Remember when the PS3 came out? It was comfortably the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market. That was a huge selling point for the console, trust us. When the PS2 first launched we conducted a survey that showed that over 30% of the early adopters bought it primarily for its DVD playback.
We haven’t seen figures for the PS3 in relation to how many consumers picked it up as a Blu-ray player, but the release strategies and state of the market are comparative and a similar percentage would’ve been expected. (we’ve contacted Sony for this statistic and will update you when/if we get a response)
In fact at the time of the PS3’s launch, the Blu-ray diode that powered the ROM was the costly and relatively difficult to produce component which stalled the release of the system in territories like Australia, and where Sony was losing much of its money on each console sold.
Earlier this week we reported that the Xbox 360 had received another pric... More »
French coders known as the BlackDevs Team (composed of Darkside, Zer01ne, and Spimort) have released an alpha version for their 0x584d42 XMB alternative project.
Note that this version is still in alpha, and was released to the public more as a proof-of-concept than anything else. For now though, the XMB's functionalities encompass Recovery, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, and Network.
There are two versions released by the team, one for Time Machine v3.40 (Phat), and another for Despartar Cementerio 7 v4.01 (Phat, Slim). The readme in both archives are included.. enjoy!
Many users live with boot problems or re-install Windows and start again, but there is a better way. If you learn what happens during the boot process then you'll be able to diagnose and fix any issues that might arise.
The BIOS
The boot starts with your PC's BIOS, which grabs its settings from CMOS RAM before initialising your video adaptor and any expansion cards. A Power On Self Test does basic hardware checks, tests your RAM if required and usually delivers a single beep to indicate that everything is working.
If there's a problem at this point then the BIOS will display an error message or issue a number of beeps; check your motherboard manual to figure out what they might mean. If it's accessible, launch your BIOS setup program to confirm that no settings have been changed. If they have, this could mean that your motherboard's CMOS battery has failed, in which case you'll need a replacement.
Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program aims to deter the use of illegally copied versions of Windows, but it may end up helping hackers in China.
Microsoft's WGA program tests Windows installations to determine whether they have been legally purchased. As implemented in some countries, like China, WGA turns the user's desktop background black when it detects an illegal copy of Windows. The goal is to encourage users to pay for legitimate software.
According to a BSA-IDC study, 82% of PC software in China is pirated.
The so-called "black screen of death" -- which doesn't impede computer function like Microsoft's "blue screen of death" -- has prompted an outcry against what Chinese users... More »
Things haven’t been going over too well in the Sony camp since the launch of the PS3. While it sold faster than the PS2 in comparison to its launch, the PS3 has been a financial pain in Sony’s side for the past two years.
The added state of the rest of the economy have finally culminated in Sony seeing 10% of their market share value drop rapidly. So what does this mean for the PS3?
In a story by rte (among many others) Sony’s operating profits are expected to drop by an inexcusable 65%. Competition has been stiff. And even though many reporters blame the Wii, it’s actually Microsoft’s Xbox 360 that has been eating into Sony’s gaming sales.
It wasn’t the Wii that the PS3 lost Devil May Cry’s exclusivity to, nor was it the Wii that gave gamers an alternative for games like BioShock, Eternal Sonata, Unreal Tournament 3 and Fatal Inertia. Said games helped give Microsoft an ... More »
Global services firm Ernst and Young believes the Indian gaming market is turning its back on grey and black market trading, and now has all the elements in place for huge future growth.
The expansion of the Indian economy, increasing disposable incomes and a greater acceptance of gaming as a legitimate form of entertainment are just some of the reasons why the country’s video gaming scene is ready to explode, said the international firm.
“Indian consumers are warming up to gaming as an entertainment alternative with proliferation of gaming devices moving northwards,” explained Farokh Balsara, industry leader M & E and TCE Advisory leader for Ernst and Young.
“Disposable incomes of the upper middle class are growing with the economy, favourably influencing gaming growth.
The action, though, is still restricted to the top eight cities but with the right investments the potential for box business in India is immense.... More »
Some interestng speculation on ps3fanboy about the potential target date of the PS4 and cell processing. To quote:
Perhaps the PS3 was a bit too ahead of its time. The console was almost absurdly expensive when it launched -- and not just for consumers. In spite of an initial $600 price tag, Sony lost hundreds of dollars on every system manufactured.
The combination of Blu-ray drive and Cell processor made the PS3 a bit too bleeding edge, perhaps. A report from respectable Japanese site PC Watch suggests that Sony may be considering a cheaper alternative for the next-generation PS4.
Nintendo found great success (and profitability) with Wii by releasing hardware that was only marginally more powerful than the Gamecube. Sony may mimic that trend by having PS4 hardware based on the same Cell architecture as the PS3. Keeping the same architecture will help developers, many which h... More »
It's a long time since the first sighting of a Personal Armor Unit on Tabula Rasa - and that one was disassembled.
Now, on TR's public test server, the first prototype mech has been unveiled that players can test-drive. PlanetTR.com board poster RWScissors has bagged a couple of screenshots of the stompy vehicle in action.
The original plan for PAUs called for one specific type per tier-4 class. It's not yet clear whether the developers have stuck to this plan or revised it, though the hint given by new lead designer Susan Kath of 'a cool new system to allow you to customize your mechs through a type of alternative advancement' may suggest the latter. The possibilities have Tabula Rasa players very excited, if unsure about the exact role the mech is meant to play.
For the immediate future, the best source for definitive information on the PAUs m... More »
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