Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[No discounted UMD transfers to Vita for US, angel loses its wings]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/no-discounted-umd-passport-transfers-to-vita-for-us-psp/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/no-discounted-umd-passport-transfers-to-vita-for-us-psp/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/no-discounted-umd-passport-transfers-to-vita-for-us-psp/#comments No discounted UMD transfers to Vita for US, angel loses its wings
Hey, America ... no soup for you! Vita apparently means no discounted downloads of your beloved disc-based PSP games as Kotaku reports Sony won't be offering its "UMD Passport" service in the US. Since December, Sony has let existing Japanese PSP owners upgrade UMD games to Vita downloadable copies for around ¥500-1,000 ($6.50 - $13). Penny-pinching US gamers can perhaps console themselves with the fact that they can still get a discount for digital downloads of Vita games. Well, that or make hungry eyes for free at Vitas displayed in kiosks at select stores.

No discounted UMD transfers to Vita for US, angel loses its wings originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>discountjapanplaystationplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaportable gamingPortableGamingps vitapsppsp downloadsPspDownloadspsvPsVitasonysony playstationsony PSPsony vitaSonyPlaystationSonyPspSonyVitaumdUMD vitaUmdVitavita downloadsvita passportVitaDownloadsVitaPassportWed, 08 Feb 2012 03:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony announces UMD Passport program in Japan, offers Vita PSN discounts to UMD owners]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/11/sony-announces-umd-passport-program-in-japan-offers-vita-psn-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/11/sony-announces-umd-passport-program-in-japan-offers-vita-psn-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/11/sony-announces-umd-passport-program-in-japan-offers-vita-psn-di/#comments When Sony mentioned that the Vita wouldn't support the PSP's existing UMD library, we had to wonder what would become of the little discs. Sony hinted that something was on the way for physical media aficionados at TGS, but wasn't ready to go into detail yet. Today, however, SCEJ announced the UMD Passport program -- a service that will let Japanese PSP owners register UMD games through a PSP app to secure discounts for repurchasing titles on the new console. The discounted games average between ¥500-1,000 (about $6 and $13, respectively) a pop, but can go for as high as ¥2,400. The UMD registration app hits the Japanese PlayStation store on December 6th, and Sony hopes to make the system compatible with roughly 200 titles. Hit the source links below for Sony's official press release and an initial list of Passport compatible games, in Japanese, of course.

Sony announces UMD Passport program in Japan, offers Vita PSN discounts to UMD owners originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaps vitapsppsvPsVitasonysony playstationsony PSPsony vitaSonyPlaystationSonyPspSonyVitaumdUMD vitaUmdVitavita passportVitaPassportFri, 11 Nov 2011 03:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony answers more PlayStation Vita questions: no to video output, yes to region-free]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/sony-answers-more-playstation-vita-questions-no-to-video-output/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/sony-answers-more-playstation-vita-questions-no-to-video-output/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/sony-answers-more-playstation-vita-questions-no-to-video-output/#comments We heard earlier at E3 that the PlayStation Vita might be able to do video output via the multiport on the bottom of the handheld, but it's now looking like that won't be the case -- at least according to the official FAQ that Sony has made available. In slightly better news, however, Sony exec Michael Denny said today that, to the best of his knowledge, the PS Vita will indeed be region-free just like the PS3. Otherwise, Sony hasn't provided much more in the way of surprises, but it looks like it is at least leaving the door open to helping folks bring their UMD-bound games with them to the new handheld. While it's ruled out a UMD reader of any sort, Sony says that it will "consider every possibility for support on bought UMD games," although it has nothing to announce at this time. Check out the complete FAQ at the source link below.

