Sony hints at "non-game apps" for PSP

We've been hearing rumors about a non-game app store for the PSP since the launch of the PSP Go, and it sounds like the wheels are turning -- in an interview with CNET, Sony's Al De Leon said that while PSP content "will mostly be games, there's an opportunity to look at non-gaming applications." Sure, that's not exactly a hard confirmation, but it's certainly suggestive -- maybe we'll see something at Gamescom in August after all. Video after the break.

[Via Joystiq]

[Kyle M. @ Jun 25th 2009 2:06PM]

Can I haz ur Psp?!?

No but really, these apps are getting stupid.

[darkmax @ Jun 25th 2009 2:28PM]

i agree. can't see what else can you do with a handheld screen with limited buttons.....

[Quix @ Jun 25th 2009 2:34PM]

Introducing, sFart.....with rumble!!!

[NickNick @ Jun 25th 2009 2:49PM]

.......... limited buttons?

[sweet greggo @ Jun 25th 2009 2:07PM]

Sony should be more concerned with all the lawsuits coming from kids developing carpel tunnel syndrome from playing with the Go. That is, if they sell any of those ugly things.

[BlazeKing @ Jun 25th 2009 3:29PM]

Kids hands are smaller, so carpal tunnel from what?
No one has even had in their hands yet but yet they call it uncomfortable....

[sweet greggo @ Jun 25th 2009 3:23PM]

eff. all. y'all.

[Mr305 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:08PM]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Very Nice!

[Stevo32792 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:08PM]

Whys he say that its smaller than the PSP-3000 then opens its up and its maybe 1.5x larger... *Facepalm*

[Mr305 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:08PM]

But 802.11b, are we in the 1990's ?

[Soulsaber @ Jun 25th 2009 2:50PM]

The Wii also uses 802.11b fyi

[Ellianth @ Jun 26th 2009 3:56AM]

And that makes it ok?

[Lazy Genius @ Jun 25th 2009 2:11PM]

is the analog nub really next to the d-pad? how the hell am i supposed to play games like that?

[Heimbachae @ Jun 25th 2009 3:27PM]

you don't buy it. and you use your imagination instead!!!

[matt_goldman1981 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:14PM]

Sony should stop flogging this dead horse. There's only one thing that fans unanimously want, and that's a second analogue stick. It's time for Sony to stop giving their loyal fans the finger and either add another analogue stick, or put this generation of PSP to bed and move on.

[Nomi @ Jun 25th 2009 2:51PM]

And stop supporting everyone that already has one?

[Topher @ Jun 25th 2009 2:55PM]

Boo Hoo, Cry Cry.

Only real thing they should have added to this was a Camera on the back. DUH!

As well as a Touch Screen (strictly for XMB menu, not some crappy game) as to more easily navigate that menu and it would open up the possibility of... A VIRTUAL KEYBOARD, ZOMG.

[AwesomeWells @ Jun 25th 2009 2:15PM]

"non-game apps"

precisely how many firmware updates is that?

[bjay @ Jun 25th 2009 2:16PM]

Wow, wat type of apps re we looking at. iFart or word processors lol. Wat wit d app craze? Most people only download games most of d time or is he referring to lite hands like mobile phones?

[BlurMagic @ Jun 25th 2009 2:34PM]

I seriously actually just got pissed off trying to read your comment.

[anexanhume @ Jun 25th 2009 2:18PM]

Wow, I think only manilla file folders could make me more excited...

[Hackettman @ Jun 25th 2009 2:22PM]

I mean cmon........ Why not?

[atomsmasher @ Jun 25th 2009 2:23PM]

It's an app world, after all.

[digiboi @ Jun 25th 2009 2:30PM]

twitter and facebook - which would be great if you had a touchscreen and a virtual keyboard. Doh!

[skyblaze @ Jun 25th 2009 2:33PM]

they should make an app as to why the psp go looks so much like this dude, lol

http://loot-ninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/cartman-500x510.jpg

[BlurMagic @ Jun 25th 2009 2:35PM]

+1

[crawdad689 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:37PM]

Both this thing, and the Zune HD would be infinitely more successful if they offered a phone variant of it, the same way Apple does.

Seriously. This seems like the most basic thing to me. In in age like this, having the most popular platform (and it not sucking) is the best way to get the best devs to write the best software for it.

The iPod touch wouldn't be nearly as popular as it is today, if the iPhone never existed.

It is interesting, though. Out of the 3 devices I've mentioned, they all seem to best each other in different areas. Only the PSP has physical controls. I really do like the form factor of slide-out controls, though it remains to be seen how usable/ergonomic they are. That's really the only area where the PSP could trump Apple or MS's offerings.

Only the Zune HD has an OLED screen, and only the Zune HD will have XBL integration.

So yeah, DO WANT Zune HD, and kinda sorta want PSP Go. Also, iPhone 4 lyfe obviously. :P

[Ray Mendoza @ Jun 25th 2009 2:40PM]

This is ridiculous. While great in theory, not so good when it comes to the PSP. If they had a touch screen or a keyboard somewhere, it would make sense, but that is not what a PSP is. It is a portable gaming machine. Nothing more. Sony needs to stick with what they got or they will end up going head to head with Apple.

