Modding consoles is quite the risky business. After all, whenever you take apart a console by yourself, you're voiding the warranty and it may not work after you put it back together. Ben Heckendorn (or Ben Heck, as he is more commonly known) is not that kind of modder. He is the modder that modders all aspire to be. Check out why and what he just did to a backwards-compatible Sony PS3 in the full article.

HDMI may be the better choice compared with component output, but how much of a better choice? Judge for yourself as GameTrailers makes a comparison video of the two signals using Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as the guinea pig. Check out the video in the full article.

It was just a couple of days ago when we learned about SCEE's plans of releasing a new set of high-range AV cables to be used with the PlayStation 3 and other Sony gadgets. Not to be outdone, Sony Computer Entertainment America sent in a press release today containing its first party lineup packages of USB 2.0 and video cable.

Judging from how these cables are presented, it seems that Sony is further pushing the compatibility of the PS3 and the PlayStation Portable. Check the new packages after the jump!

Sony Europe IT Peripheral Division announced today a new range of AV cables that is set to complement the midrange HDMI cables already introduced by Sony. This specific range include digital HDMI, component video, SCART, optical digital audio, coaxial digital and stereo audio.

Other details and the list of features after the jump!

Word is being passed around various internet forums about a new PlayStation 3 SKU with specs that will either make your jaw drop, or raise your eyebrows. It all started when folks found out that Sony Sony registered a certain model labeled CECHG06, similar to the 40GB PS3's CECHG01.

With Sony's mysterious machine in the records, some who claim to be insiders revealed what they stated to be the next PS3 SKU's specs straight from Sony Computer Entertainment International's (SCEI) Japan offices. Here are the details on what's supposed to be a monster package that will be made available in Japan:

• Code: CECHG06 (SPECIFICATION)
• Sony PlayStation 3
• 160gb 2.5 SATA 5400rpm HDD
• CELL Broadband Engine (65nm process) @ 3.2ghz
• PPU x1, SPE x8
• RSX GPU (65nm process) @ 550mhz
• Blu-Ray Optical Disc Drive @ 2x
• Memory Card Reader- Memory Stick Duo, Compact Flash, Secure
• Digital
• 6x USB 2.0 ports
• 2x HDMI 1.3 ports
• 3x Gigabit ethernet ports
• DUALSHOCK 3 controller

As other forum posters would say, six USB ports and two HDMI ports sound a wee bit excessive. According to someone who claims to be an insider, the 20GB PS3 in Japan will be cut off and the 60GB will receive a price cut. There won't be any Japanese 80GB SKUs, so the hardcore would have to look at the hefty 160GB package.

Keep in mind that we are yet to receive any confirmations. While there is indeed a CECHG06 model registered to Sony since September 21, 2007 as listed on Singapore's consumer protection website, the leaked specs are currently without proper credit. We're all ears for any official Sony statements, so watch this space!

 

The 40GB PS3 as pure "rumor and speculation"? Hmm, indeed. It looks like there are more evidences to the contrary, however. This time around the latest evidence of the new PS3 SKU is a new PS3 model posted in the FCC exhibits list, added only recently. This particular PlayStation 3's model number is CECHG01, and is packed with the following specs: Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and some other specs found in other PS3s.

Here's the thing: the 40GB PS3 rumor points to a stripped-down version of the console - without any USB ports - but this new PS3 in the FCC exhibits list includes ports for USB, HDMI, and Ethernet.

There's a small chance that the new model in the FCC is NOT the cheaper version of Sony's PlayStation 3, so we'll have to wait around a bit for a few more details just to be sure.

Check out the FCC entry in the Read link!

Today marks a special day in Sony's campaign in the next-generation console cycle as the new 80GB model of its high-end PlayStation 3 console launches in stores across America. The 80GB model, which is set to replace the existing 60GB PS3, was announced shortly before this year's E3 Business and Media summit in Santa Monica.

The new PS3 carries a larger hard drive, the standard Cell Broadband Engine, SIXAXIS controller, Blu-ray drive and 1080p HDMI output. It's priced at US$ 599 and comes bundled with the platform's best selling game MotorStorm.

The arrival of the 80GB PS3 is in conjunction with the price reduction implemented for the still unsold 60GB versions. Sony explains that the price reduction was spurred by the plan to sell all of the 60GB PS3s by fall of this year and have the new ones take over the shelves.

Peter Dill, Sony Computer Entertainment America's (SCEA) senior vice president for marketing, says, "The 80GB PS3 offers expanded options in the PS3 family of products for those who want to enjoy more downloadable content."

Sony claims that it will have some 120 first and third-party games by the end of the fiscal year in March of 2008, along with 270 Blu-ray movies and more downloadable content in its PlayStation Network service.

Guys who are reading this may want to check on their PlayStation 3s, as word is out that the North America release for Firmware 1.90 is primed and ready. This update reportedly went up at 11 p.m. central time, although its changelog hasn't been released for viewing - we'll update as soon as this info is released.

