Sony picks up graphics tech for PSP

Sony on Tuesday said it has licensed graphics compression technology from S3 Graphics for its PlayStation Portable, a handheld gaming unit set to come out later this year in Japan and in 2005 to North America. Specifically, Sony licensed the S3 Graphics? S3TC texture compression technology that aims to maintain texture and detail in compressed images. S3 was once one of the largest producers of graphics chips. The company has since then formed an alliance with Taiwan's Via Technologies to create chipsets.

Earlier this month, Sony provided a glimpse of some of the specs for its handheld game player. The 333MHz processor that controls the unit will contain separate cores for handling graphics and media tasks.

[dimitrisouza]

Does it play MP3?

A portable PS only will be successful in the present days if it includes at least a 4GB hard disk and the ability to play MP3 audio. Otherwise other multifunctional handheld devices (Palm, Pocket PC) will start being used as a gaming platform.

Dimitri

[dimitrisouza]

Does it play MP3?

A portable PS only will be successful in the present days if it includes at least a 4GB hard disk and the ability to play MP3 audio. Otherwise other multifunctional handheld devices (Palm, Pocket PC) will start being used as a gaming platform.

Dimitri

MP3

It probably wont play mp3s; but if Sony wants to sell more of PSP they might let the device play audio in the AATRAC format; that would imply that everyone have to convert their mp3 collection into useless AATRAC format. My guess is that Sony won't be able to sell PSP by claiming that it also plays music too (same is more than likely to happen to their mp3 player).
May be 3 to 5 years from now SONY will only sell their MP3 player and PSP only in Japan like they do for CLIEs.

[emc2]

using PSP as mp3 doesn't make sense.

Why would you want to use something that big as an mp3 player anyways? its not portable enough. Plus, that thing probably sucks batteries like a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

MP3

It probably wont play mp3s; but if Sony wants to sell more of PSP they might let the device play audio in the AATRAC format; that would imply that everyone have to convert their mp3 collection into useless AATRAC format. My guess is that Sony won't be able to sell PSP by claiming that it also plays music too (same is more than likely to happen to their mp3 player).
May be 3 to 5 years from now SONY will only sell their MP3 player and PSP only in Japan like they do for CLIEs.

[emc2]

using PSP as mp3 doesn't make sense.

Why would you want to use something that big as an mp3 player anyways? its not portable enough. Plus, that thing probably sucks batteries like a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

[emc2]

Is this a joke? S3 died a long time ago...

ATI & Nvidia seriously kicked their graphics card behind years ago. Then, they sold off the company remains to Via.

[emc2]

Is this a joke? S3 died a long time ago...

ATI & Nvidia seriously kicked their graphics card behind years ago. Then, they sold off the company remains to Via.