New Sony PSP (lite?)

[phoenixology]

Sony’s new “Smaller” PSP with Touch-Screen

Sony is set to rock the gaming world once again with a new play platform entry. The PSi (interactive) is just 4.5” wide and carries a 3” LCD with 16 million colors. Other familiar features include a tightly squeezed UMD and memory stick duo. Amazingly the PSi has the same pixel resolution as PSP, with 480 x 272, so gaming titles will not have to be reformatted.New Tech Spy has learned through well placed sources that Sony is apparently hedging its bets against the possible death of UMD and positioning itself against Nintendo’s DS lite, which sold an impressive 380,000 in Japan in March.
---The PSi is designed with a nearly unscratchable touch screen that will give users a virtual keyboard in which to enter internet addresses and other duties previously unavailable to PSP users. The rest of the body is constructed of matte finish plastic to eliminate the smudge-laden appearance of its glossy exteriored sibling. The " i" also gives the PSi the ability to work not just with WiFi networks but with WiBro, UMTS, EVDO, and future WiMax networks via switchable modules that correspond with each system and their sponsors... Which leads to some questions; wireless photo sharing?, peer-to-peer gaming? or possibly music, game and video downloads? One thing is for sure, without the support of UMD by the major movie studios, Sony may have to find another way to bring in profitable content.

http://www.newtechspy.com/SpecialArt/SonyPSI.jpg

[Rich]

So it plays PSP games? in which case theres not much point :P

[phil]

Hmm, I'll call hoax on that until I see a reputable source. "New Tech Spy" brings no reasonable sites in the first page, and the image perspective is dodgy. Also, I don't think even sony would so obviously copy the DS by including the touchscreen - it'd be like admitting they screwed up. If it is true, they are just going to split and confuse their consumers.

<edit> hmm, google does turn up new tech spy on another search, however, it looks like a page from 1992, so I'll ignore it </edit>

[phoenixology]

So it plays PSP games? in which case theres not much point :P

Yeah but what do you expect from Sony?

They bring out a smaller version of everything they make.

[phoenixology]

and the image perspective is dodgy.

How about this photo:

http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/psplite.jpg

:)

[Semajal]

If it is true then its such a blatent "we think nintendo had better ideas so we are copying them now" move.

[TelexStar]

Hmm, I'll call hoax on that until I see a reputable source. "New Tech Spy" brings no reasonable sites in the first page, and the image perspective is dodgy. Also, I don't think even sony would so obviously copy the DS by including the touchscreen - it'd be like admitting they screwed up. If it is true, they are just going to split and confuse their consumers.

I have to agree.

Looking at the design as well, it just doesn't look very "Sony" to me. For years they've gone with the same design for the D-pad and buttons and the ones in that photo look more like an Atari Lynx.

Even the PS3 hasn't deviated from classic look.

[Wolfus]

If it is true then its such a blatent "we think nintendo had better ideas so we are copying them now" move.

Didn't Sony change there control pad for the PS3 from having a rumble feature to detecting motion like the wii?

[phil]

Didn't Sony change there control pad for the PS3 from having a rumble feature to detecting motion like the wii?

Yes, but it wasn't an exchange, there is plenty of room in the controller for rumble, it's just that Sony is still faffing around legally with regards to the patent whereas microsoft paid a few quid and got it over with.