April 26, 2007 - Sony has unveiled its next-generation EyeToy for the PlayStation 3, featuring a host of improvements including new microphone for online voice chat, plus the ability to capture videos and save them to the hard drive.

Dubbed the PlayStation Eye, this new version includes "huge advances in USB camera and microphone technology [and] is set to revolutionise the experience of online communication on the PlayStation Network" according to Sony.

New to the PlayStation Eye is a noise-cancelling microphone which reduces background noise to focus on your speech when chatting to people online. Meanwhile, the camera itself can be used to take photographs and create videos or audio files, which can then be saved to the PS3's hard drive. The Eye Camera also comes bundled with software - called EyeCreate - for editing or adding "eye-catching effects" to your creations.



Eye Camera can capture up to 120 frames per second, for smoother video, and is engineered to work in low-light too, meaning it doesn't need a brightly lit room to function properly. There's also an adjustable zoom lens, featuring a 56º field of view for head-and-shoulder chat, plus a 75º field of view to capture the whole body, doubtless for EyeToy-style arm-waving games.

Sony Europe boss David Reeves said: "PlayStation Eye is a great example of how we have moved forward so significantly with our technology. PlayStation Eye has four times the resolution, twice the framerate and double the sensitivity of its predecessor the EyeToy USB Camera. With the technology that we now have at our disposal we will be able to dramatically improve the communications experience enjoyed on PS3."

Thanks to http://ps3.ign.com/articles/783/783275p1.html for sharing the news with us!