Sony has announced the semi-successor to the Playstation Portable, the PSP 3000, which will go on sale in Europe on October 15th. The current PSP will remain on sale.
So what’s new? Not much. The screen has been improved, and features an anti-reflective coating, higher contrast and a wider color gamut. This should translate into sharper, brighter and more colorful images. There is also a built in microphone to make Skype calls easier, and a tweak to the video-out socket, “which will allow new PSP users to enjoy games on non-progressive TVs.”
Perhaps most significant of all are the two new colors Sony has invented for the new handheld, two colors which are likely to be the only visual differences noticed by the casual viewer between the 3000 and the current Slim’n'light model. In addition to boring old “Piano Black”, the PSP 3000 can be had in either “Pearl White” or “Mystic Silver”.
TOKYO, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)
today announced that it will launch a new PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable)
handheld entertainment system (PSP-3000) featuring an advanced LCD that
further improves the very popular, high resolution PSP display. The new PSP
will be available in stores in Japan, Asia, North America and Europe from
October 2008.
While inheriting the basic design and functionality of the current
"slim and light" PSP, the image quality on the new LCD screen is
dramatically enhanced, and a built-in microphone is added to meet the PSP
users' demand to enjoy games and content with voice input functionality
without the use of a separate microphone.
Offering the highest-level contrast ratio, response time, and wider
color gamut possible on a portable LCD screen, the new PSP is capable of
displaying movies and photos in more natural and vibrant colors on its high
resolution 4.3 inch wide screen. The new LCD screen adopts an
anti-reflection technology, which enables users to see the screen more
clearly in well-lit places, even when used outdoors. The built-in
microphone will allow users to easily enjoy games that utilize a
microphone(*1), as well as Skype(TM)(*2) and other communication tools.
Through these additional and upgraded features, not only will the PSP user
experience improve, but content creators also will have more flexibility to
develop creative, entertainment content for the new PSP.
Further expanding PSP's entertainment capabilities, the video-out
port(*3) is also expanded to output gameplay in interlace format, which
will allow new PSP users to enjoy games on non-progressive TVs by using
separately sold cables. With the current "slim and light" PSP, games can be
displayed on progressive TVs only.
In addition to the basic "Piano Black" color, the new PSP will also
come in "Pearl White" and "Mystic Silver"(*4) to meet variety of lifestyle
and preference of all ages.
PSP is gaining overwhelming support from a wide range of users from all
over the world through its exciting lineup of software titles as well as
the introduction of color variations and network services. Since the launch
of the "slim and light" PSP in September 2007, the expansion of the PSP
platform has been further accelerated, and more than 41 million units have
been sold as of June 2008.
SCEI will continue to expand the PSP platform and create a new world of
computer entertainment with the new PSP, building on the strong lineup of
new game titles launching through the holiday season.
*1 Microphone function can be used on games that are compatible with headsets.
*2 To enjoy Skype on PSP, users will require a Skype account, Memory Stick Duo(TM),
a wireless Internet connection and a Headphone with Remote
Control (PSP-S140) or Skype-compatible headphones. Users are recommended to
speak closely to the microphone (approx. 10cm from the
microphone).
*3 Video output cables (AV cable/ S VIDEO cable/ D Terminal AV cable/
Component AV cable) are sold separately. Product lineup may differ by
country/ region.
*4 Color variations may differ by country/ region.
PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) (PSP-3000) Product Overview
Product name PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
External dimensions Approx. 169.4 x 18.6 x 71.4 mm / 6 3/4 x 3/4 x
2 3/4 in (width × height × depth) (excludes
largest projection)
Weight Approx. 189g / 6.7 oz (including battery pack)
CPU PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1-333MHz)
Main memory 64MB
Display 4.3 inches (16:9) full-transparent type, TFT
drive,
480 x 272 pixel, Approximately 16,770,000 colors
displayed
Sound Built-in stereo speakers
Main input/ output Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b)(Wi-Fi)
High Speed USB (USB2.0) (mini-B)
Memory Stick PRO Duo(TM)
Analog Video Out
Microphone
Main connectors DC IN 5V connector
DC OUT connector
video out/headset connector
USB connector
Memory Stick Duo(TM) slot
Key/ Switches Directional buttons (up/down/right/left),
analog stick,
Action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, square),
L/R buttons
START button, SELECT button, PS button
POWER/HOLD switch, WLAN switch
display button, sound button, volume (+/-) buttons
Power sources Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery pack
AC adaptor
USB power supply
Internal disc drive Read-only UMD(TM) drive
Supported profile PSP(R) (PlayStation(R) Portable) Game
UMD(TM) Video
Access control Region code, parental control
Wireless communications Infrastructure mode
Ad hoc mode (connects up to 16 consoles)
Supplied accessories AC adaptor
Battery pack (1200mAh)
Supported codec (in Memory Stick)
Video -- Memory Stick Video Format
- MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC LC)
- H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC LC)
-- MP4 File Format
- MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC LC)
- H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile- CABAC only -
(AAC LC) / Baseline Profile (AAC LC)
-- AVI
- Motion JPEG (Linear PCM or u-Lau)
Music -- Memory Stick Audio Format
- ATRAC3(TM)
- ATRAC3plus(TM)
- MP3
-- MP3(MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer3)
-- MP4(MPEG-4 AAC)
-- WAVE(Linear PCM)
-- WMA(Windows Media(R) Audio 9 Standard only) (*5)
Photo -- JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21compliant)
-- TIFF
-- BMP
-- GIF
-- PNG
*5 WMA Playback feature needs to be enabled.
PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) (PSP-3000) Color Variations
Product name PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
Color name Piano Black
Product code PSP-3000 PB
Product name PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
Color name Pearl White
Product code PSP-3000 PW
Product name PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
Color name Mystic Silver
Product code PSP-3000 MS
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
