Lots of Sony Console Stuff

**TechZ** · September 22nd, 2004, 04:46 PM

Sony reveals redesigned PS2, plans November 1st launch -
The wraps have been taken off Sony's redesigned PlayStation 2 hardware, previously referred to as PStwo, with SCEE this morning revealing that the significantly smaller console will launch in the USA and Europe on November 1st. The new hardware, designated SCPH-70000CB, follows the same design lines as the original PlayStation 2, but is only 2.8cm thick, compared with 7.8cm on the current console, and reduces the internal volume by 75 per cent. As expected, the system has the PS2 network adapter built in.

PlayStation 3 will use Blu-Ray discs - confirmed -

Sony has officially confirmed that the PlayStation 3 will use the Blu-Ray disc technology, an evolution of the DVD format which provides six times more storage space than conventional DVD discs. A single-sided, dual layer Blu-Ray (BD-ROM) disc can hold 54Gb of data, compared with just over 9Gb on a standard DVD-ROM, and the use of up-to-date video compression standards on BD-ROM discs allows the playback of high definition encoded video.

PSP hardware is finished -
Sony has finished work on PlayStation Portable hardware and still intends to ship the console this year, Sony COO Ken Kutaragi told a press briefing in Japan yesterday, although the company has yet to announce pricing or release date details and Kutaragi declined to say whether or not the unit would cost more than the Nintendo DS ($149).