PlayStation

PSPgo Productions Not Ending for United States

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 21, 2011 | 6 comments

We’ve been meaning to report on the PSPgo for several days now and what better time then now, when we have the full report and picture. Introduced over a year ago, the PSPgo was a new handheld from Sony and the PlayStation which packed the same features as the current PSP-3000 but with one twist, there was no UMD drive to feed it media. Instead, much like the iPod Touch, the device was solely fed from PSN (PlayStation Network) which allowed the device to download games, movies, TV shows and comics. Now, as Sony slowly begins to prepare for their next handheld released, a true second generation handheld, news began to flow that production for the PSPgo had ended. As it turns out, this was partially true.

Sony has said several times that much like how the PS2 continues to have life, long after the PS3 was introduced as a successor, the PSP and NGP relationship will the same. That is that the PSP-3000 will continue to be made and supported, past the NGP launch. However, the PSPgo will not enjoy that same benifit, or atleast now in Europe and Asia. In those regions, Sony has ended the production for the PSPgo. Still, I wonder if this also in part has to do with a huge inventory that might be on their hands as the unit never reached the sales Sony would have liked. However, for North America, the story is different:

“We are continuing production of PSP Go for North America.”

Simple, sweet and to the point. The PSPgo will live on for now.

[Via Joystiq]

Editorial: Please Back Up Your PlayStation 3. It’s Really Easy

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 16, 2011 | 91 comments

Anybody who has had their computer crash, wether it be caused by a virus or a bad hard drive can attest to the heart break that usually follows when you realize that you haven’t had a backup of your files and now your entire music library, photos, videos and documents is gone. Sure some services allow you to re-download an application or song but in general, most of your content is forever loved. The PlayStation 3 is really no different, especially with it’s easily upgradable hard drive which allows anybody to install upwards of a 500GB hard drive in minutes. And unlike other consoles on the market, many PlayStation3 not only have downloaded games from PSN (and remember, you can always log back into your account an re-download any old purchases), but also store photos, videos, music and interactive elements like Dynamic Backgrounds and Sony’s monthly Qore. As easy as it is to download content into your PS3, it’s just as easy to lose them. A failed hard drive, a spike in the power or heck, your PS3 just deciding to freak out on itself. Once any of these events happen and lets assume that your hard drive is still working, you cannot simply take out your hard drive, place it in another PS3 and continue from where you left off. But there is a cure for this and that is to simply backup your content. Sony has made the idea of backing up extremely simply on the PlayStation 3 as our following video will show. Remember, there is no need to do one weekly, because depending on your hard drive size, they can take a while but a two month backup sure beats nothing.

PSP Firmware 6.38 with Qriocity Install Overview (Video)

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 15, 2011 | 111 comments

As we mentioned in our prior post, we’ve been working on a video overview of PSP firmware 6.38 which finally brings Sony’s music streaming service, Qriocity, to PSP and PSPgo units. Our video below will show you how to install the service, give you some tips to make sure you experience a smooth setup and an overview of how well the streaming service actually works.

PSP Firmware 6.38 Now Available with Qriocity Music Unlimited Support for the PSP and PSPgo

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 14, 2011 | 4 comments

I apologize for calling the service Qriocity Music Unlimited in the headline but it’s what I sometimes must do for the Googler Interwebs search engines to dig us up. Sticking to what should just be called Qriocity, today Sony has released a new firmware up date for the PSP and PSP go system. Firmware 6.38 is a small download that builds upon the previous update and gives PSP and PSPgo users access to the Qriocity, Sony’s cloud based music streaming service. Those who download will note that they need to do 3 additional things before being able to use the service.

On their PSP, go to settings > Date & Time Settings > Date and Time > Set via Internet
Have over 200MB of free space available on their system
Via their PS3 or web browser, link a PSN account to a Qriocity subscription

After following these steps, you will be on your way towards streaming music. As I write this, I’m also importing and editing a video that will hopefully be up by tonight, if not tomorrow which goes over the installation via a PSP and PSPgo. Also, I go over how the service works and some of the tips I just gave. So look for that soon! Have you guys download Qriocity for the PSP or PS3 system yet? If so, what do you think and if not, what’s holding you back?

