris and won!

I would go on but it gets kind of disturbing after that

I walked by a friend's PS3 the other day and my limp disappeared... I guess it must be the Cell processor and it's magical qualities.

All kidding aside, the Cell is a very powerful processor, but I'm absolutely puzzled by the lack of a hardware scaling solution in the PS3 (well, at least it's a partial solution right now).   It would be nice if someone with the requisite knowledge could help us out, but after reading the beyond3d article, I'm guessing they don't have the liberty to do so... probably some sort of non-disclosure issue.  This is probably true for MikeB if he's in the know.

Sony Exec: "We understand you've been living a dual existance, Mr. Mike... a programmer by day, and a VGChartz poster by night."

MikeB: "How about I give you this (raises the finger), and you give me my phone call?"

Sony Exec: "But what good will a phone call do you, Mr. Mike, when you have no hardware with which to scale?"

MikeB: "MMMMBBBMBMBM!!!!!!!!"

Neither the PS3 nor the 360 can do any kind of hardware upscaling. The 360 upscales using one of it's CPU cores. This is handled fully by the OS, independent of the games. Upscaling on the PS3 is handled by one of the Cell SPE's. But unlike Microsoft, Sony left this up to the developers. They can use the SPE for upscaling, or they can use it for something else. It's too late now for Sony to add SPE upscaling through the OS, as that would break compatibility with many older games.

The so called "horizontal scaling" is just a software hack that allows for true interlaced field rendering. It makes it possible for developers to support 1080i while still using all the SPE's for other stuff. However this adds a *lot* of extra work for the developers. Don't expect to see many (if any) games that support this mode. The PS2 supported 1080i field rendering, but only two games ever included this mode; Gran Turismo 4 and God Of War 2.

Close, but take a look at page 10 of this MS Powerpoint presentation describing the 360 architecture.  The GPU does hardware scaling.

www.hotchips.org/archives/hc17/3_Tue/HC17.S8/HC17.S8T4.pdf