How would you change the Sony PlayStation Portable?

So the idea behind this "How would you change…" series is pretty self-explanatory — we want to imaginate beyond the current capabilities of our favorite gadgets and describe what else they could and should do. Each week we'll pick a different device, start off with a few of our own wishlist functions and open up the floor to everyone to comment on what they'd like to see added to (or even removed from!) their gear. This week, as we're sure comes as no surprise, we'll start with the Sony PSP. Here are a few of our desires:

• File transfer via WiFi

• Audio recording/line-in

• Connect to an iPod (via iPod Camera Connector?) for use as external photo/audio/video storage

• Web browse and read RSS natively, without hacks!

• Run third-party apps

• Open API for developers

How would you change the PSP?

[Nrage @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Video Out Capabilities.....It would be alot easier to buy the umd movies if we could hook it up to a tv and have it play thru that.

Cmon engadget use your super powers and get this done for us. lol

[Doubtful @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

5 GB Microdrive!

[darx @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

sony to use sd, paying double for the same amout of space isnt exactly what I wanted.

[Blare Witch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I would make it glow in the dark and edible.

[phantomprophet @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

HDD, that's all, just a hard drive, a big one, those mem sticks are way too much $$$, an HDD would fix that.

[jamin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I would try to do a few things. First I know its a lot to ask for but perhaps they could have fit two really thin vibration motors into the sexy little sucker that would be too kool for schoool. And secondly give us some better on board speakers, the speakers really suck. And getting you psp to play videos is a joke. I mean come on you have to make two seperate folders with names that dont make any sense at all. Why couldnt the folders be named something like psp videos instead of MP_ROOT whats the deal with that nonsense.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Add a 2nd screen and make it touch sensitive, now that would be really cool ;-)

[Pony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Replace the UMD with a bigger battery and sell the games on ROM chips.

Make the unit 1/2 of one 'square' button wider.

2 analog sticks like those found on the Zodiac instead of a slippy black nipple in a hard-to-reach place.

Built-in email reader and web browser

No shiny slick fingerprint magnet surface

touch-screen

man, I could do this all day.

[shinyhat @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Lose the volume buttons and give us a slider or wheel.

Touchscreen for web browsing.

Kill the memory stick and give us SD card memory (or a HD option).

Yes, and echo the video out statement above.

Full quality video playback from memory card.

Decent iPod-esque music interface.

[Arvind @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Its probably too late for this already but I wish Sony had made the UMD drive compatible with Minidiscs - so I could use it to play back my minidiscs and also use the 1GB Hi-MD discs to view my photos and videos!
Sony's gain would be that they would see increased adoption of Hi-MD recorders with the PSP acting as a play-only device!! Duh!!

[D'Toy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Better external speakers because these SUCK.
Let me change the desktop color. PINK! C'mon.
Make it so I can listen to my music while browsing my images.I am pretty sure the PSP can handle that.
How about make it Compact Flash compatible... Oh wait. This is Sony after all (a**holes)
More after work
PS This thing is the cooles piece of [consumer] tech anywhere right now.

[Pony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Shoutcast streaming

Built-in cover to prevent scratching

NO DEAD PIXELS!!!!!

No load times

Microphone for VOIP chatting in online games

friends online service like Live

Man, the list goes on and on. Some is practical, some is wishful thinking and some is downright dumb design decisions on Sony's part.

[DanC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Larger grips would be nice. Right now the bottom part of the PSP cuts into my hand if I have been playing it for a while.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I would definitely add a micro-drive to it. I would also add built-in screen and button protection, password protect or hide content on the memory card, change the format from UMD to 3"dvd to make media more compatible with other devices (think, you could record a home movie on your Sony HandyCam that records to 3" DVD, then play it in the PSP). I would also like to see a mod where you can plug the PSP into a projector. It would also be cool to have an LED projector built in, much like this one:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/8165263416327141/

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

If it could use SD cards and if the screen wasn't such a grease magnet, I would have already bought one.

