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PS3 Wireless Keypad  (Source: Joystiq)
Both new products will be available in November

Sony is continuing on its quest to make its PS3 console the top-selling video game console in the world. It has a long way to go with Nintendo's Wii thoroughly trouncing both the PS3 and Xbox 360 in sales.

In July, the Nintendo Wii outsold both the Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 in America. Nintendo sold 666,000 Wii consoles compared to 405,500 PS3's and 219,800 Xbox 360s. That was a marked increase in PS3 sales compared to May 2008 when the best the PS3 could do was tie the Xbox 360.

In an effort to increase sales, Sony has tried several tactics with its PS3 console from slashing prices to offering limited edition PS3 bundles. In July, Sony announced that it would be pricing the 80GB PS3 bundle at $399 and discontinuing the 40GB PS3 that had previously occupied $399 price point.

The most recent Sony PS3 special bundle was the limited edition gunmetal silver Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. Sony announced its next limited-edition PS3 bundle today called the Uncharted: Drake's Fortune bundle featuring a new 160GB PS3 system.

Sony says the new bundle is slated to launch in November at $499.99 and will come bundled with the Uncharted: Drake's Fortune game, a PlayStation network voucher the downloadable game PAIN, and a DualShock 3 wireless controller.

President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Jack Tretton said in a statement, "As PLAYSTATION Network continues to evolve with our recently launched video delivery service and more exclusive games, PS3 owners are demanding more storage capacity. Consumers also are utilizing PS3 as an entertainment hub for their digital media, placing content such as their entire music collection on the hard drive. The 160GB PS3 system addresses this growing consumer demand in a compelling bundle that delivers significant value."

Sony also made an interesting announcement of a new Wireless Keypad accessory that attaches to the top of standard PS3 controllers at the Leipzig Games Convention. Sony says that the Wireless Keypad is paired to the PS3 by connecting it with the USB cable to the PS3 system. Once paired with the PS3 the keyboard connects to the PS3 with built-in Bluetooth.

One interesting feature of the keypad peripheral is a Touch Pad Button that allows the entire surface of the keyboard to be used as mouse pointer by sliding a finger over the surface of the keypad. The Wireless Keypad is compatible with both the Sixaxis and the DualShock 3 wireless controllers.

The keypad supports chat in PlayStation Home and has shortcut buttons on the bottom of the keypad that allow users to jump directly to features on the XMB (XrossMediaBar) like friends and Message Box during gameplay. The Wireless Keypad is powered by built-in, rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 610mAh capacity.

The keypad uses a QWERTY layout and adds approximately 60g of weight to controller. Sony says the new wireless keypad will be available in America in late November and will be introduced in Japan, Europe, and Asia by the end of the year. Pricing information is unknown at this time.

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Ladies
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/20/2008 2:48:54 PM , Rating: 3
If they come with it, I'm sold.




RE: Ladies
By JasonMick (blog) on 8/20/2008 3:09:39 PM , Rating: 3
Sony: (size 4 font) Booth girls not included with peripheral. Some additional restrictions may apply.


RE: Ladies
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/20/2008 3:10:41 PM , Rating: 2
Awwwwww... :(


RE: Ladies
By FITCamaro on 8/20/2008 3:12:27 PM , Rating: 1
Sold seperately. See Indonesia.


RE: Ladies
By kampret on 8/20/2008 3:46:20 PM , Rating: 3
I don't get it? (I'm Indonesian)


RE: Ladies
By funduck on 8/20/2008 3:48:14 PM , Rating: 3
Lol Anyways who has a bigger picture of the girls?


RE: Ladies
By das mod on 8/20/2008 3:51:52 PM , Rating: 2
ok, i know i started this, but seriously,
is getting old ....


RE: Ladies
By Natfly on 8/21/2008 9:30:57 AM , Rating: 2
RE: Ladies
By mattclary on 8/21/2008 10:25:03 AM , Rating: 2
I love gadget waifs...


RE: Ladies
By Screwballl on 8/21/2008 10:38:07 AM , Rating: 2
At least DT showed the 2 cute ones... the other 2 are........ less desirable. Of course I wouldn't kick them out of my bed for eating crackers.


