The label pictured to the right of this story, combined with a Radio Test Report carried out by EMC Labs on a PlayStation 3 with a new model number - are adding to the speculation that the PS3 Lite is just around the corner. Both documents, and a letter from Sony asking for photographs of the test machine to be be withheld from public view - are all available at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States.
The FCC is "charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable."
The letter (pictured below) from Sony asks that "to avoid premature release of sensitive information prior to marketing or release of the product to the public" photographs of the test machine - be "withheld from public disclosure" for 45 days from September 4th 2007.
A request for confidentiality is always good fodder for the rumour mills.
The test diagram - pictured below - for what is, let's remember, a Radio Test, appears to show that only two USB ports have been tested onboard the PS3. One is connected to a controller and one to a PSP. The diagram also fails to show memory card slots!
The report also contains the sentence: "As for the differences between: Model CECHG01 and the original model: CECHA01, please see "Point of Difference". The "Point of Difference" is not available.
Okay, there's the trail of "evidence" for the PS3 Lite. Now let's look at it.
First glance: new PS3! The new model number! The lack of USB ports (only two are tested). The lack of memory card slots - not tested! Hold on a second... the lack of Blu-ray in the test diagram! Finally, the confidentiality request... for marketing reasons of a new product. It all stacks up.
Or does it? We could look at it this way:
New model number: Sony has just brought a new component manufacturer online. This could mean new processes for existing components. Hence new testing and new model number.
Only two USB ports tested: one to a controller and one to a PSP. It's a standard test of the ports for radio frequency emissions to external equipment. Why test the other two ports? There is simply no need.
No memory card slot noted! Again, it's a radio test.
No Blu-ray mentioned. The Blu-ray drive hasn't changed.
Okay, a plea for confidentiality on photographs of the test machine. That one is intriguing but not shocking - it's standard practice for multi-billion dollar, muti-nationals to protect as much information as possible even to minor changes in product.
For now, SPOnG's opinion is that it's time for a great deal of calm. We're looking into the matter and will report back on which of the two ways we've outlined (or maybe a third, fourth of fifth) the documents can be read.
All the documents - including the Radio Test diagram (pictured below) - can be found here.
The FCC is "charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable."
The letter (pictured below) from Sony asks that "to avoid premature release of sensitive information prior to marketing or release of the product to the public" photographs of the test machine - be "withheld from public disclosure" for 45 days from September 4th 2007.
A request for confidentiality is always good fodder for the rumour mills.
The test diagram - pictured below - for what is, let's remember, a Radio Test, appears to show that only two USB ports have been tested onboard the PS3. One is connected to a controller and one to a PSP. The diagram also fails to show memory card slots!
The report also contains the sentence: "As for the differences between: Model CECHG01 and the original model: CECHA01, please see "Point of Difference". The "Point of Difference" is not available.
Okay, there's the trail of "evidence" for the PS3 Lite. Now let's look at it.
First glance: new PS3! The new model number! The lack of USB ports (only two are tested). The lack of memory card slots - not tested! Hold on a second... the lack of Blu-ray in the test diagram! Finally, the confidentiality request... for marketing reasons of a new product. It all stacks up.
Or does it? We could look at it this way:
New model number: Sony has just brought a new component manufacturer online. This could mean new processes for existing components. Hence new testing and new model number.
Only two USB ports tested: one to a controller and one to a PSP. It's a standard test of the ports for radio frequency emissions to external equipment. Why test the other two ports? There is simply no need.
No memory card slot noted! Again, it's a radio test.
No Blu-ray mentioned. The Blu-ray drive hasn't changed.
Okay, a plea for confidentiality on photographs of the test machine. That one is intriguing but not shocking - it's standard practice for multi-billion dollar, muti-nationals to protect as much information as possible even to minor changes in product.
For now, SPOnG's opinion is that it's time for a great deal of calm. We're looking into the matter and will report back on which of the two ways we've outlined (or maybe a third, fourth of fifth) the documents can be read.
All the documents - including the Radio Test diagram (pictured below) - can be found here.
