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Sony has cleared the smoke and silenced the press, a bit, regarding the already overly expensive PS3 core-system. The $499 system, if you forgot, will ship with a 20 GB internal hard drive (the $599 system has a 60 GB drive), and will be lacking Memory Stick, SD, and MMC card slots (but an adaptor will be sold) as well as an HDMI output. It was rumored to not have Bluetooth controllers, but thankfully a Sony representative said that was untrue. Additionally, the hard drive for both models will be upgradable…so if you can forgo the HDMI (I’m not sure I can) then you might as well go for the cheaper option, but again once you add the accessories the price may be a wash.

Additionally, many people have asked where the second HDMI port (shown at last year’s E3) disappeared to. In an E3 interview, Izumi Kawanishi, head of Sony Computer Entertainment’s Software Platform Development division, admitted that the port count has dropped down to one, but added that Sony is looking into the possibility of including two in the future. Back at last year’s E3, Sony hinted that games might use the two outputs for dual screened play options. With the port count down to one, IT Media asked if it would be possible to have the HDMI port and the D4/D5 ports used to mimic dual screened functionality. You can have video coming out of both ports simultaneously, Kawanishi revealed, but the signals are the same, meaning this is something that couldn’t be used for gaming. He also reinstated that the hard drives are upgradeable and Sony is considering selling even more PS3 SKU’s in the future (just like PC variations).

Continue reading about the new controller and the strategic power brick decision.

According to Kawanishi, the new controller button will connect the controller to the system, allowing you to call on system functions (turn the system’s power on and off and make the PS3 recognize the controller). The controller is wireless, but can also be played connected to the PS3 via USB and for charging. Battery life isn’t finalized at this point, according to Kawanishi.

Kawanishi also gave a few details on the PS3’s built in interface. The system will include as standard web browser functionality as well as the ability to play back music and audio files. Sony is making use of its Cross Media Bar (XMB) interface, the same one that’s featured in the PSP and the Japan-only PSX platforms. The bar will give full access to playback of downloaded contents and let you exchange data with the PSP.

Finally, the power brick, like the PS2, will be built into the system so you don’t have to start digging a hole to fit it into your room, like the 360.

Read [PlayStation]