Engadget

PlayStation Vita gets a content management app, plays nice with PS3 and PC

Sean Buckley — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:56:00 EST

Worried your PlayStation Vita is going to be so full of repurchased PSP content that you won't be be able to store it all? Yeah, neither are we -- but if you want another place to keep your Vita's picture, video, music and game content, Sony says your PC and PS3 will do nicely. An application page on the Japanese PlayStation website details a Vita app that lets users transfer data between the three platforms, noting that content can be purchased on the PC or PS3, and then transferred to the Vita for use later. Gamers looking to save scratch on that not-so-optional memory card will be able to use this content sharing feature to get the most out of whatever size storage they can afford. Sure, 4GB of storage the cheapest Vita memory card offers isn't ideal, but at least Sony is throwing you a bone to make it work.

PlayStation Vita gets a content management app, plays nice with PS3 and PC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony PlayStation Vita battery life: as little as three hours on a charge

Sharif Sakr — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:02:00 EST

We've had plenty of QT with the Vita on the floor at TGS, but battery life is hard to judge when you can't take the device away with you. Back at our earlier hands-on in June we were told that longevity should be on a par with first-gen PSPs, which were all rated at 4-6 hours and -- with the PSP-1000 -- achieved around 3.5-5.5 hours in real-world tests. Now though, Sony says the Vita has just enough juice for 3-5 hours' gaming. We need to play this thing to death before we can be sure, but this does sound like a potential 15-25% drop in minimum play time. Do we care at this point? Not particularly. We're too busy salivating over this.

Sony PlayStation Vita battery life: as little as three hours on a charge originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony PlayStation Vita's removable memory looks like it's an SD card, but it isn't

Michael Gorman — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:01:00 EST

Sony's seen fit to tell us many of the PlayStation Vita's specs, how much it'll cost ($249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G), and who gets it (everyone). Amidst all the hullabaloo at E3 2011, however, we missed seeing that Sony was showing off the new handheld's internal memory cards. Good thing an eagle-eyed member of the public snapped a pic of the 4, 8, 16, and 32GB cards on the show floor. They look awfully similar to garden variety SD cards, only there's a little notch in the side confirming they hew to Sony's unfortunate habit of using proprietary storage formats. The cost of the cards remains shrouded in secrecy, but life's more fun when a little mystery's involved, right?

Sony PlayStation Vita's removable memory looks like it's an SD card, but it isn't originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote!

Sean Hollister — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:45:00 EST

The world hasn't been kind to Sony as of late, but today is Sony's day to shine -- we're reporting live from E3 2011 this evening, where the company is about to show off its latest toys. There's little doubt we'll hear about that fancy new Next Generation Portable, but what might it be called? And might there be a pair of PlayStation-certified tablets alongside the monster handheld? How about a library full of PSOne titles to make the Xperia Play relevant, or a price drop for Sony's venerable PlayStation 3 console? Find out for yourself right here, in this very post, when our live coverage kicks off at the times below.

2:00PM - Hawaii
5:00PM - Pacific
6:00PM - Mountain
7:00PM - Central
8:00PM - Eastern
1:00AM - London (June 7th)
2:00AM - Paris (June 7th)
4:00AM - Moscow (June 7th)
9:00AM - Tokyo (June 7th)

Continue reading Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote!

Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony: every NGP game will be available to download, some might not even make it to physical release

Vlad Savov — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:39:00 EST

We're filling the time between now and the NGP's holiday season release the best way we know how: by hunting down yet more information about it. Andrew House, the man in charge of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, has delivered the latest tidbit in an interview with MCV, where he states unequivocally that every game on the next PlayStation Portable will be available to buy as a download. Notably, he also expresses Sony's desire to have simultaneous distribution in both digital and physical channels, but that sounds a lot less concrete than his promise that every game will be downloadable. Digital-only games also figure prominently in Andrew's vision of the NGP's future, as he expects them to diversify choice for consumers alongside the big time titles like Uncharted. To learn more about Sony's replacement of UMDs with flash memory and the reasoning behind the PlayStation Suite, follow the source link below for the full interview.

Sony: every NGP game will be available to download, some might not even make it to physical release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

CE-Oh no he didn't!: NGP will be 'dead on arrival,' says ngmoco boss

Vlad Savov — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:10:00 EST

In all honesty, you would expect the leader of a team concerned exclusively with producing games for smartphone platforms like iOS and Android to be dismissive of a new dedicated handheld console's chances, but it's still jarring to hear such a strident dismissal of the Sony NGP's chances. In an interview at GDC this year -- yes, the same place where we were treated to some very impressive demos of the NGP's performance -- ngmoco CEO Neil Young has expressed his belief that Sony's next PSP will be "dead on arrival." Claiming that the new portable will be incapable of competing with the rich ecosystems and affordable pricing models that smartphones now offer, Young says not even the crazy specs or PS3-like gaming will help the NGP survive. This echoes comments from Satoru Iwata last year saying that Apple, not Sony, is the "enemy of the future" for handheld consoles, though Young does close off on a positive note, saying that he sees brighter prospects for the 3DS thanks to Nintendo's rich collection of own-brand franchises and reserves of fan loyalty. So that's it, folks, better start selling those Sony shares while they're still worth something! Or not, it's up to you.

