From pocket-lint.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
In what we can only assume is a public relations blunder, the Sony-backed "HD World" newsletter, designed to promote the Blu-ray format, has revealed a new model of PS3 for Europe.

"In Western Europe by the end of 2008, "Understanding & Solutions" predicts average player prices (as opposed to entry level model pricing), for HD DVD and Blu-ray of $275 and $475 respectively, with the yet-to-be-launched European 80GB PS3 retailing at just over $500."

We got in touch with a Sony Europe spokesperson who stated: "The HD World newsletter is written by external sources, and the report quoted is from independent analysts. There is absolutely no 80GB version of the PS3 planned for Europe in 2008".
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Full Story: pocket-lint.co.uk
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From ps3center.net:
[QUOTE]
The PS3 topped the list as 71% of PS3 owners have an HD display which they play on.
This compared directly to the Xbox 360 at 66% and the Nintendo Wii at 65%.
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Full Story: ps3center.net
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gizmodo.com:
[QUOTE]
Although Sony makes everything from music players to phones to robots to computers to movies, the biggest news of 2007 was made in its gaming and TV lines. Sure, we liked Sony Ericsson W- and K-series' flashy designs and were proud that Vaio PCs joined the increasingly crowded CableCARD home-theater PC market, but nothing topped the PlayStation 3, PSP and Bravia TVs for news coverage or everyday impact. So how did Sony do? Pretty darn well, proving that its learned its lessons from the rootkit massacre of 2005/2006, and that bit of news about exploding batteries.

Overall, they've had a good year. We've seen good product releases from all over the consumer electronics spectrum with no crazy rootkit scandal to speak of. The PlayStation 3 and PSP are finally gaining steam, and the Blu-ray format seems to be doing well for itself. If it weren't for the missteps, Sony would have received an A--but a B+ is nothing to be ashamed of.

Final Grade: B+
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Full Story: gizmodo.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From 1up.com:
[QUOTE]
As Epic explained on its forums delays dotting the i's and crossing the t's held up the tools needed for modders to make their content PS3 compatible. While it usually takes a little while for the mod scene to really cranking anyway, that sparked some disappointment that PS3 gamers wouldn't be able to start adding user-created mods to their game right out of the box.

The public release of those tools remains in limbo (don't worry; it shouldn't be too long our sources say). In the meantime, Epic themselves have stepped in and using their developer version of the tool have packaged up a surprise Holiday treat for PS3 UT3 gamers. The first ever user-created, not to mention FREE, map for Unreal Tournament 3 on PS3 is DM-Shrine by Thomas Browett, who goes by the name Setheran on the official UT3 forums.

Here is how to install UT3 mods on your PlayStation 3.
1. Unzip the file to the root directory of any memory card that is readable by your PlayStation 3. It is already in the proper directory structure but, just in case, the path and filename need to be: ps3\savedata\blus30086-modimport\userdata.jam
2. Boot up Unreal Tournament 3 on your PS3
3. Go to the "Community" menu
4. Choose "My Content"
5. Press the [SQUARE] button to "Import Mod"
6. Follow the directions on the screen to import it from your memory card.
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Full Story: 1up.com
Download: files.filefront.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From themanroom.com:
[QUOTE]
This past Tuesday, Sony released the latest Playstation 3 firmware upgrade highlighted by much-coveted Blu-ray Profile 1.1. Rushing to download the firmware isn't of much use until January 1 when the first Profile 1.1 Blu-ray Discs arrive in stores. That is, unless you get one of the discs early. Which is exactly what we did with Resident Evil: Extinction.
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Full Story: themanroom.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From joystiq.com:
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You know times have changed when the top three spots in Japan's software sales chart are no longer occupied by traditional fare, but rather a miasma of Mario mini-games, a balancercise board and a glorified automotive demo. Gamasutra runs down last week's top ten, highlighting Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue which made its debut in third position with approximately 116,000 units sold. Professor Layton bully, Wii Fit, found itself parking off in second position with 124,000 units after having switched places with Mario Party DS and its 180,000 attendees.
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Full Story: joystiq.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From pcadvisor.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
Developers are increasingly using the PlayStation 3 (PS3) over Microsoft's Xbox 360 as the primary development platform for games, according to a Sony executive.

"We are now starting to see developers creating games on PS3 and then porting them to other platforms such as EA's Burnout," said PlayStation boss Jack Tretton in an interview with IGN.
"We are seeing tremendous progress from the third-party community in terms of what they are able to do with our development kits."

