PSP and 360 Chatpad are a match hacked in heaven

Some dedicated hackers have finally managed to get the PSP and Microsoft's Xbox 360 Chatpad typing. There are still a few kinks to smooth out, but the hard part seems over, with l0rdnic0 managing a tiny bit of soldiering using a PSP remote cable and some software from the Open Keyboard Project. It's all still pretty nerdy at the moment, and we're still miffed at that Logic 3 getting cancelled way back when, but we suppose this will have to do.

[Haikibutsu @ Sep 7th 2008 3:04AM]

Makes me want to get a PSP 3000.

[Flashpoint @ Sep 7th 2008 3:07AM]

I LOVE SONY.

but why oh why do they always ruin their BEST devices?

does SONY have some part of their R&D department which is determined to keep their devices from reaching PERFECTION?

#1 Why doesn't PSP have two analog sticks when their Controllers dating back to the Dual analogs on the PS1 does?
That's like Nintendo making a handheld without both A and B buttons.

#2 Why doesn't PSP have a keyboard? What ever happened to this?

http://cache.gizmodo.com/archives/images/sony_psp_keyboard2.jpg

#3 WHAT IDIOT designed the PSP with the keyboard interface on the top of the frame? That was like dooming your device to FAIL.
Furthermore, this doesn't look too sturdy and would be prone to breakage. How could they have seriously designed it this way in the first place? They could have made the keyboard with a back plate to add stability and allowed us to thumbtext.

#4 Why bother decreasing the size of the PSP's body when you could have just as easily left it the same size, increased the battery life, inproved the screen. Added your bloody mic and even PUT IN VIBRATING MOTORS SO WE COULD GET VIBRATION IN OUR GAMES.

Dual sticks + vibration aren't a problem for older PSP owners. All the developers would have to do is add a few lines of code and those features would work. New games could easily adapt to either a new PSP profile or an old PSP profile.
Firmware updates anyone?

[MastrCake @ Sep 7th 2008 3:19AM]

To answer some of your questions:

#1 First let me point out that two analogs are not as critical as an A and B button together. It works just fine without them. But if they do decide to do it, it would take more than a mere "few lines of code".

#2 Good point, but what a bad looking picture. That thing looks like a POS!

#3 Some Gizmodo fan probably designed it. Or maybe it was a concept that never saw the light of day because it looks like a POS.

#4 You know? For having so much more power, so many more features, and such a big ass screen, I think that half the battery life of the DS's abnormally long battery life is pretty good. As for vibration, well, who the hell wants a vibrating screen? I know it has been done on the DS, but I never liked it's rumble, especially with a touch screen. It didn't have enough variation and too much power.

You know what? I managed to answer all of your questions with answers you probably didn't want! But then again, you did ask questions about things that either won't happen or won't happen anytime soon.

[Nytrojen @ Sep 7th 2008 3:21AM]

In response to your question about why Sony decided to design the keyboard to go on top of the PSP (and why the PS3 chatpad is on top of the controller for that matter), it's probably because they're still smarting from having to fork over to Immersion in that whole dual shock debacle. Too scared that they'll get sued by MS (or anyone else who holds a patent for an underslung keyboard) back into the bronze age.

I highly doubt that nowhere throughout the design process, not one of Sony's Industrial Designers thought "Hey! It might be more accessible and easier to type if we have the keyboard BELOW the controller! Right where thumbs would be able to reach!"

I could be wrong wrong, but if I am, then all of Sony's executives and designers deserve to be fired out of a large cannon for that design choice.

[Wwhat @ Sep 7th 2008 4:53AM]

They don't love you back.

[anantha92 @ Sep 7th 2008 8:03AM]

Vibration would cause read errors on the UMD.

[DarCowAlways @ Sep 7th 2008 1:03PM]

OK, I'll humor you.

