[Perfect Stu]

More on the PSP



Company Unveils Plans to Extend PlayStation(R) Family of Products With
'PSP(TM)'

LOS ANGELES, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Enhancing its strong platform
strategies, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today plans to
expand its in-home entertainment to outside the home with a new, all-in-one
portable entertainment platform, "PSP(TM)." Scheduled for release in the
fourth quarter of 2004, the company's goal is to extend the reach of
PlayStation(R) to a broader audience, allowing consumers to enjoy gaming and
other entertainment content anytime, anywhere. Specific details on release
plans and pricing will be disclosed at a later date.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO )
The introduction of "PSP" highlights the company's long-awaited foray into
the portable entertainment market. With unmatched advantages of the Sony
Group, such as global brand awareness, superior technologies in the most
advanced semiconductor processes, "PSP" further broadens entertainment
experiences into the portable arena.
The foundation of this new platform is Universal Media Disc (UMD), which
comprises of a 60mm optical disc (1.8 GB) in a cartridge, developed by the
Sony Group, utilizing its latest disc technologies. Compared to the out-dated
mask ROM cartridge, optical disc has huge advantages such as shorter turn
around time for manufacturing, larger data capacity and lower media costs.
The latest copy-protection technology will be applied to offer content
developers and publishers a safe and copy-protected environment.
"PSP" will be equipped with a wide screen 480 x 272 pixel (16 by 9) TFT
LCD monitor with a backlight, and powered by super chipsets utilizing the
latest 90 nm semiconductor technology. For graphics, 3D rendering will be
enhanced by the employment of curved surfaces (NURBS) along with conventional
polygons. Video quality will also be enhanced with MPEG4, which delivers
quality equivalent to DVD video at a low data rate.
"PSP" will have an USB 2.0 port for further expandability and connectivity
to other devices, such as "PSP," PlayStation 2 and many other systems, along
with a Memory Stick(TM) slot for network applications and data
transportability in a wireless environment.
SCEI will offer PC-based development tools starting from fall 2003 for the
preparation of a new range of computer entertainment content. A new license
scheme for "PSP" software development will be announced in summer 2003.
Pursuing the founding principles of the PlayStation business, Sony Computer
Entertainment will expand its efforts to support content developers to create
new forms of computer entertainment.
Together with its business partners, SCEI aims to aggressively promote
this new platform to further broaden the arena of entertainment.
"Just as PlayStation and PlayStation 2 revolutionized in-home computer
entertainment, we aim to become a new driving force in the portable
entertainment platform arena," said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO, Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. "The world of PlayStation encompasses hundreds of
millions of users worldwide, most of whom view computer entertainment as part
of their everyday lives. We look forward to extending the experience through
a portable entertainment platform, and are excited about the possibilities and
impact 'PSP' will have on the market. Along with game applications, 'PSP'
will have a huge potential for delivering other forms of entertainment as well
as live entertainment through the network, anywhere, anytime. This is the
'Walkman' of the 21st century."

"PSP" Specifications
Platform name: PSP(TM)
Display: Wide screen (16:9) TFT LCD with backlight
(480 x 272 dots)
Disc medium: "UMD" 60mm optical secured ROM disc with cartridge (1.8GB)
Video CODEC: MPEG4
Graphics: 3D Polygon/NURBS
Sound: PCM (built-in stereo speakers, stereo headphone output)
I/O: USB 2.0, Memory Stick(TM) slot
Battery: Rechargeable (lithium-ion)

-GamerFeed