Yesterday, we took a look at the PlayStation 3 hardware and gave initial impressions of the retail unit. Having had some more time to tool around with the console, I've tried to address some of the questions I've seen in the comments, and well as provide further information on some aspects of the system I hadn't previously fully explored.

The controller

Some people have expressed concern about the lack of auto-shut-off on the Sixaxis controller. These worries should be somewhat allayed with the knowledge that the controller will shut off when the system is powered down, so it is unlikely you'll encounter many situations in which you've forgotten to turn off the controller. The PS3 can also be turned on remotely by pressing the controller's PlayStation button.

As far as how long a controller holds a charge, I can't give a firm estimate just yet, but I used the same wireless controller all throughout yesterday's testing and into today and it's still showing a full charge meter on the console.

Online functionality

I haven't gotten as much chance to check out online multiplayer as I'd like, as, well, not very many people are online yet. As we reported last night, the PlayStation Network is now online, allowing users in several non- Japanese territories to check out online multiplayer and other online features. I played a game of Namco's Ridge Racer 7 and was completely destroyed by my Japanese opponents, but I was unable to find populated servers for Insomniac's Resistance: Fall of Man. This will undoubtedly change in only a few hours as the first retail PS3s make their way off shelves and into consumers' hands.

On the PlayStation Store, you are not able to leave a file downloading while you perform other tasks on the console. You must remain at the download meter. Xbox 360 owners will recall that Xbox Live Marketplace worked the same way until quite recently, so hopefully Sony releases a similar update. For a rundown of what's currently available at the store, check out last night's Late Night Consoling.

When you register an account, you can choose an avatar from several pages of choices, some relating to launch and upcoming PS3 games, some in the style of old-school video games, and some simply appealing to various hip lifestyles. Registration is free, and takes only a few minutes. Adding friends to your PS3 friends list is a straightforward matter of selecting "Add a Friend" and entering their names. You can also send messages to any PlayStation Network user, either by typing in his or her name, or selecting it from your friends list. There is also a list of recent players you've faced in multiplayer, as well as an option to block specific users.

PlayStation 3's friends list does not have the same system-wide functionality found in Xbox 360's. For example, Resistance uses the PlayStation Network for online play, but has its own game-specific friends list you must populate. Other games, such as Ridge Racer 7, do not have traditional friends lists, but allow you to send game invitations to any PlayStation Network user; there is an option to select people directly from your PS3 friends list. However, as far as I can tell, there is no way to tell whether your friends from your PS3 friends list are online from within a game. This is one reason some developers have chosen to implement Xfire into their online games. For example, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom has the option to use Xfire's online service for its friends list and messaging options, but actual online gameplay for the game is handled by PlayStation Network.

Essentially, it is up to each developer to implement an online system appropriate for its game. Sony seems to be providing the option to integrate the PS3 friends list in certain ways, but not on the fundamental cross-game level it is with Xbox Live. As for Sony's long term plans in this regard, it's tough to say. The system is obviously much more built around online than its predecessor PlayStation 2, but Sony is definitely still pursuing the decentralized model, which is undoubtedly a big reason the system is offered at no charge. It will be interesting to see what kind of functionality is implemented by creative dev teams.

The web browser

Yes, YouTube works. I'm currently watching the first featured video on the front page, an interview on a movie called Turistas. Note that while Youtube pages tend to take several seconds to load, the video frequently starts playing immediately. Sometimes videos would have some slight but noticeable lag, which was a bit annoying.

As far as the overall functionality of the web browser, it would be nice to have it speeded up a bit, as right now the jerky scrolling and occasional oddly long loading times make it less than ideally convenient. Hopefully these things are fixed in future updates.

Using a mouse and keyboard

Plugging in a USB keyboard will allow you to use the keyboard for text entry at any standard PS3 text entry field. Plugging in a USB mouse will allow you to use the mouse to control the on-screen cursor every time the system is using an actual pointer interface. This means a mouse cannot be used on, for example, the root dashboard, as that interface is controlled with the controller's directional pad, not a floating cursor. The main areas where a mouse helps out is with the web browser and with the PlayStation Store. You can manipulate the entire store--at least, what's been released so far--using the mouse, as it seems to be simply a limited-access web page.

The web browser itself, unfortunately, is another story. While the mouse is useful for clicking around pages, it is not very useful for anything else. As mentioned above, the mouse is only active when there is a floating cursor. There is no floating cursor when zoomed out to the overview of multiple browser pages, when interacting with menus or features such as those corresponding to bookmarks and options, when entering URLs, or even when responding to an alert from the web brower. That latter bit is particularly annoying, as it means if you need to be notified or something--for example, that the page is running an embedded plugin of some kind--you have to switch over to the controller to confirm, then switch back to the mouse to continue browsing. If Sony can update the browser such that the mouse has universal control functionality, it will be greatly improved. Until then, I have no problem just sticking to the controller.

Sony has also promised that developers will not be restricted from using a mouse and keyboard as control input options for games. Epic's Unreal Tournament 2007 is expected to offer such an option.

There are several system options for the mouse and keyboard. For the keyboard, you can select the language, key repeat interval, and key repeat speed. For the mouse, you can select whether it is used right-handed or left-handed, as well as the speed of the cursor.

Dust and fingerprints

Many have observed that PlayStation 3's glossy black exterior is just begging to be wallpapered with visible fingerprints and dust. This is not untrue. Overnight, the system collected light but visible dust. As far as fingerprints, I have been hugely careful not to touch the machine on any of its large visible glossy panels, and this is a surprisingly easy policy to maintain even while moving the console, but you will find that short of wearing gloves it is essentially impossible to avoid getting fingerprints on the disc eject and power buttons. Oddly, considering the glossy finish, both of those buttons are simply pressure-sensitive areas on the front "shelf" of the PS3, not actual separate mechanical buttons. This means that to eject a disc or turn the machine on and off from the console, you have to press your finger right on the glossy surface. And yes, it shows up. Fortunately, you can simply use the controller to power the machine on and off, but as far as I can tell there is no other way to eject a disc.