[Thanks, Dominick]

CE-Oh no he didn't!: NGP will be 'dead on arrival,' says ngmoco boss originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action

Michael Gorman — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:36:00 EST

The headline just about says it all -- we've got some new footage (as opposed to what we've seen before) of Sony's NGP for all you gamers to drool over. Today at GDC 2011, we saw a live demo of Uncharted, Little Deviants, and the NGP's augmented reality capabilities. We were, once again, impressed by Sony's latest piece of gaming hardware, but don't take our word for it, see for yourself in video footage above and after the break. And, oh-by-the-way, we gleaned a few new tidbits about the handheld powerhouse that developers may want to know -- retail game cartridges will be only 2GB or 4GB in size (notable because the average PS3 title is 9GB), and Sony recommends that devs looking to port PS3 titles to the NGP should simplify their models, shaders and textures to make them work. Now if only Sony would spill the beans about how much the thing'll cost.

Update: We didn't completely care for how our original Uncharted footage looked, so we uploaded a slightly higher-quality version. Enjoy!

Gallery: Sony NGP developer presentation at GDC 2011

Continue reading Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action

Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's Shuhei Yoshida drops some NGP knowledge: PSP sticking around, PS3 games easy to port

Michael Gorman — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:17:00 EST

Details about Sony's next-gen portable Playstation, the NGP, have been scarce since we spoke with SCEA President-CEO Jack Tretton about the new device. However, in an interview in the forthcoming issue of Edge, Shuhei Yoshida --who happens to be president of SCEA Worldwide Studios -- revealed a few more tidbits about Sony's NGP strategy (alas, still no official price). Apparently, the PSP will stick around even after NGP's release because of high demand for the older handheld, not to mention a lower price. For those of you concerned about a dearth of titles upon the NGP's debut -- a la the PS3 -- fear not, as Yoshida stated that porting PS3 games was a goal from the very beginning and the process will be simple (relatively speaking, of course). Combine that with a push to make the NGP's development environment "as easy as possible," and we'll hopefully see plenty of available titles upon the device's release. Oh yeah, Yoshida-san also said that NGP is just the console's codename, and the real name will be announced later this year -- PSP2 just rolls off the tongue, now doesn't it?

Sony's Shuhei Yoshida drops some NGP knowledge: PSP sticking around, PS3 games easy to port originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web

Thomas Ricker — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST

Sure, you followed along with our Tokyo liveblog and breathless posts announcing Sony's Next Generation Portable (codename: NGP, get it?) successor to the PSP. But nothing's quite like viewing a video posted 48-hours after the event to get a true feel for the historic occasion... historic to nerds like us anyway. The power is now in your hands -- use it wisely to watch a thrilling three-part trilogy after the break. More videos at the source link below.

Continue reading Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web

Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony says NGP will be 'affordable,' won't cost $599, WiFi-only version also coming

Sean Hollister — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:29:00 EST

We had quite the interview with Sony's Jack Tretton, but we certainly didn't corner the market on hot new NGP details -- Eurogamer and Game Informer quizzed the company's Andrew House and Shuhei Yoshida, respectively, and came out with some important tidbits about the quad-core gaming handheld, particularly regarding pricing. Though Tretton seemed to suggest we'll see a price somewhere northward of the Nintendo 3DS's $250, Yoshida was quoted as saying "It's not going to be $599," laughing off the idea that the system would cost as much as the PlayStation 3's infamous appraisal at launch, and House said that Sony "will shoot for an affordable price that's appropriate for the handheld gaming space."

While none were willing to cough up a real ballpark estimate, the SCEE president revealed one way that the cost might come down: pushing out a lesser model, a strategy we've seen before. House said that while all devices come with WiFi, "a separate SKU will have 3G," making us wonder which of the handheld's other groundbreaking features might carry a premium. After all, OLED screens don't come cheap. Find the rest of Eurogamer's excellent interview (including a bit about how Sony will prioritize downloadable content over physical media) at our source link.

Sony says NGP will be 'affordable,' won't cost $599, WiFi-only version also coming originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3

Ross Miller — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:36:00 EST

Ever since his candid and humorous E3 2009 Sony keynote introduction -- wherein he thanked the audience for showing up despite the big news (PSP Go) having already been leaked -- we've always had something of a soft spot for Jack Tretton. We managed to have a sit-down with the SCEA President-CEO following the company's big Tokyo meeting, a non-working NGP unit in tow. For a brief moment, Tretton "confirmed" that PlayStation Suite games (currently slated for Android devices) would work on PlayStation 3. We asked rather directly, to which he responded, "Yes, they will. Yeah." By the next question, however, he explained that he might've misspoken and wanted to clarify that Suite is only NGP right now. It should come as no surprise, then, that there was no talk of Suite for any other devices, be it Bravia sets or Google TV. Tretton said there was at least one compatible Android device currently on the market but wouldn't elaborate -- given the 2.3 requirement, we're presuming he meant the Nexus S.

