AfterDawn: News

PSP 2 will be touchscreen?

According to "sources" that have contacted IGN, the eventual PSP 2 handheld will have dual thumbsticks, touch screen interface, the removal of UMD, and other hardware improvements.

The "credible sources" added the PSP 2 "will feature a widescreen multi-touch interface comparable to that of the iPhone for both in-game control and menu navigation."



Sony representatives have declined any comment on the rumor ("We can't comment on rumors or speculation,") but the increase in rumors has flared since CES.

The original PSP has been updated twice over its lifespan, but only with small hardware revisions, mainly making the system lighter and thinner.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Jan 2009 15:46

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• 47 comments

• canuckerz

  I'd be surprised if it didn't have a touch screen as it does seem to be the main trend with handhelds to mobile phones.
  
  And to do with the dual analogs, if it doesn't have them I likely won't be getting the psp 2. 1 analog and also how it's mounted below the d-pad makes playing most shooter games frustrating and near impossible in some cases.

  27.1.2009 16:00 #1

• 7thsinger

  At this point i don't care that much for touchscreen. I could take it or leave it.
  
  Dual analog sticks on the other hand...now there's something i would be interested in.

  27.1.2009 16:06 #2

• ZippyDSM

  ggrrrr I hope they have a UDM add on for those who spent a couple grand on games....
  
  And dual analogs is a must for probability of PSX/PS2/Xbox games its just a must.... so is TV output....

  27.1.2009 17:13 #3

• embo22000

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: ggrrrr I hope they have a UDM add on for those who spent a couple grand on games....
  
  And dual analogs is a must for probability of PSX/PS2/Xbox games its just a must.... so is TV output....JUST USE YOUR OLD PSP. Umd is dead. Its time for the new

  27.1.2009 17:27 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: ggrrrr I hope they have a UDM add on for those who spent a couple grand on games....
  
  And dual analogs is a must for probability of PSX/PS2/Xbox games its just a must.... so is TV output....JUST USE YOUR OLD PSP. Umd is dead. Its time for the new
  BWC wins X infinite, period,regardless of, ect,ect,ect.
  
  You just can never go wrong with BWC, now dose this mean it needs to be on the default model no, it just means they need to offer it.
  
  Do try and think some, your IQ is showing....

  27.1.2009 17:32 #5

• canuckerz

  Originally posted by 7thsinger: At this point i don't care that much for touchscreen. I could take it or leave it.Agreed, I really wouldn't care if it did or didn't, its really just a gimmick unless its on a computer for graphical design. I'd just be surprised if they didnt throw it in there for the sake of having it.

  27.1.2009 17:42 #6

• krash619

  hopefully they have good features like mic, bright screen and if they have a new game type also have backwards compatibility with old psp umds. but also new stuff like blue tooth and a bigger screen also dual analogue sticks would be awesome!

  27.1.2009 18:04 #7

• krash619

  moreover they should have small "touch points" on the side of the LCD screen instead of a full touch screen.

  27.1.2009 18:07 #8

• zero9121

  I am interested to see how quickly someone like Dark Alex will hack it to peoples needs.

  27.1.2009 18:11 #9

• ThePastor

  I also didn't really like the idea of a touchscreen. I got my BlackJack II because it had a keyboard and not a touchscreen.
  But I recently got a Mylo Com2 which has a rudimentary touch screen and now I know why they are popular.
  The touchscreen replaces the mouse. When it comes to interacting with something designed for a mouse, like a webpage, the touchscreen is indespensable. Some things just cannot be done without a touchscreen.

  27.1.2009 18:17 #10

• ZippyDSM

  Ya, a touch screen is not worth the added price, would rather have a way to put umds on it so I am not wasting money on something thats limited to only new more costly crap.
  
  But more importantly dual analogs is a must without them all ports and games will be handicapped...
  
  
  A touch screen works for the DS because you can use your thumb on it.

  27.1.2009 18:24 #11

• bomber991

  My brother had one of those Pandoras battery hack thingys for his psp.
  
  The neat thing about it was that you'd load the games off the memory stick instead of the UMD drive. The games loaded so much faster off of the memory stick, and the battery life of the PSP was greatly increased. I play some lego game on it for 2 hours and still had 95% of the battery left.

