So, I learn with dismay that the optional PS3 remote for use with Blu-Ray movies is... Bluetooth! Not infrared. They're specifically marketing this as a "media center" type device with Blu-Ray movie playback, and they ensure that the optional $30 remote can't be integrated into any home theater remote control, even ones sold by Sony. Nor can the original remote itself integrate with any other home theater components for, say, changing the volume.

Brilliant! And what's even weirder is that while the PS3 does not have a $0.05 IR diode, the PSP does.

So, now we'll have to wait for some third party company to come out with a USB IR receiver for the PS3, or maybe some sort of IR-to-Bluetooth device...

Sucks, huh?

Talk about taking all the fun out of DIY remote control programming. :*-(

Another major fault that Sony has made. I think it's a ton of little factors that make the 360 overall a better system than the PS3.

Buisness idea: Who can develop a converter? (Who can be the "third party company" that Daniel mentioned?)

Or, what company do you think will do it?

Oh, I'm still a big fan of the PS3 myself, but this is a very shortsighted decision by Sony. Bluetooth is fine as an *option*, but IR is standard. IR is everywhere.

I'm hoping that some Chinese or Taiwanese company will come out with an IR solution.

I'm not saying I'm not a PS3 fan, but I think the 360 was much more well planned and less rushed. Remember when PS3 was going to come out around the same time as the 360, then in February, now November? And they only have 400,000 units. Seems they're not ready...especially with the Blu-Ray problems.

I think some company probably will. Somebody's gotta see the potential. Maybe.

What's fun is that Future Shop and Best Buy did not do preorders for the PS3 in Canada. Instead they're doing an 8AM "who can push hardest" grab-a-thon.

On your mark, get set, ... November 17th. I guess it could have been a lot worse, Sony could have released it the following week, "Black Friday".

[Link: circuitcity.com]

That would have been, well, a disaster.

It still will be. I am sure they plan on that being a huge day if they can keep any in stock.

Can anyone comment on hearsay issues that are present in the PS3?

Maybe you could explain what you mean?

Sorry Spiky for being so vague, I heard that Sony is going to release PS3 with some known bugs, but I didn't catch what they were. I wondered if anyone could elaborate on whether this is true or not? If so, what are the said issues?

I haven't heard. But if they're just software bugs I wouldn't worry since the unit can be easily upgraded over the internet (Sony has released numerous firmware upgrades for the PSP which fixed problems and even added major new features).

In fact, this is one reason I think the PS3 will be one of the better Blu-Ray players on the market, especially for bleeding edge adopters: the PS3's product lifespan will be MUCH longer than any standalone Blu-Ray player, and the sales numbers will be much higher - so any issues will be fixed. And when new features become in demand (such as new audio formats) it can be upgraded...

I don't understand why you would think 360 is better than the ps3. I Know, i know, your all going to say how can you think ps3 is better without touching one. Well, i understand that graphics of 360 are very good, but i also understand that ps3 comes with blu-ray. I have seen blu-ray dvd's right against regular dvd's and the blue-ray looked so much better. If the ps3 games are going to be blu-ray, which they are, i know that the ps3 graphics will be better. Also, x-box has all the games ps systems do. They only have a few other games that ps systems don't and vica versa. And yes, the remote does suck, i was planning on including it in my system.