We weren't able to get him to budge on the issue of the NGP's price, but we did ask him to opine on the Nintendo 3DS's $250 tag. Instead of offering friendly competitive jabs, he said only, "I think if the quality's there, then the people will find a way to buy it, within reason... I think that if you could create content that consumers see as compelling, they'll find money that they didn't think they had." A bit too reminiscent of former boss Ken Kutaragi's old adages, but hey, it's not like we expected a sub-$300 sticker, anyway. Some other highlights:

Tretton wouldn't definitively say whether or not original PSP titles are in Suite's future -- "at this point, it's PlayStation One games, but I think it can go in a number of directions." This runs a bit counter to what Kaz Hirai said earlier in the day, but either he might've misspoken or the translator erred.
The controller overlay we saw used as an example at the event was just that -- an example, with no guarantee of future use.
That "holiday 2011" launch applies to at least one territory, but Sony was "ambiguous for a reason" (i.e. simultaneous global rollout is a dream but far from a promise.) We probably won't have a clearer image until fall rolls around, sometime after E3.
No discussion on battery life, but Sony is "certainly look to improve upon [original PSP]." For what it's worth, that one measured about 4.5 to 7 hours at launch, and Sony eventually sold an extended-life pack.
PS Suite will have non-gaming apps.
A WiFi-only version? "We haven't made any determination on models yet," which is infinitely more vague than the confirmation of non-3G SKUs from SCEE president Andrew House.
Will Sony or a Sony partner make a flagship device to show off the Suite? A, dare we say, PlayStation phone? "Stay tuned" was all Tretton would say, followed by a laugh. Hey, at least we acknowledged the elephant in the room.

Full transcription after the break.

Gallery: Sony NGP detailed hands-on

Continue reading Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3

Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's next PSP (codename NGP): a closer look

Ross Miller — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:09:00 EST

Following the unveil of its bodacious next generation portable (NGP) PlayStation device, Sony let a swarm of journalists (including us) on stage to get a closer look at the PSP's dual-stick, quad-core successor. No touching, but we were able to direct our lens mighty close and compare the NXP with a PSP and PSP Go before the on-hand staff shooed us away. Enjoy the pictures!

Update: And now we've got video for you as well! You know where it's at.

Gallery: Sony NGP eyes-on

Gallery: Sony NGP vs. PSP and PSP Go... fight!

Continue reading Sony's next PSP (codename NGP): a closer look

Sony's next PSP (codename NGP): a closer look originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's next-gen PSP (NGP) has a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, quad-core GPU as well

Vlad Savov — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 02:48:00 EST

You know that crazy next-gen PSP (NGP) with multiple touchpads, dual analog sticks, and quadrupled resolution that Sony just trotted out? Yeah, it's got a quad-core Cortex-A9 and a quad-core Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU doing the grunt work within. We've never seen a handheld this powerful. Then again, considering the darn thing won't be launching until this holiday season, maybe quad-core parts will be the least Sony will need in order to match up to the "super phones" coming up this year. We're just wondering how long any of these souped-up portables will last on a charge. Full spec sheet after the break.

Continue reading Sony's next-gen PSP (NGP) has a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, quad-core GPU as well

Sony's next-gen PSP (NGP) has a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, quad-core GPU as well originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 02:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's next PSP, codenamed NGP

Vlad Savov — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:27:00 EST

Betcha didn't think this day would come, but it finally has. Sony has just come clean with its next-generation PlayStation Portable. It's actually codenamed NGP and will revolve around five key concepts: Revolutionary User Interface, Social Connectivity, Location-based Entertainment, Converging Real and Virtual (augmented) Reality. It will be compatible with the PlayStation Suite and is backwards-compatible with downloadable PSP games and content from Sony's PlayStation Store.

Specs include a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, 5-inch touchscreen OLED display with 960 x 544 resolution, dual analog sticks (not nubs as on the current generation), 3G, WiFi, GPS, a rear-mounted touchpad, the same accelerometer / gyroscope motion sensing as in the PlayStation Move, an electronic compass, and cameras on both the front and back. Available this holiday season. Wait... what?!

Gallery: Sony NGP detailed hands-on

Games will come on "new media," not UMD anymore, but we're unclear on what sort of flash memory is being used. Sony's rather proud of the fact it's offering the world's first dual analog stick combo on a portable device, though we're more geeked about the quadrupling of pixel count from the original PSP.

Sony's live event has been graced by demos of some pretty popular games, including Killzone, Resistance, Little Big Planet, and Uncharted -- with the latter serving as a demo platform to show off how the NGP's rear touchpad can be used to more intuitively climb up some vines. That touch panel on the back is the same size and positioned directly under the front OLED touchscreen, which allows for some pretty sophisticated controls when using the two simultaneously.

The new console's UI will be called LiveArea, which has a bunch of vertically navigable home screens and built-in social networking through PlayStation Network. You can jump between games and the LiveArea without losing your progress and comment on your buddies' great feats of mobile gaming.

Gallery: Sony's next PSP, codenamed NGP games and UI

In closing its presentation, Sony trotted out Hideo Kojima to show off a cutscene from MGS 4 rendered in real time on the NGP. It was pulled directly from the PS3 version of the game and ran at 20fps, which looked very smooth indeed to our liveblogging eyes. Videos and Sony's full PR are now available below.