  27.1.2009 19:03 #12

• prutsos

  Originally posted by bomber991: My brother had one of those Pandoras battery hack thingys for his psp.
  
  The neat thing about it was that you'd load the games off the memory stick instead of the UMD drive. The games loaded so much faster off of the memory stick, and the battery life of the PSP was greatly increased. I play some lego game on it for 2 hours and still had 95% of the battery left.Ok and that has to do with this conversation how??

  27.1.2009 19:19 #13

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by bomber991: My brother had one of those Pandoras battery hack thingys for his psp.
  
  The neat thing about it was that you'd load the games off the memory stick instead of the UMD drive. The games loaded so much faster off of the memory stick, and the battery life of the PSP was greatly increased. I play some lego game on it for 2 hours and still had 95% of the battery left.It would not be hard to make a 100$ UDM add on with wireless data rates being what they are one could either rip or stream the data to the device if not a simple detachable device would be neat.
  
  It would just be nice to have it, perhaps let people rip the games to mem card to play, buy upgrades to the games or whole PSP games off PSN offer alot to consumers not limited crap...
  
  prutsos
  That one could rip a game to mem stick and play it off that. that UDM was a power hog,ect,ect

  27.1.2009 19:25 #14

• beanos66

  can't have multi touch, apple will sue. just ask palm
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/16752.cfm
  
  Quote:competition is good. It makes us all better.
  Ha, yea right!

  27.1.2009 19:36 #15

• rosedog

  they need to bring MD's back and place their games on there.
  
  There I said it! I LOVE ME SOME MINI-DISC!

  27.1.2009 20:25 #16

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by rosedog: they need to bring MD's back and place their games on there.
  
  There I said it! I LOVE ME SOME MINI-DISC!Mini blu ray discs sound more reasonable and future proof.

  27.1.2009 20:37 #17

• rosedog

  true but at least they could have been MD compatible. :emo

  27.1.2009 20:38 #18

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by rosedog: true but at least they could have been MD compatible. :emo
  Oy stick youer mixes on MP3 ya goof. *whack* :P

  27.1.2009 20:40 #19

• rosedog

  they are :emo... At least that way I can still justify owning them.

  27.1.2009 20:41 #20

• DVDBack23

  Maybe Sony will allow you to mail in your UMD games for a voucher for the downloadable version, now THAT would be great.

  27.1.2009 22:15 #21

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Maybe Sony will allow you to mail in your UMD games for a voucher for the downloadable version, now THAT would be great.That would require a mailing center and sorters and accounts to messy IMO, it would be easier to let the fans rip a image, then offer upgrades and patches for a fee via PSN.
  
  I mean they are going to be selling PSP games online anyway why not double up.

  27.1.2009 22:22 #22

• DTN107

  Originally posted by bomber991: My brother had one of those Pandoras battery hack thingys for his psp.
  
  Hi there! Welcome to afterdawn. You must be new here.

  27.1.2009 22:39 #23

• krash619

  Quote:Originally posted by bomber991: My brother had one of those Pandoras battery hack thingys for his psp.
  
  Hi there! Welcome to afterdawn. You must be new here.lol

  27.1.2009 23:04 #24

• hastheman

  The PSP truly does need a touchscreen to keep up with the likes of Nintendo DS. I mean, has anyone actually ever TRIED to browse the Internet with the PSP. If you haven't, I'll tell you now, its hell trying to.
  
  I don't really care about UMDs - but they should have some sort of downloadable version available for people who have bought them so they can download the game directly on their PSP2.
  
  Dual analog sticks is a MUST. Hopefully that would also mean compatibility with PS2 titles. With dual analog sticks, though, I think you'd need both shoulder buttons too (L1,L2,R1,R2).
  
  And perhaps PSP2 should come with wireless-N connectivity - if they release it that late anyway.
  
