Post by: seven_chaos on November 05, 2003, 06:58:49 AM
Sony to challenge the iPod.
"We are taking on iPod with our new device," said a Sony official. "We are coming at him [Steve Jobs] on that front."
If there is any company in this world who could pull off a comparable iPod competitor, it is Sony. Many companies have claimed to have what it takes to unseat the iPod from its throne, yet no one has even come close. Sony thinks they have what it takes and it could cost as low as $60.
So what is this magical player?
Sony recently announced many details concerning the "PSP", a handheld gaming, music playing, video playing and possible cellphone all-in-one handheld device. While the PSP isn't due out until the end of 2004, it is expected this device may be the answer to anyone and everyones handheld needs. The device is expected to be a powerful competitor for Nintendo's Game Boy, Nokia's N-Gage and Apple's iPod.
As for a possible look of the PSP, this conecpt image from Sony has leaked:
According to GameSpot and ZDNET Japan, these are the current PSP specifications:
PSP CPU Core -
MIPS R4000 32-bit core
128-bit bus
1-333MHz (1.2V)
8MB eDRAM main memory
2.6Gbps bus bandwidth
FPU, VFPU (2.6 billion flops)
3D graphics extended instructions
I Cache, D Cache
PSP Media Engine -
MIPS R4000 32-bit core
128-bit bus
1-333MHz (1.2V)
2MB eDRAM submemory
I-Cache, D-Cache
90nm CMOS
PSP Graphics Core -
1-166MHz (1.2V)
256-bit bus
2MB eDRAM (VRAM)
5.3Gbps bus bandwidth
664 million pixels per second pizel fill rate
3D curved surface and 3D polygon engine
Support for compressed textures, hardware clipping, morphing, bone, tessellation, bezier, b-spline (NURBS)
Maximum of 33 million polygons per second
24-bit full color (RGBA)
Sound Core -
VME (Virtual Mobile Engine)
Reconfigurable DSP
166MHz (1.2 V)
128-bit bus
5 giga operations per second
CODEC capabilities
3D sound, 7.1 channels
Synthesizer, effecter, and other abilities
ATRAC3 plus, AAC, MP3 for audio
Media -
UMD (Universal Media Disc)
60mm-diameter disc
660nm laser diode
1.8GB capacity (dual-layered disc)
11Mbps transfer rate
AES crypto system
Unique disc ID
Shock proof
Regional code system
Parental lock system
Repeat ordering system
Other Specifications -
16:9-format widescreen TFT LCD (480x272 pixels, 24-bit full color)
MPEG4 AVC decoder
Wireless LAN (802.11)
IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
USB 2.0
Memory Stick
AV in/out
Stereo headphone out
Lithium ion battery
Expansion port
Keep in mind, the current prototypes are only 4.5 inches in diameter. This could mean trouble for Apple's iPod, especially as mini-hard drive prices continue to go down. There is some good news though, now that these specs. have been released, Apple has almost a year to meet or beat the PSP. While Apple has never really been clear with what direction they want to take the iPod, in recent months Apple has made it clear that they do want increased iPod functionality.
Hopefully, Apple will take the initiative and offer a device far superior to Sony's PSP (Could the iPod 2 be in the works?). If they don't, then I'm buying a PSP.
**** original article
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This is insane!!! Could the rumors of an Apple/Nintendo team up be true?! Maybe, but its a little far out there. Steve Jobs has made it clear several times that he wants the iPod to become more than just a music player. The specs above are indeed interesting, but it makes me wonder how in the hell Sony is going to be able to release all of this for as low as 60 dollars. Perhaps there will be more than one model of the PSP. That idea is definately not unheard of. Have a cheaper model that just only plays games or just only plays music and have a more expensive "media" model that plays the games, the music, and the videos. All in all its just another one of Sony's "walkmans." Nintendo better have something up there sleeve, and I'm sure they know exactly what they are doing. From what I can tell, this whole PSP thing seems all too good to be true.
Post by: vudu on November 05, 2003, 07:32:17 AM
Post by: BigJim on November 05, 2003, 08:53:20 AM
Post by: kennyb27 on November 05, 2003, 09:19:58 AM
QuoteThey can't.
The specs above are indeed interesting, but it makes me wonder how in the hell Sony is going to be able to release all of this for as low as 60 dollars.
And if they do, then they commit business suicide. If Sony expects us to believe those specs (which more than rival PS2's), then they can't sell it for a mere $60.
Post by: seven_chaos on November 05, 2003, 09:51:25 AM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 05, 2003, 11:32:13 AM
Post by: AERO on November 05, 2003, 12:04:24 PM
I didn't give it a very long look, becuase at $400 it was grossly out of my price range for an mp3 player. But from the quick things I was looking at, durability, memory, and bascis things like that, I thought the archos jukebox series at least matched it. Can someone explain further?
Post by: ThePerm on November 05, 2003, 01:42:29 PM
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on November 05, 2003, 06:30:59 PM
Post by: novastar512 on November 09, 2003, 11:44:03 AM
There is no way they can compete with the IPOD, since the adapter would have to buy a harddrive or they might have a different unit for alot more with a memory card holder(new mem cards are gonna be to 1 GB in a year)
Post by: Shift Key on November 09, 2003, 06:22:12 PM
It's not going to be a stand-alone player, because then people wouldn't buy the PSP, and its not going to be the $60 PSP because that is insane.
And the article says that it could be as low as $60 *hears hype machine in background*
*gets spanner of truth* Mwahahahaha!
EDIT: More thoughts of how it works
Post by: Uglydot on November 09, 2003, 06:47:10 PM
Post by: mgcman on November 14, 2003, 02:11:56 AM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 14, 2003, 12:05:38 PM
Apple has no capability to build or design chips, chipsets, or anything hardware related. Why would nintendo want to go with apple?
