According to Ars, the V-Screen uses an old trick, popular with flight sim devotees, whereby a fresnel lens—at a size slightly larger than the device's screen—is placed a short distance away from the display. This magnifies the image a bit, and more importantly, adds a sense of depth. For 3D games where depth in important, like racing games and FPSes, the effect is apparently "more compelling than it sounds on paper," to the point that "it's going to be hard to back to playing the games on a standard screen."

There's no doubt that this is a faux-3D setup, but it's also fairly cheap—$40, to be exact, which might not buy you honest 3D, but it'll buy you the sensation. Like a Fleshlight, for your eyes! Yes. [ArsTechnica]

For now, it's just a demo of the tech that Epic's put together, which relies on the OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics powah in the 3GS and latest iPod touch. But, the killer point is that Epic is planning "to make this available to licensees at some point in the near future," meaning we could one day see games running Unreal 3 on the iPhone. And since the engine will run on the 3GS only, it seems that tipping point with games we worried about, where iPhone and 3G users don't just get worse graphics, but are actually shut out of entire games, isn't so far away.

Epic tells Anand we're going to see Unreal running on another mobile platform at CES. Which, on a broader scale, shows that mobile gaming is about to get a lot more serious now that mobile chips are powerful enough to deliver legit gaming experience. Could we really be seeing the beginning of the end for dedicated handled gaming consoles, like the DS? It seems, for once, more possible than ever. We just need better controls. [AnandTech]

I'm not talking about obvious screwups like Microsoft whitewashing their Polish advertising campaign (which they apologized for), or Intel's obviously unfortunate—but probably accidental—Core 2 Duo campaign. I'm talking about ads that never got pulled, never prompted an apology, and that, to most people, probably seem harmless. Who, dear readers, will be the 1949 GE of 2060? And for what? Racism? Sexism? Some as-of-yet-unnoticed *ism? Am I oversimplifying what constitutes progress? Difficult questions!

More to the point, will my kids watch these PSP ads in history class, come home, and ask me why I was such a terrible human, back in 2009?


Yep, probably. Post your best guesses in the comments, about, you know, the future. [CopyRanter]

Along with Marvel Entertainment comics, Disney, IDW Publishing, iVerse Media and several other publishers have supplied Sony with their wares, with 550 available today, including Iron Man, Spiderman, X-Men, Transformers and Archie.

Download them on your PSP over Wi-Fi, or on your PC and transfer over, with titles starting at 99 cents. Comic Book Guy is currently voicing his disgust all over the internet at the sacrilege of his prized Marvels. [PlayStation Comics]

If you live in a city you're surrounded by free wireless nearly everywhere you go, the key is knowing what's available and open for use. Much easier than stopping every hundred feet and busting out your laptop is using your tiny PSP as a scanner. At MakeUseOf they cover two techniques for using your PSP to sniff out Wi-Fi locations. The first can be done with a stock PSP. You simply go into the network settings on the PSP and tell it to look for new wireless networks. That will work, but it won't look continuously just when you ask it to.

If you've set up your PSP to run homebrew software you have access to a superior option. Road Dog scans continuously, shows you the strength of the signal, and can even be set to alert mode where it will notify you on new finds even when you're not paying attention to the scanner. You don't need to write down the spots it finds, just press the NOTE button on the PSP and it'll save the information of the network you're looking at for later use.

If you're looking for novel things to do with your homebrew-enabled PSP, check out previous articles on how to use your PSP as a universal remote and how to use your PSP as a additional monitor in Windows. Have a favorite PSP application or trick for finding Wi-Fi without the hassle of booting up your laptop? Let's hear about it in the comments.

Among my favorites were the alarm clock, the CyberShot, the old-school Discman (I have one like it hiding in a drawer!), the PSP, and, of course, the Playstation 3.

Those are the Sony toys which got my attention, but you can check out the rest of the gadget porn over at Wired, and then maybe make some of your own. [Wired]

This latest entry attempts to camouflage the portable as some kind of Christmas decoration. The buttons glow, lights flash, yada yada yada you paid a $250 premium and then put a bunch of holes in it.

Sorry for all the negativity. I guess I was just holding out hope that the "PSPGo Mod" Google Alert that popped up in my inbox today was the one where someone finally hacked this thing with better wifi so it could download a file in less than a hour. [Acid Mods - Thanks, Wouter]

LED color, to be precise, and I must say the clean, new design is almost good enough to distract me from the fact that this little guy could have really, really benefited from a touchscreen. Almost. It certainly makes the screen a bit harder to see, in any event.

