Is Sony throwing free games at the consumer instead of a price cut? US retailer Best Buy is to release a special PS3 bundle next Sunday which contains the PS3 80GB console, Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 for the same price as the console on its own. Bad news for anyone who bought a PS3 recently although with a slim version rumoured to be on the way we’re not sure if this is the best deal going. You might be better to wait as your big fat PS3 value’s would plummet once the new one arrives.

Rumours are suggesting that the PlayStation 3 might get two additional downloadable content packages for Grand Theft Auto IV, PS3 Informer are reporting that one of the new packs will be named Blood and a Four Leaf Clover and will focus on the Irish family Nico helped in the first episode. It will also be available on the Xbox 360. There was no news on the other pack but this could be The Lost and the Damned Xbox 360 exclusive which was previously reported as coming to the PS3 when Mcrosoft’s exclusivity deal runs out later this year.

More news as we get it.

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Rumours are gathering about the iPhone 3GS having an overheating problem Users of Apple’s latest model are complaining that the device has become too hot to put to the ear during calls, whilst others have gone so far as to claim that the white edition of the 32GB is actually stating to turn pink due to the intense heat.

Apple has avoided any suggestion of a problem and says that the 3GS should not be left in a car where temperatures can exceed 45C. In a support article on their site, Apple says that “if the interior temperature of the device exceeds normal operating temperatures you may experience the following as the device attempts to regulate its temperature: device stops charging, the display dims, weak cellular signal”.

Apple also goes on the say that the iPhone 3GS incorporates a overheating safety feature that warns the user via an on screen message that they should turn off the device and allow it to cool.

There are plenty of overheating reports though that do not entail the device being left in a hot environment such as a car. Simply using the GPS or even the new integrated video camera may cause the device to overheat. Despite these teething troubles, you can get a free iPhone3GS by visiting the link and completing a few simple steps. The iPhone3GS is available in 16GB or 32GB flavours with each one being available in either black or white.

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Reports are surfacing that Sony has filed a patent to cover an ‘Emotion Engine Emulation system’ that is capable of being used with the PS3’s Cell Processor.

The Emotion Engine was the name given to the chip in the original 60GB PS3’s that allowed it to become backwards compatible with the previous generation PS2 games. This technology was subsequently removed from later versions of the console in the name of cost cutting.

It looks as though Sony has found a cheaper way of incorporating the technology into the PS3 though some sort of software emulation. Maybe we’ll see it appear soon, possible in the much rumoured slim PS3 sometime later this year?

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The UK focused retailer play.com is now selling the pay-as-you-go version of Apple’s latest iPhone for a whopping £899! This is for the 32GB version of the iPhone 3GS, the 16GB version can be had for around £600 – and I was thinking the standard PAYG versions were expensive enough.

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The first ever Metal Gear Solid game, first released to the gaming world in 1998, is now available for download on the North American PSN today for the princely sum of $9.99 USD. Get your retro fix in now without the need for dusting off your PlayStation One!

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Far eastern optical drive makers predict the cost to produce Blu-ray players will drop to around $50 USD in 2010.

The current cost of production is around $100 USD, with the bulk of the cost taken up by chipsets and laser heads.

In light of this, we would expect these savings to start filtering through to the retail channels over the next few months.

Well, for us folks in the UK (as well as North America and most of Europe) the iPhone 3GS is out today. As a result, we thought we’d give you a run down of the prices we are expected to pay here in the UK compared to those across the pond.

The handset cost for a 16GB iPhone 3GS will vary from nothing to £184.00 (about $300US) on an 18 month contract. If you sign up for a 24 month contract you’ll pay less, again from nothing to somewhere in the region of £87.00 (about $141US).

The handset cost for a 32GB iPhone 3GS will be between a high of £274.00 (approx $444US) and low of £97.00 (approx $158US) for an 18 month contract and somewhere between £175.00 (approx $283) and nothing on a 24 month contract.

The actual monthly costs (all UK plans include unlimited data and Wi-Fi) will also vary between £29.00 (approx $48US) and £73.00 (approx $120US) for an 18 month deal and £34.00 (approx $55US) and £73.00 (approx $120US) for a 24 month duration.

Pay as you go customers in the UK can be expected to pay around £440.00 (approx $712) for the 16GB iPhone 3GS and £538.00 (approx $874) for the 32GB iPhone 3GS. Not sure what you think, but we’d say these are pretty outrageous prices for something that doesn’t look or really feel any better than its predecessor. If it’s too much then you can get a free iPhone 3GS by following the link and completing a few simple steps.

Let us know what you think.

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When the Jasper motherboards started showing up in Xbox 360 consoles late last year there was reason for excitement – quieter fans, more efficient design and 256MB of internal storage to set gamers free of overpriced memory cards. Now the systems are receiving an unannounced storage boost, with an Xbox Hacker forum member noticing that his Japanese Arcade model sported a 4Gb Samsung NAND chip. That’s twice the size of the old one, giving the equivalent of 512MB internal memory. That system was manufactured in April and are starting to hit US Arcade units as well. We’re not yet sure if there is a way to tell if you have this beefier revision from outside the box.

Source: Engadget

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At their software conference earlier this week, Apple have announced their new take on the iPhone – the iPhone 3GS. The notable improvements over the previous 3G unit are as follows:

Improved speed
Featuring improved processor speed the 3GS is aimed by Apple to be up to 2x faster than its predecessor. As an added bonus, the battery life is also said to be improved, giving you the best of both worlds.

Larger memory
The 3GS comes in either 16GB or 32GB flavours.

New colours
The new iPhone is now available in white as well as the traditional black.

Record Video
For the first time you can now shoot, edit and share VGA quality video. The editing facilities allow you to cut either the beginning or the end off your movies, whilst the share facility allows you to email, publish or sync (with a Mac) your handy-work.

Improved camera
A new 3-megapixel camera with auto focus improves on an iPhone weak point. It’s still not a great specification but is ample for pictures on your mobile. Get a camera if you want better snaps as the quality of the optics are just as (if not more) important than mega-pixels.

Voice Control
Voice Control allows you to call up your contacts and listen to your music with ease.

Compass
A new built-in compass automatically reorients maps on the display to match the direction you’re facing. It will also work in conjunction with the GPS featured in earlier iPhones.

The new iPhone 3GS is available on 19 June in the US and (reportedly) on 22 June in the UK and Europe. Once released you will be able to get a free iPhone 3GS by clicking on the link of our approved partner.

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