Sony's PlayStation 3 has received a long awaited price cut and as well as a face lift. The new model costs $499 and will be available in Australia in just two weeks time on September 3.
The slimmer unit is around two thirds of the thickness and weight of the original PS3, uses 34 per cent less power and is quieter. The case has a new textured surface and is engraved with a new-look PlayStation logo. It features a 120GB hard drive and a redesigned internal architecture, including the main semiconductors, power supply and cooling mechanism.
The new PS3 is also equipped with a "Bravia Sync" feature that lets owners of Sony Bravia televisions operate the PS3 using the TV's remote control.
To coincide with the release of the new PS3, a firmware update will be available that adds a "What’s New" screen. Users will be able to quickly browse new items available in the PlayStation Store as well as their recently played games directly on the Cross Media Bar. Australian users will also be able to directly access television content from the ABC via an upcoming Cross Media Bar update soon.
But despite launching in the UK, France, Germany and Spain in November, Australians have to wait until next year for the video store for the PS3 and PSP, with Sony promising "hundreds of movies" for rental or purchase from studios including 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal, and Warner Bros. Consumers who choose to rent will have up to 14 days to watch their movie, and once playback is started, will have a minimum of 24 hours to watch the content. Purchased movies are stored on the PS3 hard disk drive and can be accessed at home via PS3 or transferred to PSP for content on the go.
The price of the PlayStation 3 console has been blamed by most analysts as the major factor behind Sony's weaker than expected performance in this console generation. Sony has sold 23.7 million PS3 consoles worldwide to date, a figure that is less than half of global Wii sales and also less than Microsoft's Xbox 360.
Existing PlayStation 3 stock will be slashed in price from next Monday to $499 - a drop of $200, so whether you like the old "phat" model or the new "slim", don't buy one this week.