Sony PSP to add Skype [Archive] - maemo.org

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DJames1

01-04-2008, 10:55 AM

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/04/sony_confirms_skype_for_psp/

Hmmm, Sony is obviously learning some lessons from Nokia. With the same form factor, 4.3 inch screen, built-in WiFi, internet browser, and now Skype - it looks like the PSP is becoming an alternative as an internet tablet. I guess the big difference is that Sony is dedicated to proprietary and extra-cost, while Nokia decided to go Linux/open-source/free.

Laughing Man

01-04-2008, 11:26 AM

Depends on what you define an internet tablet is. Running an internet browser and skype? My sister has a PSP (the new redesigned model) and I was going get one originally (though it doesn't have enough games that I'm interested in). I was originally going put the hacked firmware on there to run homebrew programs but the updates that the UMD games had kept ruining that idea and it became to much of a hassle.

It's nice though, but I think they're going have to sell or have consumers buy a mic, cause I don't remember seeing one on there.

munky261

01-04-2008, 11:33 AM

there is a headset made for it , i tore one apart and soldered the plug and wire from the nokia headset to it

zerojay

01-04-2008, 11:51 AM

Yes, we've known about Skype coming to the PSP since February 2007 when we discovered a reference to a skype_plugin.rco in the PSP firmware. Nothing new. It's just officially being announced.

It's not a replacement for the tablet, that's for sure.

There is no mic on the PSP, not even on the PSP camera, so it will probably be coming with a headset.

Other functions that exist in the PSP firmware that are currently unused: G-Sensor (Sony Vaio hard drive protection), ATA hard drive functions and Bluetooth functionality.

barry99705

01-04-2008, 11:57 AM

Watch, it will work with the psp camera....

brendan

01-04-2008, 11:59 AM

one of the main detractors of the PSP is also the resolution of the screen. i think its 600x320. not quite as sharp as the ITs.

also the older models only have 802.11b, and now i think they newer ones have g.

i had a PSP, and it certainly was not a handheld computer-type that the nokias are. surfing the web is just more intuitive on the nokia than the PSP.

Laughing Man

01-04-2008, 12:11 PM

The PSP is a game machine first, and an internet tablet third. What's second? Multimedia (videos, and music). It does a fine job at that (but yeah the resolution isn't that great)

zerojay

01-04-2008, 12:17 PM

The resolution of the PSP is 480x272.

xxM5xx

01-04-2008, 05:07 PM

My son has a PSP. Anyone want to comment on the difference between the N800 keyboard / touchscreen, and the PSP keyboard? Putting alphanumeric data into the PSP looks painful.

InfinityDevil

01-04-2008, 05:15 PM

The PSP's text entry is annoying. Skype's big use on the PSP (and hopefully PS3 as well) will be voice calls.

Those extra firmware features for bluetooth, gshock, and ATA drive control are interesting. Makes me think a PSP-3000 or similar model may have one or more of those features. Do you have a link to where you saw those mentioned?

xxM5xx

01-04-2008, 05:28 PM

The PSP's text entry is annoying. Skype's big use on the PSP (and hopefully PS3 as well) will be voice calls.

Precisely. You still have to use that method to enter a telephone number. Also, unknown if PSP's Skype client will have CHAT but I cannot see this being viable with the current PSP method for texting. The PSP with Skype will be nice but it is no Internet Tablet like the N8xx.....and that proprietary memory stick, YUCK.

sirhunter2010

01-04-2008, 05:56 PM

There is no mic on the PSP, not even on the PSP camera, so it will probably be coming with a headset.

No built in Mic in the PSP unit itself, however, with the Sony PSP 270 Headset, a small flexible boom mic is built in so that voice communication is deployed and funtional. I use it currently on both my PSP units (original and the redesigned edition) for multiplayer chat and it works just fine. (PSP Titles such as SOCOM and Syphon Filter support in-game voice chat).

I'm a member of the Sony Gaming Advisory Panel and I can tell you that Skype functionality has been in the wings for quite sometime. Not to mention the GPS addon functionality that was just recently unveiled; Go!Explore GPS System for PSP. It just keeps getting better.

Now if they could only get rid of that bloody UMD drive I'd be very happy. With the low cost of memory, there just simply is no excuse for running a UMD drive in a portable gaming unit. I've over 70 UMD based games for my PSP consoles and I've not had issues with scratched or damaged UMD titles; YET, but alas, it's only a matter of time before I'm replacing one of my favorite games due to the fragile nature of the media. As for drive access time on the UMD, it's bloody horrid, however, the new PSP2001 unit does greatly improve that condition by providing caching for the UMD. Amen.

My kids have a DS, the adults are running a PSP and Nokia N800/N810.

Crouching Hamster

sirhunter2010

01-04-2008, 06:10 PM

Just as a side note for those of you that convert you DVD's to PSP format. I've had absolutely NO playback issues after converting my PSP AVC movies to N800 MPEG4 format using the Nokia v.22 Internet Tablet Video Converter.

All videos are absolutely silky smooth in terms of playback (The highest resolution conversion setting enabled in NITVC) and I suffer from zero audio offset issues. I've converted 62 of my PSP movie titles to N800 MPEG format and I've not seen one issue yet. Mind you - on the OS 2007, video playback was a bloody nightmare, but with OS 2008, I'm quite happy just using the native media player or mplayer to view my videos (mind you, mplayer does not provide me with any performance increase over the native media player, but it does allow me to play a variety of formats not supported by the native media player).

Playback seems just a smooth on my N800 now as it is on my PSP.

Crouching Hamster

Laughing Man

01-04-2008, 09:34 PM

linux_author

01-05-2008, 09:55 AM

There is no mic on the PSP, not even on the PSP camera, so it will probably be coming with a headset.

- incorrect... there is a mic on the side of the chotto shot... (bought a Japanese version)... works nicely...

(camera is same res as the n800's, but pictures and vid are better on the PSP in the PSP max-res setting)

sirhunter2010

01-06-2008, 04:35 PM

Selling a game on the UMD ensures that it's harder to put on the internet, pirate, and play (well it didn't really stop anyone anyway). Plus it's a Sony format I think. So they get profits when people have to sell things on UMDs.

I agree, it's the old Sony Beta vs VHS and the new HD vs Blueray argument. Look at the proprietary nature of the Sony Memory Stick. Sony just likes to walk it's own walk and flaunt accepted industry standards which is why I have a 11 in 1 card reader at the ready. It's a pain but wants a geek/early adopter to do?

Crouching Hamster

zerojay

01-06-2008, 06:51 PM

- incorrect... there is a mic on the side of the chotto shot... (bought a Japanese version)... works nicely...

(camera is same res as the n800's, but pictures and vid are better on the PSP in the PSP max-res setting)

Yes, you're right, actually. But there's no mic built-in on the PSP.

barry99705

01-06-2008, 08:12 PM

Looks like it's only going to be for the new psp slim. So much for having a reason to upgrade my dust collecting psp.

DJames1

01-07-2008, 10:41 AM

And yet more focus on portable web browsers from Sony:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/07/ces_sony_revamps_mylo/

This time it's the Mylo getting an upgrade. Now supports 802.11g, flash, Google widgets, and more online chat services, as well as Skype. Has a slide-out keyboard like the N810, but only a 3.5 in screen.

zerojay

01-07-2008, 10:49 AM

Looks like it's only going to be for the new psp slim. So much for having a reason to upgrade my dust collecting psp.

Noobz also released the first version of their open-source PSP VOIP program.

zerojay

01-07-2008, 10:51 AM