[Jamaicanbwoydre @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

A hard drive would be nice. But i was hearing talks about a new model being introduced at E3 in May, that would add a second screen and the use of a stylus. OMG that wood be teh awe$0me!!!!!!!

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Remove all non-gaming features - they're all half-assed as it is, barely work, require extra cash outlays (for memory cards, etc.), third party software apps, hacks, and just general kludges. Dump 'em. This is not a PDA or a pocket computer. It should be a gaming system and that's it. (If you want to make it something else, then design it properly - the PSP just is not designed to be used in the way Sony apparently wants people to use it. So, better to just drop these "features".)

Reduce the price by $150.

Fix the screen problems.

Bam - you've got my sale and have now opened the PSP up to the mass market.

[Roger @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I love that little analog joystick under the d-pad. It would have been great for them to have included a second one under the X, O, square and triangle buttons. Then we could have better control for FPS and other first person games.

[fuzzer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I would turn the entire unit 90 degrees. Then I would move the screen to the top and make the controller more ps2esque and on the bottom of the unit. Then I would put a laptop-like hinge on the screen allowing you to close the unit in on itself.

[] - screen
{} - controller

...yeah, that's what I'd do.

[A. Nonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

A much better analogue stick.

Two of them.

[Synthaxx R-or @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Video and audio streaming would be nice.

And i agree on the Open API, i'd love to write some apps for this thing.
The third party support wouldn't be needed since it can allready run things off the memory card (like the firmware update).

[sosuke @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

simple enough, it doesnt even require a single change to the unit, built UMD recorders at a relativaly affordable price, you will see the PSP become the most popular device in the market, oh yeah re-writable media would be nice if it costs a lot

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

One other thing, maybe relocation of the analog stick to the middle of the d-pad, that way at least it feel natural. It would also be nice to have dual analog sticks for camera control. I would also love to see Ratchet and Clank for this platform!!

[thugbug12 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

OMG this thread is bound to attract all of the DS and Nintendo fanboys.

[nordberg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

- video out!
- microdrive!
- web browser!
- a kickstand (set on desk, watch movie)
- microphone/audio in.
- ability to play mp3s and games at the same time...

[TheLastTrain @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

How about getting rid of the proprietary disk format for starters? Sony can very well take advantage of existing MD technology and expand it's capacity, speed, and versatility. Just think if we can watch an episode of your favorite TV show and listen to your tunes PLUS show off your latest photos AND play games! proprietary storage format basically sucks no matter how you look at it

[Rob Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

No dead pixels on any screen. But it doesn't matter since I've sent my PSP to Laredo, Texas. Yee-haw.

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

1. Dramatically improve the music player. Need For Speed Underground Rivals has a better music playing "experience" than the PSP does. Entirely separate from the process of getting music onto a MStick, make it fun to play the music once it is on the PSP. I'm thinking visualizations, equalizer, better song management, etc.

2. Wi-fi based video streaming. Why not use the infrastructure mode on the PSP to stream video content to the PSP? Start with TV. Move on to paid content.

3. Incorporate a microphone for team-play games. Imagine Halo on the PSP. . .

4. Basic widgets via WiFi. I don't need a browser, Sony, I just need a few useful tools. Phonebooks, weather, movie times, etc. A "what's new" page.

5. Video-out capability. If I'm going to pay for the UMD movie, I want to be able to play it on my TV at home.

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'm sure Sony will make UMD recoders this summer available at the unbelievably low price of $349.99. No MAC compatibility either - not that I give a shit.

[rest05 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

they should have drivers for USB drives to store more than 1GB, hack the umd's to have iso's just to download from a site or maybe even iso games to load on your pro duo!!!I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY MY OLD EMULATORS ON PSP!!

[worstmailever @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

1) Divx Support. We have 20GB of divx files on our comps. Now they want us to duplicate them to have another 20GB "for PSP use only"?

