Ps3Slim
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PS3 meets Hori LCD dock, good things happen
Hori is a company that's no stranger to strapping LCDs to consoles and calling them portable, but for some reason we're quite smitten with its latest monitor docking station. The HP3-87 doesn't stray too far from the formula -- it adds an 11.6-inch screen to a wraparound structure for your PS3, with stereo speakers, two headphone jacks, and composite or component input options. With a resolution of 1,366 x 768, it's well suited to handling the 16:9 signal coming out of the do-everything console, although its 500:1 contrast ratio, 7ms response time, and 200 nits of brightness are perhaps a tiny step behind the times. On the other hand, it's compatible with the Japan-only Torne DTV adapter and it's officially licensed by Sony itself, so it can't be too bad, right? All you Tokyo-ites will have until May 27 to decide, when the HP3-87 goes on sale for ¥26,040 ($276). International release plans are not yet disclosed, but if you really need the portability, you could always grab a PS3 laptop from your local online auction house. Which option will be more useful (less useless?) we leave up to you to decide.
Sony: Don't turn on your PS3 until PSN bug is fixed
Uh, wow. That PlayStation Network issue that struck late last night has officially ballooned into a full-on PlayStation disaster: Sony is now saying you shouldn't use "fat" PS3 models at all, since a clock-related bug might cause data loss. The PS3 slim isn't affected, however -- which explains some of the conflicting reports we heard last night. Sony says they're working to get this fixed in the next 24 hours, but for now it looks like older PS3 owners are out of luck -- we'll do our best to keep you entertained, guys.
Ben Heck's PS3 Slim laptop pops up for sale on Ebay
You're probably already familiar with the work of modder / hacker extraordinaire, Benjamin Heckendorn... and if you're not, well, maybe it's time to familiarize yourself with his work. Regardless, some of his fantastic handiwork has shown up on Ebay for sale, and while we don't want to counsel you to foolishlessly spend loads of hard-earned cash, this is bound to be an heirloom one day. The listing here is for Ben's PS3 Slim laptop -- the one modded from a 17-inch Gateway 1775w LCD with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution -- and its currently at around $1,075.00 with 16 bids on it and roughly 3 days remaining. So if this kind of thing strikes your fancy (and we know that it does) hop to it! Check out our segment of The Engadget Show we filmed at Ben's evil laboratory after the break. Update: It looks like the auction has been pulled just recently, though we're not sure why. Thanks for the heads up, Wesley H. Update 2: And it's back! Phew.
Limited edition Final Fantasy XIII PS3 gets unboxed
Sony and Square Enix have sure taken their time building up anticipation for this one, but the new limited edition Final Fantasy XIII PlayStation 3 is now finally available in Japan, and our pals at Joystiq were lucky enough to wrangle one for an unboxing. As you can see, this one definitely takes things further than the rather understated Final Fantasy VII limited edition PS3, with it boasting a stylish matte white finish and a slightly glossier rendition of the character Lightning in pink -- and, of course, a matching white controller. Hit up the link below for the full unboxing.
Sony considered SSD, network storage for PS3 Slim
Could the PS3 Slim have been even slimmer? It could have, according to Sony's Masayuki Chatani, but it would've cost you. That word comes from a wide-ranging interview Chatani gave to Tech-On!, in which he revealed (seemingly for the first time) that Sony had considered using SSD drives or even network storage to further reduce the size of the console. SSD drives were ultimately rejected, as you might have guessed, due to cost reasons, and Chatani says that network storage ultimately proved to still be simply too impractical for a game console. He also said that the PS3 could have been made slimmer if Sony had just left the power supply on the outside, but that would have "imposed restrictions on transport and use, making it harder to use freely." Not a whole lot in the way of big revelations otherwise, but you can check out the complete interview at the link below.
250GB PS3 spotted in Best Buy backroom, making trouble
It's not quite as delicious when Sony (in a rare move) has actually confirmed its console for a release to market, but just because we know the 250GB PS3 is landing in the US on November 3rd doesn't mean we can't derive any enjoyment at all by the fact that it's been spotted at a Best Buy in Houston, all primed for the shelves. Since the shipment's obviously already been made, we suppose we'll be seeing a few instances of early stocking of the console over the next couple of days, unless Best Buy has considerably cleaned up its act when it comes to launch dates -- doubtful! [Thanks, anonymous ]
How would you change Sony's PlayStation 3 Slim?