When developers first create games on PS3, they take advantage of the PS3's unique hardware capabilities, maintains the chief executive, before adding, "you will see some very nice things in 2008 coming from our third party partners in addition to what you will see this holiday".
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Full Story: pcadvisor.co.uk
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From ps2dev.org:
[QUOTE]
The "otheros" option has provided a great opportunity for the homebrew development community to develop and innovate with the PS3. Over the last few months a few people that use our forums have been investigating using the 3D aspects of the PS3 GPU. It's a very powerful element of the PS3, so naturally people want to use it. In the last firmware update (version 2.10), the ability to access the 3D graphics has been modified. The method our users have been using has been removed. It is not currently clear if Sony is intentionally removing access to 3D aspects for "otheros" users. Can we get an official statement on whether Sony is intentionally blocking 3D access?

The main reason for this post is that I am concerned that it is Sony's intention to block access to the 3D aspects of the GPU entirely. I believe this is extremely short sighted. The level of access provided by the firmware prior to 2.10 has been accepted and understood by developers. By blocking access to 3D aspects of the GPU, Sony will encourage developers to find exploits that bypass the hypervisor security. These exploits once found may lead the way for further bypassing of security mechanisms. I understand that Sony might want to keep access to the 3D aspects of the hardware for exclusive use by PS3 commercial games. However, what is the danger of allowing homebrew developers access this hardware? Is Sony concerned a developer will create a great homebrew game and sell it through a different channel? The market for "otheros" developers is so tiny that it would not be worth while. It would actually be an opportunity for Sony to potentially pick up and improve some small games ready for the Playstation Network. The reasons to allow access are numerous. Developers will create a better experience when using Linux, create great demos that explore the hardware?s capabilities and maybe create some basic games. None of these things are threatening to Sony's core business.

Another reason for this post is that I believe it will be beneficial to have a contact point with Sony so that we can understand what aspects of the hypervisor Sony does not want investigated. Discussing these will help me and other moderators develop the right forums rules for the PS3. I believe that by having some communication between "otheros" developers and Sony will ensure that the facility is used for what was intended; to create a thriving innovative knowledgeable community.
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Full Story: ps2dev.org
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From engadget.com:
[QUOTE]
That new PS3 firmware that just dropped has a little more going for it than just DivX and WMV support -- Sony's enabled PSP Remote Play of PS1 games from a PS3, no matter whether they're downloaded from the PSN Store or the actual physical games inserted in the PS3's drive.
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Full Story: engadget.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From ps3fanboy.com:
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Stage6 is widely known amongst DivX fans as one of the best places to get high quality streaming DivX video. Unfortunately, the site isn't compatible with the PS3 ... or is it?

URL displayed by browser:
http://www.stage6.com/PS3/video/1827927/PLAYSTATION%C2%AE3---Universe-of-Entertainment

To download this DivX file to your DivX-enabled PS3, you're going to have to edit the video as such:
http://video.stage6.com/1827927/.divx

That's it! Press START, and your PS3 will start downloading the DivX file directly to your hard drive.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: ps3fanboy.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From eurasia.nu
[QUOTE]
Unfortunately it seems Sony have plugged the RSX access according to members over at ps2dev.org, bad news for those of us who want to access 3D graphics from Linux. Check this topic in the ps3 tech forum for hacking related info and download links.
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Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gizmodo.com:
[QUOTE]
* DivX and WMV play back fine. Just as they claimed, the PS3 now can play back DivX files and WMV files. No problemo.
Some readers are reporting that XviD support works. Others have written us saying that some files work, others don't.
Update: We've found that XviD playback does work, but only on burned DVDs and external hard drives.

* Streaming only works off of Windows Media Player 11 shares, not Windows Media Connect or SMB (regular Windows folder sharing). This one could be a biggie. The PlayStation 3 doesn't actually support SMB network shares, which is the default Windows folder sharing network protocol that both Linux and OS X understand. This means you're going to have to install Windows Media Player 11 (or something similar, like Orb) in order to stream video from your home computer. Windows Media Connect, which sits on our Windows Home Server that housed most of our video files, didn't work. WMP11 did.

* The quality is pretty good. When we got the network streaming to work and found a compatible DivX file out of all our XviDs, playback was smooth and (for the most part) artifact free.

* Video dimensions stretch well. The PS3 knows exactly what aspect ratio your files are and stretches them to fit your screen without distortion. The 360 couldn't quite handle that without a little coaxing.
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Full Story: gizmodo.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From uk.playstation.com (page has been deleted, via neogaf.com)
[QUOTE]
Find out what features are included in PS3 system software update 2.10.

