PS3 price and release date

This isn't directly related to Xbox, but since the PS3 is the 360's leading competitor, I think this is important.

The PS3 will be released on November 17, 2006, and there will be two versions (similiar to the 360). One will cost $500, although it will have less features. The second will be a full $600, twice the price of the Xbox 360 Core System. Each will come with a hard drive, 20GB on the $500 version and 60GB on the $600 one. Sony has scrapped the boomerang controller in favor of one similiar to PS2 controllers. It will be sensitive to movement (like the Wii controller), although it will not feature vibration like the Dual Shock and Dual Shock 2 controller. The PS3 will have an online service which has pretty much the same features as Xbox Live.

More at OXM UK and Team Xbox.