Sony Addresses PlayStation 4 Hardware Issues
The PlayStation 4 has sold at least one million units in the U.S. but 10,000 units have been reported to be affected with hardware issues.
Many customers have been reporting faulty or dead on arrival consoles. The most common complaint is the "blue light of death," which is a strong blue light that leaves the console unusable.
The issue seems to be connected to faulty HDMI ports. Some consoles are reported without video or audio, or simply don't turn on and a blinking red light related to overheating. The "blue light of death" is a remembrance of the Xbox 360's red ring of death indicating unusable console reportedly caused by Microsoft's cheap parts.
Sony has addressed the issue saying there is no single problem that could impact a broader percentage of PlayStation units. It said some units were damaged during shipping and less than 1% of total units shipped are affected units, an expected figure for a new production introduction phase. Sony is aware of the frustration of the customers and reassures them that the company is working and its retail partners are willing to help troubleshoot issues and make sure affected units are exchanged immediately with expedited shipping.
Sony posted a troubleshooting guide for users suffering from the blinking blue light issue, advising that customers post in its support forums for help, or call customer service at Sony Australia Playstation Support 1300 365 911.
The PS4 has the edge in hardware design and user interface or software design. Its power supply is integrated to the box. The controller is also superior with a built-in rechargeable battery, doubles as a motion controller and has a built-in headphone jack and speaker. PS4's UI supports multitasking features and incorporates a broadcasting hub. It has impressive new features such as PS Vita remote play, beautiful graphics, a camera (sold separatey) and 3D Blu-ray player.
The PlayStation 4 begs the player to pack it with streaming media apps and its 22 launch titles, ranging from budgeted AAA titles to download only indie ones. PS4 is $100 cheaper than the Xbox One, which is packed with the new Kinect anyway.