2) SD Support. Most laptops now have one slot for SD and MS. Why not allow us some time to save up for your precious $170 1GB MSDuo by allowing us to use our $65 1GB SD for a while?

3) Internet. If something can connect to your router then at the least it should let you check your email.

4) UMD-R. Its not the UMD everyones upset at. Its the fact that we cant make our own UMD's of the movies we already own.

5)Hell. Lets get the minor stuff out in one breath. Reasonably priced games. Internal mic. Skype. Dual Analog. Parappa. Wireless File Transfer. Optional 2nd batter on the other grip.

[Barbarism @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Harddrive, Harddrive, Harddrive! A 40-60gb drive, and the ability to sync with a/v files via wi-fi. It would be _the_ killer device.

[Eric Pobirs @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

folks, the PSP already runs third party content. What do you think Electronic Arts is, if not a third party publisher?

What you're really saying is you want the ability to run UNLICENSED third party software that destroys the console business model. If that is what you really want you'd better beprepared to pay a LOT more for the hardware so that it is a profit center in of itself rather than a subsidized platform to generate revenue from software.

If you examine the process for installing firmware updates you'll see that Sony has done everything they can to make that secure against running code from Memory Stick. Keep in mind that the firmware file on the stick isn't running until it is installed. On the stick it is treated as just another data file. If you cannot get the firmware to treat your file as code or find some means like a buffer overrun to break past that stricture, you're out of luck.

Jeff, all the stuff in the PSP for supporting non-game apps has extremely little effect on the price. The hardware would be no different. It's just addition software functions in the firmware. The amount of flash ROM it occupies is measure in nickels and dimes in the bill of materials. It doesn't cost you anything to ignore it. And if you want a $100 PSP, no problem. you just need to make an obligation to Sony to purchase no fewer than 16 games within a two year period fromt he time of the hardware purchase.

Jamin, you really, really don't want vibration motors in the same unit as the drive and screen. Not unless you value vibration effects more than the longevity of the unit.

[Nareau @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

1) Have it come with a game
2) Support USB child devices (IE, my USB HD)
3) Mount network volumes over wi-fi, stream audio/video
4) Support DivX
5) Come with a NES or SNES emulator
6) Play Playstation games
7) Come with some kind of clamshell screen protector

Of course, if it had all these features, we'd end up with this:
http://www.the5thcircle.com/images/computer.jpg

[me @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

touch screen!

[Doubtful @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Oh, dude, it totally needs a Dance Dance Revolution dance pad add on!

Oh, and a light gun!

And a steering wheel!

OMG I'm going to explode!

[isaac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

SD, compatible with sd wifi cards, no memory stick, load games of of solid state roms, screw discs, and put in a microdrive and a larger battery, USB chargable, compatible with MP3, OGG, AAC, M4A, and wma, PDA function.

With a couple gigs of storge on a micro drive, and a screen large enough to make movie and web browsing semi palatable, that would be an ipod killer.

10 bucks battery life would suck ass though.

[Raptor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

WPA support so I can use it on my (secured) home network, Hi-MD (or some even more significant upgrade to MD) instead of UMD, an SD MS Duo adapter so I can use my SD cards from my camera and Treo, web browser/email client in firmware, and some subtle positioning changes on the buttons/analog nub. A touchscreen would be nice, but I can't imagine it being that significant of a breakthrough.

Don't make it a DS, don't make it a full blown convergence device, just make it not suck at what it's expected to do, and the move the MiniDisc would just be to push another Sony format which people might actually care about. I know I wouldn't mind loading up movies on a Hi-MD and carrying them with me.

[Permanent4 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Video output capabilities. This may end up being the biggest missing feature from this device, because at some point this year there WILL be a PSP Linux distro and a USB keyboard, and you'll be able to use a PSP with Linux for email, web browsing, RSS feed reading, podcast downloading, word processing, spreadsheets, etc. -- all tasks that would make the PSP twice as useful if you could plug it into a much bigger TV or monitor. And, of course, watching video on a larger screen would be nice, too.

