PSP Brite battery life will decrease by 20-30 minutes

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 29th 2008 at 2:30PM }

PSP main man John Koller went to Gamespot to talk about the upcoming PSP Brite, and revealed a few key facts. He admits the change is "minor," one in a continuing series of changes the PSP may see along its proposed life cycle. Most revealing of all is his comment about battery life: the brighter screen will draw more power, diminishing battery life by 20-30 minutes.

He does say that the now-discontinued extended life battery will make a return, possibly rebranded for use with the PSP-3000 series.

Tags: battery, john-koller, psp, psp-3000, psp-brite

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ericdj @ Aug 29th 2008 2:34PM

Portable DVD players like the Panasonic have fine print saying brightness must be turned down and headphones needed to make the battery really last 12 hours. Bet the same would apply here.

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 29th 2008 2:37PM

No worries, its not as if we only had 4 hours on a PSP 2000 and now 3 1/2 on this one :)

haha

Lars @ Sep 2nd 2008 3:34PM

Yeah, that's true. The battery does last pretty long on the PSP. Probably the longest lasting for any portable all-in-one device I've ever owned. Heck, it lasts longer than my old CD Walkman.

Years ago, I installed an internal light in my GBA and it made my batteries die like every hour or two... and no standby mode to keep my game going!

Wrathbringer @ Aug 29th 2008 2:39PM

I was expecting something like this to happen to the 3000, though I don't really think 20-30 minutes is really THAT much of an issue. If you're really despairing over that loss then you just need to get a spare battery or a car charger if that's where it predominantly sits.

ChillyWilly @ Aug 30th 2008 3:09PM

Agreed. A spare regular battery is more preferred for me.

Duff_B @ Aug 29th 2008 2:56PM

The 20-30 minute loss of battery life wouldn't matter with an extended life battery. So why did they discontinue the extended life battery in the first place? Why not just change the packaging to say "supports phat, dim & brite" instead?

Or is it so that Sony can eventually provide us with an official white spare battery cover in addition to the black and silver ones? That never made sense in the first place - why silver instead of the far more common white? Anyway, I'm not going to start losing hair trying to think like Sony does...

omgitsthepope @ Aug 29th 2008 3:45PM

i honestly think the silvers more popular then the white here in the states at least but i do agree that it was stupid they didn't make a white cover with it.

something @ Aug 29th 2008 3:22PM

if you think too much like Sony you'll throw all your money makers in the closet called Japan

strike @ Aug 29th 2008 3:30PM

Has the psp lite changed to psp dim? Anyway, they basically added a microphone and an extra brightness.

schuyler @ Aug 29th 2008 3:39PM

they're probably gonna make the batteries different so the whole thing with the pandora batteries doesn't work again

Frastoglegnia @ Aug 29th 2008 4:05PM

Sony doesn't need to disallow Pandora batteries because they've already done that with the current crop of processors. The latest PSP2000s use TA-88 processors and the 3000 use something even later. No one has been able to get past the TA-88 with a Pandora. They're going to have to resort to mod chips, which will make homebrew far less practical. Modding won't be on the same easy level for the average user.

Courtesy of jx233 from MaxConsole:

"Custom/unsigned IPLs fail to load off the MemoryStick because of new CPU/TACHYON IC chip that only accepts IPL signed by Sony.

Battery EEPROM writing functions removed, but PSP can only read the Battery serial. (Battery EEPROM writing is impossible in Official Firmware 1.51 or later + new PSP models cannot write to battery."

Ben @ Aug 29th 2008 5:44PM

@Frasto- you have heard of a Magic Memory Stick/Pandora combo, right? The Slim is just as easily hacked as a phat.

koehler83 @ Aug 29th 2008 7:10PM

Yes, he knows. The TA-88 board was a recent preventative measure put into the 2000 models to try and stop Pandora, which it did for a while. It has already been circumvented.

The 3000 is a complete redesign of the battery port, likely which has no data transfer capabilities whatsoever. This is likely why the batteries were discontinued, to create a new battery that will work across all models.

