ps3

Today in hot, fresh, buzzy news, don't panic: Libya can fire guns at protesters from helicopters, but it can't turn off all your bit.ly links. Phew, right? Also, even though the Motorola Xoom might not have Flash the day it comes out of the box, it'll have it within two weeks, so that's also a calm-down story. Plus, Amazon launches its Prime streaming service, Microsoft offers a Kinect SDK, and Apple might give a tiny little window of opportunity to Android tablets. Plus: save Chrome's URL bar! --Molly

This week Sony announced that it's kicking PlayStation 3 hackers off its PlayStation Network and Qriocity media service--for life. Those deemed offenders by Sony get an e-mail saying the company is aware of their ways and plans to drop the banhammer unless they reformat their PS3's hard drive and reinstall the official, un-jailbroken PS3 firmware.

If a user fails to comply, then the ban is handed down. Users who get bannned get a blue screen telling them they're not allowed on the network, as well as an e-mail explaining why.

So far there's no word on whether those who are banned can somehow reconnect their machines to Sony's online services (and we're hoping there's a way, or there may be a glut of network-less PS3s on Craigslist in the near future).

Sony's not alone; Microsoft enacted similar measures a couple of years ago to keep modded Xboxes off of its Live network, and there was a backlash. Now, though, it seems that banning console hackers is the norm. But we have to ask, in your view is Sony's latest move to thwart breaches of its official policy fair?

Opinions on the matter, of course, are varied and passionate. If the poll answers don't cover yours, please elaborate in the comments section. … Read more

Sony came down hard on PlayStation 3 hackers today, saying they will be permanently banned from the company's online services.

"Violation of the system software license agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system," reads a notice posted to Sony's official PlayStation blog. "In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of international copyright laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently."

To avoid the lifetime shutout, Sony said, consumers must "immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems."

In the post, Social Media Manager Jeff Rubenstein said the policy represents an initial response to questions from PlayStation.Blog readers about how Sony plans to deal with breaches of its policy.

The company did not say when the ban will begin, but the blog PS3 News is reporting that many users of its PS3 forums have already confirmed receiving e-mail notices from Sony followed by their PlayStation 3 consoles being banned.

According to one account, "If you get error 0x8002A227, Sony banned your PS3 from the PSN."

This is just the latest step by Sony to thwart PlayStation 3 jailbreaks. … Read more

The Hoon vs. Neo Legend joystick is a premium game accessory from French luxury goods maker Hoon and European gaming specialist Neo Legend. The handmade arcade-style controller boasts an ostrich-leather finish and dark blue lacquered oak paneling for aesthetics, as well as high-end hardware from Japanese arcade components manufacturer Sanwa Denshi. What's more, it's compatible with the Xbox 360, PS3, and PCs out of the box.

This sexy contraption will be available from February 18 directly from both Hoon and Neo Legend's online stores, with pricing pending confirmation. Somehow, we suspect it will cost as much as … Read more

If you own a full suite of Sony A/V gear ranging from the Bravia HDTV to a home theater system and PS3 console, this is definitely a remote worth checking out. The new CECH-ZRC1 has built-in infrared (IR) and Bluetooth connectivity to operate all these devices and comes loaded with specialized gaming controls. This clicker also runs on smaller AAA batteries compared with the older PS3-only model that uses AA cells. The remote is expected to be out at the end of March in Japan for around $44. Details are scant at the moment, though it seems like there'… Read more

Though Sony scored well in the gaming department, higher competition and lower income in the LCD TV area took its toll on fiscal third-quarter earnings.

For the quarter ended December 31, the Japanese electronics giant reported a net profit of 72.3 billion yen ($885 million), a drop of 8.6 percent from the 79.2 billion yen earned in the year-ago quarter. Sales dipped 1.4 percent to 2.206 trillion yen from the prior year's quarter, which Sony attributed primarily to unfavorable exchange rates.

On the plus side, operating income in Sony's Networked Products & Services … Read more

Sony has been granted a temporary restraining order against George Hotz, better known as Geohot.

"After consideration of the record and the arguments of counsel, the court finds that a temporary restraining order is warranted," Northern District Court of California judge Susan Illston wrote in a judgment dated Wednesday and released yesterday (PDF). "Plaintiff has submitted substantial evidence showing that defendant George Hotz has violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act."

Sony initially filed its request for a temporary restraining order earlier this month. It said at the time that Hotz bypassed "effective technological protective measures&… Read more

Excuse the stormy portmanteau, but last night's snowbotomy has left Jeff stranded in New Jersey, so Joseph Kaminski from CNET's Digital City Podcast takes his spot and lugs in a 21-inch Apple iMac to show his dedication to desktop computers, and Wilson ain't complaining.

Oh, and in case you're wondering about today's show title, it's a reference to Joey's nickname "Turbo Thundersnow," which stems from his undisputed breakdancing skills and the winter phenomenon in which precipitation takes the form of snow instead of rain.

At a live event in Tokyo today, Sony revealed its next-generation portable gaming device that many thought would be called the PSP2, but the official name is actually the Sony Next Generation Portable, or NGP. Rolls off the tongue, right? Tongue-twisting names notwithstanding, the portable device features a 5-inch high-resolution OLED display that's four times the resolution of the current model and equivalent to the graphics on the PlayStation 3.

The portable device also has a touch screen, but Sony encourages players to use the rear-mounted touch pad to control gameplay without obstructing the display, although it's going to look weird when you see people fondling their NGPs on the subway.

Sony also unveiled a new platform called the PlayStation Suite that will allow first-gen PlayStation games to run on a variety of Android-enabled smartphones and tablet PCs. Sony hopes this will reinvigorate its portable gaming market, especially in the wake of last week's Nintendo 3DS announcement.

Enough about gaming, check out this Chicago-based start-up called Grubwithus that introduces strangers to the world of "social dining."

The service helps strangers meet potential friends by taking care of all the restaurant busywork: the Grubwithus team makes the reservation, sets the menu, introduces the diners to one another, and even calculates the tip prior to the meeting--Grubbers just have to show up, eat, and socialize.

Grubwithus founders Daishin Sugano and Eddy Lu may have accidentally stumbled upon a new way to meet new partners, based on a new study that claims couples end up in bed quicker as a result of "digital intimacy."

The study interviewed a sample set in which 38 percent of women believe texting, Facebook, and other social networking tools break the awkward communication barrier earlier than meeting IRL, and thus help to quicken the many steps to intimacy.

Joey and I work together in the lab and I've observed his interactions with the gentler sex, so Wilson and I pick his brain for tips on how to segue from an online chat to in-person meetups. It's not as easy as you think!

A 25-year-old St. Louis Cardinals fan with cerebral palsy has inspired a new game mode in the upcoming MLB 11: The Show.

According to ESPN, Hans Smith wrote to Sony's San Diego game studio, the title's developer, a few years ago to talk about his love for baseball and the video game. The letter prompted the studio to add Smith as a playable character in MLB 10: The Show, and his continued ties with the development team spurred it to create a new game mode in its upcoming release that makes it easier for gamers with disabilities to play.

ESPN said the mode is named after Smith's organization, the Association for Disabled Virtual Athletes. Rather than require gamers to press several different buttons to control players, the new mode offers single-press functionality for everything from throwing a runner out to batting. The game's AI takes care of running after the ball and other activities that might require multiple buttons.… Read more