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Sony has announced its next-generation gaming console - the PlayStation 4 - at an event in New York.The firm said that the machine would offer a more "personalised experience".
A successful launch might drive sales of the firm's new televisions and other
consumer electronics, helping turn around its fortunes.
Sony posted a 456.7bn yen loss ($4.9bn; £3.2bn) in its last financial year, marking the fourth year it ended in deficit.
But the firm has forecast a 20bn yen profit for the current financial year ending in March.
PC-based chip
Sony described the machine as being like a "supercharged" PC .
It runs off an x86-based CPU (central processing unit) - similar architecture to that found in most desktop computers - and an "enhanced" PC GPU (graphics
processing unit).
It comes with the new DualShock 4 controller, which includes a touchpad, a "share button" and a lightbar, which allows a separate camera to track its movement.
"This is a complete controller upgrade with touch, share and better responsiveness," said Brian Blau, an analyst at the tech consultancy Gartner.
"The new controller is the key to a better PS4 experience. It has the ability
to share content easily, and brings in a component of touch that allows even
more ways to interact with games."
The console also includes new hardware dedicated to video compression to make
it a more social device.
Users will be able to pause a game, select a few minutes of recorded video of
their most recent activity, and instruct the clip to be uploaded to a social
network.
Sony has revamped its user interface for the new
video games console
This will then occur in the background while they can return to their game.
The firm said it wanted to make sharing video clips as common as it is today to
share screenshots.
Another new feature is that gamers can let their friends connect to their
machine and take control of their character to help if they have got stuck. This
facility uses technology from Gaikai - a cloud-based service Sony acquired last
year for $380m.
Gaikai's technology is also being used to allow PS4 games to be streamed and
played via the PlayStation Vita handheld console, which may boost its sales.
Sony said it was also exploring the possibility of using its Gaikai unit to
allow PlayStation3 games to be played on the new machine as well as other
devices.
However, at the moment PS3 games will not run on the new console.
'More important'
The PlayStation 3 was initially sold at a loss, so if that practice is repeated with the new model its launch may initially put fresh strain on the firm's finances.
Even so, one analyst suggested that Sony would be willing to take the pain to
maximise early demand.
"Without the established user base and community of PS3 and PlayStation
Network, Sony would be without a significant home entertainment foothold
allowing it to connect many of its other consumer electronic devices, products
and services," said Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games at IHS Screen Digest.
"Sony's next generation device is likely to take on more importance not less."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21526450
Just jesting fella's. 
