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May 18, 2009 1:57 PM PDT

Alleged PS3 Slim spy photos get cease-and-desist treatment

by David Carnoy

Alleged spy shots of a new, slimmed down PS3 continue to attract attention.

(Credit: Engadget)

Engadget is reporting that its Japanese site received a cease-and-desist notice from a "mysterious Chinese firm" demanding that it take down images of what may--or may not be--a new, slimmer version of Sony's PS3 game console.

Engadget didn't name the firm, but if such a company really exists--and it did send out a real cease-and-desist letter--it would lend some credence to the possibility that the photos are real. Engadget, as we do, finds the whole episode amusing, because in this day and age you just don't retract leaked photos. Once the genie's out of the bottle, nothing's bringing him back in; those images are everywhere.

As for what to make of these demands from this mysterious firm, the most obvious speculation is that the company is somehow involved in the production process of the new PS3 and that one of its employees leaked the photos. However, some Engadget readers aren't buying the authenticity of the letter, saying it doesn't have the requisite legal jargon to pass cease-and-desist muster and it smells like a hoax. Here's the letter as printed by Engadget:

Dear Sir,

We just find that the following web pages on your website contain some confidential document and photos, which were highly possibly illegally released and posted:

(redacted)

We are investigating this violation and will bring all necessary legal actions regarding this matter. In order to protect the confidential information and prevent you from further legal issues and infringements, please immediately remove those pages and keep our request confidential. If you have any question regarding this issue, please feel free to contact us.

Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.

Best regards

The whole thing sounds bizarre to us and frankly, we're a little jealous we didn't get our own cease-and-desist letter.

Comments?

Additional reading: Is a slimmer PS3 in the works?

Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 2 pages (46 Comments)
by amber0728 May 18, 2009 2:06 PM PDT
Sounds to me like the big boys in Sony covered all their bases, dotted every "i" - crossed every "t" - but forgot about the little 'ol printing company and an over zealous assembly line worker who was like, 'cool, a new - thinner PS3.'

tsk tsk ...
Reply to this comment
by blusky08 May 19, 2009 6:59 AM PDT
No one is pointing out those who have the greatest motive here.
Theoretically, a Sony competitor(s) could easily hurt PS3 sales with this technique. Many consumers have been putting a PS3 purchase on hold for many reasons.
The lure of a slimmer, enhanced (cheaper?) PS3 on the horizon could further reduce current sales. (BTW, add in the the announcement of the new HDMI standard with a new connector and ALL current electronic purchases less appealing).
IF this is a sham, the smart thing for Sony to do is to state it immediately and clearly.
by rich12313 May 19, 2009 12:37 PM PDT
Very true haha. Thank god :P
by Chaosthoery May 18, 2009 2:08 PM PDT
Well, I have a 40gb PS3 and if they make a new one I'm looking for more ram and wireless n capabilities, and backwards compatibility. Yeah I would by the slim then.
Reply to this comment
by viper396 May 20, 2009 10:06 AM PDT
This is a game console, not a computer. More ram would serve no purpose because no game would be written to take advantage of it. Wireless n capabilities gains you no significant improvement. If you want better networking, plug in a ethernet cable.

Most importantly, adding things to the PS3 would only increase costs. The doesn't help the perception of the PS3 being expensive.
by gammer138 June 1, 2009 4:19 PM PDT
I've installed linux on mine, works great but more ram would open ups so many new possibilities.
by myles taylor May 18, 2009 2:09 PM PDT
So I could send you a fake letter and then it'd make you feel better? :P

I'm pretty sure it's not real. 1) As you said, once it's out, it's out and everyone knows that. 2) To attempt to stop the pictures from spreading won't stop them and will only validate the claims.

On the flip side, if they are trying to build hype, I guess this would be one way to do it. Leak photos, send out fake C&D letters, start a media frenzy.....solid plan. (shrugs)
Reply to this comment
by paulimusmaximus May 19, 2009 4:43 PM PDT
True, and now it's getting even more discussion, because there's a controversy over it.
by bobmarleypeople May 18, 2009 2:21 PM PDT
I'm a little confused as t what Sony's doing here. When the slimline PS2 came out, it was more expensive than the standard PS2 (and still is). So now they're (supposedly) releasing a slim PS3 that will be more expensive than the already too expensive console. Something's wrong here.....

