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April 7, 2009 9:44 AM PDT

New PSP to take on iPhone this Christmas?

by David Carnoy
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It's just a mock-up, but could it be close to the real thing?

(Credit: Eric Jensen)

Thanks to a chatty developer, we recently heard and relayed rumors that the next-generation PSP will have a sliding screen. Well, a second mystery developer, who's allegedly "working with the new hardware," has upped the ante: he or she claims Sony's next-gen portable gaming console will actually have a sliding touch screen along with the much-requested, dual-analog thumbsticks.

This all comes from Pocket Gamer, which doesn't name its "insider" source but says, "The new handheld will arrive before Christmas and will be far more similar to the iPhone than the current device." It also claims the new PSP will be announced in June at E3.

Take the rumor for what it's worth, but all the chatter seems to suggest that a new PSP will be a true PSP 2 and not just another incremental upgrade. Pocket Gamer speculates that Sony accelerated development on the new device after the success of the iPhone and the arrival of the Nintendo DSi. There's also continued talk that the new PSP will forgo UMD and instead rely on an expanded PlayStation Store that rivals Apple's App Store (at least in terms of games).

If this all pans out the way the rumors are pointing, I don't think there's any doubt that the PSP will be a better gaming device than the iPhone. The question is, what else will it be capable of doing? As I've said before, if Sony can integrate some of the features found in its Mylo Communicator, things get very interesting. If not, Pocket Gamer probably won't be able to go around calling the new PSP an "iPhone beater."

What do you think?

Source: Pocket Gamer via Kotaku

Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 3 pages (72 Comments)
by hafenbrack April 7, 2009 9:53 AM PDT
my only problem of SOny going to a non-UMD PSP 2 would be: what do I do with the UMD games that I want to play on the new PSP 2? There not going to be compatible at all? It seems like it would be great if there were a to port the UMD games you own over to the new system and store them on Memory Stick somehow.
Reply to this comment
by raiden1495 April 7, 2009 12:05 PM PDT
This is a slight concern of mine as well, but I think there's an easy solution. Sony should allow its customers to download the PSP ports for free, or a nominal charge, from its website, much like Apple did when it removed DRM. Not sure how that would work exactly (saved game files maybe), but it seems like the best option. Honestly though, I'm not too worried about it. I never play my PS2, XBox, Gamecube, or my Playstation games anymore, so I doubt I would play my PSP games on a PSP2.
by Notoapplefanbois April 7, 2009 12:05 PM PDT
Well I think they'll probably add a capability so that you can insert a UMD into your old PSP and log into your PSN account on the PSP and then select upload UMD which will then add that game to your list of games which you can then download later onto your PSP.

However is the PSP2 is to compete with the iPod Touch it will have a WVGA or WSVGA screen so older games may look pixelated. But they'll load really quickly since it should have 64gb of inbuilt storage and M2 expanded.

Hopefully it will run on 1.5ghz snapdragon with 1gb of ram too.
by stressel April 7, 2009 5:48 PM PDT
I will guarantee that Sony will release a dlc program to allow you to port the game to a mem stick. apparently a psp running custom firmware already has a homebrew app for that.
by hslakaal April 7, 2009 8:35 PM PDT
Personally, I am horrified about the loss of UMD if it does come out because I live in Malaysia and over here, there is virtually close to no PSN and it's a real hassle to set up an account in the US and use that here, mainly due to the slow internet. I hope UMDs remain or at least have a method of buying games on memory sticks or something like that.
by django2k April 8, 2009 8:35 PM PDT
How would you prove the UMD is in fact yours and not borrowed from a friend or a rental? I hope you guys kept some receipts.
by Rod Roddy April 9, 2009 7:26 AM PDT
Say NO to UMD. We all know that UMDs were recycled Mini discs from the 90's, Sony should finally give that technology a rest. If they want to be more like the iPhone and actually "compete", they NEED an app store. Downloading content onto devices is where everyone is headed.
by DJOmega6 April 7, 2009 10:40 AM PDT
Yeah, it would be nice if they had that capability. However, I'm not holding my breath. I think Sony is going to distance themselves as far away from UMD as possible. I must say that I am very excited at the prospect of them going to digital downloads for games. If these rumors turn out to be true, it could be a major first step away from physical media. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if they also sold PSP2 games on preloaded memory stick duo cards for awhile.
Reply to this comment
by cabinphever April 7, 2009 10:45 AM PDT
Awesome! That must be a screenshot from Syphon Filter 5!!!!

