Logic 3 PSP keyboard unplugged

It's close to a year since we first heard about Logic 3's planned keyboard for the PSP. In that time, we naturally began to wonder if the product would ever see the light of day, and now we have an answer: Logic 3 announced today that the product was being canceled, blaming Sony for not providing information needed to produce it. Conspiracy theorists will no doubt have a field day with this one, and if Sony comes out with its own PSP keyboard in a few months, will certainly feel vindicated. In the meantime, if you were hoping for an easy way to enter text if you use your PSP for web surfing or other keyboard-heavy activities, your wait just got a lot longer.

[John M @ Feb 27th 2006 5:54PM]

I love how they make this out to be Sony's fault. The most likely situation is that the PSP has no sort of USB keyboard driver because they never intended there to be a keyboard attached to it. Without a driver and support in applications like the Web Browser to accept the input from it it can't work. And I really can't fault Sony for not spending the time/money and increasing the possiblity of bugs just because one company wanted to release a keyboard.

[Mike E @ Sep 28th 2007 7:11PM]

I cant fault Sony either. It's THEIR equipment and nobody should expect them to release their system code. But I do have to say that you are being small minded. PSP DOES have a USB port. That little port at the top is called Mini-USB. There are several different types of USB micro-usb, mini-usb, b-type usb, female a-type usb, and male a-type usb. That last one is what you are thinking of. As for the fact that they never intended to make a keyboard for it, it's possible but doubtful. The reason they put a mini-USB port on it is for possible future applications (like the sort that are starting to pop up now, ie. the camera and GPSP)

[chris @ Feb 27th 2006 5:55PM]

sony has always, and probably always will, suck when it comes to openness. My guess is that Logic3 didn't offer then enough money for royalties.

[Tonicboy @ Feb 27th 2006 6:03PM]

Good riddance. That thing looks like an ergonomic nightmare.

[Kamalot @ Feb 27th 2006 6:06PM]

This keyboard was the only thing keeping the PSP's extra functions such as a web browser and email, remotely useful. The PSP's on-screen keyboard is the worst implemention of an on-screen keyboard ever. It blends the disadvantages of a plus pad with the disadvantages of a phone, leveraging the strengths of neither.
The only hope is that Sony changes the on-screen keyboard to be like the one used in Beyond Good And Evil. That keyboard utilizes the analog joystick to allow you to 'dial' the letters you want. It is fast, easy and intuitive, leveraging the strengths of the circular movement produced by analog sticks.

[Ben @ Feb 27th 2006 6:13PM]

Yet another reason to ditch PSP for Nintendo DS.

[bigmiz @ Feb 27th 2006 6:14PM]

are you supposed to hold the keyboard and type while the weight of the psp creates a force couple system powerful enough to unscrew car bolts? kids will have popeye-type forearms with devices like this

[WeakGeek @ Feb 27th 2006 6:21PM]

PSP is lame. I'm waiting for the gamXploiter!

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/wwjd-3-results/

It's real, right?

[Piddy @ Feb 27th 2006 6:40PM]

Wouldn't it be feasable to add a touch screen overlay to the PSP? It could just "hang down" from the USB port and the drivers could be included in an updated firmware...but of course the Nintendo camp would have a field day with that announcement!

[Kim Laughton @ Feb 27th 2006 6:47PM]

Kamalot - agreed, the Beyond Good And Evil keyboard is just what the PSP needs.

[Uninvisible @ Feb 27th 2006 7:09PM]

It's funny because this is one of the reasons why I ditched my PSP. Sony just keeps insisting on using these insane proprietary formats like UMD and the various MemoryStick iterations, all of which are failing. We'll have to wait and see what happens with Blu-Ray. Remember, initially all the major Hollywood Studios jumped at the idea of putting films on UMDs - and now most of them are backing out - I wonder if this will happen again with Blu-Ray.

Anyway, this isn't about Blu-Ray, it's about the PSP. So, what the hell is with the text input anyway? It's awful! I like some of the previous descriptions listed here. Taking the awful format that exists now and upgrading it to T9, where you can "dial" from the center 5 key [displayed on the screen digitally] up, down, left, and right, and diagonally, to the various number/letter keys with T9 would be a step up. And a step up from THAT would be what you guys have said, with a 26 letter dial, plus numbers, symbols, etc that can be dialed with the analog stick - although I think this would be a bit more difficult than the T9 idea because the analog stick is so terribly built as it is, trying to pick from 50+ characters with it in a circle might be a real pain. Selecting from a center button, or 8 others around it might be easier.

Oh, and not to mention the fact that that keyboard mock-up is definately an "ergonomic nightmare" as stated earlier. It looks pretty thin, how the heck are you supposed to hold it?