If the proposed slim version is cheaper than the standard, then the standard sizes will lose a stupid amount of value in stores that have already bought some as the standard sizes will probably no longer be sold new and thus the slim will supersede the fat.
Reply to this comment
by renGek May 19, 2009 10:55 AM PDT
Because people value aesthetics more than substance. If you can't sell something just make it shiny and pretty then you will have better sales.
by faceless128 May 18, 2009 2:42 PM PDT
sounds fake. the worst thing anyone can do when photos are already out is send a C&D.
Reply to this comment
by NYTechie May 18, 2009 2:50 PM PDT
'highly possibly illegally released'--there's a tongue twister! LOL
Reply to this comment
by Police_States_of_America May 18, 2009 2:54 PM PDT
pissing on your fans isn't a good idea sony
Reply to this comment
by brandonh33 May 18, 2009 5:51 PM PDT
Ya because then you get **** all over you and short out your fan.
by brandonh33 May 18, 2009 6:03 PM PDT
I cant say ****? Why can he? Do I have to put it in present tense? Pissing? what about Pissed? Gees whats so wrong with pee?
by DMAN3k May 18, 2009 3:31 PM PDT
Too bad, I had hoped for news that Sony will fix the crashing issues and maybe let people use a real web browser like Firefox.
Reply to this comment
by viper396 May 20, 2009 10:22 AM PDT
Why does a game console even need a browser? You fanboys keep saying that game consoles need web browsers but facts show that the number of people actually using their game console to browse is so small as to be insignificant. More people browse with their cell phones then with their game consoles.

Web Browsing on the PS3 -> .04%
Web Browsing on the wii -> .01%
http://www.edge-online.com/news/ps3%E2%80%99s-web-browser-usage-ahead-wii

So tell us again, why should Sony put more time, effort, and expense into a feature that so few people actually use?
by douggdangger May 18, 2009 3:35 PM PDT
Sony,
Lower the price of your PS3. Nobody is going to buy it in an economy like we have.

get rid of:
Wifi - i don't need it
Bluray movie playback - i don't need it
Cell processor - just get a new cpu from intel and have it emulate the cell. i'm sure an intel cpu would be more powerful and easier to code
Your arrogance
Reply to this comment
by deathxxshark May 18, 2009 4:19 PM PDT
Why would Sony get rid of Blu-Ray movie playback. Its one of the PS3's major selling points, and since PS3 games are on Blu-Ray format, it wouldn't save Sony any money getting rid of Blu-Ray playback since a Blu-Ray drive still needs to be in the PS3.

And if Sony were to switch to an Intel processor, I'm 100% sure there will be compatibility issues with older games that would dissapoint many people.

I'm pretty sure the majority of people DO need wifi (including myself). Who likes ethernet cords running through their house? This is the main reason why I don't use Yahoo Widgets on my supported HDTV. It doesn't have WiFi..
by Riquez-001 May 18, 2009 4:20 PM PDT
Why don't you just buy an xbox360 if you feel like that?
by extirpator May 18, 2009 4:52 PM PDT
I had to reply to this:

you say, "get rid of:..."

"Wifi - i don't need it" - I can agree with this, but now a days wireless G is pretty cheep, and it adds a huge amount of placement flexibility for some people.

"Bluray movie playback - i don't need it" - While I can agree that Blu-ray movie playback isn't needed, it's not possible to get rid of Blu-ray for the games, and as playing Blu-ray movies has no impact on the price of the unit I don't understand why you wouldn't take a free feature.

"Cell processor - just get a new cpu from intel and have it emulate the cell. i'm sure an intel cpu would be more powerful and easier to code" - The way the cell is designed it can not be emulated at any reasonable speed by any current consumer level intel CPU, as for the power, I don't believe any consumer level intel processors are currently being usedas the heart of any of the top 10 fastest super computers; however, the Roadrunner (currently ranked as the fastest super computer in the world) uses the Cell processor.

http://www.top500.org/list/2008/11/100
http://www.top500.org/system/9485

"Your arrogance" - They are arrogant; however, no more than that last post was ignorant.
by brandonh33 May 18, 2009 6:02 PM PDT
I am sorry, i usually try to stay away from calling people names and putting them down, but dang are you stupid douggdangger! Sure I could go on to explain why every one of those things you mentioned would be a mistake but I dont need to because its common sense. With that knowledge how did you manage to type a comment on here? How did you get on the internet for flippin craps sake? Why does a ps3 even need videogames? Or a GUI? I think sony would have saved a lot of money if they just made it run DOS. Everyone loves dos. You could like reformat the hard drive and create partitions.... and... and... fun stuff like that!