Sony answers more PlayStation Vita questions: no to video output, yes to region-free originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3E3 2011E32011playstationplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaps vitaPsVitasonyumdvitaThu, 09 Jun 2011 14:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Andrew House: PSP Go launched in part to 'learn more about what the consumer wanted']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/sonys-andrew-house-psp-go-launched-in-part-to-learn-more-abou/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/sonys-andrew-house-psp-go-launched-in-part-to-learn-more-abou/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/sonys-andrew-house-psp-go-launched-in-part-to-learn-more-abou/#commentsSony's certainly been fairly candid when discussing the PSP Go in the past, but SCEE CEO Andrew House went quite a bit further than usual in discussing the download-only handheld with MCV recently. When asked if he considered the PSP Go to be a success, he responded by saying that it was "introduced in a mature lifecycle to learn more about what the consumer wanted," and that Sony has "definitely learned a lot," adding that "one of the reasons we launched PSP Go was to understand where that consumer behavior was going." He further went on to say that Sony was "getting signals from consumers that this was the kind of device that they wanted," but says that Sony needs to "recognize that consumers like their packaged media library." Does that mean a return to physical media for the eventual PSP 2? House unsurprisingly wouldn't say, but we have a feeling Sony will be getting plenty of questions about it at E3 next week.

Sony's Andrew House: PSP Go launched in part to 'learn more about what the consumer wanted' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew houseAndrewHousegame downloadsGameDownloadsplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepsppsp goPspGosceesonyUMDTue, 08 Jun 2010 17:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Logitech working on UMD drive add-on for the PSP Go?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/logitech-working-on-umd-drive-add-on-for-the-psp-go/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/logitech-working-on-umd-drive-add-on-for-the-psp-go/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/logitech-working-on-umd-drive-add-on-for-the-psp-go/#comments
There may have been plenty of folks pushing Sony to ditch UMD once and for all with the PSP Go, but there's at least as many sorry to see it left behind, as evidenced by the continued strong sales of the venerable PSP-3000. While nothing's official just yet, it looks like Logitech just might now be set to bridge the divide the two handhelds with a UMD drive add-on of some sort for the PSP Go. That word comes form an unnamed source speaking to CVG, who reportedly said that the only problem with the drive is that "it'll make the PSP a little bulky," but offered no other details. Of course, there's also the small problem that the add-on would only add more to the cost of the PSP Go along with the bulk, thereby making the PSP-3000 an even more attractive option, but we'll hold off on any futher speculation until this thing gets a bit more real.

Logitech working on UMD drive add-on for the PSP Go? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>logitechpsppsp gopsp-3000PspGoumdumd add-onumd driveumd drive add-onUmdAdd-onUmdDriveUmdDriveAdd-onWed, 02 Dec 2009 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PSPs enlisted as study aids by the Royal Navy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/sony-psps-enlisted-as-study-aids-by-the-royal-navy/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/sony-psps-enlisted-as-study-aids-by-the-royal-navy/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/sony-psps-enlisted-as-study-aids-by-the-royal-navy/#comments Whoever it was at Sony HQ that decided to pursue "military contracts" as a revenue source, kudos! Mere days after the US Air Force expressed interest in expanding its PS3 supercomputer, we're hearing glorious Britannia's Royal Navy has conscripted 230 PSPs into duty as revision aids for its trainee sailors. Loaded with maths and physics materials, the PSPs can be used in a bunk, have familiar controls for the young and mostly male recruits, and are considered pretty tough to break. The underlying reason for this move though is cost cutting: by making the training course more intensive, the Navy is saving on teaching time. Given that the UMD drive won't come disabled -- which is hoped to encourage the sailors to take better care of the device -- the future this paints is of marines who've spent more time with a freebie handheld console than with a pro instructor. At least they'll have a great stable of captured monsters to show for it.

[Thanks, pankomputerek]

Sony PSPs enlisted as study aids by the Royal Navy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainbritishconsoleconsoleseducationgaminghandheldmarinesplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepsprevisionroyal marinesroyal navyRoyalMarinesRoyalNavysoldierssonystudystudy aidstudy aidsStudyAidStudyAidsstudyingukumdumd driveUmdDrivewarfareSat, 28 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kohjinsha PA series tablet ships in November, value not guaranteed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/26/kohjinsha-pa-series-tablet-ships-in-november-value-not-guarante/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/26/kohjinsha-pa-series-tablet-ships-in-november-value-not-guarante/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/26/kohjinsha-pa-series-tablet-ships-in-november-value-not-guarante/#commentsKohjinsha PA series tablet ships in November, value not guaranteed Kohjinsha had a slew of portables on display at CEATEC earlier this month, including the classification-bending PA. Its design fits in somewhere between a MID and a tablet netbook, with its 4.8-inch, 1024 x 600 touchscreen and 1.33GHz Atom processor, but now we're learning that it's price roughly equates to a netbook and a MID. The device hits Japan early next month for ¥69,800, about $770. That's certainly not cheap, but if you need one elsewhere you're probably going to need to go through an importer, and their prices are ¥79,800 and up. That's about $870. Yikes.