The LEDs are powered by that unique internal battery. You know, the one with the sticker. [YouTube via Engadget]

Examples:

Unfortunately, the system is setup to charge the consumer at maximum from the get-go. Games from the App Store start at free. PSP Mini games start at $5.

The fact of the matter is, the iPhone gaming experience isn't all that great. Full-fledged PSP titles should cost more than tiny downloadable apps any day. But there's no good reason for gamers to pay a premium on PSP titles that are available for less on other platforms, just because they generally pay more for games.

There are multiple fingers to be pointed here. Sony, for not allowing free games, which would inspire some price competition. Sony again, for skimming who knows how much off the top of the price point. (In comparison, it's known that Apple takes 30% off of the iPhone App Store sales.) And the publishers, who decide to set their games at prices of up to two or three times the cost of the iPhone version.

But the worst part? Not only is the content of overlapping titles generally no better than the iPhone; sometimes it's worse.

You see, PSP Minis can't have any network or online features. Nor can they support camera peripherals (a major focus of DSiWare innovation) or DLC. Kotaku just reviewed iPhone port Hero of Sparta. On the PSP it costs triple what you'll pay at the App Store. Their review? "Simplistic controls, muddled graphics and abysmal sounds turn what was a fantastic iPhone game into a oddly disjointed Playstation Portable experience." Kotaku's review of Tetris was much better. But you know what? Tetris costs twice as much on the PSP as it does the iPhone.

Some will say, well, you get what you pay for. But that's entirely our point. If you glance across the two platforms, you aren't getting what you're paying for. You're either getting less, or you're getting a lousy port or, best case scenario, you're getting basically the same thing for more.

Granted, PSP Minis are very new (they just launched today). The platform is young. And kudos to Sony for making the digital leap.

But Sony's most loyal fanbase—those frequenting PSN and checking out Minis on day one—shouldn't subsidize a company's foray into the new digital era. Especially given the relatively high price of the PSPgo, at least compared to other portable devices with a lot more processing power, I think the option for free game downloads—at least for a few approved titles—would be a reasonable thank-you.

I mean, even Apple, who doesn't provide the most open platforms in the world, has realized the merit of free app/game distribution. One, they're already making money off the hardware. And two, getting someone visiting iTunes will also get that someone to at least get a glimpse of what else iTunes is selling. Lure them in with a free game and they'll be more likely to purchase one later.

Stop pricing these games so high, Sony. Open up your platform, just a crack, make yourselves competitive with the App Store. Because, at the end of the day, we'd all prefer to be playing these iPhone games with full-out controllers. But right now there's quite a lot more iPhones and iPod Touches out there than PSPgos. Don't blow your (only?) shot to win us back.

SenseMe is sort of like Apple's Genius playlists, though hopefully it works a little better. Using Sony's MediaGo PC software, your tracks are passed through a 12 tone analysis, and automatically sorted into 12 channels like "Relax" or "Newly Added".

The MediaGo software has also been updated. Version 1.2 adds an iTunes-esque front-end to the PlayStation Store, which is clearly a must given that converting old UMDs for the PSPGo is a no-go. [PlayStation Blog via Kotaku]

Godzilla and The Ugly Truth—both Sony Pictures films—will include extra discs that won't do anything special when placed in a standard Blu-ray player. But when played in a PS3, users will be able to download a PSP-exclusive digital copy. The PSP copy can be downloaded over USB (we doubt it will work over Remote Play, but that'd be pretty handy).

Whether or not you own the necessary PS3/PSP combo or have any interest in digital copies of your Blu-ray movies, this news seems like yet another reason why the PS3 makes for the most attractive BD player on the market. While it doesn't have features like Netflix streaming, Sony will always put the new stuff on the PS3 first. [Blu-ray via Joystiq]

A developer version is now up for pre-order, and includes a charger cable, serial console debugging board, and batteries. It costs the equivalent of about $320, and should be delivered by November 5—ahead of standard $250 models arriving sometime in December.

The device has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a mini-HDMI port to connect it to your TV. There's no 3G, though there's a chance you could use a 3G dongle with the USB port.

It's a cute little ugly duckling, but what 5-star, compelling games does Android have outside of MAME? And while it's easy to imagine that better games will come as more Android phones hit the streets...why not just buy one of those instead? [aESOP (translated) and Hard Kernel via Slashgear]

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

• You can dissect the Go with a standard Phillips #0
• Sony still uses 802.11b Wi-Fi
• Battery not soldered to board
• No metal framework (the structural integrity relies on outer plastic shell)
• Sony processor, Samsung's 16GB of flash storage (in case you cared)

Even though iFixit is pretty positive you can slide the battery out and leave the sticker intact, it's pretty lousy for Sony to hide a component that will need not-so eventual replacing under a warranty-voiding seal. Also, the lack of an internal framework (or much real metal) matches our impressions of the Go's somewhat flimsy, plastic feel.

