Tag Archives: Playstation 3

Sony Will Fix Your Brick

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bigstock-single-red-brick-isolated-on-w-42513223Sony recently released an update to the PlayStation 3 that didn’t work as intended. The software update was version 4.45. Some gamers quickly discovered that it bricked their console.

They reported the problem on the PlayStation Community Forums. Several people said that after they updated to 4.45, their PlayStation 3 wouldn’t go to the screen that would let them play. It was stuck.

They also found that they could not shut down the PlayStation 3 by pressing the power button. Unplugging the console didn’t solve the problem either. It was still stuck after being plugged back in.

If this happened to your PlayStation 3, fear not. Sony is aware of the problem. They are working on fixing your brick. They posted the following information about it on the PlayStation Community Forums:

We have identified the issue related to the PlayStation 3 software update (version 4.45) that impacted a small number of PS3 systems earlier this week. A new PS3 system software update is planned to be released on June 27 that resolves the issue. Thank you for your patience and understanding and we apologize for the inconvenience.

Image: stock photo single red brick isolated on white background by BigStock.

Diablo III Release Date Announced for Consoles

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BlizzardBlue It’s been a little over a year since Diablo III was released for PC and Mac. We have known for a little while now that the game will also be released on consoles. Now we know the release date. Blizzard Entertainment has now announced that Diablo III will debut on both the Sony Playstation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 on September 3, 2013. Select retailers are offering it for preorder, and the suggested retail price (for either version) is $59.99.

Those of you who, like me, have been playing Diablo III since the beta might wonder why anyone would want to play it on console. I guess the most obvious reason would be so you could play D3 on your big screen TV (instead of your much smaller computer monitor screen).

Those who reserve their copies right away will get an exclusive in-game Infernal Helm for their character to use. It gives an experience bonus to any character that wears it. Another cool thing about the console versions is that it will allow gamers to make a party that includes both local and online players. In other words, you and your friend could be sitting on your couch and playing with two people who are online (and not at your house at all).

What you can’t do, however, is play Diablo III on your Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 and create a party that includes your friends who play D3 on PC or Mac. You cannot mix the two. You also cannot transfer your characters, their progress, or their loot from a PC or Mac game to a console version. That being said, if all your gaming friends use Xbox 360, or Playstation 3 (instead of a computer) the console version of Diablo III will give you a chance to play with them. (Assuming, of course, you have the same gaming device that they do).

Here is the “sizzle reel” that was released when it was first announced that D3 would be coming to consoles. The interface is a bit different than how it is on computers (judging from that shot of the player equipping his Barbarian), but it looks like the essence of the game has been captured.

Think You Can Drive?

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…then prove it with Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 3D gaming tournament, coming to HMV stores in UK from Saturday.

GT5 was finally launched in UK today to much anticipation by the PlayStation 3 crowd.  It’s a few years late but with over 1000 cars, 70 circuits and 3D, it might actually be worth it.  Previous incarnations of Gran Turismo have sold over 56 million copies and made a legend of its creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

To celebrate the launch, Sony and HMV are running a GT5 3D gaming tournament, with Bravia 3D TVs installed in HMV stores in Manchester, Reading, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.  From this Saturday for ten days, the stores will host heats with the fastest two from each store going through to a grand final in London on 15th December.  The final will be compèred by Jake Humphreys, the BBC’s Formula 1 commentator at the Trocadero, Oxford Circus. The winner will walk away with a full Sony 3D setup and a holiday to Madrid, Spain. Nice.

So, if you think you’re the next Sebastian Vettel, get practising.

Twonky Mobile Server

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It’s always fun when technology intersects, and it becomes possible to do something cool that was previously not possible and/or was never thought of.

Such is the case with my Sprint HTC Evo smartphone. Sure, it’s a pocket computer. Sure, it has WiFi. As such, sure, it’s a network device with a potential node on my home network.

Rewind. What was that last bit again? My phone is a network device with a potential node on my home network. Let’s see – what can I do with network devices – share resources, share drives and therefore share files.

Enter the free Twonky Server Mobile for Android. Twonky Server Mobile is a free piece of software available in the Android Marketplace that shares audio, video and photos from the phone to UPnP and DLNA certified receiving devices on a home network. This includes software such as Boxee and UBMC among others.

I had a copied a number of videos to my Evo’s 8 media card so I’d have them available to watch if and when I had time. Hummm – with the Evo’s WiFi turned on and connected to my home network, if I ran the Twonky Server Mobile software, would I be able to see Twonky Mobile Server as an available network share with my Western Digital TV Live Plus boxes? If so, how would it work?

I’m happy to report that the free Twonky Mobile Server for Android works flawlessly. Simply start the app and there’s nothing else to do on the phone. Twonky Mobile Server shows up as an available server on the network, and the audio, videos and photos show up and play with UPnP and DLNA certified receiving devices such as WD TV Live Plus boxes.

Twonky also offers a small array of inexpensive server software products that make it possible to easily share audio, video and photo media from your Windows or Mac computer via UPnP and DLNA to certified devices such as Playstation 3, many digital photo frames, many Blu-ray players, and other devices and softwares.