Recordable UMD discs would be great as well, but we'll see an EVDO-capable Treo before that happens. And I'm not getting my hopes up for that Treo...

[Pony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

It really does need a touch screen. Just so you know, I'm saying this not as a DS fanboy but as someone who thinks the screen could add a lot to the PSP and would be cheap to implement.

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Someone please make a device to connect it to an ipod so we can use the ipod as a hard drive for movies. This wouldnt make it a better product, but would be a nice third party device for those of us who want to use the 15 gigs of wasted space on our ipods, and would be real nice to get to watch some movies on our psps since i will not be buying any UMD movies.

[Chris Weber @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I love the device but im perplexed at how a 1st person shooter will fare on this system. Without a right analog stick you are stuck with a permanent metroid prime shooting engine. Which is great and all, but I really like having two analog controls. Wouldn't the Pope want it this way?

[kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

1. come with 40gb HDD
2. support all codec (rmvb etc,)
3. 40HR battery life
4. reWriteable UMD disk

[Sam Ahuja @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

So far all i have read is people wanting too change their PSPs into another DS. I just got my PSP and i agree it needs to incorporate some sort of protective casing, web browser, anti-smudge screen (if possible) or atleast include a good screen protector. and i would abandon the idea of the memory duo and opt for a 4 gig microdrive. this would give more flexibility for game saves or whatever media one may have to store. I know its a pain to carry around a PSP and an ipod (i do it)and its not possible to put a 30-40 gig hd yet. but one day... i must say i love my psp, and for all the things they did wrong, they did twice as much correct compared to the DS. and all the small software bugs will be fixed by fellow gamers and their patches which should be online shortly... till then i will get back to my Lumines game.

[Curious @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I am curious what changes people would make to the DS. So far, the only thing I have heard bad about the DS is the lack of games, which will be fixed with time.

Lack of games will improve.

Shitty hardware is forever.

[All Music Site @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Make it $149 incl a game.

[saleh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Like all Sony products, the PSP is too proprietary. Opening it up a bit would make it much more useful.

Use DVD, not UMD: if it must have an optical drive, use 80mm DVD (or even 80mm DVD in a caddy, similar to UMD). 1.4GB of MP3s on an 8cm disk would be mighty nice. Also, taking a recorded DVD straight from a Sony Handycam for playback would show off convergence, and likely sell more Handycams.

Use SD, or at least a memory stick + SD slot. Sony gave up Betamax to make VHS decks, they should do the same with memory stick. The battle's over, memory stick lost.

Besides the closed platform, output is another issue.

Sound quality: Either sell it as a gaming-only device, or spend $5 more and put a decent DAC in it.

Video: Composite and S-video out.

[Gordon Kane @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Maybe it is my big hands, but I feel the back flex when I'm play (specifically the battery door and the UMD door).
It'd be nice to have a full-size PS Controller on a curved / rigid tether that allowed me to play the PSP using the controller buttons - but with the screen floating 2 or 3 inches above my hands.

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

In response to the original blog entry, the PSP already connects to external DAP devices, take a look at the MisticRiver forums. So it's not the PSP that needs changing but the iPod. Or you could just get a DAP that supports USBOTG in the first place....

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Hate to say it but Apple tricked me into ripping all my CD's into AAC's so I'd love to have my PSP play AAC as well as MP3. I personally ensured that my employer put AAC support (for .m4a files) onto our cellphone in addition to MP3 and I wish Sony had taken the plunge too. It only adds about a dollar to pay for the license (if it's not already covered in their MPEG4 license) but it'd made my life a lot easier. Heck Sony - I'll even pay you the dollar! Firmware upgrade it pleeeease!
Oh and don't forget to add support for Memory Stick Pro Duo Micro (sames as microSD but slightly longer and thinner and costs a bit more). Haha.