Sony fine-tunes PS3 Blu-ray in time for holiday launch

Sony’s new PlayStation 3 was widely expected to be introduced this spring, but will be delayed as the company fine-tunes the chips that are crucial to the success of the console’s Blu-ray function. The PlayStation 3 – which is being called "the poor man’s Blue-ray" – is vital to Sony’s plans because it plays Blu-ray discs as well as videogames.

Sony will roll out the PS3 by year end, in time for the holidays. If PS3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up," Stringer [Sony chairman-CEO] boasts.

Blu-ray is the system developed by Sony to view next-generation high-definition DVDs. Rival format HD DVD is championed by Toshiba. Microsoft recently joined the HD DVD camp, a move that came as its Xbox 360 videogame console is trying to grab market share from PlayStation, the industry leader.

Variety – Turning Sony around puts Stringer through the ringer

Stringer wants the PS3 to be a vehicle for Blu-ray discs as well as videogames. This suggests the PS3’s success may not as important to Sony as getting Blu-Ray off the ground. It seems the cunning plan is to make the PS3 the killer platform that will knock out HD-DVD and install Blu-ray as the dominant video standard.

the Inquirer – Sony PS3 held up by Blu-ray delay