Will the PlayStation 3 Receive Google Chrome for its Future Web Browser?

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 12, 2011 | 70 comments

PlayStation 3 users have been a lucky bunch from the beginning, being the only console on the market with a web browser. As it is, the browser is a functional one with full flash support , giving users access to sites like YouTube, Facebook, IGN, and our very own (can’t help but plug ourselves in as well). From its inception, much like the PlayStation 3, Sony has done much to beef up the browser and make it a smoother and more powerful experience. Still, there is no denying that compared to your computer or even iPhone, the browsing experience is subpar. Especially if you have a laptop or iPad sitting around, there is no question that you will reach for that, over the PS3 web browser.

Now, it looks like things could change for the better for those of you need access to a better web browsing experience from their PS3. It’s really been a well document experience that the folks over at Sony and Google have become cosy over the last year. Sony has thrown its full support behind the Google TV initiative and offers an entire TV lineup based around the idea, and a separate Blu-ray Internet unit as well. Then, there is Sony Ericssons lineup of Android phone with Sony even hoping to reach the status as a top Android handset maker. It only makes sense for Google to give some love back to Sony and help beef up their product offerings and we’re sure that won’t mind the increased market share. Still, these are only hopes and wants and we don’t tend to report on those alone. Instead, the guys over at PS3 Life have discovered that within the recently updated webkit for the PlayStation 3 browser, lies the code from Google Chrome browser.

I’m going through ps3-webkit-support.diff because I’m bored. Looks like we’re getting Chrome Actually, since Geoff’s added a couple of files for ChromeClientPOSIX.

Naturally the full source of His changes are in that. Diff file also. From what I can tell, the only posix platform refers to the PS3 in webkit, It does not show up at all in the mainline source code (Unix versions are under Their Typically widget library like Qt or gtk). There’s a lot of Functions That Are not Implemented, but they’re Mainly Ones That involvement windowing That You Would not expect to be supported on the PS3.

Might this not mean much since I do not see the cool stuff from Chrome theses sources, like bookmark syncing, but it’s a freaking huge project., And only covers what the diff Needed to be changed so it works on the PS3. Might it not just get Chrome branding visible to the user, but I think if he’s calling it chrome client, we can expect good things for the future.

Those looking to see just what’s inside of this webkit can click here and dig a little deeper for themselves. Many times, companies place codes within their SDK that never come to fruition, due to cost or other initiatives taking precedent. However, the idea of a new web browser is too big of a feature for Sony to simply be testing the idea in just a closed environment and with previous rumors on this subject matter, we cant help but think that it’s only a matter time before the PlayStation 3 receives the Chrome web browser.

Do you currently use the PS3’s web browser and if not. how come? Also, what do you think about a beefed up web browsing experience on the PS3? Would you go back to using it if Chrome did indeed come to the PS3?

[Via PS3 Life]

PlayStation Move Goes Linux Multi Gestured, Controls Facebook and More

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 12, 2011 | 69 comments

Though we failed to report on it, in early March, Sony announced a new initiative called Move.me which is an server application that promises to let researchers, hobbyists and others use the Move as a controller for a PC. Currently in closed beta and set to be released into the wild by Summer, Move.me hopes to capture the enthusiast crowd’s imagination by giving them access to PlayStation Move’s source code with little guidance. Instead Sony and PlayStation want users to hack away at the motion based controller till their hearts desire. Now Jacob Pennock is one of the first to report back in with his findings. Using the PlayStation Move, he is able to navigate around in his desktop, navigate through Facebook and create gesture based shortcuts to launch movies, Pandora and more. What’s more impressive is that Jacob only received access to the currently closed SDK last Thursday. It should be noted that Jacob will share is findings with the rest of the closed beta community of Move.me till the program goes out of private beta, in which case he and the rest of the community will be able to publish their codes for the web, and anybody wishing to give it a go will be able to have access to the SDK from Sony.