[electrolemon @ Feb 27th 2006 7:15PM]

one thing to say.
aw, fuck.
at first the PSP was slightly ahead of the DS, and then i heard about the keyboard, but now that its scrapped, whats the point? Lets all go buy a DS Lite when they come out and have a kick ass time with WiFi Mario Kart.

[electrolemon @ Feb 27th 2006 7:16PM]

OH SHIZ.

[Emily @ Feb 27th 2006 7:53PM]

Got your own little PDA in there right? :)

As a console player, I could see myself using that for quake now :)

[JamesBrown @ Feb 27th 2006 8:39PM]

hahaha that doesn't reflect too well on cybernetnews.com... it might be cool but that comment was retarded.

[MegaMike @ Feb 27th 2006 9:33PM]

You know,
I used to be a huge Sony fan boy, but as soon as things started getting weird with the PSP I've been thinking diffrently. I like homebrew, and the way I see it this is just another attempt by Sony to hold back the homebrew community, I do honestly think they will regret this in the end. There are 1000's of dedicated people working hard day and night to stay one step ahead of Sony BS, and this is was only the first commercial keyboard for PSP, people in the homebrew community have been rigging Keyboards since the first couple of months. In the end, Sony is only driving consumers away.

[bliss @ Feb 27th 2006 9:37PM]

oh please have a cool keyboard...not to mention a functional one...

[Kamalot @ Feb 27th 2006 10:15PM]

How the HELL are you supposed to type on a piece of plexiglass that is taped to the TOP of the PSP?

I thought the one in the picture looked unusable, but this one posted by Hustle is downright retarted.

How much you wanna bet Sony designed the GLASS keyboared Hustle mentioned.

[Rex @ Feb 27th 2006 10:37PM]

If Sony were smart they would take this idea and make it more appealing to the eye and more functional. Most likely if they do and already HAD the keyboard in mind before Logic 3 had introduced theirs then it really would be more form fitting to the PSP.

I kinda see Sony's keyboard (if they do ever make it) to have the same size as the PSP in terms of length and height and shape, but not thickness. It would most likely be connected as the Logic3 pic shows. It would be snapped into place at the bottom of the PSP where the two oblong holes are at and there would be a void so that you can still insert the UMDs.It would even be used as another form of protection for the PSP, like a case to protect the front (Like the aftermarket ones that are on sell). So it would be very cool to see a keyboard like I mentioned :) But if this idea was already said before then sorry, because this just came out from the top of my head. But overall it's logical to make it like this anyway.

[Modderbox @ Feb 27th 2006 10:41PM]

At least the DS Lite has a touch pad that doubles as a keyboard when nessicary. An also, when the DS reaches its full potential with its web browser, media players, I have a feeling that psp users will make the leap.

[soopergooman @ Feb 27th 2006 11:04PM]

if some haxor out there managed to make apsp gps unit from the headset remote and write his own code to run it. Its pretty impresive. Maybe someone else out there (or him for that fact)will be inspired to hack their way making a usb interface.
Nothing is impossible, just some things are improbable.

[first time poster @ Feb 27th 2006 11:32PM]

to#22 Rex
great idea but we also need a mouse, an integerated one in the keyboard would be nice

[Rex @ Feb 28th 2006 12:03AM]

#24

Maybe one of those red mouse buttons that was used on older laptops would work.

[Blair @ Feb 28th 2006 12:22AM]

Stupid Sony...one of the best attachments to the PSP and they have to screw it over!

[Woolly Mittens @ Feb 28th 2006 12:54AM]

So I bought a portable, which more than a year after it's release has only a handfull of games and no peripherals. And now the only thing I was waiting for is cancelled.

I should have known better. I have more fun games on my Atari Lynx then I have on Sony's failing attempt at portable gaming.

[Rex @ Feb 28th 2006 1:33AM]

I hoping for them to release a camera periphial that can be placed on the top. instead of the psp2 (?) which seems to fast to be released so early.

[Dr Doom @ Feb 28th 2006 4:27AM]

In the summer I did at stint at UK gadget magazine T3 and we ran a story about cool PSP accessories. I rang Logic 3 about this then and they told me it was a mock up only and that they weren't planning on producing one. This is old news.

[B1gC72 @ Feb 28th 2006 8:06AM]

this is just wat the PSP needed and Sony has to throw a moneywrench in it. i mean my PSP has been reduced 2 basically a straight up MP3 player wit a few episodes of The Boondocks (love that show lol). i mean dammit Sony needs to just pick a direction they want 2 go with this thing. i mean they made it clear b4 that they werent worried about games and were gonna push the multimedia features...fine, do wat u gotta do. but then when they get a chance to help push those multimedia features, they turn it 2 shit. Sony should really stop half-assing everything. its obvious that it wont b both so push one or the other. the thing wont hold up 2 much longer with no support.

o and i like Piddy's comment about the overlay touch screen. thats a real great idea to push those multimedia featurs that Sony SHOULD but will, more-than-likely, never look into. i say us engadget reader go and take over sony cause im convinced anybody with half a brain off the street could run the company better than them.....and im a Sony Fanboy 4 cryin out loud and they're really startin 2 piss me off!

