October 27, 2008 – 11:00 am
Here is a great comparison video between the 2nd generation Sony PSP and the newest iteration. As you watch the video you can see the aesthetic upgrades are minimal and the 3000 really only shines in it’s video and audio upgrades. The screen is brighter than the 2000 and allows for progressive scan video, but as a trade off you do take a hit on batter life, about 20% less battery life. The microphone allows for Skype capabilities, but you can always by a microphone upgrade for your existing 2000 instead. If you do not have a PSP yet this is a good buy for you, I own a PSP 1000 (original launch PSP, with missing pixels) and the new 3000 has me contemplating a purchase.
What do you think, worth a purchase or will you wait for the 4000?
If you wanted some talky talky on your PSP but haven’t wanted to spend a crap-ton on both parts to get it, April is your month. Shipping April 15th from Amazon, it looks like Sony will have a $20 solution.
Prior to this product, you had to buy the PSP Headphones to get the adapter volume controls as well as the PSP Headset to be able to speak. Now, it’s all bundles in one easy to use package for a great price.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m all over this one. Not as much for Skype as for voice chat in PSP online games.
January 30, 2008 – 5:00 pm
Sony released a PSP Firmware update today, bringing the portable up to v3.90. This update includes Skype and expanded support for PlayStation Network titles.
To use Skype, you need the PSP Remote (which is included by purchasing the PSP-2000 Headset for $29.99) and the PSP Headset for communication (which generally runs for $20). Yeah, that’s a lot of money just to use Skype on your portable gaming system. Sony will be releasing a bundle of the Headset and Remote in the near future, but for now you’re going to have to drop some cash on un-needed products to get it to work.
I’m in the process of charging my PSP so I can install the firmware update. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes and impressions on the Skype client.
January 23, 2008 – 11:33 am
The good news first. If you are in US or Europe, the Skype update will come on time to coincide with the firmware update do out sometime at the end of the month. There is a problem with the Japanese microphones that is causing this delay. The apparently do not reach the standards for the Japanese release, yet the Western equivalent does. Hmm. Either way, sucks for Japan. Not sure how well Skype is going to do anyway, but its nice to see the Western hemi not get screwed once again.
[via Kotaku]
January 9, 2008 – 12:30 pm
Want to know what’s going to wrap around your dome to use Skype on the PSP? Well wonder no longer, as we have some pictures to feed your mind.
The headphones look a lot like what came with the original launch PSP, except with ear pieces and microphone. The standard PSP headphones are available now and world well in games that support online chat. Check them out and make some Voip calls later this month.
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January 8, 2008 – 3:21 pm
I was the first one to be upset when I found out that Skype would be coming to the PSP, but only to those who bought the PSP Sim. I was beginning to feel unloved by SONY and their constant love for only those that are Slim! Looks like the firmware update that will allow users to benefit from Skype needs to use the bigger memory of the newer models. Fine, but it still hurts SONY, I say you make something that is only for original users next!
Before you ask, the reason Skype will only work on the PSP Slim & Light (and not the original model) is due to memory constraints. The original PSP (PSP-1000) has 32MB of memory, whereas the newer Slim & Light model (PSP-2000) has 64MB. Nick Sharples had the following to say.
“Although PSP-1000 and PSP-2000 are identical in basic functions, there are differences in hardware specifications to some extent and, for that reason, PSP-2000 may differ in features from PSP-1000. We had studied the possibility of supporting Skype with PSP-1000 but had to give it up because of the smaller size of main memory on PSP-1000 series.”
[Via ThreeSpeech]
January 6, 2008 – 8:32 pm
Sony’s big secret that the PSP will be Skype compatible was let out early but there was one caveat that we did not see coming. A future firmware update will allow only users with the PSP Slim to obtain the update. No one knows the exact reason, but a future microphone that is to be released to allow voice communcation might not work with the older model. Although I like the idea of firmware updates, alienating a good amount of your users who were loyal to you in the beginning stages of the handheld is a huge, huge, kick to the junk.
