Sony CEO: 'Why go first when your competitors can look at your specs and come up with something better?'
In an interview with The Times, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai suggested that it will let Microsoft make the 'first move' on the next-gen consoles.
This could mean the PS4 will be unveiled after the next Xbox, or even that it will not go on sale before Microsoft's upcoming new console?
In the Business section of The Times today, Hirai said, "Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?"
Probably both Sony and Microsoft executives have a clear understanding of their competitor's tech already, so it's more likely that the additional time would be use to adjust the messaging surrounding the announcement...
More rumors and info about the upcoming Sony console.
Eurogamer has prepared a really neat article revaling more 'insider' details about Sony's PS4/Orbis, including hard data on the technology inside the console, and its upcoming Xbox rival...
Gaming website Eurogamer (aka Digital Foundry) just prepared a really comprehensive article about Sony's upcoming console.
Called, "Orbis unmasked: what to expect from the next-gen PlayStation", it details info from "trusted sources" related to the console's Hardware, including its CPU, GPU and RAM, comparing it in the way with the next-gen XBOX console.
Here are the highlights:
• CPU.
Both the next generation PlayStation - and its Xbox competitor - feature eight-core CPUs clocked at 1.6GHz according to sources trusted by Digital Foundry.
The main processor architecture driving both consoles is said to be derived the new "Jaguar" technology currently in development by Intel's arch-rival, AMD. These are low-power processor cores designed for the entry-level laptop and tablet market, offering an excellent ratio between power consumption and performance. The PC Jaguar products are set to ship later this year in a quad-core configuration - next-gen consoles see the core count double with some customisations added to the overall design.
• GPU.
Married to the eight-core processor, Orbis also features Radeon HD graphics hardware. We've previously suggested that AMD's mobile "Pitcairn" design - the Radeon 7970M - could be a strong basis for a next-gen console graphics core in terms of power consumption and die-size. Running at 850MHz and featuring 20 of AMD's "Graphics Core Next" compute units, our information suggests that Orbis shaves off 10 per cent of that number, offering up 18 CUs in total, and sees a mild downclock to 800MHz. Incorporated into a design dedicated to cutting-edge visuals and gameplay, this hardware has some serious potential.
[...]
However, there's a fair amount of "secret sauce" in Orbis and we can disclose details on one of the more interesting additions. Paired up with the eight AMD cores, we find a bespoke GPU-like "Compute" module, designed to ease the burden on certain operations - physics calculations are a good example of traditional CPU work that are often hived off to GPU cores. We're assured that this is bespoke hardware that is not a part of the main graphics pipeline but we remain rather mystified by its standalone inclusion, bearing in mind Compute functions could be run off the main graphics cores and that devs could have the option to utilise that power for additional graphical grunt, if they so chose.
• RAM.
We also have hard data on Orbis's memory set-up. It features 4GB of GDDR5 - the ultra-fast RAM that typically ships with the latest PC graphics cards - with 512MB reserved for the operating system. This is in stark contrast to the much slower DDR3 that Durango will almost certainly ship with. Microsoft looks set to be using an offshoot of eDRAM technology connected to the graphics core to offset the bandwidth issues the use of DDR3 incurs. Volume of RAM is the key element in Durango's favour - there'll be 8GB in total, with a significant amount (two sources we've spoken to suggest 3GB in total) reserved for the OS.
You can read the full article below.
As always, keep in mind all the above are just rumors; however, they actually match perfectly with all the recent leaks floating around the net.
Stay tuned for more in the upcoming weeks/months, as Sony is likely to officially unveil the new Hardware soon.
Testing new controller with biometric sensors and touch screen?
According to Eurogamer and CVG, Sony will drop the DualShock controller for the next PlayStation; the new console could be unveiled in matter of weeks, not months...
According to sources speaking with CVG and Eurogamer, Sony will abandon the DualShock design with the release of PlayStation 4.
Apparently, the new system's controller has undergone a number of different designs, only a few of which resemble the DualShock.
This is what CVG reports:
A senior games studio source working on an upcoming Sony game says the new system's controller has undergone numerous iterations, few of which resemble the DualShock build that has become synonymous with PlayStation.
Experiments within Sony's R&D department are thought to have been extensive. Versions of the new PS4 pad include biometric sensors on the grips and an LCD touch screen, the development source claimed.
A second source, working in a separate part of the industry but still connected to Sony, said PlayStation engineers are "trying to emulate the same user interface philosophies as the PS Vita". This is likely a reference to the touch-screen capabilities of the PlayStation handheld, and a suggestion that Sony will tightly integrate its portable and home systems.
The new console - codenamed Orbis - will be revealed in a matter of weeks, not months.
Sony has declined to comment.
And, what Eurogamer said matches with the above:
This information tallies with what Eurogamer has heard from our own sources. We understand that as of six months ago Sony was testing a controller that had an LCD touch-screen on the front and biometrics functionality on the back. These designs, we were told, have changed almost every month, but are for the controller for the next PlayStation.
Biometrics technology captures data from the player's body, such as temperature and heart rate. Half-Life developer Valve has been experimenting with the tech, trying to discover new game experiences that would benefit from it.
Sony did not comment.
There you have it. As with all rumors, take the above with a grain of salt.
The DualShock controller was introduced alongside the original PlayStation in 1997 and has been used for each PlayStation home console since.
The new version of Iris Manager features a new auto shutdown feature -for inactivity or when your console reaches high temps.- among other additions.
Iris Manager by 'Estwald' for the PS3, is an open source code manager made with Homebrew tools. It is a port of HermesManager based on PSLIGHT, Tiny3D, PS3Soundlib and OpenPS3FTP.
Well, a new version is now available and adds an auto-shutdown option when your console is inactive for one hour, a new high temperature alarm and a Disk Drive callback feature (among other things).
Here's the roughly translated changelog for v1.49.1:
• Now when there's an hour of inactivity the console shuts down.
• Iris temperature alarm: if in 90 seconds the temperature don't drop below 80 °C in either the CPU or RSX, the console turns off.
• Added a Disk callback, which allows to not constantly check whether there is a disc in, allowing give a break to the reader.
• Added support for libfs.sprx redirection: copy by ftp or via usb (usb :/ gets into iris) libfs_patched.sprx, which is generated by patch_libfs.bat (do not forget to put keys in the data folder!) and games like COD4 : MW to operate from internal BD-Emu mount
• In Tools (press START) the "Copy from / dev_usb / Iris to Iris folder" will make your life easier when moving things to the installation directory of Iris Manager. For example, if you put "covers" of Multiman within the USB folder, you copy your own content or libfs_parched.sprx we talked about. The option uses asynchronous copying to gain speed.
IMPORTANT: This new option may damage the Iris Manager installation if you don't use your head, for logical reasons.
NOTE: Obviously, there's no option to delete anything that is copied, except FTP or pulling from other programs or uninstalling (which will make you lose stored games settings, etc.)
Well, it looks like he just settled it, and agreed to not endorse any of Sony's competitors for two years...
As part of the terms of the settlement, Lambert admitted that the advertisement may have caused confusion and that his contract with Sony meant he was unable to promote products from other video game companies.
Lambert has agreed to spend the next two years not appearing to promote "any other video game or computer entertainment system or video game company." Once Lambert's two years on the naughty step have played out, he has also agreed to spend the next two years giving Sony the heads-up in any subsequent advertisement which endorses a competitor's product.
The Kevin Butler character still remains in the possession of Sony, although we haven't seen them using the character in a while...
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Eurogamer: 'Orbis unmasked - What to expect from the next-gen PlayStation'
Iris Manager v1.49.1 has been released
