PSP Slim details leaked?
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jun 8th 2007 at 12:05PM }
We're sure that a PSP remake is coming ... but when? Kotaku, in a "rumor" from "several sources close to Sony," suggests that a thinner PSP will be unveiled at E3 next month. The system will supposedly feature a new LED screen that delivers a crisp image in a new, thinner size. Due to new screen technology, battery life will also increase, up four-fold. Amongst other features is a faster UMD drive, 8GB of internal flash memory, and a revamped D-Pad. All of this is supposed to come in at a surprising cost: only $170, the same cost of the system now.Sound too good to be true? Maybe. We contacted Dave Karraker from SCEA and he commented: "This is pure rumor and speculation, for which we don't comment."
We honestly find many of these details to be much too extravagant, especially at such a low price. (How much money would Sony lose on each system sold? 8GB of memory alone would make the $170 price much too costly for the manufacturer.) We'll have to wait until E3 to see if Kotaku's bold claims have any weight to them.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
frazizou @ Jun 8th 2007 12:40PM
I think sony is not a stupid company because if they sell a 8gb memory stick pro duo at 200$ they would not sell it anymore becase people will buy the new psp system instade of the memory and company will lose a lot of money!
Xarek @ Jun 8th 2007 12:52PM
8 GB flash memory? Haha... that really does sound too good to be true. The original model had about 30 MB of flash memory, what would you need 8 GB for?
Unless its considered as a built in hard drive, I wouldn't consider it to be flash memory.
4ham @ Jun 8th 2007 1:08PM
Alright I believed it up until the 8gigs of internal memory and $170 price tag.
1. 8gigs is way to much for a device with expandable memory, unless of course they're going to be doing away with the MS slot. 8gigs is to much period actually, are they doing away with the UMD drive all together because 8gigs internally is asking for piracy. 2-4gigs would be believable.
2. $170. I can't think of a single portable device on the market that has over 2gigs of internal memory that costs under $200. Unless we've all just missed some amazing discovery in storage mediums, this is wholly unbelievable. Not to mention it's the same price as the basic no-frills PSP. What about all that back stock? If a new better PSP is coming out for the same price, people who are going to be buying PSPs will wait it out.
But wait, I can see this existing(abit at a higher price) as a extender of the PS3. No UMD drive, No MS slot, No mini-USB, just the remote play function, regular PSP demos, and the PS1 games from the sony store. Your PS3 would crunch videos and copy them over if you wanted to roam outside of Wifi.
Kxpuc @ Jun 8th 2007 1:16PM
most likely going to be used as both flash memory and HD. use 1GB for the memory to speed up load times and such and the other 6.6ish GB's for HD. Wouldn't kill SD pro memory stick sales but lower them since SD is still used for other things
LoganT @ Jun 8th 2007 1:17PM
Xarek:
8Gb's for game saves, movies, music, TV shows. Sony could position this as an awesome PMP.
Brandon @ Jun 8th 2007 1:43PM
The biggest things that were holding the PSP back as being the premiere Personal Media player was a small range of supported video types, and no buit in storage. If you manage to put a reasonable amount of storage inside, you will be able to convince people that this is something worth buying to play movies and music.
I for one already own a psp, but depending on how much of this turns out to be true, I will see mine to my brother and buy the redesign. Sony has always had great redesigns. The PS2 slim was hotness, so small, still iconically PS2 inspired.
Michael @ Jun 8th 2007 1:47PM
I'm not convinced by 8Gigs of internal memory coupled with the price tag of $170. Other than that - this is the most plausible 'PSP2' rumor I've heard to date.
Michael
Hector Martinez @ Jun 8th 2007 2:11PM
I guess E3 will reveal all. If not I'm going to buy another PSP in its existing design, just for security's sake. If true, I will see this as an aggressive grab for the PMP market and something to combat all the iPhone insanity.
Aaron @ Jun 8th 2007 2:12PM
I don't buy it either, 8 Gs at $170?!? No way. Why would they potentially canabalize their own memory stick sales? That'd be just plain dumb as a business decision (but then again we are talking about Sony, hmm...)
And thank God there will be no touch screen! I do not want to touch the screen for anything, if I did, I would have gotten a DS. Since I am a happy PSP owner, that is obviously a feature I am/was not interested in.