“We want to see what innovative applications programmers can create using the PS Move controller, the PS3™ system, the PlayStation®Eye camera, and a PC,” Sony said in its Move.Me site.

For all those interested, some of the key areas that Sony would like you to focus on is:

Games and tools that support kids’ physical fitness and nutrition
Kid-friendly programming interfaces for computer/technology classes or individual learning
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Sports physiology or fitness training
Music and the creative arts

Hit the jump for one more video.

[Via JacobPennock]

Sony Cuts European Price for PSP to €129.99

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 11, 2011 | 1 comment

Following the trend set last month in the United States, Sony of Europe is also cutting the price of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in all European territories, down by 24% to €129.99.

“The price cut is aimed at increasing adoption of the player in Europe,” said Satoshi Fukuoka, a Tokyo-based spokesman at Sony’s video-games unit. The previous suggested retail price was 169.99 euros.

With the NGP looming around the corner, it’s no surprise to see the price of the PSP fall all over though Sony has said that much like the PS2 and PS3, the PSP will live on beyond the NGP launch. Still, we can’t help but wonder how much more penetration Sony could have done had the PSP price cut happened a year or two prior. Still, we have to also take into account that due the PlayStation 3’s high costs, Sony was losing over $300 per console for the first few years the product was on the market and that the PSP was the only product bringing in a profit into the PlayStation division. Taking that into consideration, you might see why the price was not cut prior.

Sony PSP Outsells Nintendo 3DS in Japan

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 8, 2011 | 4 comments

For some reason, as I began to write this post, all I could think about was Riddick saying “skittish Tombs, very skittish“. Those unfamiliar with the quote, I highly recommend seeing the two Riddick movies. Now, onwards to the news. Nintendo’s new handheld console, the 3DS was launched in Japan on February 26th and has been met with great sales. Still, it seems like software is king and with a lack of 3rd party support as often is the case with Nintendo (and let’s be honest, Nintendo hasn’t really hurt from this as each year, all they need to do is put Mario on something and make Mario Party 23 and Mario Tennis 37 and it will sell millions) Sony’s 7 year old PSP was able to outsell the 3DS with 58,075 units in the week of March 28th to April 3rd while Nintendo pulled in 42,979. As mentioned though, software is indeed king and the PSP had the help of the popular sim game, Amagami. I of course am not taking this as some impending doom and gloom situation for the 3DS nor a trend that will continue on every week.

[Via GI](subscription required)

PSP and PSPgo to Receive Qriocity: Music Unlimited on April 14th

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 8, 2011 | 3 comments

Though the PSP firmware 3.65 added Qriocity support which is Sony’s unlimited cloud streaming music service many months ago, the handheld consoles still required an additional download in order for the service to work which has not yet been available. Now Sony has issued a press release, indicating that the PSP and PSPgo will be getting Sony’s cloud based music streaming service on April 14th via an additional download. Earlier this year, Sony began a roll out of Qriocity in Europe and quickly followed to North America. The $3.99 or $9.99 a month service allows your music to be synchronized and accessible via any web browser and is also available on all PlayStation 3 units, as well as Sony Bravia televisions, and Blu-ray players. Sony is looking to bring the service which gives you access to over 7 million songs to Android and iOS devices though no specific timeframe has been given.

As always, hit the jump for an official press release.

Our Site Editor, Allegra, Unboxes LittleBigPlanet 2: Collectors Edition (Video)

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 7, 2011 | 3 comments

I know we were late to the party when it came to getting our hands on LittleBigPlanet 2, but we really wanted the Collector’s Edition and I was under strict orders that I wasn’t allowed to play the new game till our site editor, Allegra, had arrived back in Los Angeles. Because she was able to spend a week here, we finally got the opportunity to not only play LBP2 but also do an unboxing.

PS3 Firmware 3.6 Video Overview with Cloud Game Saving

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 25, 2011 | 5 comments

Sony recently released PlayStation 3 firmware 3.6 which enabled users to set a controller auto-off timing of their choice and more importantly, gave PlayStation Plus users access to save game files to the cloud. In todays video, we go over the features, show you how to use them and answer your questions.