For the most part, we'd say that Sony addressed the concerns of many when it introduced the PlayStation 3 Slim. The console was smaller, cheaper and easier on the eyes, and of course the 120GB hard drive didn't hurt matters either. That said, we know that the redesign didn't please everyone, and we've heard more than a few PS3 diehards complain about the new design. If it were you designing a newer, less expensive PlayStation 3, what would you have done differently? Kept PS2 backwards compatibility? Colored it white? Added HD DVD support? Don't be scared to get a little crazy -- besides, they call that "innovation" in the corporate world.
PS3 crashes into Bravia TV at 50 MPH for fun and profit (video)
What happens when you launch a 7-pound (3.2-kg) PS3 Slim into a 46-inch Bravia KDL46X 3100 LCD at 50 miles per hour (80 km/hr)? A video destined to go viral with internet stardom, that's what. Exactly the thing Sony Australia is looking for with a new ad campaign touting its buy a Bravia get a PS3 for free. Awesome, and after the break.
250GB PlayStation 3 Slim coming to US November 3rd
It's no Uncharted 2 bundle (hello, Europe), but US gamers will indeed be getting their own 250GB PlayStation 3 Slim bundle, due to hit stores on Novvember 3rd for $349.99, just one Ulysses S. Grant more than the 120GB model. No other difference beyond the storage capacity, and of course you can always swap out the 2.5-inch SATA drive yourself with warranty kept intact. Holding out for some limited edition artwork or PS2 compatibility? Keep on dreaming.
Sony's 250GB Uncharted 2 PlayStation 3 Slim bundle on sale in Spain
See that there? That's a whole gaggle of 250GB Uncharted 2 PlayStation 3 Slim bundles ready and waiting for owners in a Spanish retailer. Of course, SCEA won't mention if this thing is ever coming to US soil, but hey, that's what importers are there for. Anyone managed to pick one up yet? Let us know in comments![Thanks, Alex]
'Need For Speed Shift' 250GB PS3 box art spied
We saw that new gray 250GB standalone PS3 Slim box the other day, and now we've got a shiny press shot of this Europe-bound Need For Speed Shift bundle, which will apparently retail for €350 -- only €50 more than its non-bundled 120GB counterpart. We'd heard tell of it before from deep within the bowels of the retail establishment, and it was named in Sony's original 250GB press release, but we hope Sony has a bit more to say about its much-rumored lineup of bundles for Europe before they spill all over store shelves on some vague, undetermined date. [Via Engadget Spanish]
250GB PS3 Slim spotted at retail in dapper gray box
The new 250 PS3 Slim might be listed "in stock" on Amazon.co.uk, but it's not arriving until October 6th according to the online retailer. This particular model, however, is up for sale right this instant at some unnamed retail store in Europe -- even though it's hanging out behind a rather messy help desk in this particular shot. Either way, folks in Europe with a hankering for hard drive don't have long to wait! [Thanks, Alex S]
Video: Ben Heck's 17-inch PS3 Slim laptop makes hearts race
Is it us or has Ben Heck outdone himself with the minimal clean design of his latest gaming mod? This laptop sees Sony's PS3 Slim stuffed into a monochromatic chassis with 17-inch Gateway 1775w LCD throwing a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. There's even space inside to tuck away the power cord when traveling. The pinstriped result is nothing short of elegant, sporty even, especially when compared to his PS3 laptop from 2008. Not much in the way of detail yet, but really, this one's meant to stimulate the heart, not the frontal cortex. See it throb to life in the video after the break.
PS3 3.0 / 3.01 firmware update making Blu-ray drive unusable?
