Sony's new PSP gets a proper shakedown for new features
By Paul Miller 
posted July 16th 2007 9:25AM
posted July 16th 2007 9:25AM
- The new PSP features is based on a TA-085 PCB, which doesn't mean a lot to us, but gets those homebrew folks looking in the right direction.
- RAM has been doubled from 32MB to 64MB.
- You can charge the PSP over USB.
- There's a 1200mAh battery, rated at 3-6 hours, compared to the original PSP's 1800mAh battery with the same rating.
- You can't use an original PSP remote with the new PSP.
- The component AV cable is sold separately. Don't look so shocked (link)
- There's a WLAN switch on top.
I'll say hooray for the USB charging :) I'm still not sure if I should replace the old one when it comes out though....
SONY wasted alot of opportunities here.
They could have added a keyboard attachment. No Web Browser should be without a keyboard.
They coulda moved the analoge nub or even better, added a second nub.
Other than that, the PSP is pretty decently designed. They just need more original games.
I totally agree on the second nub issue. They seriously could have opened themselves up for SO many GOOD ports with that.
This could have opened up seriously awesome possibilities when combined with the AV feed. They could use that USB port to hook up a USB-PS2 adaptor like this one
http://www.hartsunlimited.com/supdualboxwi.html
that would let you plug in actual controllers for multiplayer game versions.
So they could basically bill this thing as the ultimate portable PS2. Developers could just do straight ports of nearly everything. All they'd have to do is add the option of portable mode for the button layout, which would allow you to make up for the fact that you're missing two shoulder buttons and don't have the buttons on the joysticks, since they're only nubs.
Portable mode would allow you to play multiplayer against someone who also has a PSP with the same game, and not have to share the screen, but if the other person didn't have the same game, then all you'd need would be the controllers and the AV cable and you could still have a multiplayer game as if you were playing the original PS2 game.
This would pretty much open EVERY single PS2 game and possibly even a few Xbox and 360 games to be ported to the system.
They could not add a second nub beacuase this is not a "new" PSP its like a PSP-lite
if they added a second anolog stick then games games made for it would not work on the older psp.
This is nothing but a redesign
Thats dumb, Sony released a dual-analog controller for the PS1 and all the later games just supported both controller versions. Its not that hard to do.
I'm also surprised and a little disappointed that Sony didn't do more with it.
The "no games for the PSP" comments are getting old pretty fast. There's a lot to play (too much for my limited time available for gaming at least) unless you already own every other system out there.
Furthermore: yay for USB charging. and yay for extra ram (will hopefully make the 'out of memory' errors in the webbrowser a lot less frequent).
I have no idea who ranked you Highly for that comment but the simple fact is PSP only has a HANDFUL of A+ games and PS3 has barely any. SONY is fucking up left and rightwith both systems and I don't know why.
So who decided what is A+? As a casual gamer there's a lot out there for the PSP that I have *really* enjoyed. I don't give a lolcat whether those games are considered A+ by the l33t g4m3 critics out there. If I get my money's worth and more out of a game it is good in my book. So still: the 'no games' comments are teh stupid.
I might end up getting it just for God of War, then I'll get rid of it.
I'd like to know what new features have been added to the v3.60 FW on these new PSPs.
I'd like to see support for 640x480 video resolution like the iPods. With support for TV out, the PSP should support this resolution which has become the standard resolution for video podcasts.
The original PSP charges over USB already.
Actually, original PSPs that have their firmware upgraded to 3.60 supposedly have this feature just implemented. http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/psp-firmware-3-60-reveals-hidden-usb-charge-feature/
While you didn't get the option to turn it on or off, but if you purchased the USB/charging cable (one end USB, other end power and USB) it would charge the system even before the 3.60. Mine is still 1.5 and I have always charged it off of USB.
I wish they would do something about the terrible screen! So slow that games blur on it and so reflective that it is unplayable outside. Oh and the rubbish positioning of the analogue nub (makes my hands hurt).
Re: leo2178
Actually the original PSP doesn't charge over USB.
err .. so why do I have an usb cable that connects to my PSP and charge with it? Okay it's not fast ... but you can charge the PSP with usb ...
The specs for the original PSP make no mention of usb charging. What the new PSP does is actually charge using a single cable that connects to the USB port not a split charger one.
There are 3rd party cables that can use USB power to charge the original PSP- but that type of cable usually makes a 'Y' and plugs into the charging port (on the bottom) and them mini-USB port (on the top- for 'USB mode') or it is a straight USB to power adaptor.
I sounds like the new PSP is charging over a single mini-USB cable- which is cool as I would need to have fewer 'specialized' cables to carry around...
Actually yes it does with the USB/power Y cable.
Couldn't Sony somehow have designed that stupid web browser to to use the addon memory stick for additional memory? Kind of like a swap file? Don't know about you but 64mb might still not be enough to surf with. What about adding Bluetooth? Also, what about touch screen to this? This is why this new PSP will not sell. I'm hanging on to my old PSP.
"This is why this new PSP will not sell"
I'm always surprised at the sheer number of marketing specialists in these threads. If only Sony had employed people like you they wouldn't be in such a miserable postion.. Oh.. wait..
They are not employing me. I'm employing them by either buying or not buying their products. It really sucks when fanboys like you don't see the money companies save when they actually listen to what their customers want. Sony just ignored most of what customers have asked for to improve in PSP v2 and have given most of us no reason to ditch our PSP v1 for a PSP v2. The PSP has a lot of potential and it amazes me that Sony didn't see this.
