PS3 bug, Apple sues HTC, and more on the Weekly Wrapup
This was a big week in tech news. Sony's PS3 had a clock bug that rendered many PS3s useless. Apple pulled out the big guns and sued HTC over iPhone patents. Microsoft managed to sell millions of copies of Windows 7. Those stories and more on the Weekly Wrapup.
Apple sues HTC: TechVi Now
Apple is charging HTC with infringing on a bunch of its iPhone patents. Also, the clock bug that caused many PS3s to become unusable is now fixed. Find out about these stories and more on TechVi Now.
PS3 outsells Wii and Xbox in September
Prompted by a recent price drop, Sony's flagship gaming console beat both the Wii and Xbox 360 in last month's sales numbers. The company sold 410,000 PlayStation 3 consoles, a whopping 76% improvement over last year's figure, versus 390,000 Wiis and 350,000 Xboxes. Nintendo was the hardest hit, as sales of the "casual gaming console" were down 45% from last September, while Microsoft turned in a respectable 1% gain with its aging machine.
Sony addresses questions and complaints on new PS3 firmware
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Sony has released firmware 3.0 for their line of Playstation 3 consoles, and many users have found that not all of the new features are so hot. Sony has put up a post on their official blog, addressing many concerns like game crashes and what might be done to change the ill-received general look and feel of the new update.
PS3 Slim sales gaining steam, lots of steam
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Sony's PS3 Slim hardware is seeing a big jump in sales both in the US and UK, signalling a big catch-up versus its competition. Some reports of the US sales show that the svelte revision of the console have seen sales jumps of 50% to 100%. In the UK, sales results are showing an even grander increase, with reports showing a 1,000% jump in sales.
Sony says they are “bringing 3D home” in 2010
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Sony has announced a big push to bring 3D into the average home in 2010. Sony is getting ready to launch BRAVIA LCD HDTVs that support 3D in 1080p, as well as Blu-ray disks, VAIO machines, the PlayStation 3 and CyberShot cameras. The televisions will be out in time for Christmas.
Playstation 3 Slim far less power hungry than its fat sibling
CNET's Crave blog details a series of power benchmarks that put Sony's PS3 Slim to the test. In each benchmark, the Slim uses around half the amount of power as the original model. While the original Playstation 3 used around 180 watts to even watch a simple YouTube video, the PS3 Slim uses just 85 for the same task.
Slim PS3 hardware still not making money on its own: Sony exec
A Sony executive noted in an interview with The Times Online that the newer "slim" PS3 still costs more for Sony to manufacture than what it's selling for. Engadget estimates that Sony will lose $40 for each new console that will be sold, but the exec was quick to note that the overarching software, peripherals and services platform makes up for it.
Sony to unveil 250GB PS3 Slim according to FCC
Sony tried its best to get the PS3 through the FCC without alerting gadget bloggers, but those same journos have unearthed the PS3 Slim going through the FCC using a company pseudonym "Sand Dollar Enterprise, Inc." instead of Sony. Luckily, also filed in the FCC docs, is another unannounced model which sports a 250GB hard drive vs. the current model's 120GB.
Rumor: Sony to launch PS3 “slim”, debut at gamescom expo
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Rumors are growing to a fever pitch that Sony will announce a new "slim" version of its PlayStation 3 at gamescom expo in Cologne, Germany on August 18th. Retailers in Japan have been getting notices to pull the 80GB version from shelves and Amazon has seen price cuts to existing models and temporarily listed the slim model on its German site. Further fanning the flames comes news the Engadget was sent a cease and desist after posting supposedly leaked photos of the new console.