PSP Users Want TV

PSP users have really fallen in love with the Sony handheld’s versatility. Since its launch, frequent system software updates have given the PSP an internet browser, Macromedia Flash capabilities, and even RSS support, not to mention the steadily growing PSP homebrew community.

What does the future have in store for the PSP? At the March PlayStation Business Briefing, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Ken Kutaragi announced plans for a camera attachment and GPS receiver, scheduled for release in Japan in September and October, respectively.

But get this: In a recent poll, Japanese Web site ITmedia asked its readers to vote on the new PSP features, both announced and otherwise, that they want the most. The least popular features, gaining 3 percent of the total votes each, were the camera attachment and support for electronic money. Another 14 percent of the votes went to the GPS receiver, which will enable the PSP to act as a portable navigation system and could be put to novel use in games as well.

What the respondents really wanted was 1seg support. 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video and data broadcasting service in Japan, so called because it uses one of the 13 segments allotted to terrestrial digital television broadcasting. The service officially began in April of this year.

It’s easy to imagine why the respondents wanted 1seg. Right now, only a few cellphones in Japan have 1seg support, and since those things have small screens, it’s not that easy to enjoy watching TV when you have to squint just so you can see what’s going on. The PSP, on the other hand, has a 4.3″ screen. Do the math.

Then again, if this feature were to be implemented, there’s always the subscription costs to think about. For that, we’ll have to wait and see how the 1seg tuner for the Nintendo DS fares. One is already in the works, and was announced alongside the Opera Web browser in February.

Let’s hear your comments and opinions, people. What do YOU guys want for the PSP?

PSP users have really fallen in love with the Sony handheld’s versatility. Since its launch, frequent system software updates have given the PSP an internet browser, Macromedia Flash capabilities, and even RSS support, not to mention the steadily growing PSP homebrew community.

What does the future have in store for the PSP? At the March PlayStation Business Briefing, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Ken Kutaragi announced plans for a camera attachment and GPS receiver, scheduled for release in Japan in September and October, respectively.

But get this: In a recent poll, Japanese Web site ITmedia asked its readers to vote on the new PSP features, both announced and otherwise, that they want the most. The least popular features, gaining 3 percent of the total votes each, were the camera attachment and support for electronic money. Another 14 percent of the votes went to the GPS receiver, which will enable the PSP to act as a portable navigation system and could be put to novel use in games as well.

What the respondents really wanted was 1seg support. 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video and data broadcasting service in Japan, so called because it uses one of the 13 segments allotted to terrestrial digital television broadcasting. The service officially began in April of this year.

It’s easy to imagine why the respondents wanted 1seg. Right now, only a few cellphones in Japan have 1seg support, and since those things have small screens, it’s not that easy to enjoy watching TV when you have to squint just so you can see what’s going on. The PSP, on the other hand, has a 4.3″ screen. Do the math.

Then again, if this feature were to be implemented, there’s always the subscription costs to think about. For that, we’ll have to wait and see how the 1seg tuner for the Nintendo DS fares. One is already in the works, and was announced alongside the Opera Web browser in February.

Let’s hear your comments and opinions, people. What do YOU guys want for the PSP?