(I think the folks clamoring for a touch screen are all non-PSP owners anyway, or at least the folks who have been drinking the DS Kool-Aid.)
The other specs sound okay, the back lit LED and faster load times for UMD games and movies would be worth an upgrade to me. I'd have to play with it to be totally convinced if the controls work better. The current scheme is simply useable.
My chief concern would be if it would be "too" slim. All of us don't have tiny little hands and still like things we can hold onto.
required @ Jun 8th 2007 2:22PM
Separate the UMD drive from the PSP and upload from it to the "slim" PSP and you have a game/media jukebox.
devi8i @ Jun 8th 2007 2:59PM
Give me a break guys....8GB flash memory can be had for less than $60 retail. That means the manufacturer and the retailer are BOTH making money at that price point. I jumped on the Frys deal for a 4GB card for $40 with free shipping from earlier this week for my PSP. For the length of time the PSP has been out now Sony has undoubtedly reduced the size and manufacturing costs of the core components. And Sony has never been scared to sell their hardware at a loss to gain marketshare.
J. McNair @ Jun 8th 2007 3:26PM
What we will likely GET from the revision in no particular order:
1. Faster UMD drive, likely 2x or 4x to maximize power savings.
2. Subtly improved internals, increasing reliability while reducing costs and power consumption.
3. Slightly smaller screen, same resolution.
4. New form factor, but nothing as drastic as DS -> DSLite
5. 1-2 GB internal storage.
6. $199 "premium" price point. Original "value" PSP will still be sold and go down to $149 or less. Camera sold separately.
7. More PS3 integration (PS3 Home features, A REAL PSP store, etc)
What I would like from the revision in order of most to least DESIRED:
1. LED backlight for the screen to save tonnes of power while improving brightness and reliability.
2. Officially supported, high quality, hack-free video output via HDMI, DVI or component. I am not picky. I do not care if it won't come to the original PSP. I do not mind if it's a cable or a dock. In fact, I would pay extra for this magical cable or dock, just MAKE IT HAPPEN.
3. 2-4 GB internal storage at least. I know they won't give us too much as they want to sell Memory Sticks.
4. Legal and supported homebrew software development. Bless supported packages of Python, Java, GCC and Eclipse and let us go to it, Sony.
G Lampa @ Jun 8th 2007 4:07PM
Awww, Lets face it. In order to be competitive, SONY could easily offer such a product at that price point. The hope is, they'll sell a TON of them! Also, 8gb costs SONY a lot? That's a joke. 4gb cards have hit the $40 mark already, at RESPECTABLE retailers, like J&R. If the consumer is paying $40, what do you think SONY pays for it? I'm willing to bet they have 4gb cards in a gumball machine in the staff lounge at the SONY HQ. I bet it costs SONY $10-12 for an 8gb memory card, considering their purchasing power.
PSP-Rising @ Jun 8th 2007 4:16PM
Why do so many of you think 8GB is so much??? I mean if you only save games then I can see the confusion.
-Videos can eat up space and I have over 20 gigs on PSP converted Videos alone.
-MP3- You can eat up a lot of space quick if MP3's are your thing as well.
-I could also see utilizing the Browser maybe caching temp internet files information with the extra memory.
cafecito @ Jun 8th 2007 6:22PM
Sounds a little far-fetched to me
kingofwale @ Jun 8th 2007 6:23PM
as a PSP owner, I don't believe it, not that I don't want to, it's just that it's impossible, an 8Gb Ipod costs more than that.
and how do you plan to reduce the size and bring the battery to 4 fold longer? DS lite can't even reduce battery life that much (or at all)
seganerdchris @ Jun 8th 2007 8:08PM
I think you guys are all missing the one piece in this that could actually make a HUGE difference. It's not the internal memory, the slimmer design, the refined buttons and d-pad.
The key issue here is the PSP's new LED that will boost the battery life four fold. If this story is true, Sony can now start making use of the PSP's processor capable of running at 333mhz instead of 222mhz.
The PSP's poor battery life was the main reason for the processor cap, but it won't be a hindrance any longer.
Games can now load faster, gameplay can be much quicker and more complex. This is the one improvement that I think can actually make a huge difference for the PSP. Everything else is minor compared to this.
kingofwale @ Jun 8th 2007 8:27PM
>, Sony can now start making use of the PSP's processor capable of running at 333mhz instead of 222mhz.
