Sony's Response to Elite Xbox 360: a New 80GB PS3?
Yes, the battle ain’t over yet: it appears that in response to Microsoft’s revised Xbox 360 Sony is also preparing more room for the upcoming HD content posted on PlayStation Network.
According to a filling at the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) which was made earlier this month, Sony plans to change PS3’s Bluetooth module. The FCC is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. Therefore, all new products that use radio frequencies need to be validated by the FCC. The same applies for any modification made in existing devices- a compulsory validation required for any products, before they can be sold.
Sony’s filling, dated March 2, 2007, and signed by Hitoshi Tanabe, from the Product Quality Office, refers to “a reverse F Antenna” which is due to be added to the Bluetooth module. The filling speaks about an “original model” codenamed CECHA 01 and about “an addition of model” codenamed CECHE 01, which are to be separated “by the difference of the capacity of the hard drive”.
And now the spectacular part: it appears that CECHA 01 (“original model”) refers to the high end 60GB PS3, while the CECHE01 (“addition model”) refers to the revised console, with 80GB hard drive.
Of course, Sony officials declined to confirm the company’s intentions to upgrade the high end PS3, but, in the light of the recent speculations and the final confirmation of a revised Xbox 360, the news is getting some substance. It is unclear yet if Sony’s alleged upgrade has been determined by “insider tips” from Redmond about the Elite Xbox 360 or whether Sony is simply preparing itself for a revolution in the HD content posted on PlayStation Network or its up-coming HOME online entertainment service.
Microsoft is already offering Xbox Live Marketplace subscribers a plethora of HD movies and TV shows from important partners like CBS, Warner Bros, Turner or Paramount.
Concerning Microsoft’s move to upgrade the Xbox 360 for even more HD content or games, Peter Dille, senior VP of marketing said that “We think every PlayStation 3 owner should have an “elite” experience, which is why we include an internal hard drive and HDMI output in every PS3 we sell, along with the 50 GB of storage capacity on a high definition Blu-ray disc. Sony has been the strongest advocate of high definition as the future of next-generation gaming. This requires high-definition components, including HDMI output, and large storage devices to deliver and store all that rich and vivid HD content. Microsoft’s announcement today not only legitimizes Sony’s PS3 strategy, it moves us closer to adopting universal standards in the area of high definition gaming that will benefit game developers and ultimately the end user.”
Sony currently sells two versions of the PlayStation 3. The entry-level model has a 20G-byte drive while the high end model has a 60G-byte drive.
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