Anilrgowda

Harnessing the power of PS3
PlayStation 3 does more than play. You can watch movies, listen to music, look at photos and wirelessly browse the Internet. DERRIK J. LANG attempts to use the PS3 for everything but actually playing next-gen games. The results are mixed.
PlayStation 3's got the power. (AP Photo/Bernadette Tuazon)


Friday, 8 December, 2006, 17:02 EST, US
NEW YORK

I am beginning to lose my cool.
Forty minutes have passed since I first attempted to wirelessly connect my PlayStation 3 to the Internet. The PS3 can detect the WiFi router located in the back of my apartment. (Heck, it even senses my neighbors' routers.) But, for some reason, it won't connect to the Internet, repeatedly insisting one thing.
"A connection error has occurred (8013013E)."
This smart and cunning piece of technology first moved into my living room two weeks ago. Thus far, I've only used it to blow up cars in "Full Auto 2," battle superpowered villains in "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" and blast away an extraterrestrial military in "Resistance: Fall of Man."
Now, as I frantically change the network settings then change them again then change them back to how I originally had them, everything about the PS3 is making me agitated, especially the slight noise -- somewhere between a tick and a beep -- that the PS3 makes when navigating on-screen menus.
If I can use a shotgun to kill aliens, why can't I connect my PS3 to my router!?
Besides playing next-generation games with silky smooth graphics, the 60-gigabyte PS3, the world's largest and most powerful game console, also allows users to watch movies, listen to music, look at photos, wirelessly browse the Internet and chat with friends. All for $599.
Some of the console's extracurricular features are as knuckle-bitingly frustrating as actually procuring one of these hard-to-find systems. See above. Meanwhile, other PS3 fortes, such as playing Blu-ray discs and downloading retro PS1 games, are gloriously uncomplicated.
The PS3 can do so much. But getting it do it? Not always so easy.
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PLAYING MOVIES
Feature: The PS3 is also a DVD and Blu-ray disc player. It uses 1080p -- the highest resolution available -- to play DVDs and Blu-ray, which is basically a form of high-definition DVD.
Process: Easy as sliding a disc into the console. At first, it feels slightly peculiar using the game controller as a remote. I watch "Talladega Nights," which came with the unit, and drift to the car crash scene. The sparks and flames look crisp in HD. Will Farrell running around in his underwear does not.
Value: Amazing, if you want Blu-ray. Standalone players are going for $750 and up.
Difficulty: One controller.
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GOING WIRELESS
Feature: No need for Ethernet cables! With wireless enabled, PS3 users can download online content, surf the Web and do battle in multiplayer mode sans cords if they have a WiFi network setup in their home.
Procedure: Sigh. It seemed so simple at first. But then that connection error. Neither the manual nor the Sony Web site provided any help. It wasn't until after I disabled my WiFi security settings that PS3 could connect to the Net and download an update that allowed me to log on. And then it downloaded another update.
Value: Substantial. My modem is in the back of my apartment. PS3 is in the front. And I hate long wires.
Difficulty: Four controllers.
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CONNECTING THE PSP
Feature: Called RemotePlay, PS3 users with PlayStation Portables can wirelessly connect the two devices to play music and see photos. However, this doesn't allow users to watch discs or play PS3 games on PSP. Yet.
Process: Argh! Why don't my PSP and PS3 want to be friends!? After an hour of tinkering with the PS3 and PSP network settings and searching through PS3 message boards, I realize the PSP doesn't need to connect to the Internet to connect to my PS3. It just needs a separate network.
Value: It's super-cool to use the PSP to play a CD inside your PS3 but not super-necessary.
Difficulty: Four controllers.
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DOWNLOADING GAMES
Feature: Once connected to the PlayStation Network, users can download exclusive PS3 games ($7.99 and up), demos and trailers (free) and PS1 games ($5.99) that can be transferred to a PSP.
Process: Unless you connect a USB keyboard to the PS3, typing the necessary billing information and passwords to access the PlayStation Network is waaay difficult with the cell phone-like interface. However, once past the initial setup, downloading and playing games is a snap. Just make sure your PSP has the space.
Value: If it's free (or cheap), it's for me.
Difficulty: Two controllers.
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CHATTING WITH FRIENDS
Feature: Outside of (and inside of some) games, PS3 users can connect with each other by typing messages, talking with USB and Bluetooth headsets or coming face-to-face on compatible webcams.
Process: Despite the hefty price tag, the PS3 does not come with a headset. So that means I had to trek to the electronics store for a USB headset. The PS3 easily recognized it once I plugged it in, but then what? I don't know anyone else with a PS3. And very few people were talking during online "Resistance" battles.
Value: Immaterial, unless you have friends (or opponents) with PS3s, headsets and/or keyboards.
Difficulty: Three controllers.