What could possibly cause nearly 700 comments on an official Sony blog post announcing the relatively minor 3.01 firmware update for the PS3? Plaudits? A Kanye meme gone awry? No, it's the age old problem of an update that apparently breaks more than it fixes. In this case, a sizable number of users are reporting that the 3.0 and/or 3.01 update caused their PS3's Blu-ray drive to be all but unusable for both games and Blu-ray movies (although some folks report that DVDs still work). Other users are also reporting intermittent problems like no sound, and some problems with specific games, but it does seem like the complaints are pretty widespread and, as of yet, Sony isn't saying much about them. Bitten by the upgrade bug yourself? Let us know in comments.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
250GB PS3 shows up for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk, ships on October 1
In what has become the "hip cool thing to do" for consoles these days, the 250GB version of the PS3 Slim is up for pre-order in the UK before it's been even confirmed by Sony for most of the world. Sadly, it's just the boring old black version -- so far the white PS3 Slim has only been seen making nice with Final Fantasy XIII in Japan -- but at £285 (about $455 US) it is more than double the capacity for only 40 more "quid" than the original PS3 Slim. Pre-orders are available now, and Amazon says the console will ship on October 1. So the question is, do you jump in now, or do you wait for one of the myriad 250GB bundles headed for Europe? It's the moral dilemma of our times. [Via I4U]
Video: a brief history of game console teardowns
Granted, none of these are teardowns we haven't already seen ad nauseam, but seeing every Sony and Microsoft console ripped to shreds and placed side-to-side in a series of glass cases is still a sight to behold. Peruse the display yourself, found at Tokyo Game Show and shown courtesy of the Museum of GAME Science, in a video tour after the break.
PS3 Slim sells 1 million units in 3 weeks, chin chin!
We're not big into tracking sales figures but a million consoles sold is pretty notable. Especially when your 3 year-old console achieves that number in just 3 weeks. Of course, the sale bump is the result of the PS3 receiving a price adjustment, some minor cosmetic slimming, and internal tinkering that most notably decreased power draw (and noise). Good on ya Sony. But we'd love to see auction sales statistics for the same three weeks -- we expect there was an appreciable uptick in demand for first gen consoles with hardware-based PS2 emulation, SACD playback, and 4x USB ports immediately after the PS3 Slim was announced, and its mysteries revealed.
250GB PS3 Final Fantasy XIII bundle announced, ships December
Sony Japan just announced the very first 250GB PS3 bundle. For ¥41,600 (compared to ¥29,980 yen for the standard Japanese PS3), gamers in Japan will receive a limited edition Final Fantasy XIII rig with 250GB disk and Lightning emblazoned across the the body. The PS3 normally ships with a 120GB hard drive but the 250GB version has been rumored ever since the FCC leak. Available for purchase in Japan on 17 December.
250GB PS3 listed with FIFA 2010 bundle for October debut in Spain
We're circling in on a 250GB PS3 Slim, and this time it's made an appearance at Spanish retailer GAME with an October 8th release date and a copy of Euro-centric FIFA 2010 along for the ride. No pricetag or box shot, but we like where this is headed all the same. [Thanks, Alejandro]
250GB PlayStation 3 slim Uncharted 2 bundle leaked?
Well, what do we have here? No sooner do we get a 250GB Xbox 360 on the horizon does this image land in our tip box, showing a PlayStation 3 slim bundle for Uncharted 2 that just so happens to have that 250GB hard drive we spotted in the FCC last month. We've been able to independently confirm that it's legit, but beyond that we've got no clue when it'll be announced or any price / release date information. We wouldn't be surprised to see this hit stores in mid-October alongside Uncharted 2, but that's just a guess on our part. With any luck, SCE exec Kaz Hirai will be shedding some light at his Tokyo Game Show keynote next week -- c'mon Sony, don't keep us in the dark too long. Update: Joystiq points us to this rumor from last week that Uncharted 2, Assassin's Creed II, and Gran Turismo 5 bundles are possibly slated for the UK in October for £299 ($494), just £50 more than the current 120GB model. Update 2: We just got off the line with SCEA, who has denied the photo and told us quite plainly that there's no bundles being planned for America, but that the rep can't speak for other regions (e.g. Europe, Japan) -- not surprising, of course, you can't believe everything you read on the internet, right?