Soo, what you want to do is basically throw away your old PSP for a new one? Wouldnt you feel cheated out of the (potential) $250 you spent back in '05? Bluetooth and a touch screen? Really?
If they added bluetooth with A2DP support I would sell my old one so fast...
Does it do component and composite, or just component?
Oops, I asked this same question below. I hope this is clarified. I read when it was announced, that it would have composite. That would make me a saaaaad panda.
The old PSP can be charged via USB with the addition of a $4.99 cable which splits the usb from your computer to a mini usb and AC plug for the PSP – I do it all the time
I wish they would just correct the analog nub so that it doesn't keep poppin off all the time. Talk about garbage.
how is it can they claim that the batteries could last longer when they switch to a lower density battery?!??! another marketing blunder perhaps?!?
Presumably they are using a more efficient chipset.
Super weird, I have one here that has never charged over USB, and the specs for the original PSP make no mention of usb charging. Are we saying the same thing? Does that usb cable you are using connect to the USB port of the PSP?
The specs for the original PSP make no mention of usb charging. What the new PSP does is actually charge using a single cable that connects to the USB port not a split charger one.
They're missing a multi-touch interface and phone features ;)
(I kid I kid)
I wonder if they did anything with the LCD screen/backlight. It was a nice screen but felt somewhat dim when compared to DS lite.
I think the new psp needed pretty wholesale changes to even compete with the ds. Maybe replacing the umd with 4 - 8 gigs of on-board memory or adding another screen :). Anyways, as it is, do sony really think people who didn't by the psp will by the new one because it is a tiny bit slimmer, you can buy a cable so you can use it instead of your ps2/xbox360/ps3/wii at home and it has more ram (?!).
Paul, is this "component" video out or "composite" video out? These two words get mixed up all the time on the inter-webs, but there is a very big difference in image quality. Thanks,
- Kiteless
You're right. But, it seems like Sony took the expensive route here, I can see why.
Although you get better image quality by separating the colors into the three primary for video, it is more expensive. Why didn't Sony decide to have the audio jack and make it with the generic audio/video just like the iPod has. If people wanted better quality, then buy the additional cable by Sony which will give you that.
Sony should get rid of the UMD drive, start selling games online (cutting the manufacturing and shelf space, and lowering the prices). But, retailers may decide to not sell the unit, if they can't sell the games. It's a bit different than the iPod and music equation, as buyers can still buy the CDs. Most of the people who own a PSP chances are have, or have access to, broadband. So, spend a few minutes downloading the game, and you're set.
Another Sony blunder. One of the biggest complaints of the PSP was the battery life. So they make it more power efficient, and then put a shorter life battery in it that makes it last just as long as the orginal psp. Brilliant. Why don't they announce a huge price reduction on the orginal and discontinue it while they're at it.
Well, actually by adding more RAM they can save - finally - *both* loading times and UMD spinning energy.
What is not that bad.
We'll see.
"(will hopefully make the 'out of memory' errors in the webbrowser a lot less frequent)."
Don't bet on it. My Ipaq bogs down pretty quick with only 64mb of memory. Most people who get the 128mb upgrade (usually a cool $200 for people lucky enough to have a model that can BE upgraded) say THAT aleviates the problem finally...
I was really looking forward to the possibility of a second analog nub, louder speakers or a brighter screen, and a couple gigs of internal memory... that would have done it for me :)
Looks like I'm keeping my old psp...
According to Gamespot's hands on with the new PSP, the older, thicker batteries for the older PSP will also work in this PSP, but the battery cover won't fit over it but Sony is working on a kit that includes a different battery cover that would fit. The new PSP uses a thinner battery.
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2007/features/new_psp/0002.jpg
Thats fantastic, the 1200 mah in the new PSP and 1800 mah in the old PSP get the same battery life, so better battery life in the new PSP using the older 1800 and 2200 mah Sony official batteries. I can't care less if the standard battery cover doesn't fit.
Will the many many many third party batteries for the old PSP also work with the new one? I'm sure many will but not all?
You have a broken link.
where is the memory duo slot?
yeah they didnt update the lcd screen!! it ghosts real bad in certain games. that should of been there first upgrade.
cool, i'll get one as soon as gran turismo is released, which should be any day now. right?
This is just a 'PSP' upgrade right?
Just to clarify it is'nt a new 'PSP2'.
I don't think you can call this PSP 2.0, this is more like a revision of the product. Kind of like how the slim PS2 came out. I don't think Sony is expecting people who purchased a PSP already to buy this one.
I think Sony needs to get their act straight and release a true PSP2.0 though, I was a huge fan on the PSP when it first came out. I read Engadget and Joystiq all the time to get any tad bit of info I could. But after purchasing the PSP the day it was released over time I got tired of it and was disappointed in my futures I thought it should have had. I believe if Sony had done certain things to the PSP then would have been able to compete against the DS.
Another remarkably strong effort at Engadget/Joystiq to make the PSP look as bad as possible.
What, looking shocked that they're not packing a component video cable with it? Gee, I seem to recall shelling out fairly substantial $$$ for my Wii cable (when I finally found one, that is).
3-6 hour battery life doesn't jibe with what Sony said earlier (nor the 6+ hour battery life I was getting with my first gen PSP and 1800mAh battery), but otherwise it all looks good to me.
Some folks just wanna hate whatever Sony says or does... Especially the PSP.
"yeah they didnt update the lcd screen!! it ghosts real bad in certain games. that should of been there first upgrade."
You are horribly mistaken. This upgrade is not about being better for the consumer, it is about being better for Sony.
They are simply reducing the production cost of each unit.