Sony prepares to unveil new slimline PS3

Sony is preparing to unveil a new slimline PlayStation 3 console, complete with a high capacity hard drive.

Respected technology publication T3, which is claiming to have the exclusive on the announcement, reports the new system will be 'substantially smaller and packs a massive 160Gb hard drive' which is four times the size of the current 40GB model.

Although a Sony spokesman said the news is "rumour and speculation", T3 claims to have been given the news by a 'particularly well-informed insider'.

Sony is renowned for releasing redesigned models of their consoles, with the PSP Slim & Lite the most recent, so a new slimline PS3 is not unlikely, but such a move would come as a surprise so early in the console's lifecycle.