Gizmodo: 80gb

160GB PS3 Bundle Announced For U.S.

John Mahoney — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:02:26 EDT

Along with a new PSP and PS3 wireless keyboard, Sony also announced a 160GB PS3 today at the Leipzig Games Convention. In the U.S. it will come bundled with a Dual-Shock SIXAXIS and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. It hits in November in time for Xmas at $499, as the high end option coinciding with the $399 80GB "Core Pack" announced at E3, adding room for Sony's video download plans no doubt. The console itself appears to be the same as previous PS3s. The U.S. version comes with a voucher for the PS Network game PAIN, but the Euro 160-gigger includes €70 of free "downloadable content" vouchers. Full presser to follow:

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Limited-Edition Uncharted: Drake's Fortune(TM) PLAYSTATION(R)3 Bundle Featuring New 160GB PS3(TM) System
PS3 Bundle Includes Uncharted: Drake's Fortune(TM), PLAYSTATION(R)Network Voucher for PAIN and DUALSHOCK(R)3 Wireless Controller, Offering Tremendous Value to Consumers

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced plans to introduce a new 160GB PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system in North America as part of the limited-edition Uncharted: Drake's Fortune(TM) PS3 system bundle. The increased storage size enables entertainment enthusiasts to store even more movies, television shows, and games downloaded from PLAYSTATION(R)Network, as well as more videos, music, and photos from their personal collection. Slated to launch in November for $499.99 (MSRP), the 160GB PS3 system will come bundled with the hit game, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune(TM), a PLAYSTATION Network voucher for PAIN, and a DUALSHOCK(R)3 wireless controller. The previously announced 80GB PS3 system ($399.99 MSRP) has started shipping to retailers.

"As PLAYSTATION Network continues to evolve with our recently launched video delivery service and more exclusive games, PS3 owners are demanding more storage capacity," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. "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."

he Uncharted: Drake's Fortune PS3 bundle includes the following components:
— 160GB PS3 system — The 160GB PS3 is a complete entertainment system comprising a Blu-ray(TM) Disc player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, and Cell Broadband Engine(TM).
— Uncharted: Drake's Fortune — A 400-year-old clue found in the coffin of Sir Francis Drake sets a modern-day fortune hunter, Nathan Drake, on an exploration for the fabled treasure of El Dorado, leading to the discovery of a forgotten island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The search turns deadly when Drake becomes stranded on the island and hunted by mercenaries. Outnumbered and outgunned, Drake and his companions must fight to survive as they begin to unravel the terrible secrets hidden on the Island.
— PAIN PLAYSTATION Network Voucher* — PAIN boldly tackles a rarely explored area of video-gaming ... comedy. The unique mechanic of the game allows the player to load a character into a human-sized, ultra-powerful slingshot, and fire the character into an active, physics-controlled environment, filled with precarious and humorous situations. Download PAIN from PLAYSTATION Store (http://store.playstation.com) to your PS3 system with the included voucher.
— DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller — DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller provides the most intuitive game play experience with pressure sensors in each action button and the inclusion of the highly sensitive SIXAXIS(TM) motion sensing technology.

The additional storage space of the 160GB model will benefit consumers, as several highly anticipated PLAYSTATION Network and PS3 games along with add-on content will be available for download soon, including PAIN Amusement Park, Ratchet & Clank(R)Future: Quest for Booty(TM), SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, and The Last Guy(TM). The bundle is also a great option for consumers who want to utilize PLAYSTATION Network's video delivery service, which offers new blockbuster movies and popular TV shows for download on an ongoing basis.

PS3 momentum has soared in 2008, starting with Blu-ray becoming the
high-definition standard and following the launches of key franchise titles, including Gran Turismo(TM) 5 Prologue, Grand Theft Auto(TM) IV, and Metal Gear Solid(R)4: Guns of the Patriots. That momentum will continue into the holidays and beyond, as PS3's software lineup will offer the most depth and breadth of any platform across the industry, delivering highly anticipated exclusives such as BUZZ!(TM): Quiz TV, LittleBigPlanet(TM), Resistance(TM) 2, MotorStorm(TM) Pacific Rift, and Killzone(TM) 2.

