Pixelique

Sony's new console will fully support the company's proprietary Blu-ray format for its gaming discs, the same format the company is pushing for next generation DVDs. Most importantly, for those with many PlayStation games, the PS3 is backwards compatible with both PlayStation and PS2 games.

The PS3 will use a Cell processor built by IBM running at a speed of 3.2 GHz. Sony claims that this processor is nearly twice as fast as the Xbox 360 CPU running at the same speed due to Cell technology.

Powering the graphics within the new console is a chip that Nvidia custom built for the PS3. The two companies will bring something called the RSX Graphics Processor, which will allow for life-like game characters and scenes. It will enable the PS3 to power up to 2000 by 1000 pixels in real-time and take advantage of high-definition televisions for gaming - up to two of them for a 32:9 aspect ratio.

Due to the power available with the new console, gamers will now be able to listen to digital music, watch video or look at photos, use the PS3 video communication, and access the Internet even while gaming.

Sony expects the console to be available in the Spring of 2006.