Would Sony eliminate PSP features?

[wraggster]

Via PSPfanboy (http://www.pspfanboy.com/2006/11/09/would-sony-eliminate-psp-features/)

Sony recently sent out a survey to Ratchet & Clank beta testers, and after a series of expected questions about the game, it moved on to more... interesting matters. One question asked users which feature they find to be of least value in the system, and can be eliminated. What?! There's absolutely no reason to get rid of any of PSP's features, even if they're sparingly used. I know I use every single feature listed in their survey, but the one I could probably live without would be the ability to view photos (but how will I add wallpapers to my system?).

Why would Sony ask such a terrifying question? Are future firmware upgrades taking up too much space? Maybe the functionality of the system has expanded beyond what the firmware internal memory is capable of holding. Let's hope not, because I want my PSP to do everything it possibly can.

Screen Via Comments

[scarph]

why would they eliminate existing features

its just a hypothetical

[Emeriastone]

because Sony eats poop once and a while.

[Jpdeathblade]

Why cant they compress the firmwear files more? or why didnt they think this stuff throught while making the psp?

[Basil Zero]

Suscribe to RSS Feeds is most useless for me, never used it and never will, they should eliminate that

[aries2k4]

Well the nand chip is starting to get kind of crowded but they should have thought of that. A multimedia gaming device is supposed to have alot of functions.

[dmac]

Get rid of security features and allow homebrew. Maybe all their protection crap is taking up all the room. Let us in and then maybe they will have room for the PS1 emulator.

[mavsman4457]

I had a feeling this would happen and it is a shame. Now they are going to come out with another PSP. RSS feeds are worthless but I wouldn't mind RSS video.

[Nikolaos]

Wow damn sony.. why not make firmware upgrades that go to your memstick? also for some nice storage instead of flashing the piece of sh*t memory we have on PSP, why not think of this stuff 1 year ago? HUH SONY WHY? WHY WHY WHY????!?!?!?!??!?? get rid of useless RSS and give us a java engine, get rid of useless music extensions that nobody uses and give us better video playback!!!, GIVE US OPTIONS OF REMOVING WHAT WE DONT WANT??!? I hate location free player BS!. i'm jus pissed at you sony.. very dissapointed, first you take our homebrew and fight with us. now you do this? I cant wait until the end of november to see how much more BS you people have pulled out of your assholes.

EDIT: ARE YOU HAPPY FOR THE CORRECTIONS? I WAS MAD. -.-

[punkypine]

talk in english.

[scarph]

agreed
2pac doesnt speak like that

[Ryupowerup]

get rid of rss and make it a app the can be run form the MS

[J sims]

even though not on the list make location free player run of a memory stick
p.s Sony is pobably going force this firmware downgrade on us.It in my opinion is looking pretty grim for the video content option as seems to be the most neglected option and UMD video sales suck.

But what would really be cool is if they had 2 firmwares avaiable to choose from. Maybe on a new UMD it would tell you to choose upgrade with firmware 3.00a (with photo) or 3.00B (with video), but that seems unlikely

[Destroyer699]

Well, we all knew it was coming. Don't act like its a suprise. 25mbs is not that much and sony isn't very smart. All I can say to sony is "pick your poision." Either get rid of new features or get rid of old ones. Sony, its your game system, do what you will with it. But please keep the consumer in mind. Its not all about money, its about putting smiles on our face.

[jason867]

talk in english.

amen "brotha"

[seijou]

I think they are looking for areas to possibly improve. If someone says a feature is useless and disposable, then what did sony do wrong in implementing the feature into the psp's functionality is the real question. It just seems like they are looking for a different kind of customer feedback.

For some reason, I can't imagine they would try to remove a feature that even a few of their customers have been using all along; and no that doesn't count homebrew, which I believe was never supported officially by Sony.

[Cap'n 1time]

hmm I would get rid of the location free player option that no one in the world gives half a shit about.

[DPyro]

I told them to get rid of RSS.

[F9zDark]

Well seeing that I still use 1.5 with devhooked 2.71 this really doesn't apply all that much to me. But if I had an up-to-date version of the PSP (may get another one for christmas) I'd say:

-Drop RSS, who the hell cares about that shit? I don't. Not to mention I enjoy the comments and discussions that go with news posts on my favorite sites, which RSS doesn't deliver, nor does it allow me to communicate back.

-Location Free. We won't need this support when PS3 comes out...

Nothing else I can think of... I would never want them to take away media support, regardless of how often I may use it. Because I know damn well once .--- file playback is removed is when I will need it the most.

If Sony was smart they'd give the browser more balls and move it to the Memstick. The PSP is capable of playing demos, so why not launch the browser from the games menu like a 'demo'?

