PS3 Video Walkthrough

[aldo]

http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?type=mov&id=12742

Here are two items of interest:
Color:
Translucent Black
............Watch one quarter into the video when they raise the digital media door.

L2/R2 Buttons:
Buttons flip downward.
............Watch halfway into the video.

-aldo

Edit: The first item, the Consoles transparent nature, had been already speculated based on some flash photos that exposed the fan underneath. This just adds more proof to that belief.

 

[aldo]

-aldo

 

[Graham]

So the L2/R2 buttons definitely are xbox style triggers.

The pictures the inq showed off during the conference also showed at least the back panel was slightly transparent. Their flash clearly showed the structure underneath. Didn't really think much of it at the time.

Really does look big when he's holding it near the end. And it's amazingly dirty already, given he is using gloves.

 

[Carl B]

I'm with you Graham, I think it looks great!

 

[Sis]

This clip really demonstrates how out-classed Microsoft is when it comes to showing off hardware: I'm fairly certain at this point that the wearing of white gloves was a requirement not driven by keeping the console free of fingerprints, but to instill the impression that the console is so grand that one must only touch it with protection. I would not be surprised if this was written down in a marketing document.

And dammit if it doesn't effect me...

 

[aldo]

I'm with you Graham. I think it looks great!

I agree with you and Graham, it does look great!

XBD, you had an opportunity to see the PS3 up close at E3, did you notice that the unit had a translucent case?

I'm under the impression that Sony didn't intend for you to notice the transparency and it is only noticeable when subjected to extreme lighting conditions. My guess is that the translucency gives the unit the appearance of having a deep luster, but you'd be better at judging that than me.

-aldo

 

[patsu]

I saw it up close too and didn't notice the translucency. It looked solid, glossy black to me. I wanted to ask xbd whether he noticed any color LEDs (e.g., power on light). I can't remember the color of the light, or if there was any LED on the PS3 during E3 2006.

 

[Carl B]

No, it definitely did *not* look transluscent to me at E3 - but then again all powered units were behind plexiglass.

That said, here's one of my photos of said unit (oh the memories), and it does show that the eject light at a minimum was lit:

EDIT: Might as well go with a watermarked version since I have memories of that as well!

 

[rabidrabbit]

Isn't the latest case revision featuring two separate leds in front/top for power and eject, instead of those touch sensitive buttons being lit?
It's possible the E3 cases weren't yet semi transparent.

Maybe there is indeed some sort of internal illumination, something functioning like the xbox360's "Circle Of Light".
The PS3 would glow a subtle healthy glow (blue?) when it's happy and functioning ok, but would turn red if it's feeling ill
It could even "express, and respond to, the changing emotions of the user."
Maybe they got some inspiration from this
http://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2001/tokyo/highlights/h09-toyota-pod.html

Yeah, I'm just joking, in case someone takes it too seriously..

 

[Carl B]

Isn't the latest case revision featuring two separate leds in front/top for power and eject, instead of those touch sensitive buttons being lit?
It's possible the E3 cases weren't yet semi transparent.

I'm not sure I catch quite what you're saying on the power button thing - but it all looks pretty similar to me E3 to video (in terms of placement). It's harder to see in my photo than the blue eject, but actually the power LED is lit as well - it's at the top-right and is green.

I only thought to look that closely after this post of yours.

 

[rabidrabbit]

I mean the touch sensitive power and eject buttons are of course still there as always, but are they still lit because the latest press photos clearly showed there are now two leds (blue and green) that I don't think were there at E3, and which obviously are for the power and eject.
Edit: Notice the "angry red" glow.

 

[Carl B]

I mean the touch sensitive power and eject buttons are of course still there as always, but are they still lit because the latest press photos clearly showed there are now two leds (blue and green) that I don't think were there at E3.

Ok word - gotcha!

Yeah, that looks different.

 

[nintenho]

probably would have been safer if they went with tray-loading drives.

 

[-NakedZ-]

I wish they've showed the HDD unit.

 

[StefanS]

I wish they've showed the HDD unit.

Yeah, I wished they had disassembled the whole unit, but that gotta wait until after the launch.

Anyway, nice video...

 

[Guden Oden]

probably would have been safer if they went with tray-loading drives.

'Safer', how? Sony's been making slot drives for ages now, every car stereo with a CD player has one, they know how to build them if anyone does.

If anything, you should be saying that of Nintendo; their slot-in drive has to accept both standard and small size discs without hiccuping.

*Edit: Oh, and with regards to the rumored transparent nature of PS3 case... That might well be due to the prototype nature of the console shown. Expect an EM shield inside that thing once production models appear, which would put an end to illuminating the guts with a photo flash...

 

[rabidrabbit]

I think the PS3 slot drive has to accept 8cm discs as well.

 

[rabidrabbit]

Sony seems to have gone for that "internal light" already with their cellphones
http://www.sonyericsson.co.jp/product/au/w43s/index.html
(click the "Flash ... " on the bottom left to get a flash window and there "Style Up" for a presentation of the illumination)
So, it isn't that far fetched to think they've put something like that in PS3 too.

In PS3, such various lighting patterns might be used for example for alerting about incoming VOIP calls, e-mail. messages etc.. even when the PS3 is on standby or while you're watching a movie or playing a game.

Personally, I wouldn't care much about such feature, as I fear it'd make the PS3 look cheap and more toyish, if not done with care and style.

 

[Arwin]

Another option would be a spin-off on the tech that Philips came up with a while ago, that allowed you to link different colors and intensities to the game you are playing. I don't think they'll do that, as I think it would be too expensive. But since we're playing the fantasy guessing game anyway - I fully agree with the notion that we're still going to get EM shielding or something similar - then it's as good a guess as any.

 

[Bad_Boy]

rabidrabbit, interesting you bring up cell phones.
I thought it would be interesting if the ps3 has some kind of hidden interface only seen when the ps3 is turned on. The new razr phones (or i should say KRZR phones) feature some kind of hidden gui.

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/moto_k1m/img_8453/body/dsc04925_605.jpg
notice the play, pause, ff, rw buttons.
they are actually gone when you turn it off...
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=1007&g=2
*not the same phone, but its what it would look like if you were to turn it off*