PS3 Slim launched yesterday. So how did it go? Well it didn't seem to be as popular as the launch a few years ago - understandable as its only a different shape with no new cutting edge features.
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The main launch event was at Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara.
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By 9AM there were so many people lining up that it was difficult to count how many. My ballpark figure is two?
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And this was the line by 10AM. Everybody lining up seemed to have blocky-face disease.
Like the PS3 commercial though - directed by the Timothy who also done my Nikon commercial.
And here is the Nikon for folks who have not seen it.
The PS3 launch event back in November 2006 - see the photos in the PS3 Tokyo Launch article.
Friday, 4 September 2009
PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware sales jump last week amid price cuts
PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware sales jump last week amid price cuts, both beat Wii for once
If you're sick of hearing your grandmother brag about how popular her chosen console is while she rocks your world in Wii Sports Bowling yet again, maybe this news will finally shut her up. Last week, thanks to a flurry of price cuts and slimming waistlines, the other two players in the console war saw significant sales boosts. Xbox 360 numbers jumped 32 percent over the week before and the PS3 was up an impressive 104 percent. That puts all three consoles neck-and-neck for the American weekly sales lead, each one close enough to 75,000 units that the margin of error more than covers the lot. But, since both price cuts officially went into effect part-way through that week, we're expecting even bigger surges ahead -- and even bigger drops from the Nintendo's offering as we get further and further away from the release of Wii Sports Resort, seemingly the last game worth playing on the thing.
If you're sick of hearing your grandmother brag about how popular her chosen console is while she rocks your world in Wii Sports Bowling yet again, maybe this news will finally shut her up. Last week, thanks to a flurry of price cuts and slimming waistlines, the other two players in the console war saw significant sales boosts. Xbox 360 numbers jumped 32 percent over the week before and the PS3 was up an impressive 104 percent. That puts all three consoles neck-and-neck for the American weekly sales lead, each one close enough to 75,000 units that the margin of error more than covers the lot. But, since both price cuts officially went into effect part-way through that week, we're expecting even bigger surges ahead -- and even bigger drops from the Nintendo's offering as we get further and further away from the release of Wii Sports Resort, seemingly the last game worth playing on the thing.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
PS3 Slim at Downtown Office Building
The PlayStation 3 Slim has been a subject of much rumor and conjecture. We have contributed to some of this earlier this summer. Our initial assertions to the timing of the public reveal of the PS3 Slim was a bit off, but where there is smoke there is fire.
According to VG247, IGN may already have a PS3 Slim. About 45 minutes into the newest Game Scoop! podcast one of the podcasters may have said something they shouldn’t have.
Transcript
“Because we have one for real.”
“Yeah, but that’s…”
“Yeah, but that’s under wraps.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t supposed to say that, was I?”
“We can edit that out. David can edit that out.”
“45 minutes. OK.”
This isn’t any confirmation, but does lend itself to the resent mystique of the PS3 Slim. I wouldn’t expect Sony will not have any response.
According to VG247, IGN may already have a PS3 Slim. About 45 minutes into the newest Game Scoop! podcast one of the podcasters may have said something they shouldn’t have.
Transcript
“Because we have one for real.”
“Yeah, but that’s…”
“Yeah, but that’s under wraps.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t supposed to say that, was I?”
“We can edit that out. David can edit that out.”
“45 minutes. OK.”
This isn’t any confirmation, but does lend itself to the resent mystique of the PS3 Slim. I wouldn’t expect Sony will not have any response.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
PS3 Firmware 3.0 - Grief reporting, reputation system, background patches, multiple audio outputs, more [Update]
VG247 has learnt that PS3 Firmware 3.0, “a completely new system” for the console, is to release pre-Christmas with a raft of major feature updates.
The software upgrade has been described to us as “a huge overhaul”, and was compared to NXE “in some respects”.
The before-rumoured reputation system will be included. We were told that, “A reputation system in which users will be able to evaluate each other will be provided for… game applications.
“There will be a new API available to so the user can… allow users and also obtain users’ reputation.”
A “grief reporting system” will be included in the update, allowing gamers to take screens of offensive players and submit them to Sony. Apparently this is going to be similar to the LBP system, and is likely to include a text input.
Firmware 3.0 will allow patches will be downloaded in the background, meaning you’ll no longer have to sit staring at the screen while Random Shooter updates itself with a 500Mb fix.
There’s more. Simultaneous HDMI and digital optical outputting will be included in the release, a move likely to bring big smiles to the audio heads in the crowd.
We’ve been told a lot more on this, but you’ll just have to wait. Rest assured, 3.0 will be significant. Just remember where you heard it first.
The software upgrade has been described to us as “a huge overhaul”, and was compared to NXE “in some respects”.
The before-rumoured reputation system will be included. We were told that, “A reputation system in which users will be able to evaluate each other will be provided for… game applications.
“There will be a new API available to so the user can… allow users and also obtain users’ reputation.”
A “grief reporting system” will be included in the update, allowing gamers to take screens of offensive players and submit them to Sony. Apparently this is going to be similar to the LBP system, and is likely to include a text input.
Firmware 3.0 will allow patches will be downloaded in the background, meaning you’ll no longer have to sit staring at the screen while Random Shooter updates itself with a 500Mb fix.
There’s more. Simultaneous HDMI and digital optical outputting will be included in the release, a move likely to bring big smiles to the audio heads in the crowd.
We’ve been told a lot more on this, but you’ll just have to wait. Rest assured, 3.0 will be significant. Just remember where you heard it first.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Sony Ericsson Unveils PS3-compatible Cell Phone
It's not the PSP phone, but it's close. Sony Ericsson yesterday unveiled three new mobile phones including Aino, a cell phone that can sync with both your PlayStation 3 and PC. Aino also features an 8.1-megapixel camera with geotagging capability; 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity; a physical keypad; and a three-inch touchscreen.