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Kohjinsha PA series tablet ships in November, value not guaranteed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kohjinsa paKohjinsaPaKohjinshamidnetbookpatabletumdumpcMon, 26 Oct 2009 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Android-based ODROID handheld available for pre-order]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/android-based-odroid-handheld-available-for-pre-order/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/android-based-odroid-handheld-available-for-pre-order/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/android-based-odroid-handheld-available-for-pre-order/#comments
Hard Kernel has just announced that the developer version of the ODROID Android-powered portable gaming device is available for pre-order as of today. The device features an 833MHz Samsung S5PC100 processor (same as the iPhone 3GS), 512MB of RAM, and a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen. Sadly, there's no integrated 3G, but WiFi b/g, Bluetooth and mini-HDMI output is supported. The Android OS 1.5 runs off a 2GB TFlash card, with an 8GB SD card supplied for storage. Also included are a download/charger cable, serial console debugging board and batteries. Going for about $320, this bad boy is expected to ship on November 5th. If all goes well, you can expect to see a consumer version sometime in December for around $250.

[Via SlashGear]

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Android-based ODROID handheld available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgame consoleGameConsolegaminghardkernelhardkernel odroidHardkernelOdroidodroidportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoumdvideo playerVideoPlayerTue, 29 Sep 2009 13:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony America abandons UMD-to-PSP Go "good will" program, offers 225 games at full retail price instead]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/28/sony-america-abandons-umd-to-psp-go-good-will-program-offers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/28/sony-america-abandons-umd-to-psp-go-good-will-program-offers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/28/sony-america-abandons-umd-to-psp-go-good-will-program-offers/#comments You know that UMD-to-PSP Go conversion program? Ain't gonna happen. The "good will" program that would have provided free (or at least heavily discounted) digital copies of games already purchased on UMD discs has been scrapped. A spokesman for SCEA said, "We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time." Adding insult to injury, the PSP Go Rewards program offering 3 free games to European UMD owners will not be offered in the US. That's the bad news. The not so bad news is that 16,000 pieces of digital content will be available for the US PSP Go launch on October 1st. These include 225 downloadable games (full PSP titles, PSN exclusives, UMD legacy titles, and Minis), 2,300 films, and 13,300 television episodes. Still, not quite the "at least 300" digital games we were expecting. So US PSP owners, still planning to "upgrade?"

Read -- UMD-to-PSP Go program scrapped
Read -- 225 games at US launch

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Sony America abandons UMD-to-PSP Go "good will" program, offers 225 games at full retail price instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>go rewardsGoRewardspsppsp gopsp go rewardsPspGoPspGoRewardsrewardssonyumdMon, 28 Sep 2009 06:16:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Go refused by game retailer as Blockbuster fiddles]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/psp-go-refused-by-game-retailer-as-blockbuster-fiddles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/psp-go-refused-by-game-retailer-as-blockbuster-fiddles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/16/psp-go-refused-by-game-retailer-as-blockbuster-fiddles/#commentsDo you run a brick-and-mortar store that primarily sells media? Yeah? Then lean in real close, we've got a little trend that you may have overlooked. The physical media you carry -- be it films, music, or games -- is going digital and moving on-line for direct-to-consumer downloads. Still, Dutch gaming-house Nedgame has a statement on its website saying it will not be selling the UMD-less PSP Go. It lists six reasons framed in a way that makes them sound like they're fighting for the rights of the consumer. However, as a seller of gaming media that boasts two new store openings on its home page, the primary beef likely stems from the shop's inability to sell physical media to the download-only PSP Go. Maybe a search on the tag Blockbuster could help with expansion planning?