RE: Ladies
By deeznuts on 8/21/2008 1:35:45 PM , Rating: 2
Crumbs be damned!

I'd totally stain the dark haired on though (of the two cute ones)


RE: Ladies
By FITCamaro on 8/20/2008 4:16:20 PM , Rating: 2
Slave trade.


RE: Ladies
By kampret on 8/20/2008 4:35:32 PM , Rating: 3
Wow.. didn't see that coming.. you must either be a very close-minded person, a Malaysian, or have a bad taste in joke.. (hope it's the later)


RE: Ladies
By mmntech on 8/20/2008 4:50:32 PM , Rating: 2
It's true unfortunately, though apparently Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia have the biggest issues with sex slavery. I didn't see Indonesia mentioned in what I've read.

On topic, I wouldn't mind the PS3 keypad since it would be nice to easily surf the web without having to turn my PC on all the time. I had bought a cheap wireless (non-Bluetooth) keyboard but it's too bulky to use from the couch and has terrible battery life.


RE: Ladies
By FITCamaro on 8/20/2008 5:12:03 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry. Meant the Philippines.


RE: Ladies
By Disenchanted on 8/20/2008 5:39:04 PM , Rating: 4
Wait...You turn your PC off? How do you sleep at night? The horror.


RE: Ladies
By bigjaicher on 8/20/2008 6:32:58 PM , Rating: 2
Thailand? They don't have a slave trade in sex. They have prostitutes, but not slaves.

Russia's the country that has the sex slaves.

And, on another thought, does this one also not have backwards compatibility?


RE: Ladies
By daftrok on 8/21/2008 12:15:58 AM , Rating: 2
There is no backwards compatibility for now. They'll implement it if there is a significant demand for it (I'll give you a hint, THERE ISN'T!).


RE: Ladies
By deeznuts on 8/21/2008 1:39:11 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Thailand? They don't have a slave trade in sex. They have prostitutes, but not slaves.
I've been to Thailand (I went with my fiancee at the time so get your head out of the gutter!). yes Huge sex industry. Go down the right street and you have hookers lining the narrow street on both sides for a mile.

But there is a slave trade in sex. What makes you think there isn't? just google thailand sex slave (no porn sites, it's news reports). If there is a sex tourism industry, what makes you think the very lowest of the low won't come there and that there is no underworld ready to provide what they are looking for?


RE: Ladies
By cheetah2k on 8/22/2008 12:36:52 AM , Rating: 2
Watch out for that street where the girls have deez nuts


RE: Ladies
By FITCamaro on 8/20/2008 5:14:11 PM , Rating: 2
And yes was a joke.


RE: Ladies
By clayclws on 8/20/2008 7:17:57 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Wow.. didn't see that coming.. you must either be a very close-minded person, a Malaysian , or have a bad taste in joke.. (hope it's the later)

And your comment on Malaysians make you any different than what you described him?


RE: Ladies
By rollakid on 8/20/2008 8:07:53 PM , Rating: 2
:o say what? We Malaysians never said anything about slave trade in Indonesia (at least I don't know any, and I have lots of Indonesian friends in University last time).

....

Well almost.. beside "Damn Indonesians burning their forest again!" XD. I have poor health and I get sick whenever the haze come, though I admit that they burn the damn forest locally as well. T_T


RE: Ladies
By littlebitstrouds on 8/20/2008 10:33:00 PM , Rating: 1
All of thee above... Failed


RE: Ladies
By Radnor on 8/21/2008 5:44:22 AM , Rating: 2
Really ? I found it amusing on slow work morning. made me giggle.


RE: Ladies
By Aloonatic on 8/21/2008 6:19:34 AM , Rating: 1
That's what DT is about, making the shockingly appalling funny and entertaining but mostly unintentionally by showing gross levels on nationalistic jingoism and blatant ignorance.

If anyone thinks that any country is free of any of the problems mentioned above then they are sadly mistaken.

The western world has more than it's fair share of organised crime, sex slavery and people trafficking but may be not in their happy little suburb.


