Sony's PSP navigates the floors of GDC 2008

Well, well -- what have we here? Apparently, this PSP (developer's edition, we're told) was spotted at the Game Developers Conference in California attempting to showcase how well the gaming handheld could handle navigation. Unfortunately, the underground nature of the booth resulted in a slightly inaccurate reading, but we're sure it'll do quite alright under normal circumstances when it's (hopefully) loosed in the not-too-distant future.

[Via NaviGadget]

[JAmerican @ Feb 24th 2008 11:34PM]

LOL. I like how the PSP Phat can handle navigation but supposedly can't handle Skype.

Nice Sony.

JAmerican

[Darayz @ Feb 24th 2008 11:47PM]

I was thinking the exact same thing when I read this

[Michael @ Feb 24th 2008 11:52PM]

It's a dev kit unit, which likely means it looks like an old PSP but is more powerful than the new one.

[Temple @ Feb 25th 2008 1:14AM]

I think it was made clear that the reason the PSP phat can't support Skype is due to the fact that it has only 32MB of internal memory (compared to double that of 'Lite').

[Kurian @ Feb 25th 2008 4:28AM]

The dev-PSP has 64mb of ram, just like the Slim.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 24th 2008 11:51PM]

"Dad, have you seen my PSP"

- "its in the truck"

[The Monitor @ Feb 24th 2008 11:51PM]

You have a dev psp?

[Flashpoint @ Feb 24th 2008 11:55PM]

I would never use the PSP as an in-car Navigation system cause entering text using the buttons is just too time consuming. GPS add-ons are best done with touchscreens.

I also don't believe the original PSP's would support the GPS software - likely, you'd need a PSP2000 or a 2001 due to the added memory.

I think the best way to add on a GPS device would be to make it a HARD DRIVE based device with a GPS antennae that can be plugged in to the battery port just like the 3rd party Datel 4GB Hard drive/battery. this way, you don't increase bulk very much and the system acceses info quickly.

[Henry E. @ Feb 25th 2008 12:21AM]

i believe it is possible to use the phat for gps. you run the software on umd and beside japan have been using the gps on their psp ages ago.

[Jamesology @ Feb 25th 2008 12:28AM]

Actually, there already is a GPS for the PSP came out almost a year and a half ago in Japan. Also, it runs great especially with the intricate and complicated roads of Tokyo. I use MAPlus 2 software.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 25th 2008 12:47AM]

well if you ever really used your psp. you would know about homebrew and an application called Map This.google it
it's an ingenious design with simplicity of use. There is a vid at my youtube (thatpspguy)check his blog http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 25th 2008 12:50AM]

http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/mapthis-0-5-20-with-holux-support-for-slim-psps-79825.html

peep the video at that link which is more recent. can a mod merge these posts?

[Misuzu @ Feb 25th 2008 1:00AM]

If voice recognition were up to par, we wouldn't need a keyboard. I would go out on a limb and say, it would enable this would have just as much potential as a standalone gps.

[Mister Webmastr @ Feb 25th 2008 2:02AM]

I saw that when I was at the GDC. I didn't look too close at it, but got some more pictures of it, check my flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrweb/2283176168/in/set-72157603961018087/

[Mister Webmastr @ Feb 25th 2008 2:03AM]

and yes, the few minutes I spent with it, I wouldn't buy it in a million years.

[silverblackvoid @ Feb 25th 2008 9:12AM]

no one's asking you to.

[deathoncall @ Feb 25th 2008 12:47PM]

lil help thought about buying one the gps off the net sent them a email about how do i get the us maps all they said was i can download them off the net if so does anyone know how or if not when will it come out here in the states thanks for any info

[ChrisMizzleInfo @ Feb 25th 2008 2:59PM]

What's a "PSP"?

[jed @ Feb 25th 2008 4:45PM]

i don't know how, but sony will find a way to mess this up. you have to stay up pretty late to figure out how to screw up skype, but they succeeded. they said making the simpsons' game unplayable would take a lot of deliberate work, but sony made sure. and don't forget to congratulate them on having a powerful, online enabled system, with enabled chat, PORTABLE, with not even one massive multiplayer game. and how about foregoing youtube for crackle? we could go on and on...

[ma5t3rw1tt @ Feb 25th 2008 7:30PM]

I seen that mod where the PSP can do GPS. Thats awsome!