My PSP has been running at 333mhz for AGES. I don't know what year you guys are living in. :)
if a rumour is false, it's false, there is no such thing as 'partially true'.
There's no way a PSP with 8GB storage will sale for 170 when an Ipod sales for 250 with same memory.
seganerdchris @ Jun 8th 2007 8:38PM
Yes, the PSP is running at 333mhz, but as far as I know, only PS1 games run at that speed. From my understanding, PSP games still run at 222mhz.
Quest @ Jun 8th 2007 9:43PM
I find that these rumors, when they DO turn out to be true, are true in part. I agree with the comments that the internal memory is to compete with iPods and the like. The price is unlikely to be valid. If everything else is essentially true, price point is about $200. And this time it comes with a game, not just a lame demo disk. Maybe some demos pre-loaded on the 8gb? I like that thought.
JM @ Jun 8th 2007 10:36PM
I really hope sony will make a slimmer and faster psp. I'm going to buy a psp around the 15 of june but i dont know if to buy the psp or wait to see what E3 has to say.Nah, I will just buy the regular psp.more bigger and easier to hold.damn psp for making me doubt and think too much.AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
merc25 @ Jun 8th 2007 11:11PM
I place money on a PSP redesign being for sale next year, not this year. The redesign will be announced at E4All, not the downsized E3.
Kade Storm @ Jun 9th 2007 4:02AM
In reference to some of the comments about PSP games still running at 222 MHz. I heard that Ratchet and Clank actually pushed things up to 266.
du ma @ Jun 9th 2007 4:37AM
my suggestion. name is PSP PLUS...psp+ for short. psp slim doesnt sound that good
dannybuoy @ Jun 11th 2007 10:21AM
If you're running one of Dark Alex's hacked firmwares, you can hold down the R button on boot and set your PSP to 333Mhz (or whatever you want). Makes certain games run a bit smoother!
Atomu @ Jun 12th 2007 4:47AM
@18,
yeah, but your paying for the name. There are plenty of mp3 players that are much cheaper than the iPod yet have the same storage capacity. Apple knows that they are in such demand that they can get away with a much higher price. (and all my sony products always come with the adaptor! 40$ extra my ass, apple.)
So yeah, it is POSSIBLE that they could put it at that price (i sure hope so). But as they JUST dropped the price, I foresee them puting the new model at the old price, and keeping the older one where it is now. At least for a the first few months.
stupednretorded @ Jun 13th 2007 3:01PM
A-F'n-Mazing it seems like this new "psp2" has everyone up in arms over a wish list that no-ones exactly sure of it consists of. from memory size to what its actually capable of. I'm not a big fan of the Ps3 actually a 360 owner, i do disagree about the size though any smaller and all the sausage finger players are gonna go extinct and just snatch up the originals. I just say we wait n see how it works out. Stop Argueing ur not gonna win!
Hybrid @ Jun 26th 2007 4:09PM
You guys have no idea how technology works. Flash memory is not a big deal anymore. Yes, it's more expensive than hard disk memory, but no, it is not that expensive.
Sony manufactures their flash memory in-house. It costs them virtually nothing. iPods are expensive for their names.
The Meizu M6 has 8gb of Flash Memory and costs $130. It's about the same size as an iPod Nano, has a wide screen, and the redesign will play all video types and will be smaller than a nano.
This PSP redesign is 100% believable, and with the iPhone and the Meizu M6 coming to the United States, if Sony wants to be competitive at all, this is what they need.
Just remember, the flash memory isn't the issue, because there is no reason why Sony would not put it in there when it costs so little money. Its just whether or not Sony will release a PSP that's identical in power right now, or waiting a year and making a PSP2 with a PS2.5-like graphics.
aaron @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:26AM
actually after reading as much about the psp "slim" as possible i have come to conclusion that no internal memory will not be included. that was just one big rumor.
the new generation of the psp known as the psp "slim" or "lite" is supposed to come in a bundle with a psp and the regular in-box accessories and the "daxter" game a 1gb memory stick and a family guy UMD.. it is supposed to be available by september 9 2007
the other bundle supposedly comes with a limited edition darth vader psp with accessories and 1gb memory stick and a new version of starwars battlefront. it is available october 10 2007
the bundles are priced reasonably at $200