Gallery: Sony's next PSP, codenamed NGP press shots

Continue reading Sony's next PSP, codenamed NGP

Sony's next PSP, codenamed NGP originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony reveals PlayStation Suite framework, store for Android gaming

Sean Hollister — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:21:00 EST

Sony just dropped a bomb on the Japanese stage -- not a single PlayStation Phone, but a PlayStation Phone experience for everybody. The company unveiled a cross-platform software framework called PlayStation Suite, which sounds rather boring in those words, but what it amounts to is an official PlayStation Store filled with games for your Android tablets and cellphones. Sound familiar? Sony's starting with an emulator for existing PSOne titles and is promising an Android game store later this year, but soon it might be much, much more: the company's calling PlayStation Suite a "hardware-neutral" development framework to make games portable for all sorts of handhelds, and says that "new and exciting content" is also on the way.

Sony will sponsor a first-party licensing and quality-assurance scheme called PlayStation Certified, and provide the marketplace as well, likely hoping to attract major game developers to build top-tier titles for mobile and get a piece of the action too. If your device doesn't have a pop-out gamepad handy, it looks like PlayStation Suite will emulate touchscreen controls, and you won't necessarily need a phone to get in on the action, as Sony says the next-generation PlayStation Portable will be compatible with games developed for PlayStation Suite right off the bat. Doesn't look like we're getting any details on game prices or compatible devices, but we imagine one particular phone will change all that at Mobile World Congress next month.

Update: Looks like PlayStation Suite requires Android 2.3 at a minimum, and it's PSOne, not PlayStation Portable titles that will be emulated here, despite Kaz Hirai's quote during the festivities. PR after the break!

Gallery: Sony reveals PlayStation Suite

Continue reading Sony reveals PlayStation Suite framework, store for Android gaming

Sony reveals PlayStation Suite framework, store for Android gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Live from Sony's Tokyo event

Ross Miller — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:05:00 EST

We're gonna level with you, we're not entirely sure what (if anything) Sony will show off at its Tokyo meeting today -- other than "business [overview] and strategy," of course. All the same, with the rumor mill in high gear about a possible PSP2 debut, we decided to take a chance and fly halfway across the world. Will it end up a worthy excursion with momentous payoff? Some fiscal and corporate chatter? A new Japanese ad campaign featuring a terribly dubbed Kevin Butler? Follow along!

Continue reading Live from Sony's Tokyo event

Live from Sony's Tokyo event originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Reminder: we'll be live from Sony's Tokyo event tonight at 1AM ET!

Ross Miller — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:40:00 EST

Heads up: we're the sort of people who'll drop everything and get on a 12-hour flight (sometimes longer) to Japan just in case Sony's "business strategies" meeting turns out to be the platform from which the company unveils its oft-rumored PSP2. If you happen to be awake, the fun starts around 1AM ET tonight (which is actually tomorrow, but hey, you get the message). Link to our impending liveblog? Why, we never thought you'd ask: here you go!

Reminder: we'll be live from Sony's Tokyo event tonight at 1AM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget Podcast 230 - 01.24.2011

Trent Wolbe — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST

This week in consumer electronics was full of culture. Or maybe it was full of color -- we're not quite sure what the difference might be, but there was a lot of weird / cool news in the CEO, handheld gaming, and tablet worlds. The point is, we've got another weird / cool podcast on our hands that you haven't listened to yet and you need to take care of that, like, five minutes ago.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, #1 Digitimes bestselling author Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Superstition

00:04:15 - Steve Jobs takes medical leave from Apple, Tim Cook taking over daily operations in his absence
00:10:22 - Apple turns in record Q1: $6b profit on $26.7b revenue, 16.2m iPhones sold
00:23:20 - Apple's invested in a 'very strategic' $3.9b component supply agreement, but what is it?
00:25:10 - Asahi Glass introduces Dragontrail for consumer electronics, puts the Gorilla on notice (video)
00:25:48 - Larry Page taking over as Google CEO, Eric Schmidt will remain as Executive Chairman
00:35:30 - Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number, maybe (update)
00:44:53 - Exclusive: HP / Palm's webOS tablets -- pictures, plans, and more
00:45:42 - HP / Palm tablet to feature Touchstone dock, cloud storage, Beats audio and Tap-to-Share smartphone integration
00:49:30 - HP calls us out, implies it's got even better scoops at February webOS event
00:53:20 - HP's first webOS tablet may start shipping in March, fulfill longstanding promise
01:06:00 - Motorola Xoom launching February 17th at Best Buy (update: priced at $700)
01:06:22 - Motorola Xoom priced at $800 at a minimum, according to Verizon leak
01:14:52 - Nintendo 3DS coming to US March 27th for $249.99, Europe first on March 25th (video)
01:19:10 - Live from Nintendo's 3DS preview with Reggie Fils-Aime
01:23:22 - Bloomberg: Sony PSP2 to debut next week, PlayStation Phone at MWC
01:23:47 - This fan-made PSP redesign is sexy
01:25:15 - PSP2 to be based on iPhone-esque PowerVR GPU, rival original Xbox in power?
01:27:52 - The Engadget Show returns next Sunday with Steve Wozniak!

Hear the podcast

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @engadget @reckless

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 230 - 01.24.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nikkei: PSP2 will have 3G cellular data, OLED touchscreen

Sean Hollister — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:54:00 EST

We're only four days away from a supposed January 27th unveiling, but apparently there are still more juicy PSP2 rumors left to dole out -- Japan's often-reliable Nikkei newspaper reports that the handheld machine will sport a crisp OLED touchscreen and 3G data from NTT DoCoMo when it arrives later this year, with the latter enabling multiplayer action and even full video and game downloads over the Japanese cellular network. What's more, the paper confirms that the screen will be physically larger and powered by some potent new silicon. So, how will Sony differentiate this PSP2 from the PlayStation Phone and tempt you to buy both? The game system won't make calls.

