The Best Features of the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3)

The Sony PS3 is the ultimate video game console and home media entertainment center. Here are the best features of the Sony PS3 (Playstation 3) that showcase the phenomenal power of this console. If you don't own a PS3 already, what are you waiting for?

High-Def Entertainment Straight Out of the Box:

Microsoft made the decision to go with the ageing DVD drive for their XBOX 360 consoles with an optional add-on HD DVD drive (which later became obsolete) for high-def movies while Sony instead opted to up the ante by including a Blu-Ray drive as standard in their consoles for high-def movie viewing straight out of the box.

The Sony PS3 Blu-Ray is not only cheaper than stand-alone Blu-Ray players (and equally impressive) but thanks to the networking capabilities of the console the Sony PS3 Blu-Ray drive is endlessly upgradeable in terms of latest firmware. Oh, and it plays CD, DVD and MP3 discs as well.

All major studios have already begun releasing new and back-catalogue movies, television shows and music content in Blu-Ray format alongside their DVD counterparts. Also, with the price gap between DVD and Blu-Ray discs closing rapidly there is no excuse not to go next gen and start enjoying all your favourite movies and shows in glorious HD.

If you own a compatible TV, the latest Sony PS3 update now supports 3D, which means that you can now enjoy James Camerons Avatar in all its 3D splendour. According to Sony, more and more 3D games will be released in the near future, giving players an immersive experience like never before.

The bundled Sony Dual-Shock 3 controller does a fairly decent job of controlling playback however for the best possible experience you should shell out for the Sony PS3 Bluetooth Remote Control. It is a fantastic wireless and fully rechargeable device that gives you much more fine control over menu options and playback, and is a fantastic blu ray remote control.

Also, make sure to invest in a good HDMI cable as well as a good Ethernet cable for wired connections.

Media Server

One of the best features of the Sony PS3 is its ability to double as a media server, capable of streaming music, photos and high-definition video in 1080p straight from your computer to your HD Television.

Web Browsing

The PS3 web browser is a vast improvement over previous iterations but navigating the web using the dual shock controller can be a frustrating exercise, especially for text input. Thankfully the Sony PS3 wireless bluetooth keyboard comes to the rescue. It snaps comfortably onto the dual shock controller to give you an enjoyable web experience. Sure, your PS3 isnt going to replace your desktop but you should at least enjoy the time you spend browsing.

Rumours have been rampant that Sony is in talks to bring Netflix and Hulu support to the PS3, further expanding its capabilities as the ultimate home media center, offering a wide variety of content-on-demand such as movies, tv shows, music videos and more...

The Sony Playstation Store is another destination to download movies, trailers, music and other content via your PSN subscription, directly from your PS3. Some content is free, most of it paid downloads, but there is a good selection of content available at great prices.

With all the fantastic features it offers, its easy to forget that the PS3 is still a video game console, and a spectacular one at that. Yes, you may never need to insert a video game into your PS3 to get your moneys worth, but then you'd be missing out on some of the best interactive experiences ever created.