Sony's Gamescom press conference saw the unveiling of the much-anticipated new slimline PlayStation 3, offering a unit that takes up less space and sucks less power:

The internal design architecture of the new PS3 system, from the main semiconductors and power supply unit to the cooling mechanism, has been completely redesigned, achieving a much slimmer and lighter body. Compared to the very first PS3 model with 60GB HDD, the internal volume as well as its thickness and weight are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds. Furthermore, power consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise. While inheriting the sleek curved body design of the original model, the form factor of the new PS3 system features a new meticulous design with textured surface finish, giving an all new impression and a casual look. With the compact body and casual appearance, the newly introduced model will appeal to a wider audience who are looking to buy the best entertainment system for their home.

The other big news is that this new PS3 will hit the market at US$299 - and that effective immediately (at least, in the US and Europe) the current PS3 will hit that new lower price point too. We can't tell you yet what will happen in Australia, but stay tuned - we'll hopefully hear from Sony .au in the next few hours with updates. Check the press release for photos and more information.

A few other interesting announcements as well, including one specifically for Australians - part of the new video-on-demand TV show streaming service will include ABC content for Australian users. Not a huge amount of detail on this but seems safe to expect more details will follow soon.

There's also a new movie service which will allow you to buy or rent movies online - although this is only getting rolled out in a few territories and it seems likely Aussies will have to wait a while for that one.

PSP owners might be interested to hear about the new Digital Reader software, which is launching with a Digital Comics service in conjunction with Marvel, allowing PSP users to buy comics online and download them directly to their device.

Nothing fascinating on the games front and any if you were hanging out for information about their Wii-like motion detecting controller, you'll have to hold on until the Tokyo Game Show next month!