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

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PSP Go refused by game retailer as Blockbuster fiddles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dutchhollandnedgamenetherlandspsppsp goPspGoretailsonyumdWed, 16 Sep 2009 08:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Android-based ODROID handheld gaming concept debuts, hurts our eyes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/android-based-odroid-handheld-gaming-concept-debuts-hurts-our-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/android-based-odroid-handheld-gaming-concept-debuts-hurts-our-e/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/android-based-odroid-handheld-gaming-concept-debuts-hurts-our-e/#comments
The gadget underground has been buzzin' with clandestine chatter relating to Android MIDs lately, and now a company called Hardkernel is concocting a handheld game platform and media player based on the open source OS and the same processor as the iPhone 3GS. And you know what? This is a pretty cool idea for a device, even if the company's website leaves us frightened and confused. ODROID is a 3.5-inch (320 x 480 capacitive touchscreen) concept that sports a 600MHz Samsung S5PC100 ARM Cortex A8 CPU, HDMI output (720p), composite video output, microSD and SD card slots, and WiFi b/g. We're not entirely sure when (or if) this thing will see the light of day, or for how much, but you'll know as soon as we do. Promise.

[Via SlashGear]

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Android-based ODROID handheld gaming concept debuts, hurts our eyes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgame consoleGameConsolegaminghardkernalhardkernal odroidHardkernalOdroidodroidportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoumdvideo playerVideoPlayerTue, 01 Sep 2009 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXIV: JXD1000 PSP clone has no UMD drive, shame]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/keepin-it-real-fake-part-ccxxxiv-jxd1000-psp-clone-has-no-umd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/keepin-it-real-fake-part-ccxxxiv-jxd1000-psp-clone-has-no-umd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/keepin-it-real-fake-part-ccxxxiv-jxd1000-psp-clone-has-no-umd/#commentsKeepin' it real fake, part CCXXXIV: JXD1000 PSP clone has no UMD drive, shame Sony may or may not have given up on the UMD format, but it's safe to say that KIRFsters never really got on board in the first place. There's a long and storied line of PSP knockoffs, and none have had room for little spinny discs. This latest one doesn't either, but it will play 720p video in a slew of formats, serve up game ROMs in a variety of flavors, tune in FM radio, and take two megapixel pictures. It sports a 4.3-inch, 480 x 272 screen, which won't do much justice to those 720p vids, but with only 8GB of storage there's not much room for high-def content anyway. Just $88 gets you one, but if you order 15 you can save a whole buck!

[Via PMP Today]

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXIV: JXD1000 PSP clone has no UMD drive, shame originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kirfpspsony pspSonyPspumdFri, 28 Aug 2009 09:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Seemingly solid PSP-4000 rumors give new hope for UMD fans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/26/seemingly-solid-psp-4000-rumors-give-new-hope-for-umd-fans/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/26/seemingly-solid-psp-4000-rumors-give-new-hope-for-umd-fans/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/26/seemingly-solid-psp-4000-rumors-give-new-hope-for-umd-fans/#commentsSeemingly solid PSP-4000 rumors give new hope for UMD fansPut away black mourning clothes, PSP owners, there's life yet in them thar UMDs. When the PSP Go was announced it seemed like there was little time left for the plucky (and generally disliked) format, and indications that Sony had planned to ditch it "since the very beginning" were further nails in its apparent coffin. But now, according to a particularly reliable tipster (who accurately predicted the PS3 Slim in June, right down to the inclusion of proper buttons), there's a PSP-4000 inbound that will still sport a UMD drive. According to the tip this new machine will live along-side the Go, but little is known beyond that... other than it's apparently "nothing to actually get excited about." Tell that to the kids with the Lumines discs rattling away in the spokes of their bicycles.

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Seemingly solid PSP-4000 rumors give new hope for UMD fans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>250gbps3psppsp 4000psp-4000Psp4000rumorsonysony psp 4000sony umdSonyPsp4000SonyUmdumdWed, 26 Aug 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[White PSP Assassin's Creed Bloodlines bundle to sell for $199]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/white-psp-assasins-creed-bloodlines-bundle-to-sell-for-199/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/white-psp-assasins-creed-bloodlines-bundle-to-sell-for-199/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/white-psp-assasins-creed-bloodlines-bundle-to-sell-for-199/#comments
Did anyone else think that Sony would have finally killed off the UMD movie for real by now? Guess again, suckers. The company just spilled some more details on that Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines PSP Entertainment Pack, and in addition to that sexy white PSP-3000 and 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, your $199 will get you an as-yet-unnamed feature film on UMD. Yes, even as Sony tip-toes into the future with the PSPgo, it's still trying to peddle movies on a garbage proprietary format no one ever really wanted and that most studios have stopped supporting. Old habits die hard, we suppose. Video after the break.

