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The unit measures 170 [[millimetre|mm]] (6.7 [[inch|in]]) (Length) × 74 mm (2.9 in) (Width) × 23 mm (0.9 in) (Depth), and weighs 260 [[grams]] (9.17 [[ounce|oz]]) including the battery. The most noticeable element of the PSP is its 4.3" 16:9 ratio [[TFT LCD]] screen sporting a 480 x 272 pixel resolution capable of 16.77 million colors.
The unit measures 170 [[millimetre|mm]] (6.7 [[inch|in]]) (Length) × 74 mm (2.9 in) (Width) × 23 mm (0.9 in) (Depth), and weighs 260 [[grams]] (9.17 [[ounce|oz]]) including the battery. The most noticeable element of the PSP is its 4.3" 16:9 ratio [[TFT LCD]] screen sporting a 480 x 272 pixel resolution capable of 16.77 million colors.


The PlayStation Portable's [[Central processing unit|CPU]] is a [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] R4000 (32-bit) CPU, split into two cores each operating between 1 and 333 [[Megahertz|MHz]]; the system has 32[[Megabyte|MB]] of main [[Random access memory|RAM]] and 4[[MB]] of embedded [[DRAM]]. The primary CPU core is responsible for traditional game processor functions; the secondary core, dubbed the "Virtual Media Engine", is responsible for decoding multimedia, for example the [[h.264]] decoder.
The PlayStation Portable's [[Central processing unit|CPU]] is a [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] R4000 (32-bit) CPU, split into two cores each operating between 1 and 333 [[Megahertz|MHz]].
The primary CPU core is responsible for traditional game processor functions; the secondary core, dubbed the "Virtual Media Engine", is responsible for decoding multimedia, for example the [[H.264]] decoder.
The system has 32[[Megabyte|MB]] of main [[Random access memory|RAM]] and 4[[MB]] of embedded [[DRAM]].

⚫
The independent 166 MHz graphics chip provides hardware [[polygon]] and [[NURBS]] [[rendering]], clipping, morphing, [[texture compression]] and [[tessellation]], along with handling image output. Specifications state that the PSP is capable of rendering 33 million flat-shaded polygons per second, with a 664 million pixel per second fill rate.

⚫
Unlike Sony's PlayStation 2 console, the GPU (PS2 Vector Unit equivalent) is not programmable.


⚫
The independent 166 MHz 90nm graphics chip sports 2MB embedded memory and through its 512-bit interface it provides hardware [[polygon]] and [[NURBS]] [[rendering]], hardware directional lighting, [[clipping]], environment projection and [[texture mapping]], [[texture compression]] and [[tessellation]], [[fogging]], [[alpha blending]], depth and stencil tests, vertex blending for [[morphing]] effects, and dithering, all in 16- or 32-bit colour, along with handling image output. Specifications state that the PSP is capable of rendering 33 million flat-shaded polygons per second, with a 664 million pixel per second fill rate. (source: press release on Aug 25 2004 by Masanobu Okabe of Sony, processor designer - example news article [http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1639250,00.asp here])


⚫
Unlike Sony's PlayStation 2 console, the GPU (PS2 Vector Unit equivalent) is not programmable - though its hardware capable for many functions on PS2 can be done only by software.


===Multimedia & Codecs===
===Multimedia & Codecs===

Revision as of 05:24, 5 April 2005

File:PSP Value Pack.jpg
The finished PlayStation Portable, and a variety of accessories.

The PlayStation Portable, officially known as the PSP, is a handheld game console and a product of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. The PSP was first announced during E³ 2003 and was unveiled on May 11, 2004 at a Sony press conference during E³ 2004. First released in Japan, its official retail release date was December 12, 2004. It was released in North America on March 24, 2005. A European release has yet to be announced, but is expected in the second quarter of 2005 [1]. Sony has delayed the European launch by a few months to meet North American demand. The PSP will launch in South Korea on May 1st.

