Engadget

Ok, so the certainly has its strengths (like the built in Blu-ray player, for instance), but there's definitely a following it around as well.

A (very understandable) complaint from AV freaks has been how the home-theater-centric console strangely lacks an IR receiver, and instead, Sony opted to offer up its to control the BD movie action from afar. Those looking to dictate your PS3 with that (presumably costly) universal IR remote, take heart, as the clever folks at Remote Central have whipped up a way to add infrared functionality to your IR-less machine. Aside from a PlayStation 3 and a desire to further integrate it into your home theater setup, you'll need a PSX/PS2 Controller-to-USB adapter as well as an original Sony DVD remote for the (model SCPH-10172) with external IR receiver (model SCPH-10160).

Of course, the aforementioned remote should prove trickiest to find, as the current models lack that crucial external receiver to account for the built-in version found in the . By connecting the external IR receiver to the adapter box, and then plugging the resulting combination into a USB port, you've created an unsightly way to talk to your PS3 via infrared. So if you've got integration on the brain, or just don't feel like shelling out the funds for that , be sure to hit the read link for the full skinny, and give yourself something productive to do over the relaxing holiday vacation.

[Via ]

This just in from : according to an interview conducted by Japan's Impress, Sony's has gone on record with a "promise" for what he's calling an AV-centric PS3. In other words, audio and video capabilities first, gaming second (if at all), in a device built around the platform. Ken says that the device would certainly be more expensive, reflecting the prices and margins expected on high-end consumer electronic devices such as TVs, Blu-ray personal video recorders, etc.

-- not the relatively cheap, but powerful gaming rigs under Sony's Computer Entertainment division. Impress speculates that the device could cost as much as 300,000 or about $2,500. The new Sony-branded living room box would, in Ken's (translated) words, "be a standard AV component sized box with a more powerful, power supply unit, anti-shake insulator, twice the main memory, and 2x HDMI to split sound and video output.

" More Cell-processor devices in the living room? We say bring it, Sony.

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At least with the popping up left and right, they're primarily self-inflicted wounds that don't involve the police, but it seems the Xbox 360 (and , sometimes) and the PS3 are jacking up in cities everywhere.

While we already knew hot game consoles the , we've got two more stories to persuade you to watch your back when snagging that last unit from the store's stockroom. After lucking up and grabbing herself an oh-so-coveted PlayStation 3 in a Florida retailer, Missy Robinson was followed to her home and held at gunpoint (along with her brother). Of course, she intelligently surrendered the console in exchange for safety, but she's not apt to go console hunting again anytime soon.

On the Microsoft side, dedicated thieves "burrowed through the back wall of the video game store and stole 13 game consoles." Notably, employees reported a scattered mess of boxes, but when the bandits realized they were all empty display cartons, they jacked the Xbox 360 assortment in order to not go home empty-handed. Look folks, we realize the markup on is fairly extreme, but it's probably less costly than the bail money you'd need to put up after pulling a stunt like this.

- Woman held at gunpoint for PS3
- Burrowing bandits snag 13 Xbox 360s

Nothing like a little false hope to brighten your Saturday, right? Of course, we hope the current stalemate in the Blu-ray / HD DVD war actually yields a , but after the / (and ) love affair with the idea, we're not holding our .

Nevertheless, it seems that the current state actually doesn't have one format trouncing the other as many believed would happen after a few months unfolded. Essentially, consumers are "generally indifferent" to the two, and considering there's just seven more HD DVD titles currently available than BD titles, it doesn't look like one or the other will win on sheer studio popularity. While we've seen the Blu-ray-equipped PS3 outsell Microsoft's HD DVD drive , there isn't much substance in such a statistic, but apparently Taiwan-based manufacturers are rethinking their of unleashing a player that handles .

DigiTimes has it that Samsung is "planning to offer dual-format recorders that can record and play back BD and HD DVD movies," while Hitachi (a devout member of the BDA), is also "considering production of dual-format devices." They also went so far as to point out the obvious when noting that a "dual-format device would be more expensive than a single-format unit" -- but hey, it's likely cheaper than buying one of each, eh?

While we've taught you how to component video switch (not to mention your own ), there will (probably) come a time in your 1080p-needing life where that sole port on the rear of your television just won't cut it. Enter Radiient's HDMI Switch Select-4, a 4-port that doesn't deviate too far from the other already , but cuts out the audio ports altogether while adding in an RS-232 control port. Also, this device features a bevy of colorful LEDs, sure to enthrall some users who want to control things with the lights out while enraging others who like things pitch black when catching a flick.

Nevertheless, the Select-4 supports , DVI (via adapters), and all your standard HD resolutions right up to 1080p. Notably, this sucker doesn't seem to support the recently-unveiled , which means you'll miss out on some of the extra on that shiny . Still, Radiiant apparently feels its HDMI switcher is worth its weight in gold, as this bad boy will run you a whopping 69,300 ($592).

Update: These things have a (at least as of right now). Thanks Jacobim.

[Via ]

We snuck a peek and found that Target itself was only making $12.50 per Wii it sold, and we knew the big N wasn't on console sales at launch (unlike and ), but is it really making money hand over fist? Per a shakily constructed Japanese comparison, it seems that Nintendo's brainchild is only costing $158.

30 to manufacture, before you consider the and (not to mention marketing and distribution costs) that end up being bundled with it, while the 20GB clocks in at a whopping $805.85 (saywha?).

Interestingly, there's a less-than-understandable $195.99 figure that mentions a "wholesale price," which could be a more realistic figure of how much Nintendo is shelling out when taking external costs (like Reggie flying ) into the equation. Regardless, one thing's for sure -- Nintendo stands to make a sweet profit from the sold-out status its console is in, while Sony continues to fall deeper into a hole they hope will be redeemed with game / accessory sales.

Of course, your Wii could end up costing you quite a bit more, especially if you don't have that Wiimote looked at.

[Via , thanks Mike]

Looks like Sony's going to give European gamers a little treat to try to make up for the long wait they've had to endure to get a PS3 of their own, with the company reportedly set to release the first major firmware update for the PS3 alongside the console's debut in Europe in March (which they're ). The firmware update has been , but has now apparently been confirmed by Phil Harrison himself, speaking at a recent event for the Sony-funded Threespeech blog.

Most of the updates revealed at this time look to be centered on the PS3's non-gaming abilities, with new multi-tasking capabilities that'll let you do voice or video chat while you browse the XMB or play games, as well as new audio playback animations, additional photo album features, auto-resume for downloads from the PlayStation Store, and "additional XMB display options" -- exactly what that means, we're not so sure. Those with a PSP will also get a few new tricks, including new Remote Play functionality that'll let you access media stored on your PS3 via any WiFi connection. No word on a fix for the with PS1 and PS2 games, though we suppose/hope that could be one of the "additional display options.

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