Note: In case you're not familiar, the image above is a relatively ancient reader mockup, and likely not representative of the final product. It is pretty sexy, though.

Nikkei: PSP2 will have 3G cellular data, OLED touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony to announce PSP2 at January 27th Tokyo meeting?

Ross Miller — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:52:00 EST

Sony has a January 27th meeting in Tokyo to discuss "business [overview] and strategy." That much is true (and confirmed by Joystiq to Sony). What we don't know is whether MCV and VG247's sources are worth their weight in Lucida Grande. Both sites claim to have heard this meeting will be the launch platform for the PSP2. (VG247, for its part, has previously published pictures of an apparent PSP2 dev kit.) No major trade show debut, just a Tokyo meeting of unknown spectacle... then again, 3DS' unveil was a random press release, so stranger things have happened. We'd wager on another PlayStation Phone non-confirmation at the very least, but we'll have to wait and see.

Sony to announce PSP2 at January 27th Tokyo meeting? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's Kaz Hirai talks up virtues of touch controls, weighs in on PlayStation phone

Ross Miller — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:07:00 EST

The PlayStation phone keeps popping up time and again, and still no one at Sony is going to flat-out admit anything -- but that hasn't stopped playful speculation. Even SCE chief Kaz Hirai is joining in the fun. "We don't want gamers to be asking, what's the difference between that [a PS phone] and a PSP... we have to come up with a message that users will understand," he told The New York Times. "It would have to be a product that keeps the PlayStation's strengths intact." So that's the issue, then, differentiating a new PSP and a variant with phone capabilities -- nothing a good marketing campaign can't fix, if you ask us.

But enough about the phone, what of the PlayStation's portable brand in general? Hirai seems to fancy touch controls, actually. "Depending on the game, there are ones where you can play perfectly well with a touch panel," he said, adding that "immersive games" -- the ones he think are Sony's focus, vs. the more casual fare offered by Apple and Android -- do well with physical buttons, and that some games work well with the two. We can't help but notice he said touch panel and not touch screen, which reminds us of the touchpad we saw on the PS phone leaks, but we wouldn't want to harp too much.

Sony's Kaz Hirai talks up virtues of touch controls, weighs in on PlayStation phone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony fires barrage of touchscreen patent applications, only one points at new PSP

Sean Hollister — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:55:00 EST

Lawyers for Sony Computer Entertainment America must have been mighty busy last October, hatching the wild scheme that came to light this week -- a series of eight intertwining patent applications all describing a single device with an intriguing touchscreen interface. Though it's hard to tell what form the final device might take -- the apps suggest sliders, clamshells and slates -- a few distinct ideas bubble to the surface, and we'll knock them out one by one. First, the inventors seem to be rather particular about having a touchpad that's separate from the main screen -- perhaps even on its back like the rumored PSP2 -- and Sony's trying to patent a way to manipulate objects through the screen as well. Second, there's a lot of mumbo-jumbo about being able to "enhance" or "transform" the user interface in response to different forms of input, which seems to boil down to this: Sony's trying to get some multitouch up in there, especially pinch-to-zoom.

Last but not least, the company's looking to cordon off a section of touchscreen buttons, including a 'paste' command, and patent a "prediction engine" that would dynamically change the onscreen layout based on your past behavior. If most of these ideas sound more at home in a new tablet computer rather than a gaming handheld, then great minds think alike. Still, SCEA is Sony's gaming division -- forlorn Linux computing aside -- so consider us stumped for now.

Sony fires barrage of touchscreen patent applications, only one points at new PSP originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Early PSP2 dev kit in the wild?

Ross Miller — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:52:00 EST

Well, this is interesting. VG247 has published what it says are pics from an early Sony PSP2 development kit. There isn't much to go by in terms of back story, and in many ways it looks more like a KIRF from Mr. Blurrycam's vintage collection than something for software testing, but let's hear what the site has to say: HD screen, two cameras (front and rear), microphone, two thumbsticks, and a rear "trackpad" of sorts, presumably akin to what we've seen on the PS Phone leak. VG247 later updated to say that a source claims it's an earlier version of the kit and that a revision has since been developed without a sliding screen -- a move to perhaps deal with (also rumored) overheating concerns. We know a PSP2 exists in some form, so this can go one of two ways -- either cleaner shots will be found, or an entirely different leak will surface later. Given the suspect Fall 2011 debut, we have plenty of time to wait around and see.

[Thanks, Ross M -- no relation]

Early PSP2 dev kit in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More details emerge of supposed PSP2 with backside touch controls, HD screen, hot personality

Tim Stevens — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 07:34:00 EST

About a month before this year's Tokyo Game Show we started hearing new reports of the PSP2, a device that's been rumored since roughly the dawn of time (which could explain the prehistoric creatures on the concept render above). These rumors, however, were different, specifically the mention of a touchpad on the back of the device. Alas that device didn't make an appearance to the press at TGS, but supposedly Sony was showing it off to some developers. Kotaku has learned a few more things, most notable being a display an inch larger than the current PSP's and having a high-def resolution -- a detail that should surprise none. According to the report Sony is still tweaking the internal hardware, trying to mitigate overheating issues ahead of a release sometime in the fall of 2011. That would likely mean an unveiling at the 2011 E3, the same place the original unit was first shown in the flesh eight whole years earlier.

