148w ago - While it may not be used for the PlayStation 4 which may utilize optical storage discs, Sony is currently developing new laser technology that is reportedly far superior to conventional Blu-ray discs.

According to Examiner.com (linked above), the new Sony laser tech is said to offer roughly 20 times the capacity of current Blu-Ray discs.

To quote: "The development team of Tohoku University and Sony has completed work on a new laser technology offering 20 times the capacity of current Blu-Ray discs.

The most difficult aspect, if I can make sense of the Google translation as well as I think I can, was reducing the size of the equipment needed to produce such a strong beam of light down to the size of commercial products.

Currently the technology can only be used in experimental prototypes costing over $100,000 to produce. Sony plans to have the laser available to consumers within a few years."

181w ago - Update: PlayStationLifestyle has now confirmed via Logitech's Senior Public Relations Specialist Sarah Youngbauer that this rumor appears to be false, to quote: "This is not something that our company is working on."

Today a rumor has surfaced that Logitech may be developing a UMD drive add-on which could be fitted to the PSP Go to enable UMD media playback.

According to CVG, Logitech UK claim to have never heard of such a peripheral, but concede that the PSP Go UMD drive "may be something the US office is working on."

Their US counterparts, and Sony, have yet to comment.

To quote: "Third party peripheral company Logitech is working on a UMD drive add-on for the PSPgo, a source has told CVG.

Neither a price or release date was given, but we were told that the device will plug into the PSPgo, allowing users to play their UMD games on the portable.

"The only problem is that it'll make the PSP a little bulky", said our source."

201w ago - Just a week ago it was reported that new 3D technology may put your face in Sony's PlayStation Home.

Today, it has been confirmed at Develop '09 that Sony is developing PSEye facial recognition software.

To quote: Some of the advantages boasted by Microsoft's Natal controller are already in the PSEye, Sony said today.

The firm has developed new facial recognition software for the PSEye camera which has been put together after many experiments by both the excellent SCEE R&D team and work with other developers.

"We've got a wealth of libraries available," explained head of developer services Kish Hirani.

He admitted that "it's a lot of fun in the office" and has been tested extensively.

The facial tech can see the position and direction of a player's head and can work out the gender and age of the face, and detects different parts of the face including nose, mouth, eyes, eyebrows, shape of the mouth - and even glasses.

218w ago - A US registered patent filed by Sony Computer Entertainment clues us in to a video game controller sitting somewhere in Sony's R&D labs.

The unnamed input device has a LED on the front and an external power supply. Emitted light is captured by an inexpensive camera and translated into user input data.

Sony's interface program is unique since the device produces one or more colors of light which allows greater flexibility for differently lit rooms.

To quote: Since this information was revealed in a patent we don't know how Sony plans on using said device, if it ever surfaces.

However, multiple patent diagrams showcase the PlayStation 2 which already has a cheap EyeToy camera readily available. You might be thinking Wii Remote knock off, but Sony's controller may not be a wand.

Another diagram shows a different device using the same variable color LED emitting technology. This hypothetical controller is designed to fit on a finger, radiates light from multiple LEDs, and has buttons on the side. Ring controllers... the future of video games?

What do you think about Sony's light input device interfacing program? Could it keep the PS2 going strong past 2010? Should Sony port it to the PlayStation 3? Or scrap the idea all together?

227w ago - A trademark has popped up on Japan's trademark database, registered by Nintendo.

The trademark is for "DS Houi Sensor Card" and in Japanese, Houi means direction, so this has led to speculation that Nintendo is planning its own motion sensing card for the Nintendo DS.

To quote: A curious trademark popped up in Japan's trademark database one registered by Nintendo for a "DS Houi Sensor Card". Houi is Japanese for direction so the trademark is related to a DS card that can detect direction or perhaps even sense motion.

Motion sensing games for the DS have been done before. Slide Mag Kid came out in 2007.

However, it would be interesting if Nintendo built direction/motion sensing directly into DS cards without the use of an accessory. I wonder what Nintendo franchise could make use of such a device.