Again, I am sorry for the insults, but apparently not sorry enough to erase this comment.
by EbsanU May 18, 2009 8:29 PM PDT
Haha, man. You're basically asking for a last-gen system with some graphics tweaks.
by viper396 May 20, 2009 10:32 AM PDT
douggdangger. All PS3 games are on bluray, there is no way Sony can suddenly switch to DVD or another medium without alienating, and thus upseting, the existing PS3 owners. Swaping the CPU three years into a game consoles lifespan would be very costly and gain no legitimate benefit. WiFi is cheap; it's removal would be of no real significance to cost. The facts are, for Sony did go thru all the drastic changes you suggest they might as well just drop the PS3 and start fresh on the PS4.

About the only thing you said agreeable is the part about Sony's arrogance.
by ark_v2 May 18, 2009 5:03 PM PDT
Look at it this way. If this is fake it would only affect sony. Since the sales of the PS3 have never been (plain) good on average if people start believing that this is actually true (you know, those who read cheap videogame magazines or believe everything they read on the internet), potential buyers will "wait" for the new PS3 (that would likely be sold at the same price as the current one) instead of acquiring one right now instead.
Reply to this comment
by make_or_break May 18, 2009 6:46 PM PDT
Gee Sony, *** do you need ANOTHER PS3 form factor for, skinny or otherwise? You can't sell the bloody things you already have its *current* FF, and you STILL haven't figured out WHY?

(Helpful hint: it has NOTHING to do with how fat or skinny the machine is.)
Reply to this comment
by bajanx May 18, 2009 7:53 PM PDT
Sony blew it on so many levels this generation. Sony is bleeding money and it doesnt look to stop anytime soon. The only thing that will help them is to some how cut the development cost of the PS3. If that means coming out with a new slimmy or streamlining their development process. If this continues for to much longer Sony and their PS3 are going to be in a world of hurt. Sony is basically surviving on the sales of the PS2 in the gaming department and that will not last long. My2cents!
Reply to this comment
by extirpator May 21, 2009 12:22 PM PDT
"Sony blew it on so many levels this generation." - Please elaborate, as the only real issue that they currently have is arguably the price.
by Balloonknot May 19, 2009 5:16 AM PDT
A slimmer PS3 doesn't make sense at this point. It would be more expensive to produce and I'm confident that Sony is well aware of the fact that people think the PS3 is too expensive. They've already cut costs and are presumably taking big losses on each unit sold. I could be way off, I usually am in fact, but I think a slim PS3 is many years away if at all. If there's any new hardware at E3 it'll likely be the PSP, which I'm hoping is a true next-gen model and not another lame modification to the existing one.
Reply to this comment
by extirpator May 21, 2009 2:32 PM PDT
I disagree, The 45nm cell processors have recently become commercially available. At under 1/2 the original size they should be close to 1/2 the price. The RSX was/is supposed to hit the 45nm doubling it's yield and lowering it price. In addition the decrease in the two primary chips size, the motherboard also can now easily be decreased by at least 1/3 to 1/2 reducing it's cost. The price of blue lasers has dropped significantly in the last few years making inexpensive blu-ray drives possible. With the reduced size of the motherboard and the smaller size of newer Blu-ray drives, they could easily eliminate 1/3 of the case plastic. Given all these size and cost reductions, I see no reason to believe that sony wouldn't make a PS3 slim.
by edd_y_123 May 19, 2009 6:30 AM PDT
Doubt it. The Rumor Feed - http://rumorfeed.blogspot.com/ is saying that this PS3 Slim is not a Sony product. Since they have sources at Sony, I tend to beleive them. Plus they are rarely wrong, so that seals the deal.
Reply to this comment
by mogley2005 May 19, 2009 7:33 AM PDT
This letter seems like a fake because of the first line, "We just find that the following web pages on your website ..." that doesn't sound like legalise at all...since it should be, "We just FOUND that the..." however, if the letter was written in Chinese, it could be a translation issue.
Reply to this comment
by mgarc1125 May 19, 2009 10:33 AM PDT
I think the whole thing is fake. It's a cheapo chinese ripoff company that doesn't want to get the crap sued out of it before they even release their crap product.
Reply to this comment
by douggdangger May 19, 2009 10:47 AM PDT
Think of it this way:

