Sony PS3 Playstation Network and Qriocity Services to be Available this Week after Hack

The Sony Playstation Network looks to be on the way back according to a press conference today in Tokyo. This looks like a set of pretty good incentives for PS3 owners to stay with the system, instead of migrating to Microsoft's Xbox. From Sony:

Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally; System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information.

Tokyo, May 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.

Following a criminal cyber-attack on the company’s data-center located in San Diego, California, U.S.A., SNEI quickly turned off the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, engaged multiple expert information security firms over the course of several days and conducted an extensive audit of the system. Since then, the company has implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information. SNEI and its third-party experts have conducted extensive tests to verify the security strength of the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. With these measures in place, SCE and SNEI plan to start a phased rollout by region of the services shortly. The initial phase of the rollout will include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStation®3 (PS3) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems

• This includes titles requiring online verification and downloaded games

• Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing   subscribers

• Access to account management and password reset

• Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo

• PlayStation®Home

• Friends List

• Chat Functionality

I Want my Apple TV to Become: a Gaming Console!

The $99 Apple TV is a subversive little device, it sits there playing your music, slideshows, and movies while quietly plotting world domination as a GAME CONSOLE? Yes, I said it. Just think about it. Apple TV is reportedly still flying off the shelves, and despite being labeled “just a hobby” by none other than Steve Jobs himself, it seems to be taken quite seriously by throngs of adoring fans.

 So what does it need to get there? It's already won a  coveted spot in the living room: beef up the processor a  little bit (maybe use the new dual – core A5 chip, just  used in the iPad 2) beef up the GPU, add a little more  flash storage for saved games (or make use of that  brand  spanking new data center Steve just built in  North  Carolina) and add an Apple designed controller  - create  a sleek, fast new one, or use your iTouch, or  iPhone  instead. 

 What do you think? Do you believe its possible for  our  favorite fruit company to morph the studious Apple  TV  into a next-gen game console? To take on the big  boys  like the PS3, Nintendo Wii, or Xbox 360? leave a comment below.

Oh, and Steve, if you're reading this: ill take mine in white - It'll match the new iPad.