  And please, please, Sony, don't kill off the homebrew scene. People LIKE making games for their PSPs. People like playing their own backup'd games on their PSPs. Infact, chipping (and hacking) is what makes Sony consoles so damn popular. That ALONE is probably the reason why PS3 bombed in the first place. The only thing it had going for it was the Blu-Ray player, but as they've gone cheaper, the PS3 is losing credibility. It doesn't have much of a solid game library either compared to the Xbox 360. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a fanboy, I'm disillusioned with Sony completely over PS3 - they shattered my hopes about it.
  
  Anyway, thats my two pennies' worth.

  28.1.2009 04:49 #25

• Hopium

  http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/01/27/024242
  
  apple is gonna have a real choke hold on what they can and cant do

  28.1.2009 04:59 #26

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by hastheman: The PSP truly does need a touchscreen to keep up with the likes of Nintendo DS. I mean, has anyone actually ever TRIED to browse the Internet with the PSP. If you haven't, I'll tell you now, its hell trying to.
  
  I don't really care about UMDs - but they should have some sort of downloadable version available for people who have bought them so they can download the game directly on their PSP2.
  
  Dual analog sticks is a MUST. Hopefully that would also mean compatibility with PS2 titles. With dual analog sticks, though, I think you'd need both shoulder buttons too (L1,L2,R1,R2).
  
  And perhaps PSP2 should come with wireless-N connectivity - if they release it that late anyway.
  
  And please, please, Sony, don't kill off the homebrew scene. People LIKE making games for their PSPs. People like playing their own backup'd games on their PSPs. Infact, chipping (and hacking) is what makes Sony consoles so damn popular. That ALONE is probably the reason why PS3 bombed in the first place. The only thing it had going for it was the Blu-Ray player, but as they've gone cheaper, the PS3 is losing credibility. It doesn't have much of a solid game library either compared to the Xbox 360. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a fanboy, I'm disillusioned with Sony completely over PS3 - they shattered my hopes about it.
  
  Anyway, thats my two pennies' worth.The problem is the DS has a thumb assessable screen and a split screen to make real use of the touch screen the PSP wont have this thus limiting anything it can get out of it with the touch screen.
  
  I'd rather have something that can play or rip UDMs because all they will do is charge you 5-15$ for a game you already own....

  28.1.2009 10:51 #27

• hastheman

  The sole reason I'd want touchscreen in a PSP would be for internet-browsing and text input. Its far too annoying and time-wasting doing it using the D-Pad and buttons. I suppose touchscreen elements could be incorporated into games, but then it'd become too much like the DS.
  
  Another idea, SIXAXISness built into the PSP, so games like that Crash Bandicoot on the iPhone could be ported over? With me, anyone?

  28.1.2009 11:55 #28

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by hastheman: The sole reason I'd want touchscreen in a PSP would be for internet-browsing and text input. Its far too annoying and time-wasting doing it using the D-Pad and buttons. I suppose touchscreen elements could be incorporated into games, but then it'd become too much like the DS.
  
  Another idea, SIXAXISness built into the PSP, so games like that Crash Bandicoot on the iPhone could be ported over? With me, anyone?Ya but then they would have to make it more PDA like and frankly do you want to spend 500-600 for all these features?
  They could sale a elite version with a touchscreen.
  
  But since its a single screen hard to make ease of use for games it just adds to the not needed factor of it.

  28.1.2009 12:10 #29

• spydah

  Personally I hope they add all the features to some of the add-ons they out on the market. I know people will complaint about a price hike, but that will save yourself the nickle and dime issue that seems to be our current issue with consoles. One example is like GPS for the touch screen. To me they go hand in hand. I hope they don't try to force the touch screen on you with games. If the game to be played either way then that's cool. But the XMB would be nice to have the touch screen for moving around to the different icons. I do agree with the comment on the UMD's. Hopefully they don't do away with but be smart enough to add booting from the memory stick to the equation. If they are trying to strategize, then they will need to have a camera and a good one to at least make sense of adding that. Those are my 2 cents.

