PlayStation Network claims 20 million users

PlayStation Network claims 20 million users

While the PlayStation 3 continues to be regarded as the runner-up in online console gaming, the system's growing library of free to play online titles has helped PlayStation Network (PSN) grow to double every year, and the growth continues.

Last year, Microsoft said it had reached the 17 million subscriber mark for Xbox Live, but more recent numbers are not yet available. The company made a strong push early this year to attract more users to the online gaming service by dropping the price of an annual subscription to $30 from the customary $50.

Though direct competitors, it sometimes appears that Sony is in a different boat from Microsoft altogether. While Microsoft has to move to attract console owners to its online service, Sony has to use the online service to attract users to its console.

When considering this, it's no surprise that nearly 95% of PS3 owners are also PSN members (20 million PSN members out of 21 million consoles sold), while only 66% of Xbox 360 owners are Xbox Live subscribers (est. 18.5 million users to 27.93 million consoles).

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PlayStation Network claims 20 million users

Secretive Sony Ericsson Shows 12.1-megapixel Camera Phone

Secretive Sony Ericsson Shows 12.1-megapixel Camera Phone

Sony Ericsson is working on a touchscreen phone with a 12.1-megapixel camera it announced on Sunday, but details on the upcoming Idou device was scarce.

The company did say that the Idou will come equipped with a 3.5-inch touchscreen in the 16:9 format and a Xenon flash.

Just like when the Sony Ericsson launched the Xperia X1, at Mobile World Congress last year, it will take many months before the Idou -- which is only the concept name, according to Sony Ericsson -- shows up in shops. The phone will start selling during the second half of 2009.

Keeping the momentum going from now until then will be a challenge for Sony Ericsson, according to Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight. It also gives competitors like Samsung the opportunity to launch and start selling devices with similar specifications ahead of Sony Ericsson, he said.

The Idou is based on what will become the Symbian Foundation operating system; the upcoming open source version of the Symbian operating system. It competes with, for example, the Goggle backed Android platform. Sony Ericsson is working on a phone based on that platform as well, but isn't ready to announce any details yet.

Closer to being in stores is the W995 Walkman, which will be available during the second quarter. The phone comes with an 8.1-megapixel camera, support for AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) and a bunch of music features, including a 3.5mm audio jack. It surfs the using either Wi-Fi or HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access). Pricing was not announced.

Many upcoming Sony Ericsson phones will, just like the W995, combine music and camera plus also something extra -- which, for example, can be support for watching movies on the device.
To back that up Sony Ericsson is also working on a movie download service, which eventually will fall under the Play Now umbrella. But yet again Sony Ericsson is frugal with the details.

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Secretive Sony Ericsson Shows 12.1-megapixel Camera Phone

Control a PS3 from your BlackBerry

Control a PS3 from your BlackBerry

Game\Shadow takes convergence to a whole new level

Ever held your BlackBerry towards your PS3, wondering in desperation why you can't control the action on the screen? Well, your worries could soon be over thanks to a natty piece of new software.

No longer do you have to suffer the ignominy of multiple devices to control multiple things, as Unify4Life's Game|Shadow allows you to use a BlackBerry as if it were a PS3 control pad.

By connecting a little dongle to the PS3, you can work all your magic from the fun of your smartphone.

Not only that, but Blu-ray discs are also included too, so you could probably throw that controller out the window (though we advise you don't... you'll probably want it for actually playing games properly).

Eh? V?

In fact, add in another little program (AV|Shadow) and you'll even be able to change the inputs on your AV system as well!

If that wasn't enough for you (yes, there's more), you can also navigate to pre-defined bookmarked sites and you can even use the BlackBerry's keypad to input text (probably the most useful feature of the lot, as few people ever bother to plug a keyboard into the system.)

You should probably watch the video to decide for yourself whether it's worthwhile (you have to make a lot of button presses just to do something that takes usually one with a standard controller) but hey, everyone likes different things.

Anyway, it's available for $39.99 (around £29) and can be ordered over the internet from pretty much anywhere. So if you love your BlackBerry so much you want to use it for EVERYTHING, get on over to Unify4Life's website.