Pull From PS3
Using the Remote Play feature designed for the PSP, Aino can pull almost any content off your PS3, including music, videos, and photos. What about games, you ask? Sorry, HD video and games are not syncable, but like I said, this is not the fabled PSP phone that first hit the rumor mill in 2007; Aino is just a phone that happens to talk to your PS3.
The upside is you can use the Remote Play feature to pull files from your PS3 wherever you are in the world. Sony Ericsson didn't specify whether Remote Play will work over a 3G connection. Aino will also sync with the media files on your PC via Sony Ericsson's proprietary Media Go multimedia manager. Just drop your Aino into its charging stand and Media Go takes care of the rest via Wi-Fi. Aino users in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the U.K. will also be able to take advantage of the PS3's TV place-shifting and DVR feature PlayTV. Sony first unveiled PlayTV in 2007, but the feature has not yet come to North American PS3 models. PlayTV lets you use your PSP or Aino to remotely watch recorded and live television over the Internet via your PS3.
Out of the box, Aino comes with a charging stand, wireless stereo headphones, and an 8GB SD card — Aino is not compatible with Sony Memory Sticks. Aino will come in black and white, and be available in select markets this fall. Sony Ericsson did not specify when or if Aino will be coming to North America, but I'd say its arrival here is a pretty safe bet.
Other New Phones
Alongside Aino, Sony Ericsson also announced two other phones: Satio and Yari. Satio is the ultimate camera phone, including a 12.1-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch widescreen touch display; and running the Symbian OS. Satio previously debuted as Idou at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Sony Ericsson's Yari packs a respectable 5-megapixel camera, but is designed for the gamer with a built-in accelerometer for iPhone-style gesture and motion gaming. Satio and Yari will be available this fall; U.S. release dates were not announced.
In addition to announcing three new phones, Sony Ericsson said it will release details about its own application store during next week's JavaOne conference in San Francisco.
Pull From PS3
Using the Remote Play feature designed for the PSP, Aino can pull almost any content off your PS3, including music, videos, and photos. What about games, you ask? Sorry, HD video and games are not syncable, but like I said, this is not the fabled PSP phone that first hit the rumor mill in 2007; Aino is just a phone that happens to talk to your PS3.
The upside is you can use the Remote Play feature to pull files from your PS3 wherever you are in the world. Sony Ericsson didn't specify whether Remote Play will work over a 3G connection. Aino will also sync with the media files on your PC via Sony Ericsson's proprietary Media Go multimedia manager. Just drop your Aino into its charging stand and Media Go takes care of the rest via Wi-Fi. Aino users in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the U.K. will also be able to take advantage of the PS3's TV place-shifting and DVR feature PlayTV. Sony first unveiled PlayTV in 2007, but the feature has not yet come to North American PS3 models. PlayTV lets you use your PSP or Aino to remotely watch recorded and live television over the Internet via your PS3.
Out of the box, Aino comes with a charging stand, wireless stereo headphones, and an 8GB SD card — Aino is not compatible with Sony Memory Sticks. Aino will come in black and white, and be available in select markets this fall. Sony Ericsson did not specify when or if Aino will be coming to North America, but I'd say its arrival here is a pretty safe bet.
Other New Phones
Alongside Aino, Sony Ericsson also announced two other phones: Satio and Yari. Satio is the ultimate camera phone, including a 12.1-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch widescreen touch display; and running the Symbian OS. Satio previously debuted as Idou at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Sony Ericsson's Yari packs a respectable 5-megapixel camera, but is designed for the gamer with a built-in accelerometer for iPhone-style gesture and motion gaming. Satio and Yari will be available this fall; U.S. release dates were not announced.
In addition to announcing three new phones, Sony Ericsson said it will release details about its own application store during next week's JavaOne conference in San Francisco.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Size comparison of the PS3 and PS3 Slim
Anyone who has seen the leaked images of the PS3 Slim has surely wondered how the size compares to the original PS3. A new image has surfaced thanks to NeoGAF member RanoNL. The pic shows an original PS3 standing vertically, and along side it what appears to be a PS3 Slim standing vertically.While we aren’t sure of the validity or the origin of the image, it clearly shows that the PS3 Slim (if that is the same PS3 Slim as the leaked pics) is significantly smaller than the original PS3. Taking a closer look at the image, it doesn’t appear as though it has the ‘PS3′ logo on the bottom, so there is a chance this isn’t the same PS3 Slim case as the one shown in the leaked pics (which again we believe is real).
For now all we can do is speculate until Tuesday, June 2 at 11AM when the SCEA E3 Press Conference (which we will be live-blogging as it happens) starts, and the PS3 Slim is finally revealed.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Sony PS3 Price Cut Around The Corner (SNE)
Sony's (SNE) PlayStation 3 is still getting its butt kicked by Nintendo's (NTDOY) cheaper Wii and Microsoft's (MSFT) older Xbox 360: In April, Sony sold an estimated 127,000 PS3s in the U.S., according to research firm NPD Group. That's 30% below Microsoft's Xbox sales -- and Nintendo's Wii is still outselling the PS3 almost 3-to-1.
Based on comments from Sony's earnings call yesterday, now it seems the company is preparing price cuts to make the PS3 more affordable -- and give the platform a chance. (For more context, Sony sold 35% more price-reduced PS2s last month than PS3s, according to NPD.)
Based on comments from Sony's earnings call yesterday, now it seems the company is preparing price cuts to make the PS3 more affordable -- and give the platform a chance. (For more context, Sony sold 35% more price-reduced PS2s last month than PS3s, according to NPD.)
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