The PSP is intended as an entertainment platform and is currently positioned to play videogames, video content, and digital audio, as well as displaying digital photos. Instead of being distributed on traditional ROM cartridges with battery-backed RAM for saves, games and other content are sold on Sony's new 1.8 GB Universal Media Discs (UMDs). The Memory Stick Duo (regular or Pro, but the high-speed mode of high-speed Sticks isn't supported) is used for storing saved games and moving multimedia to the PSP from other devices. Other notable features of the PSP include its WiFi wireless networking support, its rechargeable and removeable battery, its 4.3 inch (10.92 cm) LCD 480x272 pixel flat screen, and its sliding flat panel analog stick.

Games

File:Psp04.jpg
Gran Turismo 4 Mobile and the UMD disc

A variety of first- and third-party games are in development. The PSP's inputs are geared for gaming rather than multimedia, with two shoulder buttons (triggers), the iconic PlayStation face buttons, (triangle, circle, square, and X buttons), start and select buttons, a digital 4-directional pad, and an analog input. There is also a panel of secondary controls along the underside of the screen, for controlling volume, screen brightness, and accessing the system's main menu.

The PSP's analog input is not a traditional stick, but a sliding flat panel; its odd placement originally led to speculation it was a speaker. Concerns existed regarding the practicality of the input (its position requires a slightly asymmetrical grip on the unit to adequately use, with the left hand being lower than the right.) While it is used in the same way as the analog thumbstick of a modern console, the resistance springs are calibrated differently: they are softer, making quick, coarse adjustments a bit easier, but fine-grained ones a bit more difficult.

Japanese launch

The first shipment of 200,000 PSP units were made available for purchase in Japan on December 12, 2004. All units were sold out within the first two days. Some users have reported problems with the launch units, including dead pixels (discolored squares) within the LCD screen and game discs ejecting abruptly if the system is twisted. In Japan, Sony is offering to replace PSPs under warranty as normal, however they have stated that they do not consider a display to be faulty unless four faulty pixels are within 1cm (0.39 in) of each other.

In Japan, two sales packs are available. The basic package contains the console, battery, and AC adaptor for ¥20,790 including tax (around US$193, €148, UK£106). The "Value Pack" contains the console, battery, AC adaptor, 32MB Memory Stick Pro Duo, headphones with remote, slip-case, and wrist strap, for ¥26,040 including tax (around US$245, €192, UK£133).

Japanese launch games

North American launch

The PSP was released on March 24, 2005 in North America (the United States and Canada). The only package on sale is the Value Pack, identical to the Japanese release save for the inclusion of a UMD of preview videos, and the bundle in North America includes the Spiderman 2 movie and a cleaning cloth for US$249.99 or CND$299.99. Sony claims it will have one million units available for sale in these territories by the end of the fiscal year (March 31, 2005). In order to accommodate the large demand in North America the European release date was pushed back several months. In the US, the first million units include the movie Spider-Man 2 on UMD, free of charge. PSPs sold in Canada instead include Gretzky NHL (a Sony-developed hockey game.)

After a bit of bad press, Sony instituted a replacement policy for dead pixels more liberal than the one instituted in Japan. In North America Sony will replace a PSP for a single dead pixel, but only after "a week or two" of use to see if the dead pixel is truly intrusive. It is unclear what stance Sony's European branch will take on LCD quality.

North American launch games

Available at launch:

Available shortly thereafter:

  • "Archer MacLean's Mercury" (Ignition)
  • FIFA 2005 (Electronic Arts)
  • MLB (SCEA)
  • MVP Baseball (Electronic Arts)
  • Smart Bomb (Eidos Interactive)

Design and specifications

Technical specifications

The unit measures 170 mm (6.7 in) (Length) × 74 mm (2.9 in) (Width) × 23 mm (0.9 in) (Depth), and weighs 260 grams (9.17 oz) including the battery. The most noticeable element of the PSP is its 4.3" 16:9 ratio TFT LCD screen sporting a 480 x 272 pixel resolution capable of 16.77 million colors.

