The PlayStation 3 video game console and SIXAXIS™ wireless controllers utilize Bluetooth 2.0 EDR (Enhanced Data Rate). Sony's decision to use Bluetooth appears to be a sign that Bluetooth technology is finally living up to its high expectations to be a dominant leader among wireless standards. You can buy the complete PS3 Entertainment System or individual Wireless Sixaxis Controller at Amazon.com. 2006, the year PS3 was released, was certainly a milestone year for Bluetooth technology. The wireless technology became an accepted, mainstream feature in the video game industry. The PS3 joined the Nintendo Wii as the only two major game consoles to utilize Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
Right out of the box, the PS3 is able to support up to 7 wireless Bluetooth PS3 controllers. This single feature opens up tons of possibilities for video game developers to create games with multi-player options. For example, wireless Bluetooth PS3 controllers allow up to 7 people at once to take part in a game, and because the PS3 Bluetooth controllers are wireless, there won't be a huge headache of tangled wires.
If you’ve read through our "What is Bluetooth?" section, you know that Bluetooth devices have a range of up to 30 feet or greater, depending on which Bluetooth power class is implemented. The Bluetooth PS3 controllers use lithium ion batteries which should offer about 30 hours of playtime for every two-and-half hour charge.
One of the big drawbacks with the SIXAXIS wireless Bluetooth PS3 controllers is the fact that the batteries aren't replaceable. So, if a controller's battery decides to stop working, then you're pretty much forced to go buy a new one.
The SIXAXIS Bluetooth controller utilizes sensors designed to read when a player angles, tilts, thrusts or pulls; allowing game play to become a natural extension of the body. In order to match the breakthrough technology of the Nintendo Wii controller, Sony decided to add the motion sensors to the Bluetooth PS3 controllers at the last minute. As a result, not every game supports the motion sensitive feature.
Sony’s original design for the Bluetooth PS3 controller resembled the shape of a boomerang. However, Sony nixed that design, most likely due to all the negative feedback they were receiving. We applaud Sony for the decision to use the traditional controller design which most PlayStation users are accustomed to.
The Bluetooth PS3 controllers still have the same number of buttons and analog joysticks as the PS2 controllers. The notorious circle, square, X and, triangle buttons are in the same positions as the old controllers, and the dual analog joysticks and D pad are arranged the same.
Close-up of the PS3 Wireless Bluetooth Controller
Bluetooth specification version 2.0 EDR (A Bluetooth Specification Version offering enhanced data transmission speeds), which the PS3 and SIXAXIS wireless controllers use, provides several benefits. Bluetooth 2.0 EDR can transmit data at rates of up to 3 Mbps. Also, with built-in Bluetooth technology, the PS3 game console is capable of supporting other Bluetooth devices like Headsets, handheld devices, Keyboards, and/or Mice.
The on-going battle for dominance in the video game console market continues to intensify between the industry leaders, Sony and Microsoft. Microsoft's latest game console, the Xbox 360, was released during the 2005 holiday season, which was almost a full year before Sony’s PS3 launch. However, the PS3 offers features that Sony claims to out-perform the Xbox 360, one of the biggest being the Bluetooth PS3 controllers.
Similar to the PS3 controllers, the Xbox 360 controllers are wireless, however, only the PS3 controllers use Bluetooth technology. So, while the PS3 is able to support up to seven controllers, the Xbox 360 only supports up to four controllers. This is a huge plus for the PS3 and its wireless Bluetooth controllers.
Take a Look at How Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 Compare:
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Controller | Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) | 2.4 GHz Wireless |
Embedded Video Memory | 0 MB | 10MB |
Graphics Core Clock Speed | 550 MHz | 500 MHz |
Graphics Processor | RSX "Reality Synthesizer" | Custom ATI Processor |
Video Memory | 256MB | 512MB UMA (Shared with CPU) |
Product Line | Sony PlayStation 3 | Microsoft Xbox 360 |
Resolution | 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p | 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p |
Controller Ports | Supports up to 7 Bluetooth PS3 Controllers | Supports up to 4 Controllers |
Digital Media Formats | Compatible with CR-ROM, CDR+W, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R | DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD |
Game Media Format | Blu-ray BD-ROM | Dual-Layer DVD-ROM |
Integrated Communications | 802.11 B/G Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 | 802.11 A/B/G Wi-Fi ready, adapter not included |
Other I/O Connectors | Ethernet (RJ45), 6 USB 2.0, CF Slot (Type I, II), SD Slot (Regular, Compact), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, 1 x Optical Audio | 3 USB 2.0, 2 Memory Slots, Ethernet Port (RJ45) |
Plug and Play Storage | 2.5in Removable Hard Drive (Unkown Size) | 20GB Removable Hard Drive |
Standard AV Output Connectors | 2 x HDMI, 1 x AV | n/a |
L2 Cache | 512KB L2 cache, 256KB per SPE | 1MB |
Processor | Cell processor | Custom IBM PowerPC CPU |
Processor Clock Speed | 3.2GHz | 3.2GHz |
Built-in Features | Backward Compatible with PlayStation 2, Stands Vertically or Horizontally | Backward Compatible with Xbox (limited), Stands Vertically or Horizontally, Interchangable Face Plates, Xbox Live Service, Media Center Extender |
Memory Bandwidth | 25.6GB/s main memory bandwidth, 22.4GB/s video memory bandwidth | 22.4GB/s main memory bandwidth, 256GB/s to eDRAM, 21.6GB/s FSB |
Surround Sound | Multichannel Output (software driven) | Multichannel Output (software driven) |