[Nihls @ Feb 28th 2006 8:25AM]

Typical sony B.S. Have I mentioned that sony has taken over the title "The Devil" from microsoft.

Dear sony,
I will no longer be a slave to your incompatible under achieving products. I have removed you from my life and much like a breakup with an ex girlfriend, it is hard, but in the end I am better off.

Thank you,
Nihls

P.S.
Your a bitch just like she was.

[Paul @ Feb 28th 2006 9:19AM]

Ryan from CyberNet News has got to be the most retarded link spammer I have ever seen. (post #15)

[Chaorcool @ Feb 28th 2006 8:29PM]

Opinion #1)

Damn, I first saw the PSP keyboard 2 weeks ago (I know shut up), and was practically freaking out with glee, and now 'knock on wood', they messed it up. I've been an Xbox/360 fan since they came out, and my PSP was my first sony purchase (for gaming at least), and sony had to mess up the one thing that could really make it bad ass. DAMN!

Opinion #2)

Ecerybody is bitching about how bad SONY screwed up on the keyboard (which really is pretty cool), but the PSP can wirelessly surf the internet(faster than the computer I'm posting with I might add), play UMDs, play games (with the best handheld graphics I'VE ever seen), is an MP3 player that with the right mem. stick can hold more than a iPod mini,can store digital pictures, and acts as an external E: drive. I think I'll manage without a stupid keyboard.

[khai nguyen @ Oct 4th 2006 12:18AM]

i am a college student and own a psp....if it do get release, i will be first in line to get one...and hopefully they release a typing software like MicroSoft Word...MAN the psp just gets beter and better..i love it

[ng2007 @ Jul 4th 2007 11:42AM]

This thread says just about everything I wanted to say.

I love my Sony PSP. Keeps me entertained at the house AND on the road. Battery life is really very good compared to other devices of the same kind. The screen is amazing for games and movies, the controller is great, the multimedia features are super-uber, built-in WiFi, it all adds up to one great piece of hardware.

But I swear on everything holy it really seems like Sony is royally screwing up by not releasing some much needed accessories and updates. I go to the mall/store at least once a week to check for new accessories, games, movies, etc. for my PSP. And I rarely ever see anything new or worth buying. There are a few games I still want to pick up, but I am rapidly losing interest in my PSP simply because Sony seems to have abandoned it for... ??? ... for I don't know what...

Major upgrades that are needed for the PSP are:

1. External Keyboard (portable would be nice, stationary would be ok)
2. UMD Writer (it is ridiculous that there are no UMD writers on the market, would be so much more useful to be able to record your pictures, movies, music, etc)
3. Ability to multi-task functions... i.e. play music and look at photos.
4. Expanded O/S and/or Software Updates/Add-ons. (being able to add alarm clock, calculator, etc. Maybe something dashboard-like gadgets. Some lightweight business software like wordpad and email.)
5. Bigger and Cheaper DUO cards... I'm talking 80+ gigs so to be on par with iPOD. I would gladly pay $150 for a 80 Gig DUO Card, but I think they should really just give them away practically... talk about taking the wind out of Apple's sails.
6. Ability to plug into a TV or PC Monitor to play on a bigger screen.
7. A MUCH BETTER ONLINE STORE COMPARABLE TO ITUNES TO BUY MOVIES, MUSIC AND GAMES AND GAME UPDATES/BONUS OR ADDON-CONTENT.

Future PSP production might include:

1. Firewire support instead of USB or expanded USB support.
2. Built in Bluetooth
3. Much more robust O/S
4. Built in Phone
5. Built in Camera

For all the above features I would GLADLY PAY the iPHONE price and go with Sony. And that's without the slick touch screen, although I wouldnt mind having that in PSP 2.0 either.

Sadly I think Sony will pour their resources into PS3, which I've been hearing is a colossol flop. I had my choice between PS3 and XBOX360, I went with the 360 because it was cheaper and just as good from all the reviews I read. Not only that but it has a ton of fun games already, an existing decent online service and I can easily link it with my Media Center PC. - I went with PSP over Nintendo because Nintendo is slightly to kidish for me and didnt have enough of the multimedia "coolness" that PSP seemed to have. But Sony will lose my business soon if it doesnt hurry up and get it's act together.

[Davsot @ Jan 3rd 2008 3:15PM]

hi