PSP-Slim Hands On

fistfullast33l writes "PSPFanboy, a Joystiq blog, has a great closeup of the new PSP redesign. Photos show the old PSP and the new PSP side by side. Modifications include adding more RAM (up to 64MB), extended battery life, a new UMD loading door, removal of the IR port (Sony really hates infrared), and a redesigned headphone jack to support video output. Sony confirmed that you will be able to play movies and games through the video out, but the games can only be viewable via component, not composite cables. Also, 0okm has some nice pictures of the new PSP internals as well as a manual snapshot showing button layout (the wireless switch was moved) and TV out information." Gamasutra has the news that the slim-line is due out on September 20th in Japan.

Re:Other important (non)-feature..

[fistfullast33l]

Sony hasn't supported homebrew since PSP firmware 1.0...no reason to expect them to support it now.

Re:Other important (non)-feature..

[EveryNickIsTaken]

Can't read that site from work here, however, it's likely a spec sheet / preview sheet based on a preview/press model. Given that Sony is now well known for changing hardware mid-production (see - no more Emotion engine chip) - I wouldn't give these preview specs too much weight until the final products ship.

Re:No difference?

[fistfullast33l]

The PSP really hasn't lost any body weight.

If you're going to bash a redesign, at least read the article in the summary:

The most immediate thing we noticed was how light the system is: the original was in no ways heavy, but the new handheld is certainly much lighter, without making it too feathery.

Granted, maybe you actually attended E3 and held the device and this is a matter of opinion, but that seems like a pretty dumb statement to make if you haven't.

RAM eh?

[Floritard]

What good is more ram anyway? New games certainly can't require more ram than was on the original PSP. Are old games going to know they can use more memory when loading content on a new PSP? Apparently you can't use the PSP for homebrew so really, why bother with more ram?

Also, the fact that they didn't have tv-out in the first place is probably 90% of why UMD movies were such a stupid idea (you know, aside from having another proprietary format for no reason). And it's especially cute that they call this the slim model. Look at those photos. The original wasn't exactly a fat bastard, but slim would imply some significant change in width. God damn Sony is stupid. Just amazingly so.

All that said I'd like to like the PSP and these are all good improvements. Now if only they would release some worthwhile software for the thing, but isn't that just their MO of late. I want to want a PSP and I want to want a PS3. Why can't Sony just get their shit together?

Focus!

[riffzifnab]

"Close up" indeed. Some one needs to tell them about the macro function on their camera. Cripes.

Re:No composite video for games??

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"Whatever reason they have for necessitating progressive scan, I don't know..."

The LCD on the PSP is not interlaced...?

Re:No composite video for games??

[Anonymous Coward]

I own that box. It only accepts composite and S-Video in. No dice. And the other guy links to a TV? Now there's convenience... I'll just shove a 27" TV in my bag and cart that everywhere I go, why the hell not?