A savePoint at storpi.com

Anyways, speaking of typing, here’s my idea for a PSP keyboard: take the clear plastic one they showed originally, only instead of having it on top of the system, overlay it on the screen, effectively making a touchscreen. Then, only have the keys show up when text input is called up. Easier typing, and you keep the PSP form factor.

Well, more like 1:15, so I thought I’d post in the blog. Couple of cool things going on here: there’s actually free wireless internet access at the new Milwaukee Greyhound / Amtrak station, making my two hour layover that much more interesting. I also picked up the higher capacity PSP battery over the weekend, so I have my screen brightness turned up `cause I’m not too worried about the system dying as I “type.” Which would suck.

Is it weird for me to want a family of PSP’s?

I mean, between me and my girlfriend, we already have two, a launch piano black and an imported pink. Then, last week she tells me that she no longer likes the pink one and thinks that we should get the Slim & Lites. Black ones, since the other colors seem kind of cheap. (Plus, I’m not sure I want a Darth Vader imprinted forever onto the back of my PSP) I like all of the new and improved features, but for some reason, I don’t want to just have my old PSP put out into the wild if I trade it in.

On the other hand, if I keep all of the PSP’s and end up with four, what the heck am I going to do with them? Is there anything I can do with them? When are they going to firmware in some features for the ridiculously rich, or the hopelessly sentimental people, who are going to end up with these families of PSP’s?

By the way, has anyone seen these Slim & Lite Core Packs out in the wild?

Anyone notice that the speaker holes are on the front now, instead of the bottom? Why weren’t those there in the first place? Geez…

Anyways, new details on the improved PSP, apparently called “PSP Slim & Lite,” have surfaced on the Threespeech blog. [UPDATE] Joystiq’s gotten a hands-on. Their writer, Andrew Yoon, says it’s a big improvement and, “a significantly better system,” that shouldn’t be written off. Here’s the rundown:

1. In addition to “Piano Black,” “Ice Silver,” and “Ceramic White,” it seems that in the EU there’ll also be “Felicia Blue,” “Lavender Purple,” and “Rose Pink” in what is being called the “Blume Series.” Mmm, flowers.
2. Some of the peripherals that will be available include composite, S-video, and component output cables for the new video output capabilities that allow one to play UMD games and movies, as well as photos and video stored on the Memory Stick, on a TV.
3. A new feature that allows temporary storage of UMD game data on a Memory Stick is what allows the PSP S&L to load games faster. [UPDATE] The S&L also has more RAM!
4. The PSP S&L can be charged via USB from a PS3 or PC during data transfers. Nice.
5. [UPDATE] S&L is even glossier than the original and looks really nice. What I want to know, is it more scratch resistant? Coat that sucker with the stuff they use on Blu-ray discs!
6. [UPDATE] The IR port, which didn’t have any offical use, is gone. With it, the Wifi switch was moved to the top and the Memory Stick slot is now on the right side. The UMD drive is now latched shut making it more secure, even when you drop the system.
7. [UPDATE] The headphone jack is slightly different now, utilizing a new pin system that makes the video out possible. Games will be limited to component output only, but everything goes for videos, both UMD and not. How’s it look? Not bad, they say. UMD moves are in 480p, so that’s the same as DVD.
8. [UPDATE] The buttons are improved, with a more tactile feel. The analog nub? Unchanged.
9. [UPDATE] Battery life has been extended to eight to ten hours, from the original six to eight. Apparently the power management is just more efficient now.
10. If PSP Slim & Lite is what this new PSP is called, what’s the old one going to be? PSP Thick & Heavy?

Mentioned everywhere but this blog, the new PSP will come in “Piano Black” and come out in September for presumably the same price as the current PSP, $169.99. In additon, Sony will also be releasing two other packs: the Limited Edition Daxter Entertainment Pack, which includes a “Ice Silver” PSP, Daxter, Family Guy: Freakin` Sweet on UMD, and a 1 GB memory stick; and the Limited Edition Star Wars: Battlefront Entertainment Pack, which includes a “Ceramic White” PSP with an image of Darth Vader on the back, 1GB Memory Stick, and the PSP exclusive, Star Wars: Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. Both the special pack will retail for $199.99.

Was it the huge PSP redesign everyone wanted? No, but I do think video output sweetens the deal. A lot of people disliked the idea of being forced to buy a movie on a medium that they could only play on one device that only had a 4.3 in screen. Plus, if Sony ever gets that content store for PSP ready, being able to play that content on a TV would be really nice. PSP still isn’t going to beat the DS, well… ever, but judging from the fact that already I know two more people who want one now, I think the PSP will be just fine. Picture of the new PSP packs from the Playstation Blog.

Sorry about the lack of images to break up the monotony.  E3 is coming soon, and I want to be able to get the facts up as quickly as possible for you, readers, sparce as you may be.  Besides, images might get discovered at work.  Heh.  Storpi, the work-friendly blog.  Yeah.

List of Games I’m Looking Forward to Seeing Again (PS3, PSP, PS2):

1. Heavenly Sword - Hoping there’s a demo of this coming out in the next two weeks. 
2. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune - From the makers of Jak & Daxter, should get some new videos on the PS Store.  It’s coming out in the Fall.
3. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction - Cliche for me to say, but it’s looking Pixar quality.
4. Lair - Dragons, 1080p, 7.1 channel surround.  Maybe time to get that HDMI cable.  Demo for this in July, I hear.
5. LittleBigPlanet - If this comes out at the end of the year, WOOOOHOOO!
6. Warhawk - Surprisingly, this could be the best online game Sony has ever had on a Playstation.  Not really waiting to see it.  Waiting to play it.
7. Metal Gear Solid 4
8. Home - Not really a game, but wow.  If you’re not in the Beta, let me say, wow.

I’ll add to the list as I think of things.  Who says there’s no games?  Foolish.  It’s like how we’ve gotten used to saying the PSP has no games and that 360’s breaking down is a result of user error.  Pttttbp.

Boktai, created by legendary game designer Hideo Kojima of Metal Gear Solid fame, was a game in which a player used actual sunlight, from our sun (the real sun, just making sure we’re clear), to burn vampires back to where ever it is they come from. Strange? You see, Kojima wanted not only to make a game that worked on a handheld but to make a game that would only work on a handheld. Admittedly, it would be hard to get an Xbox and TV outside for a little sunshine.

That was several years ago. (more…)