RE: Ladies
By Hiawa23 on 8/21/2008 9:35:30 AM , Rating: 2
I bought the 20 gig back in 06, then used my replacement warranty last year to get the 80 gig with free Motorstorm, & bought a replacement 120gig drive for $50 on newegg. Seems like one would be better getting the cheaper console & just upgrading the drive, as it seems to be alot cheaper than getting the same console with Uncharted for $500. Sony it trying it's hardest to keep the PS3 in the $500 range.


Position
By rdeegvainl on 8/20/2008 2:42:31 PM , Rating: 2
Looks a little awkward for a position. Placing it above the controller? that will be a ways to reach. Should have put it so the keys are just under the analog sticks, where they can be easily reached.




RE: Position
By an0dize on 8/20/2008 2:44:59 PM , Rating: 2
It looks like it snaps to the controller covering the middle (start + select area) just above the analog sticks. This would seem like the most reasonable position available for such an attachment.


RE: Position
By Totally on 8/20/2008 3:31:38 PM , Rating: 2
No, he's right. from the Sony logo up would be floating above the shoulder buttons. I was going to say the same thing and implemented it like microsoft did with the 360 but he had already pointed it out. It's not a very practical setup you have to completely reposition your hands between use of the keyboard and controller.


RE: Position
By afkrotch on 8/21/2008 2:59:42 AM , Rating: 2
They should just give it a velcro wrist strap. Then you can feel like you're in a sci-fi movie when using it.


RE: Position
By silversound on 8/20/2008 2:57:15 PM , Rating: 1
Great!
Logitech diNovo Mini need to drop their price now!
in 4 one if its below 50...


RE: Position
By silversound on 8/20/2008 3:01:58 PM , Rating: 2
"That was a marked increase in PS3 sales compared to May 2008 when the best the PS3 could do was tie the Xbox 360."

Is he working for microsoft???
PS3 sales is way ahead of xbox360 this year throughout the world except in July due to the xbox360 price cut. I dont see why he made this statement?

http://www.vgchartz.com/


RE: Position
By Icelight on 8/20/2008 3:43:16 PM , Rating: 2
Out of all the sources you could have used to support your claims you chose VGChartz?!

Might as well have just linked to a random number generator with slightly bounded results.


RE: Position
By StevoLincolnite on 8/20/2008 6:50:25 PM , Rating: 2
Even that would still prove more accurate in determining console sales.


RE: Position
By PhoenixKnight on 8/20/2008 8:44:42 PM , Rating: 3
Here's some numbers from www.random.org:

Wii - 74.2M
360 - 21.3M
PS3 - 80.9M
DS - 54.6M
PSP - 85.6M


RE: Position
By walk2k on 8/20/08, Rating: 0
RE: Position
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/20/2008 3:07:11 PM , Rating: 2
Depends. Nintendo has turned a profit on the Wii since day 1 since each console gives them between 50 and 70 dollars in the pocket. Where as both the X360 and PS3 were initially sold at a loss. Factor in total profit per platform (Wii has a nice attach rate as well) and I think the Wii comes out on top in overall dollars as well.

The Xbox version of the keyboard sits below the controller rather than on top. Not quite sure which I prefer.


RE: Position
By Icelight on 8/20/2008 3:44:25 PM , Rating: 3
Are you sure the Wii has a decent attach ratio? I could have sworn it was behind (significantly) both the 360 and PS3...though that may have just been third party games (not including first party titles).


RE: Position
By ZipSpeed on 8/20/2008 4:12:13 PM , Rating: 2
http://tiny.cc/5rpnW

It's a pretty good indepth NPD analysis. It doesn't mention the attach rates of the consoles but shows that Wii third party support isn't as bleak as some make it out to be.

The problem isn't the quantity of Wii 3rd party titles but rather the quality. Like the PS2 before it, the Wii is littered with shovelware.


RE: Position
By gunzac21 on 8/20/2008 3:13:52 PM , Rating: 2
using that logic Linux is the infinitely more used than windows. and hd-dvd won the format wars against blu-ray.