Kevin Butler Helps You Talk Trash, #SHAFT

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 20 comments

Sony has released a series of new ads, featuring the now iconic and brand representing, Kevin Butler. This time, KB is here to promote the PlayStation 3 exclusive MLB The Show 2011, and help gamers talk a little trash while playing. Think you have what it takes to SHAFT with the pros?

The PSP Turns 6! Happy Birthday!

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 34 comments

6 years ago today, Sony took the first steps at transforming the PlayStation division and being Nintendo’s first true competitor in the mobile gaming segment with by releasing PSP-1000 in North America. Offering at the time unmatched graphics which frankly, the just released Nintendo 3DS still cant compete with, Wifi, Bluetooth, online gaming and movies, music and photo viewing capabilities, the PlayStation Portable has come to sell over 67 million unit’s during these last 6 years. During that time, the PSP has seen a fair share of tweaks, with the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 getting slimmer and yet offering a better screen and battery lifetime. Sony has also tweaked the PSP via firmware updates, giving the handheld access to the PlayStation Network which gives allows users to downloadable movies, games, themes, comics and more, directly over the air. Over a year ago, Sony would also release the PSPgo which was based on the PSP platform with one noticeable difference, a lack of UMD drive which had powered all the previous PSP models and current PSP-3000 in favor of downloadable content only. Though the PSPgo has not been the success that Sony had hopped for, Sony has always stated that the PSPgo was more of a test and an advent to the upcoming NGP. Recently, Sony dropped the price of the PSP-3000 to $129 and with exclusive games like God of War, Metal Gear Solid, SOCOM, Final Fantasy, Killzone and LittleBigPlanet, the PSP continues to be the corner stone of what a next generation portable should be.

PSP Launch, March 24th, 2005

PlayStation Move Continues to be Sold Out at GameStop

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 6 comments

It’s been almost 8 months since the PlayStation Move was introduced to the market and it’s been almost 8 months of sold out inventory. Designed to cater to both the casual and hardcore gamer with titles like Resident Evil 5, Killzone 3 and the upcoming SOCOM 4, the PlayStation Move was an effort on Sony’s part to extend the reach of the PlayStation 3 platform while giving gamers one more way to interact with their content. Having experiencing the sellout first hand as it took my own family over a month to get me two PlayStation Move Controller and Navigation Sticks for Christmas and after 3 weeks of waiting for my PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter, I’m still empty handed, I believe it when GameStop announced today that they are having a hard time keeping these units on the shelves.

“We have struggled to stay in stock on the Sony Move controllers; there’s a tremendous amount of demand for that,” said GameStop’s Tony Bartel. “Provided we can get more into stock, we should see some strong growth there as well.”

[Via IndustryGamers]

Sony NGP to Cost $250 for Wifi, $350 for 3G?

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 17, 2011 | 4 comments

When Sony Electronics finally took the wraps off of the PSP successor, previously called by the public the PSP2 and currently codenamed NGP; both the press and consumers were blown away by what the system had to offer. We encourage to read our previous post where we dive into the NGP specs but for those who are playing at game, you will know that there is not one singular feature that stands out. Instead, Sony has created a cutting edge machine, much like the PS3 when it launched that offers power unparalleled by any currently and probably for some time to come. But the hardware is only part of the story, this time around, Sony has learned a good deal from both the PS3 and the PSP and has an extremely excited 3rd party presence that will sure help the NGP reach a success that the PSP was not to. Two questions were shortly discussed after the unveil; Is NGP really the products name and how much will this handheld cost.

The first question is the easier of the two. NGP stands for Next Generation Portable which is an internal codename that Sony used, during the products inception. The final product name has yet to be announced but think of it like when the original AppleTV was called iTV till an actual name (AppleTV) was given to the product. Although I would say that nearly two months after the product announcement and the word NGP sits quite nicely. After all, everybody thought Nintendo was crazy to call their next generation console the Wii and 80+ million units later, I don’t believe that the name hurt them one bit. Still, the product name was the least of Sony’s worries or the perception that soon would follow the press release. Instead, question two began to set in. How much would the NGP cost?