29w ago - Following up on the previous
rumor and
PS4 (Orbis) details,
IGN has shared some video footage and details on Version 2 of the PlayStation 4 (PS4) Developer Kits below.
According to their source, a new version 2 of the PlayStation 4 dev kit is currently being distributed to developers with the final version expected next year.
To quote from their page (linked above): Anonymous sources have reportedly told
VG247 that new versions of the Orbis kit are winging their way to developers, replete with Blu-ray support and housed in the humble cases of normal PCs.
This is apparently the second iteration of the dev kit; the first, which appeared earlier this year, was in essence just a graphics card, while this version is now a "modified PC". The report asserts that the next update will come in January, when it'll be close to final specifications, with the ultimate version landing with devs next summer.
The shipping of the Orbis kit apparently follows a series of meetings held by Sony in the US this week, where the company explained what the machine was designed to do and how to get the most out of it. Interestingly, at these meetings it's been claimed that Sony didn't refer to the machine as "the PlayStation 4" at all, instead opting to use the "Orbis" title at all times.
The dev kits are apparently based on the AMD’s A10 APU series and come with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM, as well as the Blu-ray drive already mentioned and a 256GB hard drive as standard. This is to ensure that the console will be able to run 1080p60 games in 3D.
The Orbis kits have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, as well as HDMI out slots; so pretty much exactly what you'd expect to find on your current PlayStation 3. However, the big reported difference comes with the UI, which has been designed to be more fluid and allow extensive navigation anywhere on the system simply by pressing the PS button mid-game. This was demoed to the assembled masses by purchasing DLC from the PS Store without quitting the game.
No details were leaked about the system's controller. IGN reached out to Sony for comment, but were told the company "doesn't comment on rumor and speculation."
the System software version 4.41 is what i have. And I have an external hard drive which is 500 GB. I might be being thick is there a process on need ...
Thanks for the update 
To quote from Gameranx.com (linked above): "First off, the magazine states that the PS4 won't even be named the PS4. While it will still have the "PlayStation" name attached to it, there won't be a number 4 next to it.
The reason is that the number 4 is pronounced "Shi" in Japan and in Chinese. "Shi" also has the same sound as "death" so that makes it a very unlucky number for a lot of people in the world. It's so reviled that "many hospitals in Japan have therefore no room with the number 4 or even a fourth floor - similar to a few high-rise buildings in the West no 13th Floor have."
The PS4's codename, which is now known as Orbis, could even be part of the final name. For the rest of the details, read on below (via NeoGAF).
Second Games of the first generation will look like the high-end PC demos on watchdogs and Star Wars 1313 or Square Enix's Luminous tech demo.
• PS4 demos to be shown by Sony at E3 2013th
• PS4 games will not run well at 4K 'Ultra HD' resolution.
• The standard resolution of the PS4 should be at 1080p and 60 fps.
• If 4k can be used, then probably only for videos.
• Used games are not readily run on the PS4.
• Sony is planning certain protections in the PS4, including perhaps an online pass or something similar.
• The memory should be at 4GB to 8GB
• The PS4 will probably have 4GB of memory, but in the end could have 8GB: If the Microsoft Xbox 360 successor have 8GB memory, then Sony would be put under pressure and should follow suit.
• 16GB flash memory are planned.
• The PS4 will not be backwards compatible with PS3 games.
• Games need to be registered to PlayStation Network account.
• The paid premium service PlayStation Plus will be an important pillar of the PS4.
• Every PS4 should be shipped with a PS Move compatible controller and camera.
• Classic games will be available via cloud gaming (Gaikai).
• "In-Game" Advertising is to keep on the PS4 collection.
• The console will use an AMD Accelerated Processor (4 cores). The chip carries the code name "Liverpool" and is produced in a 28-nanometer process.
• The PS4 will cost about EUR 400 to EUR 500 in Europe, where Sony has here probably expect to lose.
According to the post, Sony has not commented, denied or confirmed the info listed above."
From Gsak (via neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=500106) comes another translation as follows:
Forecast: Details about PS4 from PSM3 Magazine
16.11.12 - The British magazine PSM3 has published in its latest issue a report on the PS4. In it, the magazine has compiled all relevant notifications to next generation console from Sony and talked to developers and other sources.
