Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Sony has unveiled its new PlayStation 3 console, calling it "a supercomputer for computer entertainment".

The console is powered by a powerful new processor dubbed Cell, which Sony says is 35 times faster than the chip inside the current PlayStation.

The machine is due to go on sale in spring 2006 at an as yet unknown price.

"This is a system to be placed in the centre of the living room around the world," said Ken Kutaragi, head of Sony's game unit, at a news conference in Los Angeles announcing the PlayStation 3.

This strategy parallels that of Microsoft, which is keen to challenge PlayStation by also making its new Xbox 360 a hub for all kinds of media.

Sony's current console, the PlayStation 2, dominates the current generation of consoles. More than 80 million units have been sold worldwide, with Microsoft and Nintendo trailing far behind.

Its new console is similar in size to the PS2 but has a more rounded look. It will be available in black, silver and white.

In a dig at Microsoft, Sony said the processor was twice as fast as the one in the Xbox 360.

The controllers are wireless, using Bluetooth technology. People will be able to plug in other gadgets into the console via six USB ports.

The machine will be backwards compatible, meaning gamers will be able to play PlayStation 2 titles on it.

It also doubles up as a DVD and CD player, with support for a wide variety of formats.