For the moment, guys downloading the update can opt to view Japan's fw 1.90 changelog from our previous post - all conveniently translated in Babelfish. Maybe we just might be looking at the same thing with our version here:

• Games on the XMB can now be sorted
• Inclusion of "eject disk" on the option menu
• BD/DVD setting now provides an option for 24Hz output over HDMI
• CD music output also has new options for output frequency: 44.1, 88.2, and 176.4 kHz
• Output settings will be available for PSOne and PS2 games.
• Bookmarks can now be added
• Browser Security will be added to the tools of the PS3 internet browser
• Video settings can be changed in-game
• Music settings now include "Bit Mapping"
• Emoticons and avatars are included in the chat, avatars move in reaction to audio in AV chat
• AVCHD type animated pictures can be saved from Memory Sticks
  

Stick around when we get our hands on the English (spelled with an "L") version of this list. That's all to report for the moment. With that said, we thank SuperVegeta and Surftycoon for this major heads-up!

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*UPDATE* Article originally posted Jul 23, 2007 at 09:40PM

Well, it's not much of an official US changelog as "changelogs" usually go, but our download's just finished and we decided to copy the features list for the new update. Here it is, reproduced word-for-word:

Main Features Revised In System Software Version 1.90

• A wallpaper feature has been added. You can now select a photo to display as the XMB (XrossMediaBar) background.
• You can now use emoticons in messages under [Friends].
• Support for text entry in simplified Chinese characters has been added.
• You can now select traditional Chinese characters as a text entry method.

The movie industry has had few and far between when dealing with issues of the game industry. It is the biggest and most mature sector in the entertainment front since music. While most bickering over the next-gen console wars happened in-house, the movie buffs were unmoved by the fans' enthusiasm for their favorite consoles and the companies backing them.

Unforgiving critics themselves, entertainment media mogul Entertainment Weekly took a step back to review their impressions of today's next-generation consoles: the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Sony PlayStation 3. And it appears that they were no more excited for any of the consoles than they were the first time around.

The Xbox 360 hasn't changed in grade at all, with their midterm impressions not changing from their first encounter with the console. They leave the grade at A- in anticipation of a price cut this year, although they do agree that the Wii may take the throne soon. They note that a strong game lineup and a good online network will keep the Xbox 360 as "the console to beat," although it must be fair to point out that it just celebrated its first anniversary while the other two are still starting out.

The Nintendo Wii, according to Entertainment Weekly, is the probably the biggest disappointment to them - dropping from a high B+ to a low B- - after a drought of really good games had the console giving off the first signs of "Wii-nnuii." The lackluster lineup of titles has outweighed the console's growing sales numbers and the lack of truly online games tip the balance against the Wii's favor. Even one of Nintendo's big three titles is enough to bring their Wii-nthusiasm back, but as they say, "no one's likely to care."

The PlayStation 3 is a technological marvel to the movie critics, especially because they are fans of the high-definition movie experience. The HDMI and the Blu-Ray DVD experience is one thing to behold in the CELL-powered console, something that even the Xbox 360 Elite lacked without a packaged HD-DVD add-on.

The game lineup for the PlayStation 3 isn't any more varied than the Wii, and Sony's lack of a "bold executive decision" to slash prices left the reviewers no choice other than to dip the grade. But just in case Sony does drop the price just once before Christmas, they're temporarily notching the score at a B- from their first impression of a B.

Original Article (Posted on Jun 27, 2007 at 10:28PM)

Guys who were expecting to see the PlayStation 3's latest firmware update within the next few days may want to check their console right NOW, as FW 1.82 has been (quietly) uploaded on the net.

An expected update FW 1.82 will carry is AVC High Profile (H.264/MPEG-4) playback support, as detailed by PlayStation Network Operations Director Eric Lempel. That's it for the moment, given that North America and Japan's PlayStation sites haven't posted any info on 1.82. Keep posted as we pick up more details, and hopefully a changelog.

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UPDATE:

We found a Japanese list of the changelog over on Japan's PlayStation site. The changelog they've posted confirms AVC High Profile support, as well as one other detail, which we're listing below in all its Google-translated glory:

PlayStation of the part in PS3 and operational status of the PlayStation 2 standard software were renewed. < The private search sight > with you can verify up-to-date operational status.

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Update 2:

The official US Playstation site just released the changelog for PS3 FW 1.82 and we've posted it below, in all its English glory, for all of you. Note that some of the following general changes and major additions in FW 1.82 have already been incorporated in previous firmware updates:

• Upscaling game or DVD output
• You can now upscale the video content of PlayStation® format software, PlayStation®2 format software, and DVDs to HD resolution.
• Copying saved data to a memory card
• You can now copy saved data from PlayStation® format software and PlayStation®2 format software to a memory card or a memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2).
• Using the DLNA client feature
• You can now display images or play music or video files that are stored on a personal computer or digital video recorder with DLNA Media Server functionality over a network.
• Printing Images
• You can now connect a USB printer to print images.
• Using remote play outside the home (via the Internet)
• You can now use remote play over the Internet.

More changelog specifics behind the Full Article link below!