Continue reading White PSP Assassin's Creed Bloodlines bundle to sell for $199

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White PSP Assassin's Creed Bloodlines bundle to sell for $199 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins cree bloodlinesassassins creedassassins creed bloodlinesassassins-creed-bloodlinesAssassinsCreedAssassinsCreedBloodlinesbundleentertainment packEntertainmentPackmoviepsppsp entertainment packpsp slimpsp-3000PspEntertainmentPackPspSlimslim pspSlimPspsonyumdumd movieumd videoUmdMovieUmdVideovideoThu, 16 Jul 2009 14:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony exec says UMD-less PSP was "always the plan"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/sony-exec-says-umd-less-psp-was-always-the-plan/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/sony-exec-says-umd-less-psp-was-always-the-plan/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/sony-exec-says-umd-less-psp-was-always-the-plan/#comments
Well, it's no secret that plenty of folks have been talking about a UMD-less PSP since day one, but it looks like that's been the case behind the scenes at Sony as well, at least according to the company's head of product planning, Naoya Matsui. Speaking with GameBusiness.jp, he said that Sony has "planned to release a PSP model without a UMD drive since the very beginning," but that if "we'd simply released the hardware, there wouldn't have been much for everyone to enjoy," adding that Sony "needed to prepare the right environment for it first - things like the transferal of content with the PS3 and PSN, and PC software to manage content like music and movies such as Media Go." Matsui further went on to explain that Sony also had to wait until the "delivery of digital content was on par with the delivery of physical media," which it obviously thinks has now finally happened.

[Via Joystiq]

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Sony exec says UMD-less PSP was "always the plan" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>naoya matsuiNaoyaMatsuiplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepsppspgosonysony pspsony pspgoSonyPspSonyPspgoumdThu, 02 Jul 2009 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony working on "good will" program to give digital copies of your UMD collection]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/sony-working-on-good-will-program-to-give-digital-copies-of-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/sony-working-on-good-will-program-to-give-digital-copies-of-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/sony-working-on-good-will-program-to-give-digital-copies-of-yo/#comments
We just sat down for an interview with Sony's John Koller, who among many other interesting tidbits and factoids (more on those later) assuaged fears that our giant UMD library would be entirely forsaken. While light on details -- they're still figuring it out, he said -- there will be a "good will" program by which owners of current disc-based titles will be able to obtain digital copies for use on the PSP Go -- "a set number of titles for a set period of time," to be exact. He couldn't confirm all games, or at least all your personal collection, would be transferrable -- that might have to do with the number of digitized games they'll have at launch, which will be at least 300 but not the whole back catalog -- but despite calling it a short-term program he did say, should you receive a new UMD game later down the line, you should still be able to make the digital transfer. As for price, we're still looking to confirm something there, but they wouldn't be putting so much effort into the program if it wasn't at least for a discount, if not free.

If you happen to like your discs, Koller said UMDs aren't going by the wayside so long as the PSP is still around, but he expects digital to start taking an increasing share. Looking to the future, he confirmed all first-party titles and most third-party titles (by the developers' own volition, not a mandate) will be available as digital downloads day and date with the UMD hard copies, and yeah, despite the reduced shipping and manufacturing costs, it'll be for the same price, too.

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Sony working on "good will" program to give digital copies of your UMD collection originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital distributionDigitalDistributione3e3 2009E32009psppsp goPspGosonysony pspsony psp goSonyPspSonyPspGoumdThu, 04 Jun 2009 19:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PSP Go announced -- $249, no UMD]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/sony-psp-go-announced-bye-bye-umd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/sony-psp-go-announced-bye-bye-umd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/sony-psp-go-announced-bye-bye-umd/#comments Just as expected, Sony just announced the PSP Go at E3 just now -- Haz Kirai called it the "worst kept secret at E3." The slider handheld has a 3.8-inch LCD, built-in Bluetooth and 16GB of internal storage, all in a case 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the original PSP-1000 -- a weight savings we're guessing is directly attributable to the loss of the UMD drive. That's right, the Go doesn't have a UMD drive -- games will instead load in through the Memory Stick Micro slot or over PlayStation Network. That's not the end of the classic PSP, though -- Sony says it will "live on." New PSP titles will be distributed through both UMD at retail and online simultaneously -- Sony's beefing up the desktop client and renaming it Media Go for easier access and syncing with Playstation Network media, but you'll be able to get PSN content directly from the Go as well. The PSP's music features have also been beefed up with a new auto-playlist feature called Sense Me, which sounds a lot like Pandora or iTunes Genius playlists, and there's a new video delivery service being rolled out.

