There's been some chatter that Sony plans to introduce cloud-based storage for its beloved PlayStation 3 console, and that chatter is starting to turn into a roar, Fudzilla claims. The news and rumor site says a number of sources have now confirmed that this "PS Cloud," a term Sony trademarked back in 2009, will ship as part of the upcoming 3.60 firmware update.

As the story goes, Sony will call the option "Save File Insured" and will offer it to PlayStation Plus subscribers. Other details are frustratingly non-existent, such as how much storage space subscribers will get and whether or not non-subscribers will have access (for a fee).

It's also been said that the next firmware will address the cracked code that's been floating around the Web, which allows gamers to play backed up (and pirated) copies of games.

In an effort to curtail piracy and thwart any damage that might result from the recent public posting of security codes for the PlayStation 3 console. Sony plans to introduce a serial key system for its games, TechEye reports.

Earlier this month, George Hotz and a band of programmers associated with a hacking group called "fail0verflow" drew Sony's ire by uncovering and publishing root keys for the PS3. Sony's initial response was to take legal action against Hotz and more than 100 others it claims were involved, but there's still the problem of such keys now being public knowledge.

These root keys are used to verify that a game is genuine, and with that knowledge, hackers and pirates can essentially trick the console into recognizing counterfeit software as the real deal. With the new system in place, upcoming games will ship with unique serial keys specific to that Blu-ray disc, which the user will then have to enter into the PS3. If this sounds at all familiar, then you must be a PC gamer.

Citing an un-named source, PS3-Sense says Sony has already updated the PS3's firmware in preparation for this new verification system.

Located in Pitman, New Jersey are just under 9,400 residents, a historical museum, the University of Glassboro, and one of two CD manufacturing plants owned and operated by Sony. Come March 31, 2011, you can scratch that last one off the list, CNet reports.

"In light of the current economic environment and challenges facing the physical media industry, Sony DADC is taking additional steps to reduce cost from our supply chain network in order to remain competitive," Lisa Gephart, a Sony spokeswoman, said in a statement earlier this year.

Or, as one employee put it, "the CD is dying." Here's a quick history lesson. Audio CDs have been around in commercial form since 1982, or nearly three decades. Sony at one time operated three CD manufacturing plants, closing one down in 2003 and will shutter a second two months from now.

With all that said, don't take this to mean that CDs are, in fact, dead. They're not, at least not yet, but there's no doubt interest is waning. Citing Nielsen's figures, CNet points out that while digital track sales grew by just 1 percent last year, new CD sales dropped 16 percent.