More details emerge of supposed PSP2 with backside touch controls, HD screen, hot personality originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSP2 apparently in Mortal Kombat developers' hands, said to be a 'pretty powerful machine'

Donald Melanson — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST

We just heard last month that Sony might already be showing off some prototype PSP2 hardware (said to be roughly similar in size to the PSP-3000), and it now looks like the next-gen handheld may have found its way into some developers' hands as well. That's according to Shaun Himmerick of Netherrealm Studios, at least, who responded to a question about a new Mortal Kombat possibly heading to the PSP or 3DS by saying that while they won't be launching day one on those devices, they actually "have a PSP2 in house." He further went on to say that the PSP2 looks "like it's a pretty powerful machine," and added that they don't yet have a 3DS system but are looking to get one. No confirmation from Sony on this, as you might expect, but it certainly seems like the hardware is pretty far along -- possibly even ahead or on the same track as the 3DS?

[Thanks, Aaron]

PSP2 apparently in Mortal Kombat developers' hands, said to be a 'pretty powerful machine' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Next gen PSP to have touch controls -- on the wrong side?

Tim Stevens — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:09:00 EST

Touchscreen controls are nice for some applications but, until someone invents transparent fingers, they're a real bother for gaming. Many, including Apple, have toyed with the idea of putting the touch sensitive sections on the back of the device, and we have strong rumors coming out of Gamescom this week that this is the path Sony is taking for its next-generation PSP. Now, we've been hearing various rumors about this thing for just about as long as we've known about the first-gen PSP, but Sony is said to be quietly showing off a prototype unit about the size of a PSP-3000. While everyone agrees about the touch-sensitive portion 'round the back, it's unknown what (if any) physical controls will go along with it. A release date for the thing is also unclear, with some saying next year and others saying it'll be later than that. Whenever it ships we hope it'll do the right thing and finally put the UMD format out of its misery.

Next gen PSP to have touch controls -- on the wrong side? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Exclusive: Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 gaming platform and PSP Go-like smartphone

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:50:00 EST

There's no question that gaming on the Android platform has heretofore been relatively underwhelming, but that looks like it's all about to change. It seems that Sony Ericsson -- a company that has yet to even introduce an Android 2.0 device -- is at work on a project to redefine gaming on Google's mobile platform. We now know (via a trusted source) that the company is actively and heavily developing a brand new gaming platform, ecosystem, and device (possibly alongside Google) which are already in the late stages of planning. And we've got the goods on it.

Continue reading Exclusive: Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 gaming platform and PSP Go-like smartphone

Exclusive: Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 gaming platform and PSP Go-like smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hardware battle looms for theoretical successors to Nintendo DS and Sony PSP

Tim Stevens — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST

It's a sorry state of affairs when a media player like the Zune HD has more polygon-pushing power than the latest handheld videogame consoles on the market. If rumors are to be believed, Nintendo and Sony will set things straight with their next-generation portables -- at least for a little while. We've already heard that the successor to Nintendo's DS will have Tegra power, but the current speculation is that it'll be a Tegra 2 chip, promising twice the power of the current iteration. On the Sony side the PSP2 is apparently shaping up to use an offspring of the IMG PowerVR graphics found on the iPhone, said to be theoretically superior to what the DS2 will be able to achieve but costing more, being more difficult to develop for, and not shipping until sometime in 2011 -- potentially a year later than the DS2. In other words it's standard operating procedure if these rumors are to be believed, but even if there aren't any surprises in this showdown we'll be there in the front row with popcorn to watch the bloodshed.

Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Hardware battle looms for theoretical successors to Nintendo DS and Sony PSP originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSP2 to be based on iPhone-esque PowerVR GPU, rival original Xbox in power?

Paul Miller — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST

If Sony's PSPgo was some halfhearted attempt to quell incessant PSP2 rumoring (and our favorite PSP2 mockup render, above), it certainly doesn't seem to have worked. The new rumor out and about is that the inevitable PSP2 will harbor a PowerVR GPU along the lines of what's present in the new iPhone 3GS. The SGX543MP cited has four cores, with a rating of 133 million polygons per second at the low-end 200MHz mode that seems likely for portable use. GamesIndustry.biz calls this a "ballpark match" for the original Xbox, with some additional Dreamcast rendering enhancements for avoiding wasting time on hidden elements in a scene. They also point out that Imagination Technologies calls the chip a GP-GPU, capable of handling computing tasks in addition to graphics, and potentially giving the PSP2 the power savings of not needing a separate CPU to operate. Sure, it's all a difficult to pin down rumor at the moment, but if anything these sort of specs show what's possible for a new generation of handheld gaming when the likes of Sony and Nintendo are ready to give it to us. Now about a second analog stick...

