PSP upgrades waiting to be unleashed?

by Ben Zackheim { Jan 14th 2005 at 9:33AM }

It looks like an unofficial PSP update has been leaked from a web domain owned by Sony. The update has features in it like web browsing, voice, word processor and music downloads. The file should not be used, though, since it will fill your device with nonsense code. There are some screenies of the update here (a Japanese site), so just enjoy those for now. There's no question Sony has future-proofed the device, but a word processor?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Bill Will @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Does anyone really want these kind of half-ass features. I'm already unimpressed with the "extra" features on mine. Sure Ridge Racer looks great but the MP3 functionality is bare minimum and the video playback does not even play the full resolution of the screen. My Pocket PC is better at both these things.

And why would you want to word processing or email on something that has a worse text entry system than your phone? If it had a touch screen, they could have put some handwriting recognition into it.

As it stands, these sounds like pointless "features" so people can say, Yeah, my PSP has the Interweb on it. It won't do any of these things well if Sony's current feature set is any indication of what we are to expect.

Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Yeah, I agree for the most part. I think the web access is a no-brainer but that better be a damn well-designed browser. The word processor has to be a joke, but who knows - it could be Sony's attempt to stay in the handheld business in America (since the Clie line is now dead). But that sounds silly too. My best guess is that they're just in there for the hell of it -- in case some trend takes off.

edge @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

i am so on this now cause this means it can do things in the internet and that makes it the best thing ever. maybe we could watch joystiq from the psp anyware now and even make comments on the site from the psp. that would be the coolest thing to be seen on the internet when you are on the bus. i dont know how you can use the internets without a mouse but i bet that is what the usb is for to plug in a mouse and kbd to make the psp your own magic pc i bet that sony has something awesome planned to make the internet the best

Frankly @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Are you serious? These are some of the most worthless features to put on a device with no keyboard or pointing device.

Sounds like the Clie problem to me. A device that started as a better Palm and turned into a junky playform for every pointless feature Sony ever came up with. Feature-itis.

Oookay! Just because your product CAN do something does NOT mean it SHOULD!

Kevin @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

To quote Joystiq, "What do you think was the N-Gage�s biggest problem? Its schizophrenic nature? (It�s a phone, it�s a games machine, it�s a dessert topping AND a furniture polish�)."

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000600027236/

Aren't we dealing with the same thing here? With all the stuff I read about the PSP being a do-everything-but-none-of-it-well device, I I'm not interested in it any more. I'd take a DS rather than be stuck with an N-Gage/GameGear product again.

SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Assuming this leak is from Sony, it sounds like they are trying to promise features without any real commitment to deliver. That wouldn't be anything new. As many of you remember, the PS2 was supposed to be powerful enough to render Toy Story in real time.

Chris Weber @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Second try in posting this:

Could the PSP be used as a PS3 controller? That's what I was thinking while I was grocery shopping yesterday. Since the moment we heard of rumors about the PS3 having wireless capabilities and seeing the PSP with its own wireless joy, the speculation was there that the PSP and the PS3 could interact ala Gameboy Advance and Gamecube. Could it happen? Let's discuss.

To recap previous events here some of what we know about the PSP.

1. It has an apparently standard compliant implementation of 802.11b wireless technology.

2. It can play stored games, music, and movies off of its memory stick.

3. The number of buttons and analog sticks on the PSP are fewer that what can be found on a PS2 controller.

As for the PS3, given Sony's recent history of over-promising (PSX anyone?) I don't think anything besides the enormous investment already made and Cell-based infrastructure is certain. But if the rumor of PS3's wireless capabilities are correct its likely that they would implement the PS3's wireless similar to the PSP's wireless. If so, it pretty clear that some kind of interaction, whether intentional or not will happen.

If game makers don't intend for interactions to take place, it still would happen. Enthusiasts could figure out how to copy in-game video footage to their PSP's or computers to spread around to their friends. They could download music tracks from games to convert in the proper music format so that they can play it in whatever app they want. If no conversion program exists for whatever proprietary music format they use, someone could code one. Art assets or screenshots from the PS3's memory card could be copied and viewed as a slideshow.

But if they intend for interactions between the two to occur they have a lot of cool things they could do. In addition to making all of the above ideas much easier to pull off, they could push a download of mini-games to the PSP. Party games like super monkey ball or any Mario Party-like game that starts a mini-game and then compares the results of all the players, would readily take advantage of this idea.

