BBC: Is PSP the Walkman for the 21st Century?

[Kamalot]

The BBC takes a look at the PSP (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6387551.stm) and its original predictions that it would be the "Walkman for the 21st Century". It asks the question, "So why has the mighty PSP failed to overtake its less powerful rival?".

Back in 2003 Sony's Ken Kutaragi, "the father of the Play Station", made a bold prediction. Announcing Sony's plans to enter the portable gaming market, he claimed the PlayStation Portable (PSP) would become "the Walkman for the 21st Century".

To suggest that Sony's console would not only make an impact on the market, but also match the success of the 1980s cultural icon that was the Walkman seemed to argue a self-confidence bordering on arrogance.Interesting look at the status of the handhelds, and what went wrong/right for each.

[Gorvi]

That's a pretty interesting analysis there. It'll be interesting to see how well Sony can implement the worldwide Remote Play function with the PSP, I could see that actually being very useful.

[Doctor Setebos]

The idea is to use the PSP to access the PS3 at home from anywhere in the world with a wireless hotspot.

"If I have my MP3 Walkman or my iPod, or digital camera connected to PS3 then I can access those devices too," said Mr Fargher.Okay, I had NO idea that was in the works. Holy shit, that's a freaking awesome idea. :D

[Kamalot]

Is it a feature people want, need or will use? Just having features for the sake of features leads to one of the identified problems discussed in the story.

the sheer power and versatility of the PSP caused more confusion than Sony expected when it first launched.

"Sony thought it was a straightforward and compelling offer of a gadget that can do music, videos, films and gaming," she says.

"But the problem with that is that consumers either fell into a category where they didn't really want all of that or they were technologically savvy enough to have commitments to other mediums, particularly memory formats."

[Gorvi]

I know I'll use it. At the moment, I can't think of another device that would work in the same way.

[agentgray]

I didn't RTA, but access it to do what?

[Gorvi]

I didn't RTA, but access it to do what?

It would work the same way the Remote Play function works with the PS3 now, only via the internet and not just a local WiFi connection like it does now. You could basically access the PS3's XMB and play any media you happen to have on there.

[jeffbax]

I'm pretty sure that the iPod is the new walkman, and has been for a while.

[Kamalot]

Interesting. Lets see how well it turns out. I know that the GPS and camera have been touted as features for a long time that seem to have niche-only applications. Perhaps the remote-play will be more compelling/useful than other added features, such as the email client.

It still sounds to me like 'featureitis', or adding features that aren't core to your product just for the sake of adding features. PSP is guilty of being a featureitis breeding ground instead of a focused and refined machine. Perhaps this feature is different though.

[Kamalot]

I didn't RTA, but access it to do what?
Here is the quote from the article about it...

But Sony has big plans for connecting its devices.

"We're hoping to incorporate that functionality in the very near future - from a local level at the moment to a global level probably within the next six months," said Mr Fargher.

The idea is to use the PSP to access the PS3 at home from anywhere in the world with a wireless hotspot.

"If I have my MP3 Walkman or my iPod, or digital camera connected to PS3 then I can access those devices too," said Mr Fargher.

With a PSP camera and GPS device in the pipeline, Ken Kutaragi must be a proud father, but has his prediction that the PSP would become the Walkman of the 21st Century come true?

Apple's Steve Jobs might have something to say about that. The iPod has shipped more than 88m units since 2002, with 21m of those manufactured in the first fiscal quarter of 2007 alone.

It looks like the PSP still has some way to go if it is to live up to Mr Kutaragi's promise. I suppose to look at pictures and listen to music?

I don't know why you'd want to leave your iPod and digital camera at home connected to your PS3 while you look at photos and listen to music while on the road on your PSP, but hey. Maybe SOMEONE wants to do it.

Edit: If this feature is core to the Playstation experience, why does Sony not tout it more often?

[Dag-Sabot]

What would be even cooler: "If" you could hook up your camera to your ps-3 leaving it on it on so that you could see what your dogs were doing on your psp while youre out on the road. Now that would be cool... Although, I *think* I can already do that with my existing PC. Poor Sony, i wonder if they have a soul to sell, and come up with something trully innovative.

[Gorvi]

What would be even cooler: If you could hook up your camera to your ps 3 and left it on so that you could see what your dogs were doing on your psp while youre out on the road. Now that would be cool... Although, I can already do that with my existing PC. Poor Sony, i wonder if they have a soul to sell, and come up with something trully innovative.

Hmmm, I wonder you could do that with the Eye Toy. That would be pretty cool.

[Doctor Setebos]

What would be even cooler: If you could hook up your camera to your ps 3 and left it on so that you could see what your dogs were doing on your psp while youre out on the road. Now that would be cool... Although, I can already do that with my existing PC. Poor Sony, i wonder if they have a soul to sell, and come up with something trully innovative.Ha! That's a great idea! I'd use it! :D

[AntB]

Theoretically with a Fiber Optic connection(damn you ma bell) shouldn't you be able to just stream a PS3 game onto the PSP? Play some resistance while in some play with a good connect.

[Tentaro]

I don't know why you'd want to leave your iPod and digital camera at home connected to your PS3 while you look at photos and listen to music while on the road on your PSP, but hey. Maybe SOMEONE wants to do it.

Edit: If this feature is core to the Playstation experience, why does Sony not tout it more often?

Because this is smoke and mirrors. While the idea sounds nice i doubt Sony is seriously developing this technology in a reasonable way. Kutaragi made statements about the PS2 controlling your home and the like before it came out as well. Smoke and mirrors.

While this kind of central home unit would be cool Sony has too much arrogance to pull it off. Not only would it take technical knowhow and an amazing UI, but it would take agreements with many device manufacturers in order to be able to use their protocols and standards. More likely Sony would make their own and try to convince companies to use theirs. Which would most likely fail as usual.