This would save space in flash and allow users to tailor their PSP to their needs (don't want the browser/don't need the browser/cautious parents about kids with PornSP? simply don't install it)

[Psphreak]

Just goes to show that Sony really didn't plan this out very well. They figured 25MB was more than enough. They would create updates every long while and hoped that by then, they would have a new handheld in the market. But with the homebrew scene so diligent at hacking their firmwares, it's caused Sony to forcibly add function they hadn't anticipated on adding so soon. And now they have a limited amount of NAND memory just biting them back, once again causing Sony to scramble and find out a way to add their much anticipated functionality between the PS3 and their PSone emulator. All these worthless functions for what? To entice people into leaving the homebrew functionality and joining back into Sony's world. I would much rather prefer having the ability to remove functions we don't want. Since I give a rat's about it's multimedia function and internet, I should have the choice of getting rid of that crap and installing something more useful. Will Sony listen though? Don't hold your breath

[Veskgar]

why didnt they think this stuff throught while making the psp?
That's the thing, they didn't. The PSP was rushed to market. SONY designed a great piece of hardware, theres no question there. Its just just evident now that they had no clear plan or product growth strategy. They just wanted to show the world they could make a more powerful portable gaming machine than Nintendo. Remember the the infamous statement by a SONY exec taking a stab at Nintendo by saying the PSP would elevate gaming out of the handheld gaming ghetto, LOL.

Well, I hated the original DS, but the DS Lite is really showing SONY that having the most horsepower doesn't exactly mean you will have the best games.

If sony wants to get rid of features, how about disabling the AUTO-LOAD of the UMD. Man that is annoying.

[mnuhaily22]

I would have to say RSS, since I barely use that unless I am at home. Here is how you can too.
http://skattertech.com/2006/04/stream-itunes-library-to-psp/
It actually saves me a lot of space.

[ArugulaZ]

Here's how I answered the survey.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8366/pspeliminationbu6.png

JR

[NoQuarter]

Nice answer.

[vladiftodi]

i think playing games shoud be removed the ability t play games :Rofl: :rofl:

[jwilds73]

Well if they would eliminate all those "security" protections they'd free up alot of room. However they probably need to eliminate features to make room for more security to protect our PSP's from hackers. :rolleyes:

[belialone]

sony sony sony what have you done. i think its their first attempt to find out what they should do on the next FW update in order to rip of the legal user even more(less functions, more security to prevent cracking).
nobody with a brain updates his FW.
the only way they could spread this update is with brandnew hardware. i see the hardware sells going down if this would happen or maybe the modchip sells going up.
anyway sony is our friend and they only want the best for the customer.

[jimjamjahaa]

Wow damn sony.. why not make firmware upgrades that go to your memstick? also for some nice storage instead of flashing the piece of sh*t memory we have on PSP, why not think of this stuff 1 year ago? HUH SONY WHY? WHY WHY WHY????!?!?!?!??!?? get rid of useless RSS and give us a java engine, get rid of useless music extensions that nobody uses and give us better video playback!!!, GIVE US OPTIONS OF REMOVING WHAT WE DONT WANT??!? I hate location free player BS!. i'm jus pissed at you sony.. very dissapointed, first you take our homebrew and fight with us. now you do this? I cant wait until the end of november to see how much more BS you people have pulled out of your assholes.

EDIT: ARE YOU HAPPY FOR THE CORRECTIONS? I WAS MAD. -.-

for a post that screams "pre-pubescent wanker", you make 1 very insightful comment. sony could theoretically introduce a pick'n'mix style thing on their site where you choose all the features you want, and there is a little memory gauge at the side indicating how much more you can fit in

then all they have to do is pre-compile each combination ready for download. the core firmware inc. sonys beloved security patches would be the same between all version x.xx firmware

interesting

[lumisi]

I have a 1.5 PSP and will never upgrade. Sony can kiss my ass. They need to remove features to add connectivity with the PS3, but I will not be buying a PS3. It's time for Nintendo to be king again.

[Anger]

heres a simple idea.
how about a firmware update that can do 2 things:

firstly allow the user to choose which features they want when installing.
secondly allowing people who have the firmware installed to reinstall the same firmware to change the options as needed. this unfortunatly wont happen because sony wants to kill homebrew.

i quite like the idea of making some of the features eboots like the web browser and run them through the game folder as homebrew has been doing.
imo they have squandered the measly 32 meg nand.
i think the psx emulator will be an eboot anyway because theres no chance it would fit on the nand.

[mr_nick666]

Here's how I answered the survey.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8366/pspeliminationbu6.png

JR

:D /\ /\ THATS FUNNY! /\ /\ :D

Id happily lose RSS, Internet Browsing and music myself but Im not upgrading my 1.5 so it doesnt really matter! :rolleyes: (Unless the firmware is Devhooked... but then it doesnt matter either!? :o )

[S34MU5]

RSS and looacction free are non used.

Guess the psone emu etc is taking up a bit to much memory :S

How do you get to test for $ony?
i wana do it.

[F9zDark]

Why does Sony have to opt for in-flash features? Why not store features on the memory stick, allowing users to simply Install features they want and maybe allow for a Shortcut menu on the XMB, allowing users to tailor their XMB to their needs coupled with downloaded features.

Flash should have been reserved for necessary PSP files ONLY. Put in the drivers to run everything in there, but don't store the actual program that does it.

