PS3 Owners to Join Folding@Home Project

Sony is allowing Internet-connected PlayStation 3 owners to participate in a program created by Stanford University that would employ unused processor power in the console to research protein folding.

The program -- Folding@Home -- already has been operating on PCs since 2000, with over 1,000,000 computers participating during the life of the project. The addition of the PS3 would mark the first time a non-PC device would be used for such a project.

Beginning March 23, users would be able to launch the application through the XrossMediaBar. When idle, the console would process bits of data sent to it by the main Folding@Home servers.

Data mined from the study would be used to discover how proteins play a part in biological functions, Sony says. From there, Stanford hopes to discover how incorrect folding leads to certain medical conditions.

"In order to study protein folding, researchers need more than just one super computer, but the massive processing power of thousands of networked computers," SCE technology chief Masayuki Chatani said. "Previously, PCs have been the only option for scientists, but now, they have a new, more powerful tool -- PS3."

Stanford says the need for mass computing power is due to the complex nature of folding proteins. A single computer would take 30 years to complete a single simulation.

3M Sues Sony, Lenovo Over Batteries

3M filed suit this week in Minneapolis, Minn. against computer makers Sony and Lenovo, along with a handful of other firms, for allegedly infringing on its patents related to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The company also asked that imports of the batteries be blocked.

At issue is the cathode materials used inside the batteries, which 3M claims makes them last longer and give off less heat. The company says it spent 10 years developing the technology, and says it is a $700 million business.

Battery heat has become a big issue after a number of high-profile cases in which laptop batteries exploded during use. The issue prompted massive recalls by a number of top computer makers, including Sony, Dell, Apple and Lenovo.

3M says Sony is now making batteries with its technology that are ending up in Sony laptops, while CDW and Total Micro Technologies are making infringing batteries for Lenovo notebook computers. In addition, Hitachi, Matsushita and subsidiary Panasonic are named in the suit due to batteries they make for cordless tools.

3M has requested that the U.S. International Trade Commission block all imports of the infringing batteries, and any laptops using them.

"3M Co. is the exclusive licensee of the Asserted Patents," reads the lawsuit. "3M IPC and 3M Co. have standing to bring an action for infringement of the Asserted Patents and to recover all damages and remedies available at law and equity."