  28.1.2009 12:21 #30

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by spydah: Personally I hope they add all the features to some of the add-ons they out on the market. I know people will complaint about a price hike, but that will save yourself the nickle and dime issue that seems to be our current issue with consoles. One example is like GPS for the touch screen. To me they go hand in hand. I hope they don't try to force the touch screen on you with games. If the game to be played either way then that's cool. But the XMB would be nice to have the touch screen for moving around to the different icons. I do agree with the comment on the UMD's. Hopefully they don't do away with but be smart enough to add booting from the memory stick to the equation. If they are trying to strategize, then they will need to have a camera and a good one to at least make sense of adding that. Those are my 2 cents.Well if they are going to go for a uber device like the PSP was why not just put a mini BR player in it that can handle UDMs, more importantly it needs to run games from the mem stick because they will be selling stuff off PSN.
  
  But frankly I have a feeling they will do away with UDM and BWC, toss in the touchscreen just because, and use memsticks for games I mean hell whats the price of a 4GB flash/SD card 4-6$?
  So having a disc player on it would not be so needed since they tend to use more energy.
  
  Also no 2nd analog nub...

  28.1.2009 12:40 #31

• spydah

  Quote:Originally posted by spydah: Personally I hope they add all the features to some of the add-ons they out on the market. I know people will complaint about a price hike, but that will save yourself the nickle and dime issue that seems to be our current issue with consoles. One example is like GPS for the touch screen. To me they go hand in hand. I hope they don't try to force the touch screen on you with games. If the game to be played either way then that's cool. But the XMB would be nice to have the touch screen for moving around to the different icons. I do agree with the comment on the UMD's. Hopefully they don't do away with but be smart enough to add booting from the memory stick to the equation. If they are trying to strategize, then they will need to have a camera and a good one to at least make sense of adding that. Those are my 2 cents.Well if they are going to go for a uber device like the PSP was why not just put a mini BR player in it that can handle UDMs, more importantly it needs to run games from the mem stick because they will be selling stuff off PSN.
  
  But frankly I have a feeling they will do away with UDM and BWC, toss in the touchscreen just because, and use memsticks for games I mean hell whats the price of a 4GB flash/SD card 4-6$?
  So having a disc player on it would not be so needed since they tend to use more energy.
  
  Also no 2nd analog nub...
  
  I would definitely agree with that but I can't see them going into a mini-Blu Ray style of disc now it will kill their sales. Yeah it may start out as a good idea but, the reality of what the Blu-Ray idea that is what has hurt most of the PS3 sales in my opinion. I like BR but that would be over kill. The dual nubs is a definite feature hat needs to be added. Hell I don't know about anybody else but I would like a minor rumble to my PSP. It doesn't have to be like the old dual-shock controllers. Just enough to feel it with the in game action. Lastly the battery life for all this crap will be crucial. They have to find a way to maximize the battery life while preserving the of all the other features.

  28.1.2009 13:19 #32

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:Originally posted by spydah: Personally I hope they add all the features to some of the add-ons they out on the market. I know people will complaint about a price hike, but that will save yourself the nickle and dime issue that seems to be our current issue with consoles. One example is like GPS for the touch screen. To me they go hand in hand. I hope they don't try to force the touch screen on you with games. If the game to be played either way then that's cool. But the XMB would be nice to have the touch screen for moving around to the different icons. I do agree with the comment on the UMD's. Hopefully they don't do away with but be smart enough to add booting from the memory stick to the equation. If they are trying to strategize, then they will need to have a camera and a good one to at least make sense of adding that. Those are my 2 cents.Well if they are going to go for a uber device like the PSP was why not just put a mini BR player in it that can handle UDMs, more importantly it needs to run games from the mem stick because they will be selling stuff off PSN.
  
  But frankly I have a feeling they will do away with UDM and BWC, toss in the touchscreen just because, and use memsticks for games I mean hell whats the price of a 4GB flash/SD card 4-6$?
  So having a disc player on it would not be so needed since they tend to use more energy.
  
  Also no 2nd analog nub...
  
