Sony says 'several issues' are affecting a 'very small' number of PS4s

More like Play-lame-sion, aimiright?

Sony's PS4 may have gotten off to a million-unit start, but the console's North American launch wasn't without its share of faulty machines.

Today the company has provided an update on the situation. It's worth noting that Sony admits there are a few problems circulating through PS4-land. The console maker has also slightly increased the number of systems it says have been bugged with an issue or two.

"There have been several issues reported, which leads us to believe there isn't a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of PS4 units," read a statement sent to TechRadar by an SCEA spokesperson.

"We also understand that some units were reportedly damaged during shipping. The number of affected PS4 systems is less than 1%, which represents a very small percentage of total units shipped to date and is within the expected range for a new product introduction.

"We understand the frustration of consumers that have had a problem and are working with them and our retail partners to help troubleshoot issues and ensure affected units are exchanged," the statement concluded.

Initial reports on November 15 (the PS4's release date) revealed an HDMI issue was plaguing some PS4s. Users reported seeing a "failed output signal" error message on their TVs because of a faulty HDMI jack.

Sony wouldn't provide us with a number of borked systems then, though it initially told IGN the number was less than .4%.

In its statement to us later that day, Sony said "[a] handful of people have reported issues with their PlayStation 4 systems," never mentioning HDMI or the blue light specifically.

Some users also reported problems with hardware and TV connectivity, resulting in a blinking blue like that wasn't exactly fatal, but was clearly cause for annoyance.

Sony didn't go so far as to specify what sort of issues it's dealing with in its statement today, but it may be a small assurance that the problem isn't a single, black-hole flaw that will suck every PS4 into a vacuous pit of brokenness.

Still, around 1% of one million units sold is 10,000, so there are a good number of un-happy PS4 campers roaming around these parts.

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LG WCP-300 Wireless Charger: Simple, small, effective

OK, nobody's getting rid of microUSB chargers anytime soon. So to that end we'll keep plowing our way through wireless Qi chargers. When we first saw the LG WCP-300 Wireless Charger (we picked ours up for $39 at Verizon) at Mobile World Congress, it was a pretty unassuming puck. It's smallish (about 2.7 inches in diameter) and is just a bit thicker than the phone you're going to charge it with. The included travel charger is rated at 1.8A, and the puck itself takes that down to 1A. So if you want a faster charge, you'll need to plug in. But wireless charging has always been more about convenience than speed. (The party line is that the WCP-300 will charge a 1500 mAh battery in less than 4 hours.)

So, one puck, one phone. Plug in the microUSB cable, plop a phone on top of it, and you're charging. There's an LED indicator light that doesn't do a whole lot of good unless you place your phone on the puck sideways -- it's hidden, otherwise -- but doing so just looks odd. The face of the puck is matte black. It's ringed in glossy plastic, and the bottom's got four rubber feet that keeps things nicely in place. 

If you're going to delve into the world of wireless charging, you need to know up front that you'll be paying a little bit of a premium. Paying $39 to charge your phone isn't small potatoes. But the LG WCP-300 is a slim and stylish charging puck. In fact, it's probably going to end up in my travel bag, just because. 

We've got more pics after the break.

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