Post by: Avinash_Tyagi on November 14, 2003, 12:54:44 PM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 14, 2003, 01:52:02 PM
Post by: Avinash_Tyagi on November 14, 2003, 01:57:25 PM
Plus its compatible with your PC, which the PSP won't be, and apple can integrate its OS X into it as well, turning the GBA into a PDA.
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 14, 2003, 03:57:57 PM
Post by: Avinash_Tyagi on November 15, 2003, 09:45:48 AM
as for the OS it was just an Idea, and there are ways to transfer files in between operating systems.
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 20, 2003, 10:30:57 AM
But what am I going to use it as a screen for? If apple wants a color lcd for video next time, it is far more simple for them to add it then to go through a more expensive and far less effective third party.
Post by: The Doc on November 26, 2003, 07:34:12 AM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 26, 2003, 08:31:32 AM
Post by: Cap on November 26, 2003, 01:53:10 PM
"The fact is this the GBA SP is a toy for children. N-Gage will be the future of mobile gaming. "
i still find that comment hilarious. i already responded to that comment and to the doc in the thread in the gba section, which can be found here:
http://www.planetgamecube.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=2655&STARTPAGE=1
Post by: seven_chaos on November 26, 2003, 04:37:39 PM
). Anywho if Apple and Nintendo somehow become connected I am all for it. Not only because I'm a proud Mac user but because these two companies in my mind are far more superior than the ones they compete with.
Post by: manunited4eva22 on November 26, 2003, 04:57:06 PM
Post by: seven_chaos on November 26, 2003, 08:25:23 PM
Post by: Fluke Worm on December 01, 2003, 10:34:51 AM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on December 01, 2003, 03:25:28 PM
Post by: Fluke Worm on December 01, 2003, 07:54:23 PM
Quote
When was the last time apple kicked microsoft in the teeth anyway?
ok.. Maybe with a little encouragement from Nintendo Apple could get all huffy like; then get all up in Microsoft's face; mutter some slur and run away.
Seriously though I don't know how praticle or feasible it would be for Apple & Nintendo to make any kind of "alliance" but it just seems to me that they're in a somewhat similar boat and more importantly they both have a very large common enemy. You know the saying> "The enemy of your enemy..."
Post by: Majexto on December 15, 2003, 04:30:34 PM
Post by: darknight06 on January 06, 2004, 05:37:37 PM
http://gamespy.com/solefood/january04/sf16/
Made me come real close to choking on my drink...
Oh yeah, and they say the PSP is going to be released in November of this year.
Post by: KDR_11k on January 07, 2004, 04:48:10 AM
Post by: vudu on January 07, 2004, 05:00:26 AM
name recognition is very big, especially among mainstream consumers who doesn't do massive research on the internet like the people on this forum probably do.
plus, since sony is already established in the videogame industry with the playstation name, the psp has a much better chance than the zodiac or the ngage. especially if sony can get some of its bigger franchises on board.
Post by: darknight06 on January 07, 2004, 07:33:17 AM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on January 07, 2004, 03:20:31 PM
Post by: Chongman on January 07, 2004, 04:28:05 PM
The only way PSP could ever hope to compete with gba sp lay in two factors
and yeah, i know they've been said a thousand times.
1) Battery Life~ It in all cases MUST have a batterly life of over 15 hours. Estimating though, I've heard rumors of a mere 6 hour battery life, which isn't surprising when you look at all the needless unecessary features. And with a screen that big and graphics supposedly that good, theres no way it can last nearly as long as the gba does. Oh, and it must be rechargable.
2) Cost~ Heres one point we can almost be 100% sure of...its going to be too expensive. Like Nintendo has pointed out, sony is confining themselves to a very narrow demographic, the older mature gamer. And while there are a lot out there, even a working stiff would be reluctant to cough up aroun $300. People say the target price is from $150 to $500, and with these features, you think its going to be anywhere under $200? Doubt it. Sorry millions upon millions of kiddies. No psp for you...go play your sp's.
Of course there are many other factors but i see these two as the largest. If it IS targeting Ipod price, then it'll be one of the more expensive ones. The $150 dollar model JUST came out, and besides, thats a special cut back model.
By the way, that article from gamespy pissed me off like no other. Ign and Gamespy...together they form a huge pile of crap.
Post by: KDR_11k on January 08, 2004, 07:11:10 AM
Post by: RDG on January 09, 2004, 09:53:31 AM
And in my humble opinion, it will also be a total failure.
Post by: void on January 10, 2004, 02:23:26 AM
Apple's iPod is being attacked by Sony's PSP.
Nintendo's GameBoy is being attacked by Sony's PSP.
If Apple were to make an iPod that could play GameBoy games, for a reasonable fee payable to Nintendo, then the iPod has a model to compete with PSP. Apple benefits from having the full GameBoy library playable on their machine.
No need for Nintendo to make hardware that has all the features of the PSP. They would continue to make theire GameBoy only hardware at a much cheaper price, while the iPod/GameBoy 'hybrid' would compete directly with the PSP in there own expensive market.
Nintendo would still be selling all the software and making big money, which is exactly what they want.
Apple would be filling the space needed to combat the PSP.
I am assuming this is for the Gameboy Advance SP successor.
Forgive me if i'm stupid and don't know what i'm talking about but it seems like a fair idea...
Post by: Chongman on January 10, 2004, 10:20:23 AM
What's with everyone and this supposed apple/nintendo love fest? I do admit, void's idea sounds cool, but I really dont see all the grounds for a apple/nintendo partnership. Though it would be cool is it likely?
Post by: Guitar Smasher on January 10, 2004, 10:22:32 AM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on January 10, 2004, 05:17:28 PM
