56w ago - Today we received word from Dutch site OmbouWnederland.nl (ConsoleWinkel) of a rumor that a Sony PS3 Blu-ray drive emulation PCB is currently in development which will allow users to unlock their PlayStation 3 console without the use of Custom Firmware or dongles.

Reportedly they have been in contact with ChinaDistrib.com who stated a team (possibly the Wasabi or Drivekey team) is working on the PS3 Blu-ray drive emulation PCB that is slated for release later this year.

They have also speculated via e-mail that the project has been kept under tight wraps due to Sony being unable to stop this new PS3 hack via Firmware updates, meaning once it becomes public Sony's legal team will be on the warpath in full force.

Below are some concept pictures (not actual finished product pictures) from their site and the details, roughly translated as follows:

"PlayStation 3 drive emulation

No hacking, no flashing, no modding. Emulation is the future. A team is currently working on a new hack for the PlayStation 3.

The Blu-ray player, Sony's PCB has been cracked and costs can thus be gekloont. The team probably Wasabi or Wiikey team...

93w ago - Quite some time ago we reported that Korean company LG wanted Sony's PlayStation 3 and Bravia televisions banned in the US for patent infringements relating to Blu-ray playback.

Today Reuters (linked above) reports that both Sony and LG have finally settled their bitter Blu-ray patent dispute through a cross-licensing deal.

To quote: "LG Electronics and Sony said on Thursday that they have resolved patent disputes between the two firms spanning smartphones, TVs and Blu-ray technology, with LG adding that they have signed a cross-licensing deal.

LG and Sony recently agreed to drop patent infringement lawsuits against each other," a spokeswoman at South Korea's LG Electronics said. Sony confirmed this, but declined to comment further.

Sony had filed a complaint against LG with the U.S. International Trade Commission, seeking to block LG from shipping its Rumor Touch and several other smartphones to the United States.

LG also told the...

122w ago - Previously we reported on a PSN ban rumor which was followed by speculation on preventing bans, and today Dutch site PS3-Sense (linked above) claims that according to SKFU Sony plans to combat PS3 piracy with Blu-ray disc serial keys.

Similar to what's been done with PC games in the past, when you buy a PS3 or PSN game you'll get a serial key with it which you can use up to 5 times.

This gives Sony a signal that you are authorized to play the game and that you have a legal copy of the game, and the serial key only works with the same Blu-ray disc with the same serial number.

To quote, roughly translated: "From a very reliable source (SKFU) we have heard a striking new feature of the PS3. The feature would be present even at the PlayStation Network but is currently still hidden.

It is a serial system which Sony will soon start working on. Since the root keys are on the street you can see every homebrew tool (including backup...

143w ago - Spanish PS3 developer DemonHades has inadvertently leaked Sony PS3 and Blu-ray Service Manuals for the PlayStation 3 entertainment system as a result of his Web server's security being compromised.

Download: Sony PS3 and PSP Service Manuals

PlayStation 3 developer circles have had access to the documents for a few years so the information they contain is not new, however, the confidential SCE documents have just reached the public's eye today.

This news comes just under a week since word of the PS JailBreak PS3 modchip first surfaced.

Finally, below are the leaked file names for those curious, however, they are intended for use only by licensed developers.

• sm-bdd-0013e-01-0.rar - SM-BDD-0013E-01 - BDPT-1001 BPX-2001 - BD DRIVE SERVICE MANUAL 1ST EDITION
• sm-ps3-0013e-02-0.rar - CECHA00, A01 - SM-PS3-0013E-02 - PS3 60GB MODEL SERVICE MANUAL 3RD EDITION LEVEL 3
• sm-ps3-0073e-05-0.rar - CECHC02, C03, C04, C08 CECHE01, EO5, E11 Manufactured by ASUSTek - SM-PS3-0073E-05 - PS3 60GB/80GB MODEL SERVICE MANUAL 5TH EDITION LEVEL 3 FOR COK-002 BOARD
• sm-ps3-0093e-02-0.rar...

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."