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Four new colours for the PSP

Four new colours for the PSP

Nothing says 'funky games console' like a host of colour options, which is probably why Sony's PSP has just been released in four bright hues in Japan.

The Japanese electronics giant has not had a good time of things of late, and it was its gaming division that took a lot of the heat for poor financial returns.

But if anything can turn things around, surely it's the arrival of the PSP in "Vibrant Blue," "Radiant Red," "Bright Yellow" and "Spirited Green".

Carnival

The so-called 'carnival colours' range is Japan-only for now and available in limited numbers, although should the home nation go wild for the new colours, then it's a fair bet they'll make a move west.

Currently the PSP is available with three outer coats – Piano Black, Pearl White and, more rarely, Mystic Silver.

But wait, there's more: Sony's also serving up a celebratory range of official peripherals for the handheld including a colourful 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, an original PSP pouch, battery packs and, for completionists, even a wrist strap and cloth.

We'll keep you informed should there be any mention of UK availability.

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PSP gets 5.03 firmware upgrade

PSP gets 5.03 firmware upgrade

The Sony PSP has been given a minor firmware upgrade, with 5.03 soon available for download to the device.

The update brings no new features, but should make crashes a little less prevalent.

Heads up

As usual, Eric Lempel unveiled the news of the update on the official PlayStation blog, saying: "Hi, everyone, I wanted to give you a quick heads up that a new PSP firmware update, v5.03, will be released soon.

"This is a small update that improves system software stability during use of some features."

The PSP still has a long way to go until it can compete for sales with Nintendo's DS, but TechRadar has always been a firm fan of Sony's handheld and its partnership with the PS3 has boosted its popularity.

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Sony slashes PS3 costs by 35 Percent

Sony slashes PS3 costs by 35 Percent

Sony (and its legions of fanboys) certainly hopes so. And the news that the Japanese consumer tech giant has managed to cut the PS3's component cost by 35 percent certainly bodes well for the future of the console.

According to research firm iSuppli, the first gen PS3 cost US$690.23 to produce, based on mid-2007 component prices.

Based on October 2008 component prices, the PS3 now costs $448.73

PS3 future looking bright

Which means two things. Firstly, Sony's console is still being sold at a loss (US RRP is $400), albeit a notably smaller loss than in 2007.

However, on a brighter note, "the PS3 may be able to break even in 2009 with further hardware revisions," iSuppli said in a statement.

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Sony slashes PS3 costs by 35 Percent

Is a massive 120GB PlayStation 3 on the way?

Is a massive 120GB PlayStation 3 on the way?

The PS3 rumour mill is in overdrive once again. This time the big (non) story is that Sony is planning to ditch its 80GB model and replace it with either a 120GB or 160GB version and a new rumble-enabled DualShock 3 controller.
Either version would enable Sony to directly challenge Microsoft's 120GB Xbox 360 Elite, although it's far from being a done deal. In fact, according to our sister site CVG.com Sony has moved to dismiss any further internet gossip concerning a 120GB player for the UK as being little more than "rumour and speculation."

Need for more storage is clear
That said, it does seem likely that Sony will want to launch a higher-capacity console, to offer potential buyers a choice between a 'basic' 40GB games console and Blu-ray player, and a more full-on 'bells and whistles' multimedia device.
In any case, the need for a higher-capacity model will become even more important for Sony following the launch of their PlayTV software allowing PS3 owners to watch and record digital TV.
Already available in Japan, Sony's new DualShock 3 controller is expected to begin shipping in the US and Europe within the next couple of months. Sony fans have been universally demanding the return of a rumble-enabled wireless controller since the PS3 was launched.
Although the SixAxis controller features motion detection, it lacks the all important rumble feature. The DualShock 3 is also motion sensitive. Sony hasn't yet said if it will eventually become a standard accessory bundled with all PS3 models, but we certainly wouldn't bet against it.

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Is a massive 120GB PlayStation 3 on the way?