[Gorvi]

Because this is smoke and mirrors. While the idea sounds nice i doubt Sony is seriously developing this technology in a reasonable way. Kutaragi made statements about the PS2 controlling your home and the like before it came out as well. Smoke and mirrors.

While this kind of central home unit would be cool Sony has too much arrogance to pull it off. Not only would it take technical knowhow and an amazing UI, but it would take agreements with many device manufacturers in order to be able to use their protocols and standards. More likely Sony would make their own and try to convince companies to use theirs. Which would most likely fail as usual.

Ummmm..., you can already do all of this through local WiFi. All they'll be adding is the ability to do it via the internet.

[Goronmon]

Ummmm..., you can already do all of this through local WiFi. All they'll be adding is the ability to do it via the internet.I think his point is that (according to their stereotype, true or not) Sony would try to "own" too much of the process and end up ruining any chance of its use becoming pervasive.

[Roc Ingersol]

Okay, I had NO idea that was in the works. Holy shit, that's a freaking awesome idea. :D
It would be neat. But running it through the Sony PR filter, it comes out looking an awful lot like uploading video files to the playstation network, so Sony can 'age' them into HD video for me.

[Exodus]

could've sworn microsoft and nintendo had the same idea...
maybe I just make t hings up in my head -_-

[BadCRC]

Yes I agree PSP has a VERY big potential. But the games are still not there. It's crazy because it has a fantastic hardware and superb quality screen. I hope PSP will not fail :)

[DaXIthR]

That's lame.

Maybe in another time and place, the PSP could have served a purpose, but the DS Lite is poised to become the best gaming device ever...and that's what will matter to most consumers when they think of PlayStation-branded hardware.

[Kelegacy]

The PSP's price is what's killing it. You have a cheaper DS, with cheaper games, so parents are more apt to pick one up for their children. It could be argued that the core demographic for each handheld is different (DS with non-gamers and children, PSP with more console-inclined gamers), but price is still really important. DS also has a ton of good games, but I think the PSP does as well. Right now there are more games on the PSP that I personally am interested in, and as more of a console gamer I am beginning to become attracted to the sleek little PSP (PS1 gaming on the PSP? SOLD!). If I can only find one cheaper than retail, or with a trade, I'll grab one.

However, I haven't turned on my DS since pretty much last summer, so I'm mildly afraid I'll buy a PSP and wind up not using it as well. I'm not traditionally a portable gamer, though the PSP is more of a console-on-the-go. Thus the name, Playstation Portable? Huh.

[Dag-Sabot]

I haven't turned on my psp since last summer. I still get a chuckle whenever I come across a chewed up UMD, cause they look so much like little birth control pill dispensers. I did buy a DS lite im still loving it. In fact i bought another for my g/f along with that brain training game.
-Don't ask.

[zeonxavier]

Sending your games, movies and music from your PS3 to anywhere you go through your PSP (and a wireless connection) does sound promising. Too bad that Sony will probably make the process needlessly complex and DRM laden.

But hey, the hackers will doubtless write up a program that will do the same thing, only utilizing your PC instead, which is an even more promising idea.

[mkelehan]

How much do you want to bet Nintendo's next portable will have an SD slot, with MP3/AAC playback built in? Christ, I'd never bring my PSP anywhere if they did that.

[DarkDaY]

ummm, i pod is the next walkman, and has been for awhile,
ds is much closer then psp,

where do these guys get their stories from, are they paid off?

[sticky]

I love my PSP but the UMD was the stupidest idea in the world. Too bad sony is too stubborn to admit forcing UMD on everyone was a mistake as it isn't too late to fix the situation. The PSP should have a large HD just like an ipod. You should be able to pay to download games online to the PSP just like itunes. The load time would no longer be an issue not to mention the media features could really come into play now. It isn't rocket science, well, for sony trying to make a coherent statement seems difficult enough.

Sony's UMD stubborn bullshit will hurt them just like their blu-ray bullshit will hurt them. They are too greedy with their proprietary formats hoping for a huge payday, has one EVER even caught on? You would have thought they learned with Beta or the mini disk.

[cp#]

Sony needs to ditch the disc based media and lower the price then more people will buy it. There are a lot of PSP owner sure but they are in a far behind second

[Dirty Harry]

They are too greedy with their proprietary formats hoping for a huge payday, has one EVER even caught on? You would have thought they learned with Beta or the mini disk. Man do you ever talk out of your ass here, instead of ruthlessly thrashing your entire post im going to focus on this one thing. While in the west beta max or minidisc never reached main stream appeal, beta max still lives a healthy life for movie and tv production and news production but will shortly be replaced with digital. Also the minidisc has garnered huge support in the east continent but that is either here or there to say that sony produces failing formats is laughable alone.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

The PSP never really interested me, but I do love the DS. I can't wait to see what Nintendo does with their next handheld - should be pretty exciting.

The PSP could have been a huge success, but as it stands I doubt it will ever really take off like the DS did.

[sticky]

Man do you ever talk out of your ass here, instead of ruthlessly thrashing your entire post im going to focus on this one thing. While in the west beta max or minidisc never reached main stream appeal, beta max still lives a healthy life for movie and tv production and news production but will shortly be replaced with digital. Also the minidisc has garnered huge support in the east continent but that is either here or there to say that sony produces failing formats is laughable alone.

I apolgoze, I did not realize what a raging success betamax was. I'm off to store to pick up a player and a few movies. I hope they have some cool bonus features on the tapes.

If I start a production company in the middle of buttfuck nowhere I will also be sure to pick up the number 1 format for undeveloped middle of nowhere backasswards production companies, Beta.

Minidisc, beta, UMD, all raging success stories.