And if it can be used at controller, say hello to the new Sony DS. Does anyone want to use the PSP as one screen and your fancy schmancy TV as the other? I do. Remember the football games where you could be certain that you're opponent had no clue what play you picked until you got to the line? That was because you could pick the play on your controller. The PSP could do that if the proper code was loaded.

You could have another iteration of a game like the recent Zelda game that was out where players could play together without being on the same screen. How interesting would a GTAuto game be with this idea implemented?

Games like Fight Night could have a First-Person view of the fight on the PSP while showing the third person view on the TV. Basketball could show incrementing statistics of the game being played and/or possible quick plays to call. Fighting games could display the combat sequences currently executed. Games could push a replay-editing program that allows you to manipulate the saved replay files that you copied from your favorite game. Other ideas, such as true multiplayer capabilities beyond 2 players for a Sony console, mini-game trading, episodic content, and expansion of currently released games also come to mind. The ideas keep coming and I'm not even employed to think of them.

And is it really wild speculation to say that if PS3 and PSP can interact wirelessly that this will happen. Remember the last time you played a PS2 game online. I remember mine, it was Madden and I had dial-up connection. The game still was awesome and I didn't notice any slow down. 802.11b is at best over 200x faster than the best dial-up speeds (11 Mb/s divided by 56 kb/s). It is easy to believe that I can have the same response times if 8 people were playing the same game with that much faster of a connection. But that's beside the point. The point is the network traffic, whether it comes from an ethernet cable or a wireless connection is same once it arrives. So if a game works well online right now, you can be safe to assume that it will work well wirelessly.

I think this is a great opportunity for PS3 games. And if things go well, meaning strong PSP sales, and great execution of this idea by PS3 programmers, it could be the killer app of the next generation of consoles.

Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I think it is funny that, for years, people and companies poo-poo'd Nintendo's connectivity. Now all these people are doing a complete 180 with the PSP.

While the above is wild speculation, it references many Nintendo ideas. I am glad to see that others are finally getting excited about what two game screens can offer.

To see some some of these ideas in action, TODAY, try playing some games on the Nintendo DS.

SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

The PSP would need a much better battery to be a PS3 controller. From my own experiences with Zelda: Four Swords, there is nothing more boring than waiting for someone's battery to charge to play a game. Pluging four PSPs into a wall within comfortable range of the TV will be difficult if not impossible.

And I agree whole heartedly with Karmalot's post above, and would like to add that Crystal Chronicles is a work of art with four players.

El Sid @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Ya kno...I was really stoked about using the psp as a controller till i got to the botto of this page and read Kamalot's words. Lotsa this has already been done or is being done.

SetupWeasel also made a great point: how will the battery last on the PSP using it wirelessly as a controller? DONT tell me you won't play for more than 3 hours. Thats crazy.

ANYONE WHO THINKS THREE HOURS OF BATTERY IS ENOUGH IS PLAYING SHITTY GAMES!

Imagine people sitting around using their PSP as a wireless controller, all plugged into the wall outlet. Duh! No longer wireless is it?

ebp2k2 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

sony should have junked UMD, sold content/games on PSP-proprietary memory sticks, and stuck another battery in place of the UMD drive.

that would have been cheaper IMO. no need to sink dollars into developing brand new medium.

Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Agreed. The whole mess that is PSP would have rocked if Sony hadn't tried to force optical discs down our throat. The system would have been smaller with a longer battery life.

YouPeopleAreDumb @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Ah yes, more drivel and whining from all the morons who don't have a PSP and definately are too poor to afford an import. Kids, when you're 18 maybe you'll have one for yourself. Until then, just go play your N64 ports on that childish pixelated woman's compact called a DS.

Leave the PSP to the adults. Thanks and go finish your homework before your moms find out.

SiDiK @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I love all of these people bickering about something they've never held in their hands. Pick this beauty up, feel it's perfect tight controls on that beauitful high resolution screen. Upload your videos in near-perfect resolution and listen to your mp3's and browse your pictures, tell me that it sucks. Everyone that I have let hold the thing wants one instantly. My friend who has a DS was almost ashamed when talking about his DS and admits that it only has one good game where there's more games then I can count for the US release that I WILL be more then happy to play. Also the battery isn't that bad, I've plugged it in a couple times and it's never died on me, wow tell me you don't need something to complain about.

