80GB PlayStation 3, Now Available in North America

So, it’s now official. The higher capacity 80GB version of the PS3, first announced during this year’s E3 Media & Business Summit is now available for sale in North America for US$599/C$649. Alongside South Korea, the US and Canada will be the only region (at the moment) to retail the 80GB PS3. As shown in the stock picture above, the new 80GB PS3 for North America will come bundled with Motorstorm.

With the advent of the 80GB variant, Sony has also reduced the price of its 60GB PS3 to US$499 accordingly. Sony predicts that with current demand levels, the supply for the 60GB PS3 will run out sometime in Fall. Note: Sony is no longer producing the 60GB model of the PlayStation 3 for the US market. When all the product stock remaining is sold, the only available model of the PlayStation 3 in the US will be the 80GB, $599, version of the console

PlayStation Network Prepaid Cards

Beginning June 6, 2007, our friends in Japan will have the option to purchase PlayStation Network prepaid cards for use with the PlayStation Store. The Japanese PlayStation Network cards comes in denominations of 10,000 yen (approx.USD82), 5,000 yen (approx.USD41), 3,000 yen (approx.USD24) and 1,000 yen (approx.USD8.20) and will be sold at 52,000 convenience stores (such as LAWSON and FamilyMart) and post office ATMs nationwide. At the moment, these PSN prepaid cards will be useable only on the PS3 but it should include PSP support in the near future.

Source: PlayStation.com (Japan)

New PSP Demos

May is certainly bonanza month for new PSP Game demos. For your convenience, the following PSP demos are available for your download pleasure within our download section of the AtracLife forum. (Note: some of these games are in Japanese) Naturally, a simple free forum registration is required to download the file – Register for free to participate in the #1 discussion board for ATRAC based devices.

MLB 07 *Click here to download*

Full Auto 2

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2

Gurumin

PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient

Legend of Heroes

Airport Hero

Enjoy!

New PSP Game Demos: LocoRoco, Lumines II & Doko Demo Issho: Let’s Gakkou!

Over the weekend, three new PSP Game demos: 1) LocoRoco, 2) Lumines II and 3) Doko Demo Issho: Let’s Gakkou! were made available for your download pleasure. (Note: these games are in Japanese) For your convenience, these demos can be acquired accordingly within our download section of the AtracLife forum. Naturally, a simple free forum registration is required to download the file – Register for free to participate in the #1 discussion board for ATRAC based device.

LocoRoco

Instructions: Create a new folder – [NPJG90002] – within PSP>GAME and copy the LocoRoco Demo file (total size: 7,002 KB) into the newly created folder accordingly.

Lumines II

Instructions: Create a new folder – [ULJM05232] – within PSP>GAME and copy the Lumines II Demo file (total size: 7,583 KB) into the newly created folder accordingly.

Doko Demo Issho: Let’s Gakkou!

Instructions: Create a new folder – [NPJG90003] – within PSP>GAME and copy the Doko Demo Issho: Let’s Gakkou! Demo file (total size: 5,503 KB) into the newly created folder accordingly. (via Playstation.com Forums)

Enjoy!

Sony NW-A800 CM Revisited ~ Walkman Levitate ~

 
The new Walkman CM shown above is Sony’s latest for the two months old NW-A800 series. Simply christened as “Walkman Levitate,” the new CM is available for your viewing pleasure at ATRACLife in PSP AVC (H.264) format. For those that have yet to venture within our forum, please venture within for more information regarding our Sony Network Walkman CM (commercial video) Archive. Naturally, a simple forum registration will be required to access CMs within our archive. Enjoy!

NW-E01x Series to Debut on April 21 with New WALKMAN Accessories

We talked about the new NW-E series a few weeks back. Today, Sony Japan officially announced that the new NW-E series will hit retail shelves (in Japan) on April 21, 2007.

NW-E016: 4GB, approx. ¥ 19,800 (approx. USD$166)
★ available colors: Black, Violet, Pink
NW-E015: 2GB, approx. ¥ 13,800 (approx. USD$115)
★ available colors: Black, Violet, Pink, Blue, Gold
NW-E013: 1GB, approx. ¥10,800 (approx. USD$90)
★ available colors: Black, Violet, Pink, Blue, Gold

Along with its official release date, the new NW-E series will debut with the following optional accessories:

Soft Carrying Case | CKS-NWE010
★ MSRP: ¥2,480 (approx. USD$20)
★ Length of strap is adjustable: approx. 78-90cm
★ Colors: Black, Violet, Pink, Blue, Gold
★ Material: synthetic leather
★ Weight: approx. 16g

Silicon Case | CKM-NWE010
★ MSRP: ¥1,980 (approx. USD$16)
★ operational buttons and USB terminal is accessible while device is in the case
★ Material: silicone
★ Weight: approx. 6g

Armband with Sports Clip | CKA-NWE010K
★ MSRP: ¥2,480 (approx. USD$20)
★ Length of strap is adjustable: approx. 21-40cm
★ Material: sports clip – polycarbonate | armband – nylon, polyester
★ Weight: sports clip – approx. 9.4g | armband – approx. 47.5g

Walkman Clip | CLP-NWE010
★ MSRP: ¥1,980 (approx. USD$16)
★ Material: polycarbonate
★ Weight: approx. 5g

Image Converter 3 Update Program

Sony’s latest Image Converter 3 has landed! As we have reported previously, Image Converter 3 will ship with the new NW-A800 series and it will serve as the Walkman’s principal video management utility – converting AVC Baseline, AVC Main Profile, AVI, MPEG1/2/4, QuickTime format and WMV to AVC Baseline and MPEG-4. In addition to converting videos, Image Converter 3 also converts BMP, JPEG, GIF, PGP (Picture Gear file format), PNG and TIFF format to JPEG format (to transfer the file to Walkman) as well as facilitating transfer off RSS video to the Walkman.

