French gaming site JVN today claims to have confirmed Sony’s slim PlayStation 3 through an unnamed retailer in the country. According to the source, wholesalers expect the slimmer, redesigned PS3 in September along with a price drop of 100 Euros to €300.

These new systems would come stark raving “naked,”… Without games. And stores haven’t been told what’s included in the hardware. Speculation is that a 120GB hard drive will be stock. If this pans out and Sony loves America, US pricing would drop from a minimum of $400 to $300.

Have you longed for the ability to customize your phone before buying it? If so, then you’ll want to check out the Nokia Build website by Nokia France. The website makes your dream come true by allowing customers to design or customize their handset before ordering online. For right now, the program only works for Nokia 7310, but who knows, maybe there will be more options soon. You know you want to order my beautifully designed Slipperybrick phone.

A French newspaper, Liberation, has published claims that some Mac Pros have been releasing toxic odors. Apple is apparently investigating claims that its the desktop is full of “seven volatile organic contaminants,” like “styrene, benzene and its derivatives.” The odor apparently takes a few different forms, described as everything from “new car smell” to “cannabis”.

The culprit is believed to be the result of a resin coating on some circuit boards and disappears after a period of time. Apparently once the product has burned in. The phenomenon seems to be only in systems built before this year. Liberation cited an anonymous researcher from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who had his Mac Pro desktop tested for toxins after he smelled some strong odors emanating from the machine.

When you think about the French, chances are you think comedy involving mimes and baguettes dancing with their comedy god Jerry Lewis. Is that just me? Alright then. The French are doing something interesting with USB and trains. A kind of wireless easy-pass for trains. French public transportation company SNCF is getting 1,000 customers to help it test an RFID-enabled smart card that doubles as a USB drive, known as the Weneo ID Smart.

SNCF wants to expand its contactless payment system, and the plan would allow customers to plug their train passes into their PC at home. Which makes sense, because at home they can add money to their account, avoid missing trains because the train is pulling away as they rush to put money onto a card, and it probably helps with crowds as well. Schedules can also be downloaded to the card and it’s a photo ID. Once on the train, the fare would be deducted from the card by an RFID reader or an attendant with a handheld device. They’ll have to see if it’s a success first, but if so, the SNCF may want everyone using the system by 2010.

If you’re looking for gear that’s going to make you look like Batman, here’s another to add to the list. This one comes from a French design company called Enzyme.

It’s a kick-ass motorcycle concept that would look just right parked in the batcave. The Batpod is cool and all, but the Icare uses a huge 1.8 litre Honda flat 6 engine that should provide plenty of power. It’s a concept for the moment, but Enzyme has gotten some really out there concepts into production in the past. Great way to commute to work at Wayne Industries.

Vertu is a British-based company that produces luxury mobile phones and they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary with a special event. The company is launching another luxury series, called the Constellation Rococo Collection. The stylish devices are inspired by eighteenth century French art, fashion and the interior design movement by the same name.

The series will go on sale this summer and will be available in noir, scarlet, ivory and an exclusive sapphire edition. The sapphire edition has a cabochon sapphire for a center button, cabochon sapphire screws, and of course Rococo patterns engraved onto the bezel. No pricing available yet, but my guess is it will not be cheap.

Yes, buying this French maid PC case is as good as admitting that you have not yet had, and likely never will have relations with the opposite sex. And if your first reaction was wood, followed by a burning desire for an upskirt shot in the hopes of finding your new favorite USB port, I suggest you buy this sawed off plaything and go to town. Real girls everywhere will thank you for removing yourself from the gene pool.

Be warned. It costs a hefty $499. And you don’t even get boobs. In geek money that translates to about 10 Wii games. It’s only about 1/4 of a woman in it’s current state anyway. It might be fun to mix and match different body parts, both under and above this torso. You know, give it some Amphibian legs, with a terminator exoskeleton top or something.