Location free, browser, RSS, flash player are all aspects of the PSP that can be stored to the memstick and still function normally. If Sony made the updates install those to the memstick while retaining the icons (just now linked to folders on memstick and not flash).

[Dbgtgoten]

Just get rid of all that security crap i am sure that takes up (28/32 MB's) -Internet browser would be nice on the memory card (no godforsaken no memory messages) Rss and Location free can go away i dun use them at all...bottem line just run things from the memory stick sony and of course they won't cause then they would be the "hackers" themselves and could prevent themselves lol...

[Shrygue]

What Sony should do is remove ALL the security patches it introduced in the first place and not put them in future firmware releases so that we can have the latest version and still us all run homebrew on the PSP. It's the greast move they could make (but that's only IF they would do it though) and it could add a boost to sales as well maybe. :)

[the_eternal_dark]

What Sony should do is remove ALL the security patches it introduced in the first place and not put them in future firmware releases so that we can have the latest version and still us all run homebrew on the PSP. It's the greast move they could make (but that's only IF they would do it though) and it could add a boost to sales as well maybe. :)

The reason for the security updates is to thwart piracy, its nothing to do with other homebrew. The security updates try to close up exploits found in the firmware, closing off the possibility of ISO loaders and rippers. Everyone, quit saying "Sony needs to just let homebrew run", they are watching their asses and not as evil as one would think with these updates. If it wasn't for the loaders/UMD emulators, Sony may not have to worry about updates as often. Stupid pirates...

[JD/]

If they start running out of space I think they will take a devhook approach and block the firmware files from being altered or builld a new console option 1 sounds more feasible.

[F9zDark]

Security patches are things Sony would NEVER get rid of. Thinking of such is just wishful thinking and damn near counter productive.

Think about it, Sony put up the survey and wouldn't have made such a question if they weren't ready to think of things they can remove. Best way to find out what features would piss off the majority after being removed is a survey.

So this indicates to me that this survey may serve either one of these purposes:

1)See who the PSP appeals to. Hardcore gamers may not want media playback or hardcore net junkies may not want games.

or

2)They are really thinking about removing a feature and want to see what they can remove without pissing off a majority of consumers.

Security features, as I said, will never be removed. They aren't even on the survey so why bother even mentioning them (neither is Location Free, but Sony would be more willing to give that up than Security).

Point is, we may be at the dawn were we can decide what feature/features we want removed. I'd rather have PSOne than RSS any day...

[Shrygue]

If the security patches can't be ditched, then drop UMD videos instead. I never get buy them becuase it's not worth the money when you can get a film on DVD and play them back in your computer or other player. There isn't one for UMDs other the PSP itself and I think I once heard that Sony once lost £320million for poor UMD video sales on about a year.

Another case is UMD audio. Why have that when you can just buy CDs and play them back on a CD player or a computer? I haven't seen any UMD audio disks on sale around where I live and if they were, I doubt many people would get them - if at all.

So then, scrap UMD videos and UMD audio and them have more space to fit on the PSPs 32MB NAND flash.

[jonezybaby]

Well seeing that I still use 1.5 with devhooked 2.71 this really doesn't apply all that much to me. But if I had an up-to-date version of the PSP (may get another one for christmas) I'd say:

-Drop RSS, who the hell cares about that shit? I don't. Not to mention I enjoy the comments and discussions that go with news posts on my favorite sites, which RSS doesn't deliver, nor does it allow me to communicate back.

-Location Free. We won't need this support when PS3 comes out...

Nothing else I can think of... I would never want them to take away media support, regardless of how often I may use it. Because I know damn well once .--- file playback is removed is when I will need it the most.

If Sony was smart they'd give the browser more balls and move it to the Memstick. The PSP is capable of playing demos, so why not launch the browser from the games menu like a 'demo'?

This would save space in flash and allow users to tailor their PSP to their needs (don't want the browser/don't need the browser/cautious parents about kids with PornSP? simply don't install it)


Amen!

[the_eternal_dark]

If the security patches can't be ditched, then drop UMD videos instead. I never get buy them becuase it's not worth the money when you can get a film on DVD and play them back in your computer or other player. There isn't one for UMDs other the PSP itself and I think I once heard that Sony once lost £320million for poor UMD video sales on about a year.

Another case is UMD audio. Why have that when you can just buy CDs and play them back on a CD player or a computer? I haven't seen any UMD audio disks on sale around where I live and if they were, I doubt many people would get them - if at all.

So then, scrap UMD videos and UMD audio and them have more space to fit on the PSPs 32MB NAND flash.

I'd say scrap UMD video/music support, some of the more useless formats could be scrubbed, remove the RSS, lose region free, move the web browser and flash player to the memory stick, and to save some more space, lose the update icon on the XMB (have the updates on the games instead, like normal), lose the "game-sharing" feature, lose photo sharing, lose the theme settings (just let us chose this from photo still without asking if we are sure and just do it). Did I leave anything out?

[kiore]

loose the rss

[eugenemcardle]

I had a feeling this would happen and it is a shame. Now they are going to come out with another PSP. RSS feeds are worthless but I wouldn't mind RSS video.

RSS video is already available. I use it all the time.