RE: Position
By walk2k on 8/20/2008 4:19:56 PM , Rating: 3
Uh what? Linux has sold more in dollar amount than Windows? How do you figure?

Pretty sure BD outsold HD-DVD in both # of units and dollar amount....

Logic works better if it makes sense...


RE: Position
By YoshoMasaki on 8/20/2008 7:24:52 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
it has to sell twice as many.

Isn't it?


PS2 backwards compability
By Freddo on 8/20/2008 4:39:53 PM , Rating: 2
If they gonna raise the price of the machines, they should bring back the PS2 backwards compability instead of giving it a larger HD.




RE: PS2 backwards compability
By Eurasianman on 8/20/2008 4:47:03 PM , Rating: 2
I agree with this. My friend's PS died. He wants a Blu-ray player. He doesn't want to have to buy a PS2 and PS3 to be able to play all PS3, PS2, and PS1 games. $500 for a PS3 should include full backwards compatibility like the 60 GB model that I got back in June 2007 for $500.


RE: PS2 backwards compability
By FITCamaro on 8/20/2008 5:15:42 PM , Rating: 2
With the 80GB at $399, get it. I put a 250GB hard drive in my PS3 for a lot less than $100. I guess Drake's Fortune wouldn't be a bad game to have though.


RE: PS2 backwards compability
By mcturkey on 8/21/2008 9:48:37 AM , Rating: 2
The 80GB at $399 is NOT the 80GB that was bundled with MGS4 - it is the plain old non-BC PS3 with a bigger drive.

Sony makes buying and selling PS3s increasingly difficult by fracturing the market so much. Quite frankly, I'm amazed they've done as well as they have between the price, relative lack of exclusives, and nonsense with backwards compatibility. If there were reliable indicators on who purchased it for BR vs who purchased it with intent to game, that would help. But unfortunately, low attach rates might just mean that people are buying them and then discovering there aren't huge numbers of games they want.


RE: PS2 backwards compability
By PCXLFan on 8/24/2008 12:46:30 PM , Rating: 2
Most of us here are computer entusiests here with decent dual core computers with dedicated cards right?

The PCSX2 emulator (ps2) is making huge progress and can play numerous games in super high definition.

check out ps2 game Rumble roses at 3200 x 2044
http://www.xtemu.com/forum/pcsx2-screenshots-threa...


smarter way
By tastyratz on 8/20/2008 3:03:46 PM , Rating: 1
A more cost effective smarter way to do this would have been making it attach to the usb port of the ps3 controller. Then it wouldn't need its own separate battery pack or bluetooth hardware - it could piggyback on the ps3 controller.




RE: smarter way
By ShapeGSX on 8/20/08, Rating: 0
RE: smarter way
By SiliconJon on 8/20/2008 8:01:19 PM , Rating: 1
Then how does it get a charge? Not to mention my 2.5" HD enclosures are all mini-usb ports, self powered by that very connection...and my Motorola mobile phones...they didn't get the memo! :P


RE: smarter way
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/20/2008 11:14:03 PM , Rating: 2
MiniUSB ports can provide power. The same 5 Volts that the regular sized USB ports can provide. MiniUSB and USB ports adhere to the same data and power standards. The only real difference is the form factor.


RE: smarter way
By LordSoth on 8/21/2008 1:20:24 AM , Rating: 3
It's been a while since I looked USB, but if I remember properly, USB B connections do not provide power. Power flows from host (USB A connector) computer or hub to device. It can do 500mA at 5V to 1 device or 100mA to 5 devices. On the A connectors there is a 1.5k resistor and on the B side there is a 15k resistor (I might have that backwards), using those resitors is how the host determines the speed of the device, which is why you can't just go B to B.


RE: smarter way
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/21/2008 10:58:34 AM , Rating: 2
I haven't seen an A to B adapter in a while. Most devices use A to A. Devices like PDA's, iPod's, and Cell Phones all use A to A connections.


Pic
By afkrotch on 8/21/2008 5:28:50 AM , Rating: 2
Pic of the keyboard thing scrapped to the controller.

http://www.edge-online.com/files/SonyWirelessKeypa...




