PSP is now a portable TV?

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 10th 2005 at 1:15PM }

Apparently, Sony is developing software that will allow television broadcasts to be playable on the PSP (and laptops) via wireless internet connection. The technique is called "place-shifting" and will allow users to access content stored on remote locations. Interestingly enough, the software will be available in North America first. No word on release date or price. We'll keep you posted.

[See also, the DS TV tuner]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Uncle Sam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

little bird said, portable TV would $150 plus PSP. That's lot of money. I said, let's go and get DS instead!

LINEZ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

hahaha! all you babies cry and cry. sony makes the best add-ons fot the systems. look at the great hard drive just like they promised. and the awesome modem that lets you dial on the internets. this will lets you watch tv on your psp and get online and do all kinds of things that makes the psp the best system for all us people that are too cool to play games with a pen. get a psp if you like tv.

Mark Wiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

So, if this is streaming content off of servers, which is exactly what it sounds like, then will it still use the low quality 320x240 stretched to fill the screen the same way playing off of the Memory Stick does?

It sounds to me like playing movies when I am near a hot spot isn't all that impressive, especially sing it will drain the battery faster than using the Memory Stick. :(

Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

This is not the ability to view live TV broadcasts. This is the ability to view video files off of a server running the software. If you have recorded a TV program, and use this software to convert/host the program, you could potentially watch it on the PSP.

Why in the world TV would be such big news for a portable game system is beyond me. I play games to leave TV behind.

Luke @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

The PSP is no doubt a killer platformer, but isn't it going a little far? A portable that plays games, movies, mp3s, can browse the web, and can play TV?

Of course not that that's a bad thing I suppose. The PSP is certainly an interesting machine. It seems that the only really weakness of the system is the battery life.

AJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

They already have the platform -- Sony Wireless TV was shown off at CES just a couple of days ago (http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,114178,00.asp) -- so it makes sense that with a WiFi adapter the PSP could be another client device. It already looks like they plan this to be an "iPod killer" by offering music downloads through Connect, as well.