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

PSP2 to be based on iPhone-esque PowerVR GPU, rival original Xbox in power? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Sony's PSP Go leaks out before E3, is obviously a go

Darren Murph — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:12:00 EST

Look up there, folks. That's the future of Sony's hopes and dreams in the handheld gaming sector. With just hours to go before the company's official E3 2009 press event, it looks like the pieces are all coming together. First a UMD-less game release, then a highly credible mole giving the PSP Go a name, and now -- live action shots. The images here were sourced from an obviously slipped June 2009 Qore video, and aside from giving us a look at the slider-based system (which, let's be honest, looks a ton like the questionably successful mylo), we're also told that it'll tout 16GB of internal memory, built-in Bluetooth and an undisclosed memory slot. If all goes well, it'll ship this Fall for a price to be determined, and it's actually not slated to replace the PSP-3000, as both of 'em will attempt to live on store shelves harmoniously... at least for awhile. Oh, and don't worry -- we'll be on hand in LA to bring you all the impressions we can muster early next week.

[Via PlayStation Forums, thanks Matt and A1]

Update: Video is now after the break! Thanks adizzy615!

Update 2: Official press shots have emerged. [Via Engadget Spanish]

Update 3: A few more official specifications are flowing from the full Qore video (pardon the sync issues). Here's the dirt:

3.8-inch display (resolution is undisclosed)
43 percent lighter than the PSP-3000
16GB of Flash storage
Bluetooth built-in; supports handset tethering and BT headsets
No UMD drive
Memory Stick Micro slot
New Gran Turismo, Little Big Planet and new Metal Gear Solid (!) on the way
Full PlayStation Network support (movie and TV rentals / purchases)
Integration with PlayStation 3 (works the same as the PSP-3000 does)
Sony views each of its products as "10-year lifecycle products," so the PSP "needs to live on."

Gallery: Sony's PSP Go leaked!

Continue reading Video: Sony's PSP Go leaks out before E3, is obviously a go

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Video: Sony's PSP Go leaks out before E3, is obviously a go originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Next PSP to rely on Memory Stick HG-Micro for storage?

Donald Melanson — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:13:00 EST

You can be sure this won't be the last PSP rumor to surface before E3, but the word going around now is that the so-called PSP Go! (or PSP2, or PSP Slide...) won't rely primarily on some internal memory for storage as previously speculated, but on something like Sony's new Memory Stick HG-Micro format, which is about 40MB/s faster than a standard Memory Stick Duo card. That word apparently comes from some "sources close to PSP development" that have spoken to PC World's Game On blog, who seem to also be suggesting that the Memory Sticks would effectively replace UMDs as a game delivery format, and not simply be used for downloaded games and whatnot. All of which certainly seems reasonable enough, even if it's still far from being anywhere close to official.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming

Next PSP to rely on Memory Stick HG-Micro for storage? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony unveiling UMD-less PSP with slide-out buttons at E3?

Ross Miller — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:05:00 EST

Whispers of a new or revised PSP have been growing decidedly louder as of late, and now 1UP's gotten a ton of new details from what it claims are "sources directly involved with the new system" -- our favorite kind of people, actually. Here's what they were told: UMD is out, replaced instead with options for either 8GB or 16GB of built-in flash memory. Also nixed is any hope of a "PSP-4000," with Sony opting instead to use a subtitle. Three rumored names include PSP Slide, PSP Flip, and PSP Go!, the latter of which borrows from Sony's pre-existing Go! brand and suggests there might be a built-in camera à la PSP-3000's Go!Cam peripheral. The same D-pad, analog nub, and face button configuration remains, but they now slide out from the bottom of the unit (see mockup, pictured). Expected launch is September for Japan and late October / early November for US, and coming with 'em are over 100 classic and new downloadable titles including Gran Turismo Mobile as a headliner. Sony's supposedly going official with all this during its E3 press conference in early June, and for now they're opting to give the staple "does not comment on rumors or speculation" response. That's one mighty intriguing rumor -- we can only hope it pans out.

Filed under: Gaming

Sony unveiling UMD-less PSP with slide-out buttons at E3? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Latest PSP2 rumor covers familar ground, adds pre-Xmas release date

Donald Melanson — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST

Not that we needed much more evidence that 2009 would be the year 'o PSP rumors, but Pocket Gamer is now reporting that it has heard from an "insider source" who says that the PSP2 will indeed be released before Christmas of this year. That source, who's supposedly a "developer working on the new hardware," also backs up some of the earlier rumors about the design of the device itself, saying that it will be more like the iPhone than the current PSP, and that it will boast a sliding touchscreen that conceals the buttons and dual analog controls when it's closed. Not much more than that, unfortunately, but who know's what next week's rumor will bring? We're personally hoping for a surprise Atari Lynx rebirth to really shake things up.

Filed under: Gaming

Latest PSP2 rumor covers familar ground, adds pre-Xmas release date originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony plays catch up with hackers, mulling over PSP 'virtual console'

Ross Miller — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:34:00 EST

We're pretty sure a good lot of you with PSPs have used them for, shall we say, less than reputable means -- like playing 16-bit era games using emulators. Soon, there might be a more legit outlet for that fix, as Sony's head of US marketing for PlayStation hardware John Koller tells MTV Multiplayer it's looking to bring classics from before Sony entered the arena to the handheld, à la Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console. The company's also expanding North America's library of PSOne downloads to eventually match the plethora of titles available to the Japanese market. It's all part of a greater initiative to make more digitally-distributed, download-only titles, which we wholeheartedly support -- now, about those pesky UMD-less PSP2 rumors...