The PlayStation Portable's CPU is a MIPS R4000 (32-bit) CPU, split into two cores each operating between 1 and 333 MHz. The primary CPU core is responsible for traditional game processor functions; the secondary core, dubbed the "Virtual Media Engine", is responsible for decoding multimedia, for example the H.264 decoder. The system has 32MB of main RAM and 4MB of embedded DRAM.

The independent 166 MHz 90nm graphics chip sports 2MB embedded memory and through its 512-bit interface it provides hardware polygon and NURBS rendering, hardware directional lighting, clipping, environment projection and texture mapping, texture compression and tessellation, fogging, alpha blending, depth and stencil tests, vertex blending for morphing effects, and dithering, all in 16- or 32-bit colour, along with handling image output. Specifications state that the PSP is capable of rendering 33 million flat-shaded polygons per second, with a 664 million pixel per second fill rate. (source: press release on Aug 25 2004 by Masanobu Okabe of Sony, processor designer - example news article here)

Unlike Sony's PlayStation 2 console, the GPU (PS2 Vector Unit equivalent) is not programmable - though its hardware capable for many functions on PS2 can be done only by software.

Multimedia & Codecs

The PSP is capable of displaying still image, movie and audio files stored on the UMD disk format or a memory stick. The system supports MP3 and Sony's ATRAC3plus formats for audio, AVC (H.264 encoding, in an *.mp4 wrapper instead of the usual *.avi) for video, and JPEG images.

Sony has announced that Image Converter 2, a piece of PC software for converting video files to AVC for playback on CLIÉ PDAs, will be available before the end of the year, and may be used with the PSP. A preview version was made available shortly after the PSP launch. It can convert AVI, MPEG1/2/4, QuickTime and WMV movie files to AVC, as well as the "Giga Pocket" and "Do VAIO" files used by VAIO PCs to record television. It will also convert most common still image files into JPEG format. Sony's SonicStage software can be used to copy MP3s and ATRAC files to the PSP as well.

Sony's software is not the only toolset for getting music or movies onto a PSP. One popular alternative is iPSP, available for Mac OS X and Windows [2]. It can convert movies and images and install movies, music, and images into the places on a Memory Stick where the PSP is going to be looking for them. It also integrates nicely with iTunes (and with iPhoto on the Mac). iPSP encodes movies with audio tracks to MPEG-4 Part 2, together with MPEG-4 Part 3 and outputs it to the *.mp4 container. These files are also playable by QuickTime, VLC or any other MPEG-4 ISO compatible player due to interoperability. Television shows recorded via Tivo can be transferredto the PSP for mobile viewing.

In January 2005, Sony announced the creation of software that allows for watching television broadcasts via WiFi which will be released for the PSP, as well as Sony's portable television sets. Sony plans to add the functionality to PSP in the first half of 2005.

In addition, Sony has unveiled an iTunes-like download capability, using its Sony Connect service, to be added in the near future to the PSP. Users will be able to use the online component of the PSP to buy songs or albums and listen to them on the PSP, with a similar pricing strategy as iTunes. Downloadable content for games (tracks and vehicles for WipeOut Pure, for example) as well as playable game demos are also promised. As of yet, no announcement for a rollout date in any region has been announced.

As the system firmware is upgradable, Sony has not ruled out support for other audio and video codecs in the future; these would have to be decoded in software rather than hardware (just as AVC, MP3, and ATRAC decoding are). It is also technically feasible for a third party to release a disk of decoders (on UMD format) to play back unsupported video files (from Memory Stick).

Sony is reportedly in talks with various studios with regards to producing its content on UMDs, while movies from Sony Pictures (House of Flying Daggers, xXx,Hellboy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Resident Evil: Apocalypse) will be made available on UMD in April 2005. Also in April Disney Pictures will release films such as "Kill Bill" from their Miramax wing, since Sony is aiming for an older audience with the PSP, it is unlikely for Disney to release tradition animated features. Sony spokespersons state that they intend to match regional DVD prices, between $20 and $28.

Wireless networking

Wi-Fi support allows the PSP to connect to wireless networks, other PSP units for multiplayer gaming, the Internet, and according to several industry insiders, Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3. Details for Internet connections or what that would entail have yet to be announced, and, as with everything about the PlayStation 3, any sort of handheld/console connectivity is rumor at best.

Recently, PSP hackers have managed to exploit a bug found in the game Wipeout: Pure that enables the PSP to view legitimate webpages and search via Google. This merely involves setting up your PSP's primary DNS server so it reaches a PSP webportal and your secondary DNS server to your router IP address. Whenever you access the downloads section of Wipeout Pure, you will be promptly redirected to the webportal. This discovery confirms the PSP's ability to surf the web and gives hope that a first party web browser is in development.

Ad-hoc networks

Ad-hoc wireless networking allows up to 16 PSPs to communicate with other units within range, directly, typically for multiplayer gaming. The launch titles Ridge Racer and Lumines, for example, support this. One unit can act as the host for a game, which is available to other PSP units within that systems range, and appears in a list when the client PSP searches for available hosts. As expected, hosting a game in this manner increases power consumption and reduces battery life.

Infrastructure networks

The PSP's main menu allows the user to configure the system for use across the Internet via a wireless connection, known as infrastructure mode. The PSP's menu can recognize protected and non-protected wireless networks within its range, and attempt to request a firmware update from Sony's servers.

A handful of titles, including three U.S. launch games and an as-of-yet untitled MMORPG, have been announced which use this wireless network functionality. Packet tunneling systems are in development by third-parties which allow any Wi-fi game to operate across the Internet (see external links, below).

Use of infrastructure networks in PSP software began with a small number of titles at the US launch, supporting online play. South Korean PSPs will ship with software providing web browsing and multimedia streaming features[3].

Game Sharing

Sony has confirmed that it will be possible for hosts of games to transmit playable game files to PSPs lacking that game (listed on the main menu as "Game Sharing"), in a manner similar to single-cartridge Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS multiplayer. While a Namco Museum title has been demonstrated sending single-player games to other systems using this feature, no multiplayer functions have yet been revealed.

Wired networking

The USB connection allows the PSP to connect to the PS2 or PC. Armored Core: Formula Front, for example, allows players to connect their PS2 and PSP versions to share information, such as parts and AI configurations, between the two. Also, users can connect their PSPs to the Internet via a USB or wireless connection to a PC, and copy their vehicles temporarily to other players' PSPs, in order to compete.

The PSP can also be connected to a PC via USB to allow the computer to copy files to the inserted Memory Stick, using the mass storage device driver.

Power

The PSP uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for power (an AC adaptor is included for charging and running from the mains). The system's manual states that the PSP is capable of 4-6 hours of gameplay on average, or 4-5 hours of movie UMD playback on average, depending on the screen brightness or volume level selected.

Battery life is heavily dependent on the game chosen; games such as Lumines are expected to greatly extend the battery life of the system, with graphically advanced games (or games that frequently access the UMD drive) such as Ridge Racers providing shorter battery life. Sony Corporation COO, Ken Kutaragi, has compared the system to the Walkman, in that battery life will be improved with each product revision, and has outlined some steps (switching to a different fabrication process, for example) which will be used to improve the system's endurance. Currently the PSP's CPU is fabricated using a 90-nm process, but Sony has 65-nm and 45-nm technology available.

In practice, tests using Ridge Racers have given between three and a half and slightly less than six hours of continuous gameplay, depending on screen brightness and volume. In one test[4], this dropped to approximately two and three quarter hours when using Wi-Fi multiplayer continuously. The system is capable of approximately ten hours of MP3 playback from memory stick on a full charge and around half this for AVC playback. While full-length movie UMDs are not available, a repeating loop of the demo UMD bundled in the Value Pack provided a little over 4 hours of playback on a full charge.

The PSP's battery is removable for replacement by the end-user. This may be a response to the criticisms which the Apple iPod has received regarding its battery. One is thus able to purchase extra batteries as an accessory; at the Japanese launch, they cost ¥5,040 including tax (around US$47, €37, £26).

Various third parties are providing options for extending the PSP's battery life. For example, carrying cases with built-in batteries and charging connectors to the PSP are in development, and one case aimed at movie fans integrates a battery, PSP stand, and speakers.

Operating system

The PSP's main menu interface is the XMB ("Cross Media Bar") used by recent Sony TVs and the PSX hardware. It consists of a horizontal sequence of icons (Settings, Games, Music, etc.) which when highlighted show a vertical sequence of sub-icons (for example, selecting Games allows the memory stick or a UMD to be selected).

The main menu system allows the user to, amongst other things, adjust settings such as date, time, and the PSP's nickname for wireless networking, play video or audio files from the memory stick, load games or movie UMDs, check on estimated battery life, and set the PSP into a "link mode" which makes the inserted memory stick available to a PC via USB. It may be accessed at any time in a game by pressing the "Home" button on the console.

The default background colour of the menus is blue, however it changes colour depending on the current month of year, as follows:

  • January: Light Blue
  • February: Yellow
  • March: Green
  • April: Pink
  • May: Dark Green
  • June: Purple
  • July: Aqua
  • August: Sky Blue
  • September: Violet
  • October: Gold
  • November: Light Brown
  • December: Red

User skins are also made available from game publishers within their game discs.

The PSP's firmware is apparently updateable via WiFi, or games. (The Japanese firmware has already been updated, to fix certain problems with the WiFi "infrastructure" mode, used for connecting to the internet.) There are rumors, backed up with some early firmware evidence of questionable validity, that the next firmware upgrade will incorporate support for a web browser, email, scheduler, voice recording, and word processing and spreadsheet software.

Region locking

The PSP supports region locking for games and movies, which limits which software may be played on each region's hardware. They have announced in interviews that the system will adopt the DVD CCA's DVD regional lockout scheme; Japanese PSP hardware already has a R2 logo on its box. However, support for regional lockout does not necessarily mean it will be used for all software.

According to Sony, games for the PSP will (at least at first) be encoded as region-free. There will be no limitation as to what country's handheld can play what country's version of the game. This will open up the "portability" of the handheld, as well as enable gamers who buy a PSP game on holiday to play it on their native PSPs. GameSpot recently released a hands-on review of the US version PSP. They were able to play Japanese games on the US PSP and vice-versa, but the Spider-Man 2 UMD would not play on the Japanese PSP, proving that movies are region locked, and the games, for now at least, are not. IGN had also conducted a similar test.

PSPCasting

The PSP's large screen and the tools made available to get open-content videos on to the device have prompted some people to acquire the device more for its video playback than its gaming capabilities. The developer of PSP Video 9, an encoding tool for Windows XP coined the term PSPCasting to refer to the process of ripping video content, encoding it in MP4, and then sharing it on a peer-to-peer network such as BitTorrent or Gnutella. While this infrastructure is not as elegant as Podcasting (from which it obviously gets its name), the term has caught on in the blogging community, and many developers are working on more efficient ways to get video content made available for the PSP. As of late March 2005, there is already plenty of free content available on the various P2P networks, formatted specifically for the PSP's video playback capabilities.

Though file sizes largely depend on the audio sampling rates and video resolution, A 22-minute TV program at a resolution of 320x300 and an audio sampling rate of 22050 kHz is roughly 55 megabytes in MP4. This means that a 512 MB Memory Stick (which costs roughly $70) can hold about 9 of these shows.

See also

Sony PSP and Nintendo DS

External links

Official

Media Coverage & Articles

Third-Party Software

  • iPSP - Converts and installs movies, music, and images onto a Memory Stick for use in a PSP
  • PSPware - Converts and installs movies, music, and images for use on a PSP. Includes synchronization functionality.

News & Community

  • The PSP Centre: Yahoo! Group that discusses PSP related topics
  • XLink Kai global gaming network - Promises free online multiplayer PSP functionality as well as Xbox, PS2, and GameCube all from a single application.
  • PSP Vault A community for trading and sharing game save files. Contains articles on how to transfer music and video files.
  • psp-linux.org
  • PSP Garden a somewhat informative PSP news site, with referrals to news articles and downloads.
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