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
Kspraydad 25 Sep 2007 19:43
1/8
Credit where it is due...this story was broken at thesimexchange.com 2 weeks ago.
http://www.thesimexchange.com/community-comment.php?id=12568&r=2624
http://www.thesimexchange.com/community-comment.php?id=12568&r=2624
alexh2o 25 Sep 2007 20:08
2/8
Umm how about its just the new WHITE PS3 to pull a reverse Elite?
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JimmyD 26 Sep 2007 08:42
3/8
Several things don't add up; losing usb ports is one thing but if you lost blue-ray you'd lose access to games as well; games like heavenly sword are already filling the disks; would company's suddendly be restricted to DVD capacity again to reach the large audience; i doubt it.
If there was to be a ps3 "slim" would could they really remove; a couple of usb ports wouldn't have much effect but losing them all would also mean a re-think on buzz, singstar, eyetoy etc... so never going to happen; memory card slots would save much but not really required; hard drive, most games require this so removing it altogether isn't going to happen; blue-ray is needed for games.
hmmm, can't see a lite version happeining unless they just make it smaller; maybe they could remove wifi but is it really worth it?
more likely they'll release some new colours as they had planned originally like the white and silver versions
If there was to be a ps3 "slim" would could they really remove; a couple of usb ports wouldn't have much effect but losing them all would also mean a re-think on buzz, singstar, eyetoy etc... so never going to happen; memory card slots would save much but not really required; hard drive, most games require this so removing it altogether isn't going to happen; blue-ray is needed for games.
hmmm, can't see a lite version happeining unless they just make it smaller; maybe they could remove wifi but is it really worth it?
more likely they'll release some new colours as they had planned originally like the white and silver versions
TORC 27 Feb 2008 00:38
4/8
Anyone know anything about PSX3 TEST machines?
DoctorDee 27 Feb 2008 06:46
5/8
We HAVE A PS3 Test machine. I'm not sure that that means we know a whole lot about them. What is it you need to know?
Sorry, this is meant to be a reply to TORC.
Sorry, this is meant to be a reply to TORC.
TORC 27 Feb 2008 14:57
6/8
DoctorDee wrote:
We HAVE A PS3 Test machine. I'm not sure that that means we know a whole lot about them. What is it you need to know?
Hi-got a psx3 test machine,any idea what software is needed to play games/film/net etc-at the moment its looking fine as a door stop!
Best
Hi-got a psx3 test machine,any idea what software is needed to play games/film/net etc-at the moment its looking fine as a door stop!
Best
DoctorDee 27 Feb 2008 16:04
7/8
TORC wrote:
Hi-got a psx3 test machine,any idea what software is needed to play games/film/net etc-at the moment its looking fine as a door stop!
I'm not exactly sure what you mean here. With a few small differences, the PS3 Test works just like a normal PS3.
To play games, you need a copy of a game. You can get them from any retailer. You insert the game disc into the disc tray, and close the tray, and the game plays.
To play films, you simply need a DVD, or a film in DivX, or MP4 format on a networked media server, or on a memory format the PS3 can accept (Memory Stick, SD card, Compact Flash).
To use the 'Net, you plug an ethernet cable into the ethernet port, or you configure the wireless settings.
You can see the PS3 instruction manual here.
TORC 29 Feb 2008 00:46
8/8
DoctorDee wrote:
TORC wrote:
Hi-got a psx3 test machine,any idea what software is needed to play games/film/net etc-at the moment its looking fine as a door stop!
I'm not exactly sure what you mean here. With a few small differences, the PS3 Test works just like a normal PS3.
To play games, you need a copy of a game. You can get them from any retailer. You insert the game disc into the disc tray, and close the tray, and the game plays.
To play films, you simply need a DVD, or a film in DivX, or MP4 format on a networked media server, or on a memory format the PS3 can accept (Memory Stick, SD card, Compact Flash).
To use the 'Net, you plug an ethernet cable into the ethernet port, or you configure the wireless settings.
Thanks for the beauty of your sarcastic reply,I've printed it and stapled it to my head(if you did'nt mean it then it was funny),no tried all your suggestions(and a hell of a lot more)but it reads discs like a deep south yank from the u s of a - I need software!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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