RE: Pic
By Radnor on 8/21/2008 5:49:21 AM , Rating: 2
Thank you for the pic. That made me giggle more than the Indonesian/Malaysian discussion above. Can't imagine using that keyboard for anything....really. Not above the controller.


RE: Pic
By afkrotch on 8/21/2008 8:24:10 AM , Rating: 2
It would have been better to come out with something the size of a numpad that's a keyboard. They can also just let bluetooth cellphones connect up and use the cellphone's keypad.


45mn Cell shrink
By poundsmack on 8/20/2008 5:29:20 PM , Rating: 2
Does anyone know if this PS3 has the 45mn cell shrink? I am waiting on that till i buy my PS3. good bundle though




RE: 45mn Cell shrink
By benx009 on 8/20/2008 6:15:12 PM , Rating: 1
You mean 45nm shrink. You really shouldn't have to wait for that to happen before enjoying the sheer thrill of MGS4, now should you?


RE: 45mn Cell shrink
By afkrotch on 8/21/2008 3:31:14 AM , Rating: 2
What the hell would be the difference? It's not like the PS3 dies in a ball of fire right now and when the new one comes out, it'll be the same way. It'll get a revised cooling scheme and probably nothing more.

My PS3 runs fine now and I bought it a month after release in Japan.


aw man
By Shadow Conception on 8/20/2008 9:19:35 PM , Rating: 2
Back to the $500 price point? Psychologically, this isn't such a great thing.

Then again, I'm not one to talk. I bought the PS3 at launch for $600. :p




RE: aw man
By Aloonatic on 8/21/2008 6:12:49 AM , Rating: 3
I think Sony are kind a stuck on the pricing of the PS3 as they still have the "problem" of being a very good and cheap BlueRay Disk player so they have to add value rather than reduce the price.

I would imagine that few third parties would bother making BD players if Sony reduced the PS3 to prices to those of entry level xBox 360s, or they would have to slash their prices too, which they would not be very happy about.

Especially after supporting Sony in the HD DVD/BD wars, not much of a reward for their efforts.


Wrong month...
By Murst on 8/20/2008 4:14:56 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
In July, the Nintendo Wii outsold both the Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 in America. Nintendo sold 666,000 Wii consoles compared to 405,500 PS3's and 219,800 Xbox 360s.


That's incorrect. The figures you cite are from June 2008. July figures are:

Wii: 555k
PS3: 224.9k
360: 204.8k

This is all NPD data (as your "July" numbers exactly match the NPD numbers for June)




Why Uncharted
By Soldier38 on 8/20/2008 5:53:35 PM , Rating: 2
Why not include Resistance 2 in the bundle instead of an older game like that.




RE: Why Uncharted
By benx009 on 8/20/2008 5:59:24 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, I agree. Not like I have anything against Uncharted or anything, but come on Sony.


Meh..
By ummduh on 8/20/2008 7:41:53 PM , Rating: 2
At $499 it's still double what I'm willing to pay for a console.

In that respect, $499 is more than I'm willing to pay for a tv also, so ... where was I going with this? I forget. I guess I've got a while before I bother buying a PS3 or the tv that you should be using it on!




RE: Meh..
By afkrotch on 8/21/2008 5:34:42 AM , Rating: 2
So why are you even talking?


Wow
By xphile on 8/21/2008 7:29:08 AM , Rating: 2
Way way over ONE TENTH of the possible size of a hard drive - that's something to crow over isn't it.

Even at 2.5 inches - get with the program and announce 500GB drives in line with real technological advancement and they'd deserve respect for such announcements.




Why a Keyboard?
By MikeMurphy on 8/21/2008 11:21:46 AM , Rating: 2
Couldn't anyone at Sony come up with a more inventive idea than to shoehorn a keyboard onto their flagship technology device?

Seems strange that such a forward-looking device would be retrofitted with such a relic.




"If you look at the last five years, if you look at what major innovations have occurred in computing technology, every single one of them came from AMD. Not a single innovation came from Intel." -- AMD CEO Hector Ruiz in 2007











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