http://kotaku.com/5153705/rumor-syphon-filter-5-in-development
Reply to this comment
by Rendrik April 7, 2009 10:46 AM PDT
Ok people, get a grip.
It has a touch screen. Great, that's awesome.
It does not make it anything like a cell phone. Stop comparing it to an iPhone!
No, they shouldn't make it into a phone.
No, they shouldn't market against the iPhone.
The pure and simple facts are that the Playstation brand is for gaming, and the iPhone is for... phone calls (it's not a gaming machine, no matter how much you try to convice yourself).
Stop drawing weak parallels between two completely seperate products.
Reply to this comment
by iroq321 April 7, 2009 12:25 PM PDT
hhheeelllooo....don't you know ANYTHING touch screen related is an iPhone rival since it was the first ever touch screen...ever (not so, the LG Prada was).
by SteveWiilliams April 8, 2009 4:29 AM PDT
Iroq, the iPhone was not the first touchscreen.
by iroq321 April 8, 2009 9:07 AM PDT
i know, i was being sarcastic. at least someone else knows what's up
by harcore100 April 7, 2009 11:06 AM PDT
i think sony might create an adapter that will allow people who had a previous psp to convert their games to the psp2 built in harddrive or memory stick duo.
Reply to this comment
by chris8772 April 7, 2009 11:20 AM PDT
If the iPhone is only for making phone calls then what is the ipod touch? Just for music. I think the PSP has absolute competition from the iphone/touch. With over 30,000 apps and games for the iphone/touch I think it's a little ignorant to say "the iphone is for phone calls".
Reply to this comment
by Rendrik April 7, 2009 11:28 AM PDT
Yes, exactly. It has 30,000 apps. If you are content with flash games where the only input is touching the screen, more power to you.
I don't dislike the iPhone, it's just not a gaming console. I wish people would stop making these comparisons.
by homercles82 April 7, 2009 11:33 AM PDT
30,000 crapps
by NY_Bry April 7, 2009 11:58 AM PDT
Rendrik, have you ever used an iphone or ipod touch?...not just at the apple store. The games are very good for it -- especially for a cell phone/mp3 player. some games incorporate the accelerometer with touch, some games place arrow keys (jst like psp keys) -- While I am not an apple fanboi or whatever, these machines are very good and only getting better - not to mention that they receive firmware upgrades, as well as app updates. No doubt that iphones/ipod touch are so much more than music or video devices - the psp is an ok handheld at best, but thats all it does and it only does it so-so. In either case, we are seeing an end to physical media
by blusky08 April 7, 2009 12:18 PM PDT
iPhone is viewed as a serious multi-function device (approaching a handheld computer) that happens to play games, but gaming on the iPhone will not be a make or break deal with MOST consumers. The PSP is viewed as a toy, period.

Another issue is that gaming devices take A LOT of abuse. Do you really want to put your iPhone through this?
by renGek April 7, 2009 12:21 PM PDT
oh please, the itouch/iphone can't even do videos properly. Resolution is low and file format compatibility is sparse. video on those things are just a novelty that fanbois are more than happy to pay extra cash for. Does anyone with an iPhone actually watch a movie on it for 2 hours? Your eyes are going to fall out if you try.