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming

Sony plays catch up with hackers, mulling over PSP 'virtual console' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSP2 rumor surfaces once more, sounds awfully familiar

Donald Melanson — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:33:00 EST

The PSP2 rumor mill has certainly been cranking overtime as of late, and it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down, even if it isn't exactly churning out many new rumors. This time, however, they're apparently be backed up by a developer source "close to Sony," who again says that the PSP2 (or PSP-4000, as it's also being called) will ditch the UMD drive and add a sliding screen that covers most of the controls when it's closed. According to the source, that would still let folks play games like LocoRoco that only use the shoulder buttons when it's closed, and Sony is reportedly keen to get developers to create more games that can be played in that state. No word on a release date from the latest source, unfortunately, although Eurogamer seems to be sticking to its earlier report that it'll launch by the end of the year.

[Via GameDaily]

Filed under: Gaming

PSP2 rumor surfaces once more, sounds awfully familiar originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSP 2 is ready and UMD-less, claims Earthworm Jim developer

Ross Miller — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:22:00 EST

We've lost count on the number of times we've heard from a friend of a coworker of a cousin whose girlfriend's stepfather happens to work at Sony and they're all but ready to launch a UMD-less PSP in 17 different color options bundled with a portable version of Street Fighter IV. Typically, we remain skeptical, but when it's veteran developer David "I made MDK and Earthworm Jim" Perry, we'll give him the floor to speak. Earlier this week, his Twitter account updated to say he's heard the PSP 2 is done and minus that disc drive. He later reaffirmed that comment to GameDaily, saying he can't reveal his source (naturally), but he feels certain UMD is gone. Is his source bunk? He's certainly a guy who'd know a guy, but we've heard this story far too many times to take a leap of faith now.

[Via Joystiq]

Read - David Perry's Twitter
Read - GameDaily

Filed under: Gaming

PSP 2 is ready and UMD-less, claims Earthworm Jim developer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony scouting a tester for unreleased new product?

Darren Murph — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:06:00 EST

While the rumors of a PSP2 and PSP Phone have calmed down of late, they're never truly dead. According to a fluent Japanese speaker translating a Sony Japan job listing for GameSpot, the company is on the hunt for an "evaluator / assessor for a new game machine." More specifically, that elusive machine is said to be a "part of the PlayStation or PSP series and their peripherals." The listing goes on to state that the lucky winner will "be part of an advisory staff that will play PlayStation series software on this new machine and check its functionality," and they'll also be able to "test game machines not yet released or new functionality of PS3 peripherals before they are released." From there, it's up to your imagination to determine what exactly this could be alluding to, but we're setting our expectations remarkably low as to not be disappointed.

[Via GameSpot]

Filed under: Gaming

Sony scouting a tester for unreleased new product? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony PSP2 rumors debunked, probably not for the last time

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:10:00 EST

OK, guys and gals, we hate to break it to you -- John Koller, Sony's Director of Hardware Marketing has said it in plain English: "no plans for a PSP2 are underway." Apparently, the company is pushing developers towards the PlayStation store for their primary point of sale, a move that some people have taken to mean that the companies have been secretly developing games for some sort of new platform. Of course, in the light of some similarly "cryptic" statements we reported yesterday, some folks might continue to be ~~gullible~~ skeptical. Which is fine, as long as nobody asks us when the device pictured above will be released. 'Cos it won't be. Evar.

Filed under: Gaming

Sony PSP2 rumors debunked, probably not for the last time originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony to release new handheld sometime in the future

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:31:00 EST

According to Eurogamer, sources close to Sony say that sometime in the future, a new PlayStation Portable will be released. While there's been no official word, the game site is reporting that there could be an update to the current PSP (which might be called the PSP 4000), and in the not-too-distant future (2010 or 2011), Sony will introduce a completely new model, confusingly dubbed the "PSP2." David Reeves, SCEE president has recently been quoted as making vague, suspicious statements such as "there are currently no plans for a PSP2," and "I go to Tokyo quite a lot and no one has referred to it - I think they have their hands full at the moment." Nice try Reeves, but If you keep up these kinds of thinly veiled allusions to a new system, we suspect it's only a matter of years till this cat's out of the bag.

[Via Yahoo!]

Note: The above post is sarcasm. It also saddens us that we had to add this note.

Filed under: Gaming

Sony to release new handheld sometime in the future originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Imagination Technologies said to have signed on with Sony for PSP successor

Donald Melanson — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:01:00 EST

Well, this is certainly interesting. While Imagination Technologies itself isn't going any further than to say that it has signed a licensing deal with a "major international consumer electronics company," EETimes.com is reporting that the company in question is, in fact, Sony, and that the deal concerns Imagination's PowerVR architecture being used in the successor to the PSP. More specifically, according to EETimes' unnamed sources, the PSP 2 will be using Imagination's SGX55x core, which itself, of course, still hasn't been officially announced either. As EETimes notes, if that turns out to be the case, it would certainly be quite the coup for Imagination, especially considering that its PowerVR MBX technology has already found its way into the iPhone, among other devices.

[Via EETimes.com, thanks Rob E]

Filed under: Gaming

Imagination Technologies said to have signed on with Sony for PSP successor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments