Sony: PS3 is no longer a "game machine," but an "entertainment media hub"

Sony Network Entertainment boss Shawn Layden believes calling PS3 a game machine is a bit passé since it is so much more nowadays.

"We're trying to turn the PlayStation 3 into an entertainment media hub where you can not only play your games and get online with your Call of Duty community, but also find movies, find music, and bring that across," Layden told Eurogamer.

"People like to explore. Gamers are explorers. I worked with PlayStation for 14 years before I took on this position with Sony Network Entertainment. I started back in 1996. It was just that grey rectangle with the toaster lid on it. You threw the disc in and brought the waffle iron down, and that's it, you're good to go.

"Game machine is the wrong description these days. Console can mean so many things. It's a central hub if you will for all kinds of digital content."

Sony started toting its non-gaming applications on PS3 heavily in 2009 with its ads staring Kevin Butler, which demonstrate the console's ability to deliver movies, television shows, view photos, edit video, listen to music, browse the internet, and probably soon - do your hair and provide fashion advice.

Over 14.7 million PS3 consoles have been sold throughout Europe, and as of January over 69 million folks has registered with PSN.

A report from data firm Strategy Analytics today said PS3′s install base had exceeded Xbox 360′s on a global basis by 500,000, pushing the Microsoft console down into third place behind PS3 and Wii.