Don't expect the loss of UMD to lower the price, though: the Go will be $249 when it launches on October 1 in North America and Europe and November 1 in Japan. Sony's showing demo videos with both black and white versions, but that's not confirmed yet -- we'll let you know.

Update: Check the full PR here.

Update 2: Sony has just blasted out the detailed specifications. Here are the highlights:
  • Approx. 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth)
  • Weight: 5.6 ounces (including batter)
  • CPU: 333MHz
  • 64MB memory
  • 3.8-inch display (480 x 272 resolution)
  • Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
  • 802.11b WiFi
  • Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
  • USB 2.0
  • Memory Stick Micro slot
  • Analog video out
  • 16GB storage

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Sony PSP Go announced -- $249, no UMD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewse3e3 2009E32009psppsp goPspGosonyumdTue, 02 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[UMD-less Patapon 2 officially released for PSP, another brick in the wall?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/05/umd-less-patapon-2-officially-released-for-psp-another-brick-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/05/umd-less-patapon-2-officially-released-for-psp-another-brick-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/05/umd-less-patapon-2-officially-released-for-psp-another-brick-in/#comments
Joystiq reported back in April that Patapon 2's release would be a UMD-less affair, and now it's officially here. The followup game is now available as a digital download on the PSN, and as a redemption code voucher in retail locations. The sans-UMD format is a United States only test for Sony, and certainly leads us to wonder if that UMD-less PSP could possibly, potentially be in the works. The $19.99 title is available today, disc-less PSP available in your wildest dreams.

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UMD-less Patapon 2 officially released for PSP, another brick in the wall? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 May 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital downloadDigitalDownloadpatapon 2Patapon2playstation portablePlaystationPortablepspsonysony pspSonyPsptest marketstestingTestMarketsumdumd-lessTue, 05 May 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VP Ray Maguire claims UMD 'wasn't brilliant' for third parties, forgets we're living in the present]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/11/sony-vp-ray-maguire-claims-umd-wasnt-brilliant-for-third-part/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/11/sony-vp-ray-maguire-claims-umd-wasnt-brilliant-for-third-part/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/11/sony-vp-ray-maguire-claims-umd-wasnt-brilliant-for-third-part/#comments
Apparently the folks at Sony Computer Entertainment UK are experiencing some time anomalies of late, with Senior VP Ray Maguire talking about PSP's much-abused UMD format in the past tense. It might not be the biggest blunder on earth -- he stated that "The UMD model wasn't brilliant for third parties," and it certainly hasn't been -- but with rumors all over about Sony dropping the format in the near future, it's not looking good for those little ill-fated discs. Maguire went on to add, "The downloads side of it will increasingly become a bigger part of its future," so it looks like either way we know where Sony's emphasis lies, and we won't be shedding too many tears if / when it comes to pass.

[Via Joystiq]

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Sony VP Ray Maguire claims UMD 'wasn't brilliant' for third parties, forgets we're living in the present originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pspray maguireRayMaguiresonyumdWed, 11 Mar 2009 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP 2 is ready and UMD-less, claims Earthworm Jim developer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/psp-2-is-ready-and-umd-less-claims-earthworm-jim-developer/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/psp-2-is-ready-and-umd-less-claims-earthworm-jim-developer/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/psp-2-is-ready-and-umd-less-claims-earthworm-jim-developer/#commentsPSP 2 is ready and UMD-less, claims Earthworm Jim developer 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