1. I don't think people should complain about this as much as they do. Sure, two analog sticks would be incredible, it's just that one analog stick is a very good addition, that the DS doesn't have, and it could've done without it, but now that it's added on there, guess what-- you want a second! Yeah, I want a second too, just you don't see me started a whole comment telling PSP owners why this/that should be there.

2. Like the best of the PSP accessories, it'll take some time to be released. That, or they're consumed in another PSP project, like the new PSP 3000.

3. Probably the same idiot who gave the PSP an integrated internet browser. /sarcasm

4. The PSP 2000 came out almost a year ago (has it really been that long?). The last model was, admittedly, a bit overweight, and had big bumps on the back. It needed a slimming down (years later) to be easier on the hands for long game sessions. Vibration? In a portable? NO. Do you really want to have it vibrate in your hands suddenly on a bus? And how are you supposed to see the screen if it vibrates around?

They couldn't just add another analog stick like /we/ wish they could. But insisting they could just have a firmware update and BLAM new analog stick for old games is plain idiotic. Old games don't support two analog sticks. Maybe if they did what they did with PS1 emulation, and had customization options for the controls, then they could get the second stick working for games that used the right face buttons, but then those buttons wouldn't do anything! It would be a minor victory for FPS gaming. Just, it's not really probable on a portable.

[MastrCake @ Sep 7th 2008 3:08AM]

Lovely... a post about my two favorite stolen items. My PSP and my Xbox 360. On the bright side, at least I am getting a new PSP and I still have two chatpads. Maybe this is something I could whip up.

This is something that Sony should really take note of. A real keyboard for PSP. How ingenious! But I bet Sony really doesn't like accessories from other consoles hooked up to theirs (or vice-versa)...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/ps3-hacked-to-accept-xbox-360-controller/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/22/connect-your-ps2-controllers-to-your-xbox-360/

Especially when it always involves a controller of some sort.

[Nytrojen @ Sep 7th 2008 3:13AM]

Stealing is something you should never be proud of, no matter how sexy and cool the crime is.

[Kizorblade @ Sep 7th 2008 3:20AM]

But some bastard stole his sexy and cool objects!

[MastrCake @ Sep 7th 2008 3:21AM]

Whoa... I never stole a thing in my life! They were stolen from me.

But I understand that I should have worded that better...

Still, funny nonetheless.

[LJKelley @ Sep 7th 2008 3:10AM]

Anybody find it odd that the 360 keaboard is used and not the new one released for the PS3?

[Nytrojen @ Sep 7th 2008 3:25AM]

Not really. The PS3 keyboard is a wireless bluetooth affair. The PSP has no bluetooth (as far as I'm aware).

[Dahk @ Sep 7th 2008 3:59AM]

Weeeeellllllllll I'm assuming since the chatpad on the PS3 hasn't been released yet (although there's one from... nyko? i think?), then they couldn't have used the PS3 one.

Also, it adds to the awesome irony.

[Nytrojen @ Sep 7th 2008 3:11AM]

This will not stand! Prepare to meet your maker at the hands of my cat launcher!!

[canuck @ Sep 7th 2008 3:25AM]

I really hope you realize that no one cares.

This looks interesting, but not quite something that I'd like to try.

[Colin Potter @ Sep 7th 2008 3:19AM]

I'm looking for an adjective to describe this... is Hadoken an adjective?

[MastrCake @ Sep 7th 2008 3:22AM]

How about this, Nytrogen?

http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_jun2006/CatAPultSoccer.jpg

[tiuk @ Sep 7th 2008 3:32AM]

So that's what I could have done with my 360 chatpad. I ended up getting one and returning it within a few days because it was pretty pointless for me.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 7th 2008 3:36AM]

At least, un-like most others, he was actually first.

[gabe @ Sep 7th 2008 3:41AM]

meh - the psp is decent for browsing - i suppose if i didnt have an iphone and had more patience to use the stupid psp interface to type i'd use the psp more around the house.

anyways the modded psp sits nicely in my desk. POS

[Colin Potter @ Sep 7th 2008 4:00AM]

HADOKEN!