  I would definitely agree with that but I can't see them going into a mini-Blu Ray style of disc now it will kill their sales. Yeah it may start out as a good idea but, the reality of what the Blu-Ray idea that is what has hurt most of the PS3 sales in my opinion. I like BR but that would be over kill. The dual nubs is a definite feature hat needs to be added. Hell I don't know about anybody else but I would like a minor rumble to my PSP. It doesn't have to be like the old dual-shock controllers. Just enough to feel it with the in game action. Lastly the battery life for all this crap will be crucial. They have to find a way to maximize the battery life while preserving the of all the other features.Meh if its going to have a ton of tech on it and cost 500 it might as well have mini BR, and if they are smart they will give away mini br discs with their videos and release HD versions for 15-20$ its a line a revenue that's reasonable, one of the reasons why UDM failed is because Sony whored it around at top dollar turning off all the clients, if they go with a simplistic plan and say 1-5% of revenue made from anyone that wanted to put videos on the PSP mini BR discs they could stabilize losses and even make money from it, they have to play it smart and humbly if they go about dcking around with it and forcing the low hanging appendages of erect arrogance in peoples faces it will fail.
  
  As dim wited as sony devs are...I don;t think they even realize the dual analog issue.... I think they would be more concerned with the touchscreen 0-o

  28.1.2009 13:36 #33

• Morreale

  I actually hope that they will use mini-br because the games will be like 8GBs, too big to fit on a regular memory card so it will cut down piracy and bring out better games :)
  
  The original PSP was $300 when it first arrived in store so I don't see it being more expensive then that :/
  
  I like the idea of a full touch screen as long as it either has haptic feedback or there's buttons to play with... I've played NES on the iPod Touch and it feels weird because when you press the buttons you feel nothing, just tapping onto glass :S
  
  I wanna see a much better and faster web browser with at least flash capabilities and support for bigger MMPDs or maybe support for SD... I'm sure if they went with the bigger and cheaper SD cards they'd make more money then with their own because it would sell as a good media player with cheap memory. I think.
  
  That's all I wanna see really... Oh, and a San Andreas port so I can start gang wars on the go :D
  
  ***
  
  Forgot about dual analog sticks! I think those are necessary, if there is going to be buttons?

  28.1.2009 14:19 #34

• XdjxedxdX

  Well Jesus Christ !!! While yous are at all this. Might as well give the damn thing cell phone capabilitys. That would blow away any other competitor for both cell phone or handheld right outta the water. I'D BUY IT!

  28.1.2009 14:57 #35

• Morreale

  Originally posted by XdjxedxdX: Well Jesus Christ !!! While yous are at all this. Might as well give the damn thing cell phone capabilitys. That would blow away any other competitor for both cell phone or handheld right outta the water. I'D BUY IT!That would be nice but I don't want it because the plans would be extremely expensive for no reason whatsoever, just like the iPhone is here (Canada).

  28.1.2009 15:39 #36

• Cedric308

  Originally posted by bomber991: My brother had one of those Pandoras battery hack thingys for his psp.
  
  The neat thing about it was that you'd load the games off the memory stick instead of the UMD drive. The games loaded so much faster off of the memory stick, and the battery life of the PSP was greatly increased. I play some lego game on it for 2 hours and still had 95% of the battery left. Just in case please pm me so I can give you special info on psp and more ***email removed by loco***or pm me here

  28.1.2009 18:01 #37

• LOCOENG

  Cedric308, no emails per forum rules.
  
  Also, anything that needs said can be said in the open forum....why the secrecy?
  

  
  

  28.1.2009 20:41 #38

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by LOCOENG: Cedric308, no emails per forum rules.
  
  Also, anything that needs said can be said in the open forum....why the secrecy?Google the email/use name its a spam bot I think or at least spamicous...
  

  Fallout 3 has stole my soul, for about 30 hours till the paint wore off.... even if its a action focused FPS RPG, at least its a FPS RPG not a under deved shooter like Bioshock!

  28.1.2009 20:48 #39

• borhan9

  Apple can not sue everything with a touch screen that they do not own the technology has been there before them and even my laptop is touch screen what they going to do do they want to re-badge the HP with the Apple logo.