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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]]>dave perryDavePerrydavid perryDavidPerryperrypsppsp 2Psp2sonyumdThu, 26 Feb 2009 07:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Compal showcases prototype UMPC running Windows CE]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/14/compal-showcases-prototype-umpc-running-windows-ce/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/14/compal-showcases-prototype-umpc-running-windows-ce/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/14/compal-showcases-prototype-umpc-running-windows-ce/#comments
Although it's still proudly donning the proverbial prototype badge, a nifty machine from Compal was spotted at Computex running Windows CE 5.0 in favor of the battery-draining XP or Vista. Simply dubbed the UMD (Ultra Mobile Device), this ultraportable supposedly pulled double duty as a smartphone and even played nice with HSDPA. Internally, it featured a 532MHz Freescale i.MX31 processor, 512MB of NAND Flash memory, 256MB of DDR RAM, a 4.3-inch WVGA display, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a slide out QWERTY keyboard, trackpad, hot keys, built-in speaker and microphone, a 1.3-megapixel CMOS camera, SIM card slot, and a miniSD slot to hold excess media. Additionally, it boasted USB connectivity, a headphone jack, a meager five-watt power consumption rating that enabled nearly five hours of battery life, and the obligatory media playing and Skype-friendly applications that you would expect on such a multifaceted device. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell whether Compal will come through on bringing this thing to market, but we're sure there's a niche that would be all over it should it eventually roll out.

[Via Wired]

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Compal showcases prototype UMPC running Windows CE originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothcompalcomputexhsdpaprototypesmartphoneultra mobile deviceUltraMobileDeviceultraportableUMDumpcwifiwindows ceWindowsCewwanThu, 14 Jun 2007 19:39:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP2 "Cobalt" to feature dual analog, UMD, 8GB of flash? Don't count on it.]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/psp2-cobalt-to-feature-dual-analog-umd-8gb-of-flash-dont-c/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/psp2-cobalt-to-feature-dual-analog-umd-8gb-of-flash-dont-c/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/psp2-cobalt-to-feature-dual-analog-umd-8gb-of-flash-dont-c/#comments
We're pretty sure PSP2 rumors won't die out until the last PSP fanboy utters his final gasp, "UMD rulez!" on his death bead, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun poking fun at them in the in-between time. From the outset, we're kind of liking the look here, and there seems to be plenty of room for that dual analog setup everyone's been clamoring for. Plus the metal and ruggedized rubber build seems likable enough. Unfortunately, the inclusion of UMD, Memory Stick and 8GB of flash seems pretty far fetched -- either Sony loses the UMD and goes for all-downloadable games, or it sticks with its tried and true method of milking consumers on Memory Stick purchases, it's hard to imagine an all-in approach. Other dubious specs include a "200% Brighter Screen," and the more likely a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and visual battery display. We're not banking on this one, and Sony's been pretty down on the topic in general, but hopefully these guys do actually pull something out before too terribly long.

[Thanks, Dondy]

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PSP2 "Cobalt" to feature dual analog, UMD, 8GB of flash? Don't count on it. originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8gbcobaltportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideopsppsp2rumorsonyumdThu, 18 Jan 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XV - Europeans "don't mind" waiting for Sony products]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xv-europeans-dont-mind-waiting-for/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xv-europeans-dont-mind-waiting-for/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xv-europeans-dont-mind-waiting-for/#comments Alright Sony, this is just getting ridiculous. It's not like you guys haven't been a featured guest in this series before, but we had no idea it was such an honor. The third "CE-Oh no" moment for Sony this week came out of the mouth of SCE World Europe VP, Jamie MacDonald, who was asked: "What would you say to consumers who like Sony and want to buy your products, but perhaps feel that because they're in Europe they're always last in line?" Apparently Jamie feels little love for his whiny constituency, since his clueless response was thus: "European consumers have shown that historically they don't mind that, because they end up buying as many PlayStations, if not more, than the US and Japan. In Europe, it doesn't seem that the release of our platforms after the US and Japan - in the long run - affects how consumers feel." We're not even sure how to respond to that, so we'll continue with more "CE-Oh no" sound bite gold from our pal Jamie. In response to a query about Sony's UMD failure, he stated: "I think you'll find in general the market for movies on discs of any type is not particularly great at the moment." Again, we really have nothing to add, so we'll just hit up one more sound bite for good time's sake. When asked about the Wii60 concept, where prospective next-gen buyers compare the price of purchasing an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii to the cost of the PS3 alone, Jamie further demonstrated his ignorance: "To be honest, I haven't heard that." Not a banner day for Sony PR by a long shot, but at least they're not trying to hide their seeming disdain for consumers and plain logic.

