Multimedia powerhouse Sony PlayStation 4 to come soon? *UPDATE*

According to a report by David Richards of SmartHouse, a Sony insider hinted that a new version of the PlayStation 3 (a PlayStation 4 as speculated) could be less that 18 months away. The alleged unit will still be powered by the CELL Broadband Engine, but with new features to fully turn it into a powerhouse multimedia unit.

In fact, Sony’s former Big Boss and “father of the PlayStation”, Ken Kutaragi, has mentioned that the console should now be more integrated into the networked environment, in an unidentified interview earlier last week. He went as far to say that the future game console will be fully “Internet-based.”

The insider claim had also included that the console will include an extensive software suite for managing TV content or HD content streamed to the console. This could be the very same rumor that mentioned an extensive and seamless peer-to-peer network that “downloads and instantly plays,” as is the technical definition of “streaming.”

The new PlayStation unit will sport a different layout for the drive and the attachment area, although there are no other clarifications as to what color or what other enhancements are due for this “PlayStation 4” unit. But going back to his Kutaragi’s speech, he had mentioned his view of how the PlayStation console would evolve in later generations.

“The design concept of the Cell processor is the network processor. When the PS3 was introduced last year, the network environment was not ready for a net-based game console. Now it has become possible, so why not enter?” said Kutaragi.

We’re not keeping our fingers crossed, but we are keeping our ears and eyes peeled for more developments. Keep tuned in, folks.

---

UPDATE: Spong unplugs the dream drain for this rumor, folks. It seems that Spong got hold of a Sony UK contact and instead of getting the usual “No comment” reply, they got this little brainstormer: “Obviously, this is garbage.” Rumor canned? That call is up to you.

Via SmartHouse

According to a report by David Richards of SmartHouse, a Sony insider hinted that a new version of the PlayStation 3 (a PlayStation 4 as speculated) could be less that 18 months away. The alleged unit will still be powered by the CELL Broadband Engine, but with new features to fully turn it into a powerhouse multimedia unit.

In fact, Sony’s former Big Boss and “father of the PlayStation”, Ken Kutaragi, has mentioned that the console should now be more integrated into the networked environment, in an unidentified interview earlier last week. He went as far to say that the future game console will be fully “Internet-based.”

The insider claim had also included that the console will include an extensive software suite for managing TV content or HD content streamed to the console. This could be the very same rumor that mentioned an extensive and seamless peer-to-peer network that “downloads and instantly plays,” as is the technical definition of “streaming.”

The new PlayStation unit will sport a different layout for the drive and the attachment area, although there are no other clarifications as to what color or what other enhancements are due for this “PlayStation 4” unit. But going back to his Kutaragi’s speech, he had mentioned his view of how the PlayStation console would evolve in later generations.

“The design concept of the Cell processor is the network processor. When the PS3 was introduced last year, the network environment was not ready for a net-based game console. Now it has become possible, so why not enter?” said Kutaragi.

We’re not keeping our fingers crossed, but we are keeping our ears and eyes peeled for more developments. Keep tuned in, folks.

---

UPDATE: Spong unplugs the dream drain for this rumor, folks. It seems that Spong got hold of a Sony UK contact and instead of getting the usual “No comment” reply, they got this little brainstormer: “Obviously, this is garbage.” Rumor canned? That call is up to you.

Via SmartHouse