Couple these two points and add a sliding mechanism, and it's hard to imagine how well a Go will hold up two to three years down the line. Then again, Sony is probably banking on you replacing the Go with another new product by then anyway, just like every other CE company. [iFixit]

Believe it or not, the PSP was a meaningful gift that brings earnest tears to my eyes just recollecting the scenario. It wasn't just that I'd been obsessing about the PSP since its announcement—what seemed like (and sort of was) the ultimate do-everything media gadget of its day. The PSP was a token of her tacit acceptance of who I was. She knew that while I'd grow old with her, I'd probably never surpass mental adolescence. And that was OK.

So for better or worse, I'll always feel attached to the PSP brand in this strangely emotional way. And realize that, as the PSPgo solidifies the Sony's growing embarrassment in the industry, it breaks my heart a lot more than yours.

Price

$250 on October 1.

Hardware

At 333MHz with 64MB of RAM, the Go isn't any faster or more powerful than the last PSP. But now it's loaded with 16GB of flash storage, has an Micro M2 slot for expansion and, without a UMD drive, manages to be 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the original PSP. The 3.8-inch screen is technically .5 inches smaller than the PSP classic, but it runs at the same 480x272 resolution.

After playing with the PSPgo for a week, I've adjusted to the small form. It slides open with a smooth but fulfilling snap, and it's very light and balanced in your hands.

Despite the chrome detailing, know that the edging and body are constructed of what's not the most sturdy-feeling plastic, but only time will tell how well the Go holds up to daily abuse. As Adam Frucci said, "it doesn't quite feel cheap, but it doesn't feel expensive either." If you could say one thing about the original PSP, it was that it felt expensive.

But it's more than just quality making this impression. When you hold a Zune HD, the thing seems to be carved from the future itself. When you hold the PSPgo, it feels like a free-with-contract tween's phone.
The Go's low profile buttons are strickly utilitarian—the springiness of the original PSP's buttons are undoubtedly more comfortable. LB and RB shoulders feel wretchedly soft, while the low-profile D-pad and circle, triangle, etc buttons are stiff and digital. Select and Start are a waste of space (a mocking waste of space, given that a second analog stick would fit perfectly there). Meanwhile, most of the buttons around the case's edges are throwbacks to classic PSP design, from the Wi-Fi toggle to the power switch.
The screen has vibrant color reproduction, and a perfect level of max brightness (until you take it in direct sunlight, where it becomes unusable). Its black levels ever so slightly best those of my aging iPhone 3G, but the resolution, 480x272 stretched .3 inches beyond the iPhone's 480x320, means that text often appears more pixelated than you're used to seeing it, and otherwise gorgeous movie playback is often flawed with jagged pixels.
But what I really don't understand is why this screen isn't touch-sensitive. Especially when the slider is closed, I want to flick and zoom through webpages, the PS store and the XMB. More than once I've attempted the feat, only to remember, what the shit, this huge screen isn't touch capable.

So closed, the PSPgo can't really be navigated. Scratch that. You can accidentally hit LB to restart your movie—a function you'll use frequently—if by accident.

It should be noted that Bluetooth also allows you to use a SIXAXIS/Dual Shock 3 controller with the Go. Syncing is easy and the system works perfectly, but consider the practical ergonomics for a moment. You end up balancing the Go on your lap in this really awkward way.

Looking at the design, a conspiracy theory pops in my head. The PSPgo was the template for the PSP2. Open, it had dual analogs. Closed, it had a touchscreen. Somewhere inside, it had a faster processor, more RAM and, hell, maybe even 3G or something. Maybe it was machined of metal and could be thrown like a ninja star. Regardless of this theory's truth, we're stuck with the Go as-is.
Note: PSP shots are of original (PSP-1000) model.

Software

Honestly, the hardware is only half of what holds the PSPgo back from being something better. It's the aging PSP software full of unfixed nagging points, like that Wi-Fi doesn't connect automatically upon startup, typing is still done through that horrible phone-dial-like interface and lack of support for background downloading from the PS Store.

Yes, while the PS3 allows you to download games and movies while performing other tasks, the PSPgo is stuck monotasking during downloads. Oh, and if your PSP dies before you've finished that 1.6GB movie download—which takes a while over the Go's slow 802.1b Wi-Fi—you get to start all over. (Also, while it's nice of Sony to keep compression levels low, SD quality movies on portables need smaller files sizes than this for people to watch movies on the go.)
The browser is absolutely archaic. Beyond tedious analog nub navigation, the Go ran out of RAM while loading Gizmodo just like it had before on the original PSP...just like is prone to occurring on the PS3. Sony has advertised a browser on multiple systems that doesn't really work, and that's just ridiculous.

