High Definition Hardware

PS3 Launches in the US

Sony's eagerly awaited HD capable console the Playstation 3 launched stateside on Friday to the sound of Gunfire.

Thousands had camped outside in order to ensure they were one of the first to get their hands on the PS3. One unlucky man was shot in a attempted robbery outside a Walmart. Apparantly he refused to hand over money to two armed men.

Two other Walmart stores were forced to close due to problems caused by large crowds of gamers, some of whom had been there for several days.

Investors are closely watching sales of the PS3 as a key test of Sony's grip on the gaming industry, particularly as it faces rising competition from both Microsofts XBox 360 and the Nintendo Wii.

Sony anticipates 400,000 units to be available in the United States on Friday alone, one week after the initial launch in Japan. The aim is to make 1 million PS3s available in the United States by the end of the year.

Sony is expected to lose money at first on the highly specced PS3 . The machine not only offers HD gaming but can be used to surf the internet, download video and music and play movies in High Definition with its Blu-ray disc drive.

Experts say the PS3 could be around for the next decade and go a long way toward helping Sony stay at the top of the gaming market, while aiding their efforts to make Blu-ray the next-generation DVD standard.

Xbox External HD Drive - Update

Microsoft has quashed recent speculation that the Xbox 360 will be upgraded with an internal HD DVD drive.

Many people saw this evolution as a logical step for the HD capable console but Microsoft spokesperson Cesar Menendez commented that it’s just not going to happen.

PS3 pricing confirmed.

After a period of silence Sony has confirmed pricing and a launch date for its much-anticipated PlayStation3. It will launch in Europe on November 17, and will follow the Xbox 360's lead by being available in two flavours: a version with a 20GB HDD costing around 499 Euros (or £340), and a 60GB HDD version costing around 599 Euros (or £410).

Sony appears to have deviated slightly from its earlier talk of global launch, with Japan apparently set to get the new console a week earlier than Europe.

XBox 360 HD DVD Drive confirmed

Spiegel Online have revealed some interesting info on the release of an external HD DVD optical drive for the Xbox 360 after a questions and answer session with Microsoft’s European Manager Chris Lewis. He confirmed that the drive was definitely still in the pipeline and that more information would be available at E3.

Confirmation of the addition of a HD DVD drive is great news for both those keen to push the new format and also those who are looking for an additional option to watch HD movies besides splashing out on a HD DVD player as well as a console. This ad-on HD DVD drive will give 360 users access to HD DVD movies as well as games.

High Definition movie trailers via Xbox 360

Paramount Pictures has announced that it intends to offer hi-def downloads for its upcoming film Mission Impossible III via Microsoft's Xbox 360.

Paramount's move adds weight to the argument that next-generation consoles will play a significant role as more entertainment moves online. Only last month Epic Records announced it will offer free music-video downloads from emerging artists on the Xbox 360.

Sony delays PlayStation 3 launch

The release of the much awaited PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console has been postponed until November, Japanese electronics group Sony has announced today.

Apparantly, technical hitches related to the console's Blu-ray disc drive have forced the delay.

Sony, had been aiming for a spring launch for the successor to best-selling PlayStation 2.

Sony sets date for rollout of Blu-Ray

Sony Pictures has announced it aims to deliver its new Blu-ray DVD format to U.S. stores on May 23 to coincide with the entry of compatible disc players, a new step in an industry war for control of home movie viewing.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment will first release eight Blu-ray titles, followed by another eight in mid-June. The first movie titles include "50 First Dates," "The Fifth Element," "Hitch" and "House of Flying Daggers."

Blu-ray is locked in a standards war against a rival DVD format HD DVD. The technology companies supporting HD DVD, championed by Toshiba plan to start rolling out movie titles and disc players in March.

Announcements have not yet been made as far as UK release dates go.