Frastoglegnia @ Aug 29th 2008 10:40PM

koehler83: I've been reading about the new crop of 2000s for months (TA-88 is up to v3, I believe). I have yet to hear anyone else -- at any technical level -- state the issues with both gens as simply and clearly as you. Because of the quality of your post, I tried looking up others by you.

Yes, Schyler, I've used the combination you mentioned and am aware of it. The processor change I mentioned is very recent.

So far as I know, TA-88.3 has yet to be beaten. This was posted today:

"If you do have a TA-088v2 then DC7 [Despertar Del Cementerio v7] will be able to d/g it, if you have a TA-088v3 nothing can at the moment." -- January39

From DC7's dev:

"Battery and ms will work on all psp *except the very latest ta-88*."

Until recently, I'd been toying picking up the GoW 2000 as a backup PSP. Pity, that.

Frastoglegnia @ Aug 30th 2008 8:22AM

koehler83:

I've been reading about the new crop of 2000s for months (TA-88 is up to v3, I believe). I have yet to hear anyone else -- at any technical level -- state the issues as succintly as you. Because of the quality of your response, I'll be looking up other posts by you.

Yes, Schyler, I've used the combination you mentioned and am aware of it. The processor change I mentioned is very recent.

So far as I know, TA-88, version 3, has yet to be beaten. This was posted yesterday:

"If you do have a TA-088v2 then DC7 [Despertar Del Cementerio v7] will be able to d/g it, if you have a TA-088v3 nothing can at the moment." -- January39 [user name, not the date of the post]

From DC7's dev, Dark Alex himself, on his latest work:

"Battery and ms will work on all psp *except the very latest ta-88*."

Blue @ Aug 29th 2008 3:48PM

I don't particularly care about the 20-30 minutes less, but didn't Nintendo manage to increase both the brightness and battery life when they made the Lite?

Ah well, I'll still pick up the Brite when it comes out.

Frastoglegnia @ Aug 29th 2008 4:29PM

I happen like the DS Lite. Now that I have two copies of Korg DS-10, I actually own two DSs for chaining.

But I can't see comparing the DS's dual screen to a PSP-2000's widescreen (far better even with ghosting), let alone, a 3000's. They're not even in the same category of kit.

Angel Mass @ Aug 29th 2008 3:54PM

Maybe the PSP-4000 its going to be lite, brite and extended power baterrite

Bryan @ Aug 29th 2008 4:24PM

and maybe the 5000 will finally have new games and features.

Extinction @ Aug 29th 2008 4:57PM

PSP has tons of games and features as it is. It even does more than 360/PS3

aj @ Aug 29th 2008 11:52PM

I know, I hate how the 360/PS3 just sits there all day, not moving....

lonesomefolly @ Aug 30th 2008 2:47PM

@Extinction: He meant good games.

Bryan @ Aug 29th 2008 4:26PM

i had a question about battery. i have two of them one of which was from a different psp. Does that affect my psp? it does reset whenever i switch it but that doesnt bother me. i just need to know if it ok to use another psps battery.

Wazzim @ Aug 29th 2008 4:55PM

its ok.

Safiel @ Aug 29th 2008 4:40PM

This what exactly what I asked about a few days ago when we were first talking about the 3000. I think it's a shame though, 4 hours already feels really short. They're already bringing back out the larger battery, wish they'd just have packaged it with the 3000.

3 1/2 won't seem quite so bad if you can adjust the brightness to get extra life and at least get the life you could with the older models. I always run my ds as one of the lower settings and it's more then enough brightness for me.

The new screen seems like a good feature, too bad they aren't going to step up the packaged battery as well. Seems like their taking a good step forward and a half step back.

McDoobie @ Aug 29th 2008 5:20PM

Why not include the extended battery pack WITH the PSP-2000 and 3000? My 2000's battery life is horrible -- even when playing with brightness low.

aliss77777 @ Aug 29th 2008 5:29PM

wow, this is crazy...when that article came out about "psp is doomed" i thought it was bunk, but now something like this comes along and the "improved" psp will actually have an inferior battery life. that's kind of like a punch in the stomach.

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Aug 29th 2008 5:45PM

Wait, so can't you just decrease the brightness of the screen to match the 1000 and 2000 models and have the same battery life as them as well????