PSP Minis, or tiny apps like you see on the iPhone (in some cases, exactly like you see on the iPhone), are on their way. But the limitations are strict, meaning that even the games ported from the iPhone could be missing functions like networking. And how big or wonderful will the catalog be if Sony can barely recruit studios to develop for the PSP as it is now? (Sony has catalog of 225 PSPgo games that will be downloadable over PC or Wi-fi at launch.)

Also, you may not have heard about one key software feature. When you close the PSPgo from the XMB, a clock appears on screen. Thank goodness, because I've been needing one of those!

Battery Life

In a mixture of movie playback, gaming and general interface navigation, the PSPgo ran for 4 hours and 47 minutes at max brightness with Wi-Fi on. That's about the same battery life of the last few PSPs. Unfortunately, those who liked to use an extended or extra battery with the PSP will find that more difficult on the Go as its battery is positioned inside the screw-off case. Plus, iFixit has confirmed that removing the battery actually voids your warranty.

PSPgoes Nowhere New

The PSPgo should have been the ZuneHD with games, a versatile media platformed with cutting edge hardware and eye-meltingly beautiful software. But instead, it's a slightly smaller PSP with a screen, storage capacity and software that's not all that competitive with other $250 devices today. If you see just the DSi as the PSP's competition, the Go's updates seem pretty substantial. But compared to the advancements in PMPs and smartphones as of late, it's just very difficult to sit in awe of the Go's inelegant hardware and clunky software.

Oh, and needless to say, there's still no second analog stick.

Four years later, my wife and I are closer than ever. But my beloved PSP sits on a shelf somewhere out of reach, a dusty artifact that I'll neither play nor throw away. The Go will not fare any better by being a little bit smaller or ditching pesky UMDs. PSP2, I'll be waiting for whenever you decide to show up and steal my heart again.

Your hands will get used to the new ergonomics

Squeezes into a jeans pocket

Buttons are usable, but less comfortable than regular PSP

Sony's software feels dated (browser, downloads, text entry)

Next to a Zune HD or iPod touch, the hardware is unimpressive

Transfer speeds hindered by dated 802.1b Wi-Fi standard

Koller never claimed that users would be straight-up ripping their old UMDs into backups, but he did compare the user experience to Portable Copy. We imagined a scenario in which you'd sync a PSP to a PS3 with a UMD in the drive, then you could download a copy of said UMD for the Go after some online authentication.

But Sony recently told Kotaku that "We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time." However! (There's a however.) This development doesn't mean that PSPGo buyers with huge UMD collections will be screwed. Sony is developing a sort of UMD trade-in program in which you'll be able to swap an old UMD for a digital copy of the same game.

In other words, if you want a digital version of a game you own on disc, you'll need to give up the disc. [Kotaku]

Personally, I never picked up the PSP's camera kit or a 1seg tuner (since the US lacks the awesome 1seg television standard). But some people did. Important people. Important people who should be buying the PSPGo without worry.
So here's Sony's adapter...prototype. Apparently the design is not final and there's no firm pricing or release date. Given all the superfluous casing going on this photo, it certainly seems odd that there's a random cord that inelegantly snakes along the back of the Go. And by odd I mean "lazy." [Joystiq]

• no network or online features
• no downloadable content (expansions)
• no peripheral support

It's funny, the 100MB size restriction is the least of PSP Minis' problems. We're talking about closed box games, titles that are not only restricted in terms of multiplayer, but completely thwarted from doing anything interesting (like rendering superior graphics or, say, pinging twitter) in the cloud.

The original PSP was forward-thinking, stuffed with stars in its eyes as it promised networking with the PS3 anywhere from in the world. Now PSP Minis present the complete opposite idea. You will play your game on the PSP, and on the PSP it will stay. [joystiq via kotaku]

This pan'n'zoom effect, which gives Playstation products an easy, seamless way to navigate mindbendingly huge images, is part of a new library that'll be seeding out to developers before too long, though it's not clear exactly what for. It's a novel way to navigate a brochure, or a massive, stitched panorama, or even a comic-strip-type storyboard, and the addition of zoom-triggered video content gives it a discernible advantage over similar technologies we've seen before, but how exactly could you incorporate this into a game?

At any rate, I hope someone figures out the answer, because this is kind of amazing: Every time the dude in this video dives down by another 10 zoom factors, I literally feel like I'm falling. It also reminds me of one of the best videos of all time, the IBM's "Powers of Ten:"

[Diginfo via Engadget]