Sony to port LocationFree TV to PSP, laptops

Sony may have found the killer app to get non-gamers to fork over their cash for the upcoming PlayStation Portable: the unit will also serve as a broadband-enabled TV, allowing users to pick up hometown TV from anywhere in the world via a wired or WiFi connection. The technology, which will also be made available on Sony's laptops, is apparently based on the company's LocationFree TV system. While we've heard that LFTV is almost unusable in its current form, we imagine that Sony will try to get it working by the time they roll out the PSP in the U.S. this March (or April or May, since Sony is still playing coy about an official release date).

[Via Joystiq]

[Carl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

How is it news that Sony plans to implement a yet-to-work technology in the PSP? You guys sure show your bias when you report on Sony's "plans" for something. They also planned to have the battery life last 8-10 hours. Now look what the reality is. Killer app, my ass. You guys really need to water down your fanboyism a little if you expect people to respect this site.

[M3wThr33 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Wait. So this is a good idea? You'll constantly be streaming video and playing it back. HQ Audio + Video + WiFi running = PSP time under 3 hours.
So it'll be usefull for potty breaks and following a game around the house, but I can't find myself using it too much in my apartment. But typing this out made it sound fun. Too bad all that use will end up roughing up the unit.

[Christopher MacManus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Oh yes Carl, and let me guess, let's talk about iPod some more? So what? Sony is doing something good with the PSP. Your words are nothing but detrimental to the discussion and are so biased that they do not contribute whatsoever to anything positive on this site. Why don't you bow out so we can respect the site instead of reading your inane blathering?

Thanks.

[Carl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Christopher, I don't own an ipod nor do I care do. IMO style is about the only thing that is superior about that device these days. As for the TV on the PSP, you can defend it all day long. But the technology just plain doesn't work. Yet. So it's not news that Sony plans to try fixing it. I'm sure they have all kinds of plans that aren't worth reporting on until they are actually working. Or at least prototypes. Classy touch there, by the way, to say that no criticism of this site's reporting is welcome here. Are we all to be Sony fanboys like the engadget staff?

The PSP is a beautful machine, I'll admit. But it's not something I'd buy because it's not a serious portable machine. The battery life and load times on the good games will kill this device.

[[sinz] @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

So this means I'd need one of those retardedly expensive base stations to get location free tv, correct? funk dat, I'll use a tv tuner in my pc to pipe video to my laptop via wifi. You get a few malls to install location free tv base stations so I can wander around with a PSP and watch tv while the woman shops and I'll be excited, until then this seems like just another one of those overhyped features that's not going to be any big part of the product in reality.

[Mark Wiser @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I love how the article describes it as "Almost Unusable" but calls it the killer app and throws faith behind Sony that it may work when released.

Hopefully, it will be better than the craptacular MP3 feature-set or the assrific battery life.

Looks like Engadget has Sony's hype-hook in their cheek. Reel 'em in!

[Mark Wiser @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I love how the article describes it as "Almost Unusable" but calls it the killer app and throws faith behind Sony that it may work when released.

Hopefully, it will be better than the craptacular MP3 feature-set or the assrific battery life.

Looks like Engadget has Sony's hype-hook in their cheek. Reel 'em in!

[Simon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I own a PSP and I can't see the point of watching TV on it. Thats why you've got that big TV sat in your living room ain't it?

As far as I can tell the only reason they threw in the LocationFree is to entice the less informed to upgrade to the latest firmware.

[william @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

a psp is a greatly exellant macine it has internet and tv great games and its so good I WOULD JUST ABOUT GO TO JAIL FOR IT AND I THINK SONY IS THE NOMBER 1COMPANY IN THE WORLD. and just so you know im using my SONY PSP to type this