A document publicly available via the internet - gawd bless it - has ignited speculation that a revised-hardware PS3 is in the pipeline.
Update: Sony has sent the following statement to Next-Gen: "As mentioned when we made the product announcement for PS3, the system will have different configurations (thus, 60GB HDD with memory card slots and Wi-Fi and 20GB HDD without memory card slots or Wi-Fi both exist).
"Application to the FCC has been made with various possibilities in mind, however, it does not lead to a new product announcement at this time."
Update ends
It's revealed in the document that Sony has made an application requesting 'a class II permissive change' to the console to the US Federal Communications Commission. It's suggested by the changes detailed that a version of PS3 with an 80Gb hard drive will be released to live alongside existing models.
Alterations - i.e. update - to PS3's Bluetooth antennae are additionally related to in the document.
It's likely that any revisions to PS3 hardware would be minor and applied across the board, with a new 80Gb model simply being that - a PS3 with a bigger HDD. We'll just have to wait and see.
Sony declined to comment on the matter when contacted earlier.
ignoring the double ended dildo comment, i really liked the look of the boomerang - however that could have something to do with the fact that i have never liked the PS original, Dual Analogue or Dual Shock controllers.
I have always found the pad to be generally too small, the analogues still feel tacked on after they WERE tacked on when the dual analogue first came out, and the sensitivity and resistance has never even come close to be adequate, for me.
ignoring the double ended dildo comment, i really liked the look of the boomerang - however that could have something to do with the fact that i have never liked the PS original, Dual Analogue or Dual Shock controllers.
I have always found the pad to be generally too small, the analogues still feel tacked on after they WERE tacked on when the dual analogue first came out, and the sensitivity and resistance has never even come close to be adequate, for me.
Agreed with that. I dont like the position of the sticks nor the deadzones/sensitivity issues they have.
PS3 20GB is the Lite version, which is not needed in my view. But don't forget a while back reports said there would be a AV version of the PS3 with extra stuff.
60GB drives may now be costing Sony no more than 20GB drives, hence why 20GB SKUs have dried up? Funnily enough, at retail, 80GB drives are now costing about what 60GB drives cost at PS3's launch last year. So the question is - will Sony push the chain down with this new SKU (60GB instead of 20GB, 80GB instead of 60GB), or maintain the current range and add this on top? Let's hope for the former. It would be a very cheap way to effect a price drop by 'going with the flow' of HDD pricing... given how consumers now differentiate between SKUs based on HDD capacities, Sony could use that to their distinct advantage in jump-starting effective price cuts, without losing savings made on cost reductions in the rest of the system If it's possible for them to effectively shift the SKUs and phase out the 20GB in favour of a discounted 60GB version whilst introducing an 80GB version then that would do wonders for them IMO. The emphasis would still be on the 60GB but now at the lowest price making it much more competitve going forward. The only problem with this is that an 80GB SKU with the same featureset as the 60GB but with the added inclusion of only 20GB of HDD space might not speak much in terms of value. Maybe they could offset this by including a HDMI cable, a PS2 USB memory card reader and possibly throwing in a memory stick duo (like the ones they bundle with the PSP) to give it that little bit extra. Or, they could possibly partner with a USB headset manufacturer and include a branded "official" one. Alternatively they could throw in the new HD eye-toy
Why does Sony always insist on jumping on some imaginary bandwagon? Can 20+ GB really be such an improvement over the current 60? I think perhaps there may be a more serious issue with the PS3 elsewhere and this 80 GB upgrade is just a distraction. You ever watch both hands of a magiacian? Anyways as long as they're fixing whatever other current problems the console may have or be seeing soon in the future, more power to Sony. That is as long as the 80 GB releases for $600. Anything more is just absurd, especially without a headset or hdmi cable (or the equivalent to the play and charge kit unless it does come with something like that ).
There are people who have put 120gb HDD in their PS3's.
I doubt the 80GB would cost much more than the 60GB.
anyway i wish people would stop moaning about the price....
Xbox360 Premium = £265 Xbox HD-DVD Drive = £120 Xbox WiFi = £60 Xbox live = £40 Xbox HDMI = £??? Xbox HDD upgrade from 20GB = £??? _____________ Total = £485+
Playstation 3 BR player Wifi 60GB HDD HDMI 1080p support Memory stick slots Cell Processor Playstation Home _______________ Total = £425
There are people who have put 120gb HDD in their PS3's.
I doubt the 80GB would cost much more than the 60GB.
anyway i wish people would stop moaning about the price....
Xbox360 Premium = £265 Xbox HD-DVD Drive = £120 Xbox WiFi = £60 Xbox live = £40 Xbox HDMI = £??? Xbox HDD upgrade from 20GB = £??? _____________ Total = £485+
Playstation 3 BR player Wifi 60GB HDD HDMI 1080p support Memory stick slots Cell Processor Playstation Home _______________ Total = £425
The Cell Processor isn't something to be on a list of features you can use, xbox has 1080p, you don't get the HD Cable with the PS3, home isn't even out yet, the HD DVD drive is OPTIONAL, wifi is handy but again OPTIONAL and put simply Xbox Live is worth the money for the service.
And let's not forget the fact that you can get a few games and a play & charge kit FREE with the Xbox, my shop has Gears of War and Smackdown, and there are plenty of other shops with similar deals.
You obviously favour Sony, I think both machines are great but the Xbox is definitely more worth the money.
is it just me or do most gamers in this country miss the point about the overall price of the Playstation 3? £425 would be a reasonable Price if our American & Japanese Gaming counterparts paid the same price, but to expect the UK to pay an extra £120 so that they can sell the machine's apparently at a loss (no doubt to shift as many machines so they can label it a success from the start) and to add insult to injury HIGHER SPEC than the higher priced models on offer here. I often wonder how many Playstation 3 would have been sold in America if the price had been $850. I do own an Xbox 360 and I am happy with my gaming experience to date. But I am a true gamer and when I feel that Sony are playing fair by reducing the price I will own a Playstation 3.But until then i think trading standards should be brought in to explain to us the consumer the reason behind Sony charging an extra £120 for a lower spec Machine.
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If it's possible for them to effectively shift the SKUs and phase out the 20GB in favour of a discounted 60GB version whilst introducing an 80GB version then that would do wonders for them IMO. The emphasis would still be on the 60GB but now at the lowest price making it much more competitve going forward. The only problem with this is that an 80GB SKU with the same featureset as the 60GB but with the added inclusion of only 20GB of HDD space might not speak much in terms of value. Maybe they could offset this by including a HDMI cable, a PS2 USB memory card reader and possibly throwing in a memory stick duo (like the ones they bundle with the PSP) to give it that little bit extra. Or, they could possibly partner with a USB headset manufacturer and include a branded "official" one. Alternatively they could throw in the new HD eye-toy 