The hardcore gamers need more than cute little iphone games. iPhone doesn't have the hardware to support those types of games. Give it another couple of generations.
by ccmike72 April 7, 2009 1:04 PM PDT
:"The games are very good for it -- especially for a cell phone/mp3 player. "

Rendrik Said the iPhone is not a gaming console and you try to shoot down his comment by using a qualifier in your own. You just proved his point. The iPhone is not a gaming device.

The iphone is a serious multifunction device approaching a hand held computer... please, smart phones are nice but a random restaurant selector and a bunch of over grown widgets don't make a device a portable computer
by redbaaron123 April 7, 2009 3:33 PM PDT
Ok I have to intervene on this debate. I own a psp 2000 and an iPod touch and have to say the psp has way better games. The iPhone typically has simple but addicting games, and the psp has games
catered to people who want to play indepth games with a Real story and good graphics. That said I belive a psp could threaten the iPhone with a better Internet browser and music player. I like both and don't see why there is so much hate on both sides.
by ShadowGryphon April 9, 2009 2:22 PM PDT
Have to agree with ccmike72 on this.
Moreover..... it's clear that the iphone is attempting to horn in on the gamer market..... but they haven't a clue how to do so. An accelerometer and a touch screen do not make for "good gaming".
The iphone isn't a threat to anything, it's joke.
A bad joke at that.
by dctech08 April 7, 2009 11:51 AM PDT
this is fake. that setup is useless even with the duel analogue sticks.
Reply to this comment
by MastrCake April 7, 2009 7:36 PM PDT
Can you read subtitles?

"It's just a mock-up, but could it be close to the real thing?"

And it doesn't look useless. It actually looks pretty cool! In side views of this mock-up (yes, they exist) the triggers are on the side, so you would hold it like a conventional Gameboy. That is, if you used it like me and put your index fingers on the side.
by JFerrari427 April 7, 2009 11:53 AM PDT
How much will it cost????!!! My guess $249 ++++++++ ripoff most likely. And since when was the iPhone a gaming a true gaming device?
Reply to this comment
by Notoapplefanbois April 7, 2009 12:11 PM PDT
since apple fanboys wanted a games console.

$249 isn't that bad actually, 299 would be ok if it had multitouch and 64gb of storage.
by MastrCake April 7, 2009 7:40 PM PDT
Rumor has it that it will have a touchscreen, so $249 would not be a ripoff.

Rumor also has 16GB internal storage. Think about it... more power, less phone, and $50 less than a comparable iPhone! Which is not a mainstream gaming device. If the iPhone were just a gaming device, it would fail miserably.
by kleeaphorn April 7, 2009 12:20 PM PDT
Can't wait until Sony PSP comes up with phone features that can do push mail and skype...Now that would be worth spending real money on...

Get a clue SONY
Reply to this comment
by MastrCake April 7, 2009 7:41 PM PDT
It already does Skype.
by shadymoin April 7, 2009 12:26 PM PDT
Another cnet obsession to compare everything with the apple brand!!! Why??? The psp is a successful brand in its own right and is more geared towards gaming. I know cent thinks they are doing apple favours by dropping these comparative hints so apple will release some sort of gaming console or something. Until then get over it. Apple makes fine products but it isn't the freaking centre of everything. Sony have delivered some fantastic products - my fav the ps3, I have a macbook and enjoy it however I am not so obsessed!

There are lots of flaws in the iphone like a 2 mp camera!! That is not advanced its backwards actually, its a given that apple has revolutionised the phone world by introducing touchscreen something phone manufactures that have been long in the biz should be ashamed of failing to deliver!
Reply to this comment
by iroq321 April 7, 2009 12:39 PM PDT
hhheeelllooo....don't you know ANYTHING touch screen related is an iPhone rival since it was the first ever touch screen...ever
by cpopken April 8, 2009 1:00 PM PDT
The iphone is not the first touchscreen phone.

