Hasta La Gadget!

Squared away in the PlayStation 3‘s latest software update post, Sony announced that the Folding@Home service will be retired starting next month, alongside the console’s 4.30 update. The project, which tied into Stanford University’s work on protein folding and research into the causes of a diseases like Alzheimer’s, pulled in over 15 million PlayStation owners since it started in 2007. In fact, according to Stanford’s client statistics, PS3 users offered the second greatest contribution after Windows devices, adding more than 100 million computation hours to the research project — and well, we did our bit.

Filed under: Gaming, Science, Sony

Folding@Home packs up on PlayStation 3: over 100 million computation hours added to research originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 05:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you feel the current design of the PlayStation Store leaves a lot to be desired, then you’ll probably be glad to hear it’s being totally revamped. A new UI should do a better job of pushing fresh content at you, and its appearance will be consistent regardless of whether you’re outputting in standard or high def. Searching has been improved to handle abbreviations and misspellings, and a dynamic list of suggestions will try to work out what you’re looking for as you type. Also, Vita and PSP content will be separated, new filters will be available and content hubs will offer everything linked to a certain title, à la the Xbox 360 Marketplace. Sound good? Well, there’s not long to wait – it’ll be launching in PAL regions (Europe, Asia, Australia and others) on October 17th, while North Americans will receive it almost a week later, on October 23rd.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Sony

PlayStation Store update hitting PAL regions on October 17th, North America on October 23rd originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the announcement for the PlayStation Mobile store and environment released this week by Sony is a clause that’s rather tiny and is disguised as a perk: three devices allowed for each game. In the past, back before the smartphone, this sort of note would have been amazing – you mean I can play this game on my PlayStation at home as well as at my cousin Joe’s house? Amazing! Now here in the present, three devices is a limit that Sony shouldn’t be working with.

As the gaming universe very, very reluctantly starts making its way into the mobile environment, limits in play continue to appear here and there. A feature for the PlayStation Vita is cross-compatibility with some games between it and the PlayStation 3. Cross-compatibility for a game between smartphones and tablets should, by all means, be a given by now. With the PlayStation Mobile environment, you can play a game you purchase on three devices and that’s it – once you’ve played the game on your tablet and your smartphone, you get one more choice.

For a lot of people, this isn’t a problem. If you’ve got a smartphone and a tablet, you’re probably going to have those devices for some time to come. If you purchase a smartphone, you’re likely nailed in to a 2-year contract with your mobile carrier, and a tablet isn’t something you buy more than once a year – if that. What the PlayStation Mobile rule of 3 does not account for is the ever-growing multi-device-owning public.

I should not be counted as I’ve got more devices in and out of my hands than most people will ever touch as a product reviewer – but given the current release schedule for products at less than a year between one device and its upgraded version (see: HTC One X+), it’s not out of line to assume people are switching devices much more often than the 2-year lock implies. It must be then that Sony wants to work in the old world, one where the idea of piracy being so important that they limit the devices on which a game can be played for the legitimate multi-device-owning public.

And that’s your first-world problem opinion for the day. Do you own more than three devices that you’d like to play the same game on? Let us know!

PlayStation Mobile shackles Sony to gaming past is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

After what feels like a mighty long time since it was first announced, Sony’s cross-platform PlayStation Mobile store is now up and running with an initial line-up of games (plus one lonely-looking app) for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation Certified Android devices. That hardware category currently includes Sony’s latest tablets and Xperias, plus HTC One-branded handsets — check the source link for a full list and installation instructions. So far, we can access PSM on the Vita via a new tab on the PlayStation Store, and we know that readers are having luck on devices in the US — including the Xperia Play — but the One X (both global and AT&T) has only given us error messages. If you succeed or fail, please post your results below and we’ll update accordingly.

Update: Okay, there are definitely teething problems on HTC devices and we’re reaching out for an explanation. Meanwhile, owners of the Nexus 7 and the Xperia Ion on AT&T bring happier tidings.

[Thanks to Paul and all who’ve commented]

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Handhelds, Tablets, Sony

Sony Playstation Mobile store now live, offers cross-platform games and apps from $0.80 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A brand new PlayStation 3 updated hardware release has been advertised (after a reveal earlier this year) with just about as strange a 15-second commercial as you’re ever going to see. This ad spot has the gaming console rotating in space with a couple of specification updates, first of all – no big deal. Then there’s a freak-out session with a zombie that bursts forth from the device and grabs directly at your face in 3D.

The video was updated to an official Sony PlayStation Japan YouTube Channel and does indeed work in 3D via YouTube’s ability to show such content. Because of this, we’ve got the feeling that Sony will be pushing 3D abilities from the basic place they’re at in the current newest iteration of the PlayStation 3 to a new level by the time this device is out across the earth. That said, there’s really no accounting for the terrorizing of the audience.

On the other hand, it could very well be a teaser for the upcoming 3D release of Resident Evil 6, of course. This release will likely be so gigantic that Sony will be joining in on the fun with special edition controllers and perhaps even a console covered with infected blood – you never know! For now we’re guessing that this is just something we can rack up to Japanese television wackiness.

Take a peek at the timeline below to see other hints and tips on what the next PlayStation 3 console release will be like. We know it’ll be 25% lighter and 20% smaller than the PlayStation 3 Slim, but other than that we’ve got little to no information on the books. Don’t expect any sort of price decrease, either!

[via WebProNews]

New PlayStation 3 “Superslim” ad tips Zombie 3D hardware update is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.