PlayStation 3 40GB Bids Adieu, Only 80GB Versions on Sale At Sony

Kit Eaton — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:04:00 EDT

As we reported back in mid July, Sony's finally bid farewell to the 40GB PS3, leaving just the 80GB versions on sale at Sony Style, ending the on-again, off-again 80GB debate. The $500 Metal Gear Solid 4 80GB bundle is available now, but the simple "core" edition is showing a September 1st availability. It'll cost you $400. [Sony Style. Thanks, Andy]

New Zune Colors Make the Beast With Two Black Backs

Jason Chen — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:25:50 EDT

If you've got time and absolutely nothing better to do, you can graba resource explorer and dive into the Zune software. What would you find? Some images of two new Zunes, both with a black back. The current black 80GB and red 8GB Zunes have a silver back, which are also pictured, so these would be new new. It looks like just bad lighting, but the resource item actually says "black back." We don't know whether these are retail colors or just limited edition Zunes for employees, but we'll probably find out soon. [Zunited News Center]

80GB PlayStation 3 Not Exactly Discontinued, Just Bundled With Metal Gear Solid 4

Jason Chen — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST

The fact that stores everywhere, including Sony's own SonyStyle, were dropping the 80GB seemed to point to a conclusion that the 80GB was on its way out. Not exactly. As we found out today, the 80GB version is going to be back on June 12, but it's going to be packed with a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4 and a DualShock 3 controller. All this for the same price of $499. Yes ma'am. [Kotaku]

SonyStyle Drops the 80GB PS3: Makes its Demise Pretty Damn Official

Sean Fallon — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:00:22 EST

If you were looking for even more proof that the 80GB PS3 is on its way out, the fact that it is no longer available on the SonyStyle website makes it about as official as you can get outside of a press release. Perhaps that means we are one step closer to that rumored 120GB version we have been hearing so much about. UPDATE: (2/26/08) The 80GB PS3 is back on the SonyStyle website, now bundled with MGS4. [SonyStyle Thanks Edward!]

GameStop Signals the Death of the 80GB PS3

Sean Fallon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:10:17 EST

Rumors about the impending doom of the 80GB PS3 have been going on for a while now, and it appears that Gamestop will not be recieving any more 80GB shipments from here on out. This news comes only weeks after rumors that Best Buy will also be dumping the higher-end model. The bottom line: if you want a PS3 with backward compatibility, you had better get one while you still can. [Kotaku]

Sony Introduces HDMS-S1D, an 80GB Networked Digital Photo Album

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:00:23 EDT

Sony appears to be making a consumer-server play, introducing the $400 80GB HDMS-S1D "photo album" for the high-def enjoyment of up to 50,000 still images. You can import photos via Memory Stick slot—but also SD, CF and xD! (Way to go, Sony!) You can connect the HDMS-S1D to your TV via HDMI, and navigate slideshows using its remote control. It has a CD/DVD burner for getting and saving shots. We also see an Ethernet port, so we're going to assume there's at least some way to push photos to it from your PC (or Mac?) In addition to letting you edit, rotate, delete and group photos on screen, there are also some unique automated features:

• x-Pict Story HD automatically builds "professional quality" slideshows
• Face detection technology locates faces and frames slideshow transitions around faces
• x-ScrapBook sets photos in templates, using face detection and event-clustering for sharp layouts

Here's what the back of the sucker looks like:
And here's what it looks like when people far prettier than you get together and use it in their Sonylicious home:
Press release:

SONY'S NEW DIGITAL PHOTO ALBUM TURNS PHOTO COLLECTIONS INTO HIGH-DEFINITION ENTERTAINMENT
Store, Organize and Share Photos with Slideshow and Scrapbook-style displays

NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2007 -Sony today announced the HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album for shutterbugs who want to archive, organize and enjoy slideshows of their digital photos. This compact device features an 80GB hard drive, connects to a high definition television via HDMI and showcases up to 50,000 high resolution photos.

The new digital photo album offers several methods for importing photos, including multiple flash memory card formats, CD, DVD, USB or Ethernet. Once imported, photo collections can be managed with the supplied remote control and the device's intuitive interface.