  30.1.2009 17:28 #40

• krash619

  Originally posted by borhan9: Apple can not sue everything with a touch screen that they do not own the technology has been there before them and even my laptop is touch screen what they going to do do they want to re-badge the HP with the Apple logo.your right they cant just go and sue everything with a touch screen because what about windows mobile, nintendo ds laptops ect... dunno about multi touch though. but microsoft is going to include multi touch as one of its main features so just gona wait and see what happens

  2.2.2009 02:42 #41

• Combat5

  The PSP wouldn't do wel as a touch screen.
  Like, it would be cool no doubt, but its the whole
  point of the playstation model.
  Everything is getting into touch now days, cuz
  people are just getting lazy to even play video games!
  Play Station followed us through our years, we shouldn't ruin
  it's model. So, I think the 3000 series PSP's should stay the same,
  so so many other things that could be done. More built in network,
  so it can recieve father signals, I know I like
  using the psp for internet. But meh who knows,

  13.2.2009 18:59 #42

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Combat5: The PSP wouldn't do wel as a touch screen.
  Like, it would be cool no doubt, but its the whole
  point of the playstation model.
  Everything is getting into touch now days, cuz
  people are just getting lazy to even play video games!
  Play Station followed us through our years, we shouldn't ruin
  it's model. So, I think the 3000 series PSP's should stay the same,
  so so many other things that could be done. More built in network,
  so it can recieve father signals, I know I like
  using the psp for internet. But meh who knows,Pick up a PSP and try and operate the screen with your thumbs, its not something that's worth the cost.
  
  tho if they offset the buttons and nubs soem you could touch the screen making it useful in more than dumb/puzzle/one hand games.

  13.2.2009 19:10 #43

• Combat5

  yea

  13.2.2009 19:13 #44

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Combat5: yeaTouchscreen works well for the DS because you can thumb it, unless they do a double screen setup just below the top screen in between the buttons/nubs(even if tis half the size of the DS one its something) it would make a inserting feature but a single screen I just don;t see how its something that's an added value.

  13.2.2009 19:17 #45

• justin38

  just think about all the things you can do with a cell phone in such a compact package. camera, gps, internet, phone calls, touch screen, etc. now the psp already has some of these things, i.e., the gps and camera, although not so much in the u.s. and as bulky peripherals. think about that: a bulky peripheral on something supposedly more capable than any phone. now i know that its a gaming platform and not a cell phone, smart phone, or pda. but imagine a gaming device that could do all of this. a psp, the way it should be, a psp with dual analog, four shoulder buttons, rumble, sixaxis, touchscreen, built in 802.11n, built in hard drive. cell phone capability, gps. just think of the capabilities with all of those capabilities. screw UMD and make everything go PSN. that way the umd drive can be scrapped to make room for a sizable harddrive. i guess i just have alot of dreams for what the psp could be or should be. i guess my biggest beef with sony has been the "upgrades" they have given the psp with really no progress. i guess were only in the 6th year of the psp's lifecycle but for them to make "upgrades" to the psp, in the form of a microphone after "paying considerable attention to customer feedback" instead of dual analog. idiots. a clean slate and a new platform with all of the capabilies ive mentioned should take care of things. oh and lets put a less than $300 price tag on it. done

  28.2.2009 23:13 #46

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by justin38: just think about all the things you can do with a cell phone in such a compact package. camera, gps, internet, phone calls, touch screen, etc. now the psp already has some of these things, i.e., the gps and camera, although not so much in the u.s. and as bulky peripherals. think about that: a bulky peripheral on something supposedly more capable than any phone. now i know that its a gaming platform and not a cell phone, smart phone, or pda. but imagine a gaming device that could do all of this. a psp, the way it should be, a psp with dual analog, four shoulder buttons, rumble, sixaxis, touchscreen, built in 802.11n, built in hard drive. cell phone capability, gps. just think of the capabilities with all of those capabilities. screw UMD and make everything go PSN. that way the umd drive can be scrapped to make room for a sizable harddrive. i guess i just have alot of dreams for what the psp could be or should be. i guess my biggest beef with sony has been the "upgrades" they have given the psp with really no progress. i guess were only in the 6th year of the psp's lifecycle but for them to make "upgrades" to the psp, in the form of a microphone after "paying considerable attention to customer feedback" instead of dual analog. idiots. a clean slate and a new platform with all of the capabilies ive mentioned should take care of things. oh and lets put a less than $300 price tag on it. doneA wireless UDM add on if just to make a DRM'd image of the UDM would be worthwhile...

  28.2.2009 23:23 #47