Sony is a swimmer in the middle of an ocean.
PS2 is the life preserver he's wearing.
PS3 is a 2ton boat anchor tied around the swimmer's ankle.
Reply to this comment
by dex81 May 20, 2009 9:44 AM PDT
I don't usually comment but after reading your 2 comments here, I've decided to tell you that you don't know what you're talking about. Sony is a big company and gaming is not the only thing they do (think TV, digicam, camcorders, PC, etc.). I spend most of my time outside the US and I agree that yes PS3 is not the top gaming console here in the US but it's doing quite well in other continents. But you obviously think that the world revolves around america and if don't make it here, then they're a bust. It's people like you who's the reason why the world hates us so much. Because of people like you, the world think that we are the arrogant know it all big bully on the block. Why don't you try stop gaming sometime and go and read a book and maybe you'll grow some culture. We have lots of free library you know.
by c.Lake May 20, 2009 12:06 PM PDT
@dex81

Oh God... Bluh, bluh, bluh. We KNOW Sony is a big company. We know they have other resources besides games. Duh. Good for you -- you've travelled outside the U.S. I guess that make YOU special. Because no one else has ever travelled to another country and discovered they too are also annoyed with Sony lack of consistency and lack of understanding of what customers want.

We certainly don't need the latest "Trolling Sony Fanboy", running in to save their bad reputation. You just come off as a sad loser, who's desperately hoping he did back the wrong horse. Grow-up already, Sony doesn't CARE ABOUT YOU, or any of their customers. And the sooner you learn that lesson, the better off you'll be.
by extirpator May 21, 2009 4:53 PM PDT
Apparently some people here make ridiculous claims like, "PS3 is a 2ton boat anchor tied around the swimmer's ankle." and yet can not inform us how they've come to this conclusion. Is the PS3 selling as well as the Wii? No, but no other console up to this point has had sales figures like the Wii. Is the PS3 selling as well as the PS2? It is still with in the ball park of the ps2, but it is not selling as well as the PS2 did at this point in it's life. I could stop here; however, this would be only half of the picture. Is the xbox 360 selling as well as the PS2 did? No, but much like the PS3 is is still with in the ball park of the PS2, however if we look at where the 360 was at the same point in it's life as to where the PS3 currently is relative to the ps2 then your swimming analogy would look more like this:

The PS2 swimmer is swimming level.
The PS3 swimmer is maybe a six inches under water, but with a few good strokes could be back tot he surface.
The Xbox 360 swimmer is about a foot under water, and with a few good strokes could be back at the surface as well.

Are any of these swimmers in danger of drowning? Not at this point, and to be fair none of them are like the Dreamcast which at about 100 yards out was half way to the bottom of the ocean. So please lets not see silly comments that don't make any sense if you do any research at all.
by dex81 May 21, 2009 6:10 PM PDT
@c.Lake

You say I feel special because I went out of the country? and that I defended sony? You're getting me all wrong my man.
First of, I'm no Sony fan boy (I have an Xbox on a Samsung TV, although I do have a Sony digicam, hmnn, maybe that's what makes me a fan boy?! darn that digicam!). Who cares about Sony, they can go to bankruptcy for all I care.

My point being was people like douggdangger should stop stating generalizing statement like you know what I want, or the rest of the world want. First, douggdangger pointed out that the PS3 should remove this and that and he implied that the WHOLE WORLD don't need those things in their gaming console, well, some people do (as evidence to the comments left on his post). Also, most of my friends who has PS3 teases me that I don't have blu-ray so obviously my friends like it. Then he stated that PS3 is like a 2 ton boat anchor on a swimmer(Sony) in the middle of the ocean(the world) and PS2 is the only thing that saves them from going down(bankruptcy). What is his basis for stating that? The reason I mentioned that I went out of the country is because I want him to know that I have seen PS3 out selling the Xbox outside the US (it's part of my job).
And the reason felt I need to leave a comment is because whenever I'm in a hotel room outside the US watching local news (just like what I was doing when I typed that comment) is most of the time, their commentary is about us americans being such arrogant know-it-all bully that tries to impose or dictate our will to them. So when I read comments that dougdangger (now you) left here stating this and that, then you're just giving them proof that they are right. So who's the loser now?
by dex81 May 21, 2009 6:15 PM PDT
@extirpator

well said.
by drig0423 May 19, 2009 12:57 PM PDT
Did anyone contact Sony or the Chinese firm for comment? Maybe do some journalistic due diligence? Or are we just going to keep believing blogs and rumors?
Reply to this comment
by prettytonyshort May 19, 2009 8:47 PM PDT
I may have very well been a legit letter, but lost a lot in the translation process. I'll still take the wait and see approach.
Reply to this comment
by TacoMusic May 19, 2009 10:35 PM PDT
Great just in time when i was about to purchase a PS3, 120 gbs, thinner for the supposed same price of a original PS3.....im down!!!
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