Virtuous @ Aug 29th 2008 6:33PM

Sony has lost both the PSP vs DS and PS/3 vs Wii battles. Sony should heed the lessons learned for the next rounds. If Sony doesn't wise up soon video games will become a giant financial sink hole for them.

Joeman @ Aug 30th 2008 12:41AM

I pray that Sony does not follow Nintendo just to make a lot of money. I do not want another game console for geriatrics and infants! Flame me all you want nintendo fanboys, but Pikachu is not a very sophisticated video game character.

Another note.
Brighter = more power.

I just carry another charged battery in my pocket. They are really small, works like a charm.

rainking187 @ Aug 29th 2008 6:58PM

It's just a rumor, but I hear the PSP will get another Dragonball Z game if the model number goes...OVER 9000!Yeah, that was awful, I know.

gurbinder @ Aug 29th 2008 7:24PM

you tried... that jokes overused now. but anyways they probably will make more dragonballz games considering theres 2 or 3 out. Another road was beautiful :)

gurbinder @ Aug 29th 2008 7:20PM

lol the slims battery life is low as it is. If you use if for a year it lasts like 4 hours outside. Wont do for long trips in the car unless u got a charger

McDoobie @ Aug 29th 2008 9:46PM

Which is exactly why I don't bring it on trips. My DS's battery life is about three times the life of my PSP's and I have a better library.

Sigh...SO much potential being wasted.

tekdroid @ Aug 30th 2008 9:33AM

...or simply buy a spare battery and charge it up in advance of any long trips. At least you don't have to unscrew it like the DS.

mexicanla1@aol.com @ Aug 29th 2008 7:51PM

Doesn't really seem like a big issue, but on the other hand does anyone know if there going to make a psp2? and if yes, can u give me someplace were i can look up the info on it?

LatinoLA1 @ Aug 29th 2008 7:52PM

doesn't seem like a big issue, but on the hand can anyone tell me if there going to make a psp2? and if yes were can i get some info on it?

McDoobie @ Aug 29th 2008 9:46PM

Nothing confirmed yet, and if something is in the works it'll be awhile before it's announced.

Fiddlesworth @ Aug 29th 2008 8:31PM

Like someone already said, turn down the brightness one or two steps and you've probably got your half hour back and similar brightness (but better colour and less ghosting) than PSP-2000.

TJF588 @ Aug 30th 2008 1:05AM

As I'm likely agreeing with one of the many posts preceeding: Sony, take a hint from Nintendo and have a brightness option.

On a related note, I'm still slightly (slightly) saddened by the lack of an "off" option on the second iteration of the SP.

aj @ Aug 30th 2008 3:18AM

I was too, but after some confusion over how to tell when it was in "sleep mode" and when it was actually off, or if it is ever really off, I decided to just take out the battery when I'm not using it. It works a treat.

Brock @ Aug 30th 2008 8:35AM

The PSP has a brightness option. There's a button for it, 3 levels plus 1 super bright for on AC. You turn the PSP fully off by holding the power button up until the led blinks 3 times. You can tell it turns off because it will do the boot up screen next time you turn it on.

Frastoglegnia @ Aug 30th 2008 9:29AM

New battery issues might have to do with hardware designed to defeat homebrew and not just a brighter screen. Sony probably intends to work on battery life in the future, with upgrades or the the release of the 4000. Look at the arc of the minidisc: when they can, Sony always puts copy protection first.

Trouble is, Sony's dealing with a user base that likes homebrew and has older models already. They'll still be able to hack new games, while prospective new users won't want lower battery life. And older users will avoid buying newer models despite perks if they can't use them in the same way. The result: same number of games hacked, fewer new PSPs bought.

Ridgecity @ Aug 31st 2008 1:13AM

less battery? that's innovating! most gadget get better battery time with revisions, but not PSP...

Thank you, Sir Howard! you've saved us!

davidxi2008 @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:02AM

my friends tell me A 3600mAh Rechargeable PSP Battery Pack is compatible with PSP 1000 and PSP 2000/ PSP Slim. The higher capacity is more than three times of your original psp battery.
view detail from
http://www.shopping-toys.com/3600mah-psp-battery-for-sony-psp-1000-and-psp-2000-slim-p-551.html