How Long Does It Take A Ps3 Controller To Charge

Sony USB charger for PS3 controllers — Engadget

Engadget has noted the appearance of a new PlayStation three accessory in Japan: a USB charger that tin can juice up two PS3 controllers at in one case. While we wouldn't exist surprised to see this thing announced Stateside as well, the problem is: there'south really no reason it should need to be. And if the PS3 were better designed, it wouldn't accept to. In fact, the beingness of this sort of accompaniment just serves as a reminder of some of the PS3's biggest annoyances--all the more evident because the superb gaming console/Blu-ray actor/media hub is otherwise close to perfection.

Annoyance No. 1: PS3 controller batteries aren't removable. The PS3 controller's rechargeable battery is locked inside. When it eventually dies a few years downwards the road, you'll need to invest in a whole new controller. Compare that with the competition: both the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 controllers have removable batteries. The Wii uses standard AAs, so you tin purchase a charger and a set of batteries from the likes of Duracell or Energizer, and you no longer need to invest in an endless supply of new batteries. We've also had good luck with third-political party charging solutions from Nyko and Penguin. The 360 has the best of both worlds: it uses standard AAs (or rechargeables you lot supply, as suggested above), or yous tin can invest a few bucks in the 360 Quick Charge Kit (a recharger and i rechargeable bombardment, with additional batteries bachelor separately as well).

Annoyance No. 2: Controllers can't accuse from all USB sources. I'm a large fan of charging gadgets via USB. These days, a lot of portable products can just exist plugged into whatsoever standard USB hub, USB charger, or a PC, and they'll offset juicing upwards. The PS3 controller is much more than finicky. Sure, information technology charges from the PS3 via that panel'due south USB port. Just plug the controller into whatever other USB source, and it's more than of a 50/50 shot. In our feel, it needs to be something with a "brain"--a directly connection to a PC works, likewise as plugging it into a satellite box, such as the Dish ViP622 or DirecTV HR20. Merely just plugging it into a powered USB hub (that's not continued to a PC) or a USB charger (like the iPod AC adapter) didn't piece of work for u.s.. (There are some defended third-party chargers available every bit well.)

Badgerer No. iii: PS3 tin't accuse controllers when in standby mode. OK, so you pretty much accept to use the PS3 itself to accuse your PS3 controllers. Fine--you'll only go out them to juice up overnight, right? Wrong. Controllers can only charge while the PS3 is powered up. Turn it off (standby mode), and the USB ports go dead. By contrast, some recent Toshiba laptops have a feature called "Sleep and Charge," which let you to power up attached USB devices even when the laptop is turned off.

The PS3's touchy USB ports are doubly problematic, apparently, for everyone who'due south been trying to create compatibility with the PS3 for a standard IR remote. Adding a USB IR dongle would seem to be the way to go, but that, likewise, volition only work when the console is powered on--and so you lot'll nonetheless need to power up the PS3 manually, or with a Bluetooth controller. Some clever workarounds be, but they're pretty elaborate.

Sony could've addressed the first two problems when they transitioned from the original Sixaxis PS3 controller to the newer DualShock three rumble controller--but the sealed battery and inflexible recharging remained, then it'south conspicuously by design. Also, the current iteration of the PS3--the 80GB Core model--has plenty of other design and characteristic tweaks from the original 60GB model, but the company didn't see fit to add an IR receiver or allow the USB ports to describe power in standby mode. (At this indicate, we're assuming that's definitely a hardware limitation, and not something that can exist fixed with a firmware update.) And that, swain gamers, is how we ended up with the PS3 USB charger pictured above.

Is any of this plenty to make me regret buying a PS3? No, the myriad benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks. Merely it nonetheless aggravates me every time I take to attain from my PS3 controller--instead of my universal remote--whenever I want to watch a movie. After all, there'southward zero wrong with wanting the PS3 to be perfect.

Practice these petty details interfere with your enjoyment of the PlayStation 3? Or are we just way likewise demanding?