For owners of Image Converter 2 and Image Converter 2 Plus, Sony has made available an Image Converter 3 update program for your convenience. NOTE: This update cannot be installed to update from Image Converter 1.5. This update can only be installed to update from the CD-ROM version Image Converter 2 or Image Converter 2 plus.

DOWNLOAD LINKS: NORTH AMERICA | EUROPE | ASIA-PACIFIC

This update provides the following enhancements:
★ Automatic conversion of recorded TV programs. This feature is only available with VAIO computers with Giga Pocket or VAIO zone software. This feature is not available for Windows XP Media Center Edition/ Windows Vista Media Center computers.
★ Support for video RSS channels (podcasting). (*screenshot shown below)
★ Automatic transfer of videos to a Memory Stick. TV programs and RSS videos recorded on a computer can be automatically transferred to a Memory Stick inserted in your computer (directly or via adapter) or in your portable Playstation (PSP).
★ Conversion to MPEG-4, MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile, MPEG-4 AVC Baseline profile (depending on the device used).
★ Windows Vista Support.

COMPATIBLE FORMATS:
VIDEO FILES
Input:
★ avi (non Windows supported files may not be converted).
★ MPEG-1.
★ MPEG-2 (DVD cannot be converted).
★ MPEG-4 (only files recorded in Memory Stick video format are guaranteed to be compatible).
★ QuickTime format/ M4V files (latest version of QuickTime Player must be installed on your computer).
★ WMV.
★ DVR-MS (with Windows XP Media Center Edition or Vista).
★ TV programs recorded with Giga Pocket 5.0 or later or VAIO Zone (only available on some VAIO computers).
Note: copyright protected formats cannot be converted. All avi videos are not guaranteed to be compatible.
Output:
★ Memory Stick Video Format
★ MPEG-4 simple profile
★ H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC baseline profile
★ H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC main profile

STILL IMAGES (*screenshot shown below)
★ Input: BMP, JPEG, GIF, PGP, PNG, TIFF
★ Output: JPEG

Compatible Operating Systems
★ Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Sp4 or later
★ Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition/Professional SP1/SP2
★ Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (2004/2005)
★ Microsoft Vista Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate
Note: Windows Vista 64bit version is not supported.

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TDM-NC1: Sony’s New Digital Media Port Wi-Fi Client

For our readers with a Bravia system, you will be pleased to know that Sony has recently unveiled a little Wi-Fi digital audio streamer (TDM-NC1) with a MSRP of USD199. With the new TDM-NC1, digital music can be streamed wirelessly from the PC to compatible Bravia theater systems and audio receivers equipped with Sony’s new proprietary Digital Media Port (DMP). For all its intents and purposes, the Digital Media Port provides additional connectivity options for users to integrate their home theater with wireless Bluetooth enabled devices, wireless streaming of music from a PC and with selected Network Walkman and iPod digital music players via designated cradles (i.e. the TDM-NW1 and TDM-IP1).

The sleek little TDM-NC1 features a bright, digital screen that displays the usual song, artist and other relevant audio information. Naturally, being a Sony product, it supports the ATRAC format and is also compatible with AAC and WMA music files. While it’s a functional companion for compatible Bravia theater systems and audio receivers equipped with Sony’s new Digital Media Port, it has one significant limitation – the TDM-NC1 can only stream DRM protected file playback only from CONNECT music store.

Specifications
★ Dimensions: 75 x 76 x 75 mm (3 x 3 x 3 inches)
★ Weight: approx. 0.3 kg (11 oz)
★ Power Battery Type: CR2025
★ Not compatible with Apple® computers. Requires PC with Microsoft® Windows XP SP2 operating system or newer.

PSP Demo: NBA 07

Along with the latest PSP April ’07 Content Pack, the game demo for NBA 07 has been made available for download by SCEA. The game however, has been rated as a mediocre game – scoring a low 5.9 by Gamespot. What do you think? Please do share with us your thoughts… the good and the bad. Naturally, the demo can be acquired directly from Sony; and alternatively via this link.

The PSP April 2007 Content Pack

The PSP™ Content Pack for the month of April is now available for download at SCEA. (click here) This month’s pack includes:

PSP® Content
★ PlayStation® Mayhem – RSS Show 3/9 & 3/16
★ MLB 07 the Show™ – Motion Capture Videos (ESRB: E)
★ MLB 07 the Show™ – Trailer (ESRB: E)
★ Virtua Tennis 3 – Screenshots (ESRB: T)
★ Prince of Persia Rival Swords – Screenshots (ESRB: T)
★ 300: March to Glory – Videos (ESRB: M)
★ 300: March to Glory – Screenshots (ESRB: M)
★ Ratchet & Clank™: Size Matters – Exclusive Wallpaper (ESRB: E10+)
★ Ratchet & Clank™: Size Matters – TV Spots (ESRB: E10+)
★ Ratchet & Clank™: Size Matters – Features Trailer (ESRB: E10+)
★ Full Auto™2: Battlelines – Trailer (ESRB: E10+)
★ March Wallpaper

The PSP™ Content Pack is a free download that features preselected content, optimized for your PSP system. We will provide the Content for you each month. All you need to do is connect your PSP to your PC, download the pack, then just sit back and relax while everything is transferred to your PSP system. Once the process is complete, your PSP system will be stocked full of the latest in PSP system optimized video clips and trailers, wallpapers, screenshots, audio clips, and game content, all for your viewing pleasure. Check back here each month for the newest edition of the PSP™ Content Pack.