[3498 @ Jun 26th 2009 12:26AM]

Actually the psp-go could very easily have a keyboard. In sony's press release(here http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-02-2009/0005037250&EDATE= ) they said that you would be able to use the dualshock controller so why not the ps3 chat pad. I hope that they allow this and it would be the main reason for me to buy the psp-go

[[e-mail] @ Jun 25th 2009 2:41PM]

?

[BlazeKing @ Jun 25th 2009 3:30PM]

All of these hate comments.....
Looks like none of the posters know what "Homebrew" is and how we've been downloading non-game apps for a while now and majority are very useful and developed by the scene. Sony just wants to do it by themselves now.

[nxp3 @ Jun 25th 2009 2:46PM]

There's some apps already, such as talkman series and those language tutor. But beyond simple apps...you're not going to do well without a keyboard or even touch screen. Or perhaps the pspGo got a touchscreen and sony didn't mention it...it's not activated until a firmware update...ooohh.

[carlos @ Jun 26th 2009 4:26AM]

well, just in case you might know what these apps could be like,
take a look at my www.mojocafe.net project... as sony brought the
flash 7 plugin last november to the psp, i ported the whole thing
so that you could use the mojos on the PSP.

i bet a squillion of wine flu atoms that sony will bring some kind
of widgets aka applets aka widsets to the psp.

[Icester @ Jun 25th 2009 2:53PM]

My PSP is used almost exclusively for reading eBooks via Bookr. Just plain old .txt files. Nothing fancy. But it sure beats lugging a real book around and is awfully convenient for night reading. Beyond that, my PSP gets some use for emulation. Last time I actually played a PSP game? months... can't even remember when.

PSP Go Home. Sony, if you are listening (for the first time EVER), this is what we want
(1) touchscreen (you can't deny the utility of a touchscreen!)
(2) 2nd analog nub (if you _really_ care about the "games")
(3) updated CPU (come on, newer processors are easily 3-4 times faster)
(4) clamshell design to protect the screen (ala Nintendo DS. I _hate_ having to baby my PSP to avoid scratching the screen. The DS is "pocketable" because I don't have to worry about the screen in addition to its size)

[bjay @ Jun 25th 2009 3:04PM]

We can as well hope a unicorn ll deliver it, if d PSP GO comes wit a touch screen

[tekdroid @ Jun 25th 2009 3:20PM]

PSP Go! benefits:
---
* Bluetooth: potentially allowing Cool Things (TM) to happen (GPS via bluetooth, internet where no wifi). However browsing on the PSP has been painful (to be nice) and non-ghetto phones do web OK. Hrm...that leaves GPS via bluetooth...and other little things as potential Cool Things.
* Perhaps the PSP Go! has a better screen (?) especially in sunlight.
* It is definitely more compact and travel-friendly (probably the biggest benefit)

Drawbacks:
---
* ergonomics is up in the air, but what I've seen suggests almost certainly worse
* non-removable battery (I think)
* price is pretty high, relatively-speaking
* no UMD (despite sighs of relief it's gone, I think this will limit appeal greatly)
* competition from existing PSPs that can download games fine (assuming you have a big enough Memory Stick - or sticks). Plus they do UMD, too.

Value of PSP Go?
---
It ranks pretty low on my scale.

[Aaronage @ Jun 25th 2009 3:29PM]

C'mon everyone!

The system is still young, do you really think it's time for PSP 2? Consoles last a lot longer than 4 years before a new generation is introduced.

Simply adding a second analog nub would make the single nub consoles useless with newer games, you will only see it in the next gen. A few years and you will have the second nub. You can't expect a touchscreen for the same reason.

Are you being fair in putting the PSP down? The Go is a big shift for the gaming industry, complete digital distribution hasn't been done yet. The graphics still look fantastic, the gameplay is great, the game selection is huge.

[Andrew Merskin @ Jun 25th 2009 3:43PM]

How many app stores do we really need?

Apple, Palm, Nokia, PSP, Android, etc.

Developers are going to get cranky...

[Michael @ Jun 26th 2009 1:16AM]

You know, if they would have added a touchscreen, well maybe then...

[Beth @ Jun 26th 2009 4:13AM]

oh! neat. no, wait - i have cfw so i have apps already... hmm.

sony should instead concentrate on an xbox arcade-style store for the psp - the "official" psn games aren't in huge abundance, and there's a load of great homebrew developers that have been using the psp as a platform for years.

right. i'm off to play lightcycle 3d...

[pika2000 @ Jun 26th 2009 4:24AM]

Non-game App? Please. Sony cannot even make up their mind on which OS to use for their own Smartphones (Winmo, S60, Android, etc). What developer is willing to develop apps for an unproven platform with minimal userbase?

[dominic @ Jun 26th 2009 5:39AM]

those of you fortunate enough to have visited the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal FC) may be aware that Sony and Arsenal have run a trial scheme whereby you can watch the instant replays on your PSP via the public wireless network in the stadium..