An update to the PS3 system software was released on December 18, 2007. If you update your PS3 system, the system software version will be 2.10 and the following features will be updated. In order to download PS3 system software version 2.10, you will need a minimum 120Mb of free space on either the PS3 Hard Disk Drive (System Update) or on removable storage media (PC Update).

The PLAYSTATION 3 system software version 2.10 update includes the following:

* Voice Changer
The Voice Changer feature has been added to voice / video chat. Visit the Voice Changer guide in Help & Support under PS3 at eu.playstation.com for more details.
Using this feature, you can change the tone of a voice that is input from an audio device such as a microphone. High and low-pitched tones can each be adjusted to five preset levels. You can vary the tone when using voice / video chat under Friends.

Other new or revised features in version 2.10

Music
* You can now select [Type 3] as an option under Settings > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping]. This bitmapping process was developed specifically for the PS3TM system to enhance audio playback.

Video
* DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played. *
* Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported. **
* [BD Data Utility] has been added. ***

*
- To play VC-1 (WMV) format files, you must go to Settings > [System Settings] and set [Enable WMA Playback].
- Copyright-protected files or files that were encoded by using DivX 3.11 cannot be played. - Files that are 2GB or more cannot be played.
** You may now be able to use several additional features such as playback of two videos at the same time with Profile 1.1-compatible Blu-ray Discs. The available features vary depending on the disc.
*** The management data that is used by the Blu-ray Disc is saved.
[/QUOTE]

*Update* Actually I noticed the update went live ... njoy.
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From pspsps.tv
[QUOTE]
A new trademark protection application filed by Sony reveals they might have something revolutionary up their well-guarded sleeves.

The December 5th filing covers a quite staggering array of Sony services, including "Computer hardware, set top boxes, remote controls, and computer software and peripherals, namely audio and video receivers and transmitters and computer software programs enabling receipt, download, playing, personalized and interactive viewing, and rental of audio and video programming through the use of internet connections to computer hardware, receiver and transmitter apparatuses that connect to a television set or monitor, computer software for use in database management; computer software for uploading, manipulating, and enhancing digital content, documents, photographs, images, video, and audio; computer software for linking metadata tags with photographic and other media files to enable search engine retrieval and database software collections of files and their on-line sharing...." - the list goes on, even including blankets, ties and pants.
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Full Story: pspsps.tv | trademork.com | tarr.uspto.gov
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
According to The Associated Press, Hirai told the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper that PS3 games will now be Sony Computer Entertainment's main focus following the company's previous attention given to its pricing strategy.

"[The PlayStation 3] is starting afresh as a console to play games with. Although pricing strategy is important, now we would like to put our strength in the number of software games," he said.

He noted that he expects Sony to meet its target of selling 11 million PS3 units by March 31, 2008, the end of the fiscal year, while adding that he would like to see Sony's game division "escape as soon as possible from the red and return to the black in fiscal year 2008".
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, has hit out at publishers who have suggested that console manufacturers need to lower the price of their hardware to improve sales.

Late last month Activision's Robert Kotick said that he wanted to see the Xbox 360 and PS3 priced at USD 199 within the next two years', but Tretton has called this suggestion "unrealistic".

Reacting specifically to Kotick's price cut suggestions in an interview with The Mercury News, Tretton said: "I'm surprised by it, because I would never venture to suggest what software publishers should price their software at.
"So I don't think it's appropriate for them to suggest what hardware should be priced at."
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: gamesindustry.biz
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From ps3fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
Normally when we cover a story about Blu-ray, it comes with the whole "oh, it's outselling HD DVD 2:1" smack talk. However, we can't actually say that for the week ending December 9th. Instead, we can say "oh, it's outselling HD DVD 3:1" and crack a sly grin. How did Blu-ray wipe the floor with their high-definition competitor? It was the third Pirates of the Caribbean film -- Superbad helped out, too.
[/QUOTE]

Full Story: ps3fanboy.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com

From gizmodo.com:
[QUOTE]
The Remote Play functionality on the PS3/PSP is great, but Sony intends to extensively develop the feature set for broader external connectivity. Sony's CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, appeared in Tokyo and detailed how Sony intends to push the ever-booming success of the PS3. It is Sony's vision that the PS3 will eventually be able to link up to mobile phones, streaming all kind of media goodness on the go. As you can imagine, the very prospect has our PSP phone speculation senses running into overdrive.
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Full Story: gizmodo.com
Discuss on our forums: forums.ps3scene.com