1. The console does not mean PS4
• The PlayStation brand will be present in the device name, but not the 4th
• The number 4 in Japan is pronounced "shi". "Shi" also means death. Many hospitals in Japan have therefore no room with the number 4 or even a fourth floor - similar to a few high-rise buildings in the West no 13th Floor have.
• The code name of the console is - as reported - currently Orbis and could perhaps later be part of the final name.
2. Games of the first generation will look like the high-end PC demos on watchdogs and Star Wars 1313 or Square Enix's Luminous tech demo.
• PS4 demos to be shown by Sony at E3 2013th
3. PS4 games will not run well at 4K 'Ultra HD' resolution.
• The standard resolution of the PS4 should be at 1080p and 60 fps.
• If 4k can be used, then probably only for videos.
4. Used games are not readily run on the PS4.
• Sony is planning certain protections in the PS4, including perhaps an online pass or something similar.
5. The memory should be at 4GB to 8GB
• The PS4 will probably have 4GB of memory, but in the end could have 8GB: If the Microsoft Xbox 360 successor have 8GB memory, then Sony would be put under pressure and should follow suit.
6. 16GB flash memory are planned.
7. The PS4 will not be backwards compatible with PS3 games.
8. Games need to be registered to PlayStation Network account.
9. The paid premium service PlayStation Plus will be an important pillar of the PS4.
10. Every PS4 should be shipped with a PS Move compatible controller and camera.
11. Classic games will be available via cloud gaming (Gaikai).
12. "In-Game" Advertising is to keep on the PS4 collection.
13. The console will use an AMD Accelerated Processor (4 cores). The chip carries the code name "Liverpool" and is produced in a 28-nanometer process.
14. The PS4 will cost about EUR 400 to EUR 500 in Europe, where Sony has here probably expect to lose.
Sony has not commented or confirmed the information.
Finally, from http://www.vgleaks.com/orbis-roadmap/ to quote: Hi everybody and Happy New Year !!! We expect many great things for the new year.
To inaugurate the new year we have some new info about the next generation console manufactured by Sony: Orbis.
In this case we have the earlier roadmap.
• 2011 June/July - PC with Win7 64-bit and a "jailbroken" ATI r9 graphics card
• 2011 Sept/Oct - PC with Win7 64-bit and a "jailbroken" ATI r10 graphics card
• 2012 Q1 - disclosure to more developers
• 2012 E3 - potential unveiling window start
• 2012 Jul - devkits for engineers writing OS
• 2012 Q3 - first true hardware prototype devkits
• 2013 E3 - potential unveiling window end
• 2013 Q4 - launch
More PlayStation 3 News...
I just think Microsoft needs to step there game up - but why should they when they're making tons of money sponsoring Call of Duty and such that everyone wastes away their money on? Long story short, I'm ranting because Microsoft isn't very original but makes endless amounts of money while Sony is probably the most creative of the three and they're making the least amount of money because of it.
He's also wrong about the A10's power - the "integrated" GPU performs about on par with a Radeon HD 7670 and is much, much more powerful then the intel i3's integrated GPU - and, remember, we're talking about a gaming console here.
We're not going to be multitasking like crazy and rendering videos - part of why I think the 8-16GB of RAM is completely unneeded but also the CPU isn't used for much in gaming, especially considering how powerful CPU's are today and the fact that games are using them less and less as GPU's advance even more. Oh, and here's a video comparing the A10 and i3's performance in some games and benchmark applications (Actual video starts at 0:40):
What happened to the Cell chip? Are they dumping the whole thing? I am very skeptical of this. I don't really doubt the 8gb ram too much. Dram is cheap and console ram is going to be a cheap variety of dram. Though consoles designers do split nickels when spec'ing the unit out so I could see them dropping it once the whole thing is optimized.
If this is the best they can do, I would like to see them wait a year or two more. The Ps3 sucks compared to the gaming PC I have hooked up to my TV. As it should because my ~ 1.5 yr old GPU cost more than a PS3. But it doesn't suck so much that I never use it, because I am playing AC3 now on it, when I could be playing the PC version in a few weeks.
There isn't much of a wow going between the 2 systems. It's 1080p with better AA,AF and draw distance vs. 720p. I notice the difference, but how is the mass market gamer going to notice this? What is going to make him or her want to plop down several hundred dollars on a new console? And what is going to make them pick PS4 over WiiU and Xbox1080?