So, excuse me while I go watch Shaun of the Dead and go install tunneling software so I can play Ridge Racers with the rest of the people who know what they're talking about, and have made their investment.

blip @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I agree with the above comment. I have both a PSP and a DS and I could probably be called a Nintendo fanboy if you want to but I totally love my PSP over the DS. Can't explain why but it just feels right when playing. I haven't yet had a battery life problem but I agree that I don't play for hours and hours in a row. Rather maybe an hour here and half an hour there.

You still might hate PSP when you actually get to play it but I for one love my PSP.

What I don't understand is why extra features would detract from gaming? Or isn't that what you mean since it seems so bad to you to add those features? Gaming will still be working well after those features are added (if they actually will be) so I can't see how it'd be bad to add something if it *might* be useful. I mean if you believe Sony fully and bought it instead of an iPod, well, bad for you. I can't for one understand believe how anyone would but anyway. I bought mine as a gaming device foremost and it's doing its job more than well. The other features are just nice - if they're ever implemented in a good way that is. The PSP also feels alot more robust when holding it than my DS but that probably doesn't detract many people from buying the DS. As an end note I think both are great gaming devices I just happen to like my PSP more than my DS that's all. Said by someone who's been playing Nintendo all his life and hasn't for one bit cared with people having a problem with Nintendo's "childyness" whatever that means. If it's fun it's fun. Former it was my Nintendo consoles now it's my PSP. Whatever.

(As a sidenote how can playing video games be viewed as an adult form of recreation anyway? It's just having fun for a while. I don't care if people are 13, 23 or 54 years old. Anyone who thinks one brand is more adult than the other seemingly some problem with their adulthood or something. If you care that much you have probably not passed the adolesence anyway...or? Add to that, that if you're friends think you're childish because you play a video games sometimes I'd say they have a bit of an issue as well... Whatever.)

edge @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

the psp is the best cause it is for grownups who like to show off their monry. if you dont have the money to get a psp then you look dum and poor. psp has the best games for blood and guns and probably racing too cause i wanna trik out my car when i get one tool. i am goning to look great when i have my psp on the bus and the ohter kids that are playing games toghether on the ds dont have one.

iomatic @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

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jesus f'n christ, edge.

Forget about getting a PSP -- no -- any gaming device, until you can properly spell and punctuate in response to an online article.

Kids should probably work on the ability to communicate with efficacy before gaming. Even my kid says, "it's more fun to play outside than on the XBox." Thank God.

Even if it was a joke post, it's too hard not to believe kids can only type in AOL-Chat-speak. *sigh* Be smart, before you develop RSI.

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carste2001 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

The psp is going to be great portable gaming system. Buy it or not. I am!!

Herald @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

iomatic, lol

I don't see why everyone is complaining about useless features. The DS has one of the most useless features every, a touch screen. What would you need to do in a game today that would invovle a touch screen? Would you have to tap a button on the screen with the pen, cause if you do, then the point of having the A and B buttons are just lame. And on the commerical where the guy is using the touchscreen to write, correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're close enough to send someone a wireless message from your DS, you're probably close enough to just turn off the DS and talk to them. Wow, so the psp will add a web browser and a word processor, they are also releasing a keyboard for the psp so for the corporate gamer, this will be a huge improvment, for the gamer that likes to read books on the go they can use the word processor.

Zer0_CoOL @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

you guys are little morons the PSP is the best thing that ever happened to this world and if microsoft tries to come out with something to try to beat it ill smash that piece just like i smashed the x box

devilmaycry @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Ohkay everyone...i'd like to say that I HAVE a psp now and it's so flipping awesome. Yes, it has a great web browser, which is faster than almost any palm-pilot's wireless internet. It's not a complete laptop yet, but it's actually getting quite close. I can talk on AIM or ne other instant messenger. The DS is sorta fun, but honestly, all it has is games. I can download whole cd's on my psp. I also have pictures of all my friends on it; just in case I get lonely on a long trip or something. I'm with everyone else, saying that the XBOX can suck it! I'm still sort of rootin' 4 Nintendo to take over Microsoft. Sony is, however, the OVERLORD of all electronics...