Photos can be organized by date, special occasions such as birthdays and travel (using pre-selected icons), or into as many as 3,000 different photo albums- enough for every major family milestone. The digital photo album also provides the ability to review, edit, rotate, delete and arrange photos for a slideshow or digital scrapbooking with Sony's x-Application® features.

The photo managing x-Pict Story HD™ software creates professional quality slideshows, eliminating the need for PC-based photo editing. Slideshows can be created by selecting from 30 pre-loaded music tracks and transition styles. For personalization, you can add up to five songs from your own CDs. The software also allows for connection to a compatible printer for making prints of your photos or scrapbook pages directly from the device.

The HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album uses Sony's face detection technology to locate faces in photographs and adjusts the slideshow transitions around the location of faces.

When creating digital scrapbooks, the x-ScrapBook™ application sets photos within scrapbook templates, and uses face detection and event-clustering technology to make scrapbook-style layouts of photos with a common trait like photos of children, or pictures grouped by events such as a party or vacation.

When family or friends request copies of the photos they've seen on your HDTV, you can select and save those photos to CD, DVD, or flash memory card.

The HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album will be available in October for about $400 online at sonystyle.com, across the country at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail) and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Zune 80GB Hands-on UI Video

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:07:33 EDT

The Seattle PI got a hands-on demo of the new 80GB Zune from Drew Peterson of Microsoft. The UI is changed—but kinda the same—and you can see how the new Zune Pad works. You can touch, hold, or even swipe across the touch-sensitive pad. The video and pictures also switch the Zune into horizontal mode, just like the first one, and podcasts is actually a top-level element. [SeattlePI]

Easily look up whether your old PS1 and PS2 ...

Jason Chen — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:43:19 EDT

Easily look up whether your old PS1 and PS2 titles will work on your PlayStation 3 with this Sony Backward Compatibility checker. No giant list—you'll have to enter a title manually. Again, the 60GB has hardware emulation, so if back-compat is important to you, grab one of those now while it's still in stores. [PlayStation]

80GB PlayStation 3 Available Now

Jason Chen — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:41:33 EDT

The 80GB PlayStation 3 is finally available now, after much fanfare at E3. The 80GB will come with Motorstorm and software-based backward compatibility for $599. If you want a real good deal, you can pick up a $450 20GB PS3 that we reported about two weeks ago.

80GB PlayStation 3 To Get Icky Software Emulation for PS2 Games

Jason Chen — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:45:47 EDT

We all knew the European PS3s use software emulation to play PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games, but all our US PS3s were doing much better hardware "emotion engine" emulation. But if you want one of the fancy new 80GB PS3s, featuring twenty—count'em, twenty—more jiggabytes than the 60GB model, you'll have to deal with software emulation for your old titles. We recommend you get the 60GB now, and make do with a little less space for better compatibility.

New 80GB PS3 eliminates "emotion engine" chip [Gamesindustry]

80GB PlayStation 3 May Come To US, According to AP

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:17:00 EDT

We told you on Monday that an 80GB PS3 was slated for launch in South Korea on June 16. What the good old reliable Associated Press has learned from Sony is that the company is considering the model for the US as well. Actually, here's what the AP heard:

"Increasing capacity for models is one of the options," said Satoshi Fukuoka, spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "We make such decisions depending on the needs of the market, and every country is different."

So it's not carved in stone. I for one think a 20GB bump up is just too small, given the low cost of hard drives. Why not double it to a clean 120GB? And while we're at it, how about online HD movie downloads? Oh, right, Blu-ray. – Wilson Rothman

Sony may sell 80-gig Playstation 3 in US [AP via Denver Post]

80GB PlayStation 3 Exists, But Only in South Korea

Jason Chen — Mon, 21 May 2007 13:40:34 EDT

Remember that rumor about the 80GB PS3? Well, it's becoming pretty solid since Sony of South Korea just announced that they're shipping out an 80GB version for the Korean market.

As for Japan, the US and everywhere else? We're just going to have to wait. Damn, first Starcraft II, then this? Koreans are making out big time this week. – Jason Chen

Press Release [PlayStation Korea]