TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Tuesday it would begin selling the "PSX," an all-in-one game console and entertainment system, in Japan by the year-end, in a bid to boost the company's sagging electronics sales. Sony, the world's largest consumer electronics maker, said the PSX would feature a satellite TV tuner, DVD recorder, hard disk drive (HDD) recorder and PlayStation 2 (PS2) game player.
A version with a 160-gigabyte HDD will sell for 79,800 yen ($719) and be able to record up to 204 hours of television, the company said. It will also sell a 250-gigabyte version for 99,800 yen.
Chief Executive Nobuyuki Idei said in May that one of the growth strategies for Sony's electronics business would be to integrate it with the company's profit-making games division.
Shares of Sony were down 1.73 percent at 3,980 yen by midday, while the Nikkei 225 average was unchanged.
Sony plans to market the PSX as a consumer electronics product and aims to pitch the box as a do-everything entertainment console for games, music and movies.
The company's games division has developed cutting-edge semiconductors for the PS2 and the original PlayStation, but it is the upcoming PlayStation machine that has people buzzing about the integration of electronics and games.
Sony plans to invest 500 billion yen over the next three years in semiconductors, including research and development for a high-powered microprocessor codenamed "cell" that is being developed with Toshiba Corp and IBM.
The chip is expected to power Sony's next-generation game console, but the company aims to make "cell" the global standard for consumer electronics in the high-speed Internet era.
Source for Above information is from AP News Writer and source of information below is from
Playstation.com(Japan).
Q/A from the unveiling of the new PSX in Japan:
1) Can videotape the television the large capacity hard disk on-board DVD recorder which
'The PSX ' we build in the ground wave analog tuner, we are possible to videotape the television program which is in the midst of televising by the fact that the television antenna cable is connected. When ' DESR-7000 ' is, when maximum approximately 325 hours, ' DESR-5000 ' is, video recording of maximum of 204 hours is possible. The DVD recorder which loads the hard disk of the 250GB is not present time, it becomes industry largest class. In addition, it loads also the function which writes out the image which was videotaped in the DVD, (with network upgrade correspondence). Without waiting for video recording end, the title which is in the midst of videotaping can be played back, " you chase and playback function " and can do the playback of another video recording being completed title while videotaping " reverse side video recording of " simultaneous video recording playback function " in the game " and so on, also ease of use of television video recording is pursued.
(2) To correspond to PS and the PS2 software, also the PSBB of course available!
PS and the software for the PS2 which exceed sum total 5,000 title that way it is play possible. Furthermore, it can enjoy also the online game making use of the network function of standard loading. The pattern which can use the USB port and 1 basis to be on-board, the peripheral device which utilizes the existing USB that way. As a PS2 function you probably can say compatibility is almost maintained.
(3) Compilation of the television program which it videotaped is possible
Simple compilation function of the television program which it videotaped is loaded. The unwanted part in program is cut, the compilation function that can be done with the analog controller it is connected. With the adoption of very to know those where it becomes easy are the point intuitively know interface.
(4) Sound recording and playback of music are possible
' The PSX ' recording the music CD, it is possible to play back. As for the format which you can record the ATRAC3 which corresponds to copyright protective technology, the format which can be played back MP3 type is possible in addition to the ATRAC3. When playing back the visual effect is indicated.
(5) Memory stick slot equipment
The memory stick which is adopted for the SONY make digital camera and the like can be utilized that way. The photograph which was photographed with the digital camera ' the PSX ' it is possible to take in.
(6) Network update does
If you connect broadband with the network connector which is prepared on the rear, it is possible ' the PSX ' to add various new performance, to update the software and the firmware.
PSX Features:
* With bulk 250GB hard disk largest approximately 325 hour video recordings
* With "DESR - 7000" when videotaping with the SLP mode
* In DVD high-speed dubbing of the maximum of 24 time speed
* High speed and Takasina rank GUI
(Graphical user interface)
* Not only the video recording of TV, fusing music, the still picture and the game
* The compact size layout free design which is 312 millimeters in width
