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Gadgets Skype Coming to PSP Late January
Marcus Yam (Blog) - January 7, 2008 2:08 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 15 comment(s) - last by Brockway.. on Jan 8 at 5:13 AM

Skype on the PSP  (Source: Famitsu)
Use Skype on the PSP

In another step to further the tangential uses of its gaming hardware, Sony will soon be releasing Skype on the PlayStation Portable. According to Sony’s press release, however, the new Skype feature will only work on the new slimmer, lighter PSP-2000 model.

A system update scheduled for sometime in late January will add a Skype icon to the Network category in the home menu. PSP-2000 users will be able to use all the main features of the Skype software, such as free voice calls between Skype users, calls to phones using SkypeOut and receiving calls with SkypeIn.

Those already with Skype accounts will be able to access their existing contact lists, as well as add new contacts using the PSP’s interface. New Skype users will also be able to sign up for the service directly on the PSP.

While Sony made no explicit mention of why Skype will work only on the PSP-2000, it’s suspected that the added RAM in the newer hardware plays an essential role in the software’s workings. The first images of the new Skype software and the USB microphone may be found on Famitsu.

Skype on PSP will help Sony take another step towards the phone market, as industry onlookers have long suspected the company of exploring the potential for a PSP phone.

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PSP 3 should be a phone
By daftrok on 1/7/2008 3:18:02 PM , Rating: 4
Seriously. Its the ONE thing the PSP needs. Just stick a 3G chip in there and a cellphone antenna and you got the best phone in the market. A PMP, a portable PS2, a phone, a web browser, nothing out there has it.

This whole UMD thing is a waste too. Just let people return it for a digital version of the game/movie and just stick two 8 GB flash drives in place of the UMD drive.

Give it bluetooth and 802.11b/g, phone capabilities, second analog stick that can be pushed down (L3, R3), R2 and L2 buttons, an OLED screen (or LED backlit, whichever takes less power), and a Memory stick pro duo slot so you can transfer downloaded games (legally of course) onto your PSP...and sell it for $199 with a free game...and let us choose the cell phone provider.




RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By daftrok on 1/7/2008 3:23:02 PM , Rating: 2
For those wondering how on earth they can put an R2, L2 button on the PSP without making it twice as thick, here's your answer:

http://media.gear.ign.com/media/573/573087/img_178...


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By MrSmurf on 1/7/2008 9:39:37 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, just make it one hundred times uglier and non-user friendly... good point!


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By daftrok on 1/7/2008 11:25:27 PM , Rating: 2
Actually I found it much easier to use. For instance in GTA, when you're doing a driveby, instead of using your middle finger to hit R2 and then R1, you can use the tip of your finger for R2 and then press the rest of your finger down to hit R1. Its actually really easy and would be useful to have on the PSP since it renders all PS1 games that use the R2 and L2 buttons useless.


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By Funksultan on 1/7/2008 5:45:32 PM , Rating: 3
- 3G chip
- Cellphone antenna
- Two 8 GB flash drives
- Bluetooth
- 802.11b/g
- Phone capabilities
- Second analog stick that can be pushed down
- OLED screen
- Memory stick pro duo slot
- $199
- "free game"
- let us choose the cell phone provider

ROFL, thank god yer not demanding.

"And I want a monkey, and a fire truck, and a friend for the monkey..."
- Ralph Wiggum


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By daftrok on 1/7/2008 6:01:03 PM , Rating: 2
The only "expensive" component on that list is the 16 GB flash (I said 2 8GB because its cheaper, in fact, four 4 GB flash chips to make the internal storage isn't that expensive at all). Also I said OLED OR LED backlit. I'm not sure which one takes less power but I'm gonna guess LED backlighting is cheaper (correct me if I'm wrong). Also the free game will be digital so that should cut down manufacturing costs...also you forgot the R2 and L2 buttons...ah one can only hope someone from Sony is reading this..


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By grath on 1/7/2008 10:31:51 PM , Rating: 3
While theyre at it they might as well throw in a GPS, XM radio, satellite uplink, nuclear-bio-chemical warning kit, particle collider, heisenberg compensator, and a zero-point energy source.


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By daftrok on 1/7/2008 11:27:41 PM , Rating: 2
You had me at GPS.


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By Brockway on 1/8/2008 5:13:50 AM , Rating: 2
There's already a gps option in Japan.


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By Armorize on 1/7/2008 8:47:25 PM , Rating: 2
"and let us choose the cell phone provider."
uh oh sounds like someone doesnt like their iPhone already lol.

im still disappointed in the fact that the US didnt get the gps attachment...

I would buy a psp phone anyday. If a psp phone were to come out tommorow, or someone decided to hack their psp into a phone i would be down with that.


RE: PSP 3 should be a phone
By PCDestroyer on 1/7/2008 10:45:33 PM , Rating: 2
I'd rather just have the phone capabilities and (legal) digital games.

Maybe even SD card support?


Dailytech
By Murst on 1/7/2008 4:11:05 PM , Rating: 2
Please make the site more easily accessible on the PSP. Although the comments generally line up decently (as well as the news stories on the front page), it is impossible to expand rated-down comments. Perhaps have some kind of script detection that if you access the site from a mobile device, all comments are expanded by default.

Finally, some (but very little) of the headers get clipped on the PSP while viewing DT.




RE: Dailytech
By cputeq on 1/7/2008 10:16:05 PM , Rating: 2
The PSP's browser is a total abomination. Actually requesting a site optimize for its horrible performance to all 4 people actually browsing with the PSP is a joke.

Seriously, the device sucks at browsing, and its text entry method is a complete joke. There are so, so many people that can't program competent user interfaces it's a wonder the computing world is still afloat sometimes.

I say this, and I'm a happy PSP owner and I originally got the PSP thinking I could browse simple sites -- I can...VERY simple sites.

Iphone's/Itouch's browser -- That's how you do the internet in a small form factor (and I'm definitely not an Apple fan).


Girl
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/7/08, Rating: 0
RE: Girl
By Marcus Yam on 1/7/2008 3:25:28 PM , Rating: 2
AFAIK, its wi-fi is unchanged, as is its lack of pack-in girl.


"Game reviewers fought each other to write the most glowing coverage possible for the powerhouse Sony, MS systems. Reviewers flipped coins to see who would review the Nintendo Wii. The losers got stuck with the job." -- Andy Marken

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