7 Things Sony Can Do to Increase PlayStation Portable Sales
Sony’s PlayStation Portable, or PSP, has been around since 2004 and has been popular with gamers because of its crisp graphics, functional design, and a wide array of features packed into a portable handheld video game system. A key feature is the ability to connect to the internet via a built-in WiFi antennae and browser.
The main purpose of the device is to play video games, but Sony has the ability to capture the tech savvy audience if they put more attention into the features of their browser.
The screen display is 480 x 272 pixels, which allows the user to see a majority of the content on any giving web pages. CSS-based sites with fluid layouts tend to display better within the browser because the page accommodates the browser window size. The PSP also supports the following web technologies: Adobe Flash, Windows Media Player, and some Javascript.
On a personal note, I am able to manage my Gmail, check Adsense, and administer my comments in WordPress. I use my PlayStation Portable when I sit on the couch at night to monitor the day’s statistics. I do not use the PSP to do very much random browsing because of limitations. Here are a few areas of improvement where Sony could increase greatly improve their product and ultimately increase their own sales:
1. AJAX Support
As of right now, the PSP browser does not support AJAX. With the advent of “Web 2.0”, many of the newer sites have incorporated AJAX to reduce page loading and enhance visitor’s experience. I am quite surprised that AJAX hasn’t been implemented already.
2. Keyboard Support
People with a Treo or Blackberry will rave about the small keyboard and tell you how easy it is to type text on the device. The PSP text entry interface is similar to the number pad of a phone. You must cursor over a key then click through until you get the letter you want. A keyboard peripheral would reduce text entry time and people would be more apt to use the browser for more than visiting their bookmarks.
3. Larger Cache
The PlayStation Portable lacks in the ability to display multiple pages with large amounts of data. The only available settings are 512K, 1024K, 2048K, and “do not use”. As you browse and have multiple pages open, the cache will quickly be used. Larger cache or better cache management would prevent the user from seeing the unsightly message, “page cannot be display”.
4. Persist the Connection
Once you open the browser feature of the PSP, your device searches for a network connection. The device connects until you leave the browser. This makes sense, but it would be more user friendly if the connection persisted once the user left the browser to play a game, browse the Memory Stick, or did anything else on the device. A setting that would maintain the connection until the device was turned off would be beneficial.
5. Better File Management
The PSP support Sony’s Memory Stick as it means to store information. The size of storage is limited to the size of the user’s Memory Stick. File can be downloaded from the Internet, but it is difficult to do anything with those files because there is no way to manage files like on a Pocket PC or a Palm device. Audio and video files are automatically detected by other features of the PSP.
6. Better Page Navigation and Tabbing
The browser limits the user to three “tabs” open at a giving time. If the user tries to exceed three tabs then they are asked to close a tab they are not using. This rarely becomes an annoyance. Why place a limit in the first place?
7. Fix the RSS Channel Feature
RSS support is a feature that is separate from the browser but it is integrated. When the user clicks on an RSS/XML feed on a page they are asked if they would like to save the feed an RSS Channel. The user can then see their feeds on an organized interface. Good luck getting this feature to work. I have tried with various feeds and have yet to get it to work correctly.
One advantage of the browser that would be of interest to SEOs and webmasters is that Adsense can appear on the web pages. Site designers can have a clickable 468×60 pixel banner show nicely in the page as the user finds what they are looking for.
Sony recent cut the price of the PSP Core System to $169.99. If Sony enhanced their browser and shifted their marketing, they can promote their device as a productivity tool and not just a portable video game system.
Why is every single post about the internet capabilities?
I have 7 suggestions people who use the PSP for OTHER things might want.
How about a microphone?
Perhaps a RCA Video out?
I know when I use mine, I want longer battery life.
Maybe they could make a PSP that had a TV antenna?
How about games sold on memory cards?
They might want to add a touch screen.
Perhaps a program to convert physical PSX games you own to the memory card?
There is more to the PSP than just the internet.
i agree with the artical and not with the previous post, most of the psp’s problems come from lack in browser support. half the suggestions this other guy has made are just plain rediculous.
I agree with the touchscreen. I think this would boost ease of Internet use. I’ve found when browsing, the keypad function can be awkward and have found myself wishing the PSP had a touchscreen. The Keyboard Support would also be an excellent idea. But away from the Internet capabilities, and focusing on the many other uses for the PSP, the touchscreen would be fantastic. Gotta say, it’s one of the highlights of the DS.
And while I’m on it, the amount of games that I want to play that are on PS2 and not on PSP! Some form of converter would be brilliant, though not being a techhead myself don’t know how possible that would or could be.