[32KOFDATA @ Sep 7th 2008 4:32AM]

Prodigy FTW!

[l0rdnic0 @ Sep 7th 2008 4:48AM]

Thank you everyone for your comments

I forgot to mention in the Video that there is headphone pass through. When you first turn on the PSP even with the keyboard plugged in the PSP speakers still play sound. However when you want the sound to go to the headphone port you just need to press one of the Volume buttons.

Thanks,
Nico

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Sep 7th 2008 11:58AM]

Best ORIGINAL mod Ever and that's alot coming from me. Ask F00F00

[Skullmaster @ Sep 7th 2008 5:10AM]

Nico does it again. Acidmods FTW

[Patriks7 @ Sep 7th 2008 5:39AM]

wow that white PSP back there looks awesome :o

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Sep 7th 2008 11:58AM]

I gots two white psp, DARTH VADER!

[Twitchy @ Sep 7th 2008 6:14AM]

Bring back "Lowest Ranked", it is obviously of need.

[Wolfticket @ Sep 7th 2008 6:28AM]

I'd be happy if they made the Xbox 360 Chatpad work with Windows, LIKE IT SAYS ON THE F-ING BOX. Seriously Microsoft, sort out your Windows 360 peripheral Drivers.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 7th 2008 6:47AM]

How much weed do you have to smoke for that to be funny still?

[Sal @ Sep 7th 2008 7:28AM]

Breaking glass? more like nails on a chalk board... Horrible music!!! UGH!

[Nytrojen @ Sep 7th 2008 8:00AM]

That was Prodigy... make one more negative comment about them and the cyber-hounds shall be released upon thine hiney.

[cDub @ Sep 7th 2008 11:08AM]

Finally. I've been thinking this would make the perfect replacement to the horrid PSP OSK since it was released for the x360. Typing a url on the PSP takes too long and way too many button presses. If you have an old-school PSP 1000 you could try to find a folding IR keyboard that an old Palm would have used. That is bliss. The OSK is ass.

[Dave D @ Sep 7th 2008 12:53PM]

Nice nic l0rdnic0.

Crash override and zero cool are coming to get you for that...

[l0rdnic0 @ Sep 7th 2008 7:39PM]

Wow Dave D, I don't know who you are, but I hate you for life. Not that I need to explain myself to you, but I used to run a BBS and had the name L0rdNiCo at least three years before that movie was released.

[hemmy @ Sep 7th 2008 9:04PM]

Was it not Lord Nikon?

[Ridgecity @ Sep 7th 2008 3:14PM]

If it wasn't for the hackers, the PSP would have been discontinued at the same time the UMD movies were.

[dbm989 @ Sep 7th 2008 4:13PM]

soldiering? wow, they dont even have to solder anymore...

[Miles @ Sep 7th 2008 9:02PM]

I don't get the point. Buy a Pandora if you want a keyboard, you get 800x480 resolution and a 600mhz+ processor with dual SD card slots, and BlueTooth.

Firefox 3 too.

Bah, Sony doesn't want you to enjoy your PSP, they use Memsticks and optical drives, in this day and age, and in a handheld too.

[Ntw1103 @ Sep 7th 2008 9:57PM]

Sorry, but the keyboard on the Pandora = FAIL. it is like something you would find on a little kids toy. they should have use a keyboard similar to the Zaurus. that would have made the device much better.

[Ignatius @ Sep 7th 2008 9:19PM]

The cat's name is PAUL! What a ridiculous name for a cat!

[Arian @ Sep 7th 2008 9:57PM]

don't listen to all these haters. You were first. Being first has it's awesomeness. Feudal lords always had first with the wenches...

[Nitecrawlah2 @ Sep 9th 2008 12:01PM]

LOL, a blasphemous marriage indeed!