[Thanks, Xavier G.]

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CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XV - Europeans "don't mind" waiting for Sony products originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ce oh noce-ohce-oh noce-oh no he didntce-oh-noCe-ohNoCeOhNoeuropejamie macdonaldJamieMacdonaldps3sonyumdwii60Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[UMD price drop leads to sales jump in Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/umd-price-drop-leads-to-sales-jump-in-japan/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/umd-price-drop-leads-to-sales-jump-in-japan/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/umd-price-drop-leads-to-sales-jump-in-japan/#commentsWhile the news probably doesn't come as any surprise to you, it has apparently taken the execs behind the UMD movie scene quite some time to pinpoint price as the primary culprit of the lagging sales. The higher-ups at Warner Home Video reported that its UMD films weren't selling well awhile back -- presumably to no one's surprise but their own -- and even Wal-Mart has been teetering on dropping the slow-selling discs from its precious shelf space. In a less-than-revolutionary announcement, it seems implementing a "permanent sale" on UMD movies in Japan has increased sales nearly tenfold; pricing 22 (and counting) titles at ¥980 (about $8.46) has prompted PSP owners to snatch these up in unprecedented quantities, which is somewhat telling of where these things should've been priced at from the start. While we aren't exactly sure if this indefinite sale will make the jump to US shores, this "discovery" is a rare step forward for the flailing format, and we can only hope this reduction becomes the norm on all UMD flicks.

[Via MobileMag]

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UMD price drop leads to sales jump in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>moviesportable videoportablevideoPSPsalesUMDUMD moviesUmdMoviesThu, 07 Sep 2006 05:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Future PSP plans revealed at Comic Con]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/23/future-psp-plans-revealed-at-comic-con/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/23/future-psp-plans-revealed-at-comic-con/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/23/future-psp-plans-revealed-at-comic-con/#commentsYou wouldn't necessarily think that San Diego's annual Comic Con would be a hotbed of videogame news, but this year's event proved different, as Sony revealed a number of exciting future plans for the PSP. At a seminar called PSP University (man, we sure wish we could have spent our college years at that institution), company execs confirmed that the portable console will indeed work as a remote for the PS3, and that the upcoming firmware update will support RSS video feeds for the built-in web browser. Furthermore, Sony is apparently in talks with wireless providers to provide more Nintendo DS / Wayport-like hotspots for online gaming, and is also looking at ways to bring downloadable movies to PSP owners -- which sounds to us like another foot in the grave for the almost-dead UMD. Not all the news here is good, however, as those folks expecting a Sony-branded keyboard for their console will likely be in for a disappointment; in fact, the company has no plans whatsoever to improve text entry on the PSP at all. Other new info centered around games and demos, and since that's not really our bag, we'll leave those details to other fine publications like Joystiq and PSP Fanboy.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

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Future PSP plans revealed at Comic Con originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Jul 2006 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic conComicCondigital downloadsDigitalDownloadsfirmwaregaminghotspotskeyboardps3psppsp universityPspUniversityrss video feedsRssVideoFeedssan diegoSanDiegosonyumdvideogameswifiSun, 23 Jul 2006 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Blu-ray will succeed where UMD failed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/why-blu-ray-will-succeed-where-umd-failed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/why-blu-ray-will-succeed-where-umd-failed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/why-blu-ray-will-succeed-where-umd-failed/#commentsBlu-ray. Less then a week to go and people are still thinking about the last major format from Sony to fail: Betamax. Oh wait, was it UMD. You remember these discs right? They are movie discs that play directly in the Sony PSP. The only issue with them is that they do not play in anything else, they cost nearly as much as a full DVD and they don't have anything extra on them. There have been reports of Walmart ditching the format altogether we all know that when Walmart can't see it, really no one else can ether.

iP3K blog has a right up on why Blu-ray will not fail like UMD did. It is an interesting read for a lazy Monday, but he doesn't address the whole Betamax thing, just UMD. We don't think that many of you picture Blu-ray falling by the wayside like UMD did, but still, you might want to check out the post.

[via Digg]

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Why Blu-ray will succeed where UMD failed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betamaxblu-raydtvhdhdtvsonytvumdMon, 19 Jun 2006 12:05:00 EST