http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com/hot-topics/ims/articles/4660-lg-prada-develop-worlds-first-touch-screen-mobile.htm
by iroq321 April 9, 2009 9:50 AM PDT
it's called sarcasm =].
by DJOmega6 April 7, 2009 12:34 PM PDT
Just a random thought. Shouldn't Sony's competition be Nintendo? Just making sure this is still primarily a gaming handheld, even if it is cool that it can do other things.
Reply to this comment
by iroq321 April 7, 2009 12:39 PM PDT
hhheeelllooo....don't you know ANYTHING touch screen related is an iPhone rival since it was the first ever touch screen...ever
by tcr071 April 7, 2009 12:46 PM PDT
If it can't make phone calls I'm not in. I am tired of carrying around multiple devices. I could be carrying around a cell phone, an MP3 player, a PSP, and a laptop. Why? I can carry around an iPhone and a laptop and accomplish the same things. Sure the games are dumbed down and a lot of them easy but some of them are actually enjoyable and the coding environment is simple enough that I am releasing two application at the launch of 3.0.
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by streamline35 April 8, 2009 7:13 PM PDT
Somehow I suspect the laptop part would be a tad dumbed down as well
by iroq321 April 7, 2009 12:50 PM PDT
what do i think? i think this is stupid is what i think. you mean to tell me the PSP has to become a phone for it to become an "iPhone beater"? how about the iPhone having actual buttons and REAL games before we can call it a "PSP beater"?
i don't even see how you can even start to compare them...
Reply to this comment
by April 7, 2009 12:51 PM PDT
It's awesome if true. I think SONY would make a killing if they'd just sell an add-on keyboard and include cellular technology. Heck, even if they made it a touch screen with an on-screen keyboard like the Blackberry Storm. I'd definitely buy one for myself and my kids would probably even get their own.

I'd definitely like it if they allowed you to prove you owned UMD games and then let you download them to the new device. This thing would seriously be my one and only device in my pocket, and it would go with me everywhere.
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by BlitzBoy1120 April 7, 2009 1:08 PM PDT
Those shoulder buttons look a bit high to me. Nice design though.
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by megustansalchichas April 7, 2009 1:16 PM PDT
if I know sony, they will come out with yet another proprietary storage format that will be useless for any other device, like a UMD version of blue ray or some other such crap
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by djake1234 April 7, 2009 1:24 PM PDT
Yeah, but can it cut and paste?
Reply to this comment
by django2k April 8, 2009 8:30 PM PDT
Yes it CAN cut and paste. It blends too!
by wiredchicken April 7, 2009 2:01 PM PDT
Why dont they just improve the psp they have right now? Theres already a microphone on the front of the psp, so all they need to do is create an adapter that could pick up a cellphone signal, and then you have a psp phone!!!!! It is just idiotic what they are doing!!!!
Reply to this comment
by viper396 April 9, 2009 9:49 AM PDT
...and you're being very short-sighted. If Sony had done what you suggest the first thing many people would be whining about is integrating the phone into the PSP. Having adapters, plugs, and cables dangling from their "phone" is not what everyone likes doing.
by Tarkona April 7, 2009 2:42 PM PDT
Some of you apparently don't have (or have ever even touched) a PSP. If you did/do, you'd know that PSP supports Skype, so you CAN use it as a cell phone. There is NO microphone built into it (at least that I can find) but there is a Skype headset you can get for a microphone. You can also get a small camera to take pictures (and assumeably video.) My main issue with the PSP design is that there isn't much to grip onto which leads to insane hand cramping after long gaming sessions. I wish they with focus more on something like sliding handgrips as opposed to a sliding screen for the next one.
Reply to this comment
by django2k April 8, 2009 8:33 PM PDT
Apparently you have not touched a PSP, my friend, at least not the most recent one which DOES have a mic integrated. The gripping is fair but the iphone/ itouch grip is far worse for what a gamer needs.
by Tarkona April 7, 2009 2:44 PM PDT
Yes, djake, it can cut & paste.
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