10w ago - Following up on the previous reports, today DigiTimes revealed that according to sources Sony is pushing for 16 million PlayStation 4 / PS4 shipments in 2013.

Below are the details, to quote: "Having high hopes on its PlayStation 4 (PS4) game console, Sony internally expects the machine's annual shipments to reach 16 million units in 2013 with the supply chain expected to start mass shipments in August, according to sources from PS4 component makers.

The sources pointed out that the PS4 will be manufactured by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Pegatron Technology, and the player have just begun the processes of request for quotation (RFQ) for the related components. Therefore, the component shipments are unlikely to start until August, but should allow the machine to show up before the year-end holidays in 2013.

Sony shipped a total of 150 million Playstation 2s and 100 million Playstations and has shipped 77 million Playstation 3s over the past seven years."

Finally, in related news Sony tweeted (twitter.com/PlayStation/status/309769646582677506) the following warning to users:

Important: Sites or individuals offering "PS4 beta...

115w ago - As a follow-up to our previous article on PS3 EU shipments being seized as a result of an LG injunction, today GamersDailyNews.com (linked above) reports that PlayStation 3 US shipments are also be on the verge of being seized.

To quote: "In the US, the International Trade Commission has agreed to look into the matter. Four patents are included in complaint and they cover both the PS3 and certain Bravia televisions.

LG is asking to ban sale of the devices in the US market which could provide extremely detrimental to Sony’s bottom line. While this is most likely a scare tactic to get Sony to settle, their injunction win in the EU seems to have emboldened LG and seems there is some truth to their claims.

The ITC is known to take its time in getting round to things and this could see a decision in 16-18 months according to Foss Patents, who also alerted GDN to the ITC vote to look into the complaints. Thank you Florian.

According to Foss Patents: The ITC just announced that it voted to look into both complaints in one consolidated investigation. The new investigation...

116w ago - As a follow-up to our previous article, today the civil court of justice in the Hague has granted LG a preliminary injunction that will see all new PlayStation 3 consoles imported into Europe confiscated by customs for at least ten days leaving only a few weeks worth of PS3 stock left in the channel.

To quote from MCVUK: "Shipments of PS3 consoles have been seized by European customs officers as an LG injunction against Blu-ray technology seeks to block Sony products from sale, according to a report in The Guardian this afternoon.

Earlier this month, LG had filed a claim with the International Trade Commission calling for a block on PS3 sales, saying the device infringes on its copyrights.

The technology firm claims its rival's Blu-ray disc devices use four patented technologies while, Bravia TVs infringe another four.

At the time, the firm said it wanted to have sales of the PS3 (which plays Blu-rays) and other products banned.

And now, surprisingly, its got its way. The Guardian reports that an initial injunction has now been granted by the civil court of justice in the Hague, leading to all new imports of PS3s to be confiscated."

All...

135w ago - As Heise Newsticker reports, German customs has seized shipments of PS3 Break USB sticks yesterday that where on their way from Hong Kong to Germany.

Instead of receiving the PS3 Break, customers received a letter from Sony to either sign a contract to agree the destruction of the shipment and not to import or use any PlayStation 3 JailBreak devices or risk to get sued.

To quote, roughly translated: "The copy protection system of the Sony game console Playstation 3 (PS3) in older firmware versions has been undermined, offer various online stores to specific USB flash drives to copy-protected games to the hard disk and copy the console which can start with.

But German PS3 owners who had such a Stick orders received from abroad in recent days received a letter from Sony's lawyers: A call for caution, including a cease and desist letter.

The customs had become aware of shipments of USB adapters from Hong Kong, after their opening drives with the right-unique name "PS3 Break" came to light.

The customs holds it back, first, because in Germany to the importation of devices which are suitable for one, have copy protection, is allowed to bypass other things.

Sony's lawyers are now demanding from the order that they agree to a destruction of the sticks and...

238w ago - We knew Japan was warming up to Blu-ray, but apparently those tepid desires have morphed into infernos of passion.

According to new statistics loosed by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), Blu-ray Disc recorder / player shipments hit a level of 138,000, or around 107 times more than the shipments posted a year ago.

Moreover, those shipments accounted for 31% of "overall shipments of DVD equipment on a volume basis."

Unsurprisingly, BD equipment -- coupled with flat-panel TVs -- were the two biggest drivers of consumer electronics shipments in Japan this year, with visual equipment shipments rising 8.2% year-over-year.

Blu-ray and HDTV: a match made in heaven. Or Tokyo.