Very brief PS3 hardware news

I just wanted to pass along some good info I got today as I met with Sony and a PlayStation 3 hardware rep today. Here are some brief answers I was able to come away with (my meeting was to see games, but there just happened to be a hardware rep there as well that I chatted with for a minute or two):

• I made them aware of that alleged PS2 downgrade problem and they said that was the first they had heard of it. He mentioned that it could be an HDMI cable issue.

• PS3 production is in full swing. Something like 100,000 units are being pumped out (I think he said weekly). He was very confident they have solved their diode issues.

• On a software note, Sony is thinking of holding off on F1 until the European launch.