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Sony to challenge the iPod.
"We are taking on iPod with our new device," said a Sony official. "We are coming at him [Steve Jobs] on that front."
If there is any company in this world who could pull off a comparable iPod competitor, it is Sony. Many companies have claimed to have what it takes to unseat the iPod from its throne, yet no one has even come close. Sony thinks they have what it takes and it could cost as low as $60.
So what is this magical player?
Sony recently announced many details concerning the "PSP", a handheld gaming, music playing, video playing and possible cellphone all-in-one handheld device. While the PSP isn't due out until the end of 2004, it is expected this device may be the answer to anyone and everyones handheld needs. The device is expected to be a powerful competitor for Nintendo's Game Boy, Nokia's N-Gage and Apple's iPod.
As for a possible look of the PSP, this conecpt image from Sony has leaked:
According to GameSpot and ZDNET Japan, these are the current PSP specifications:
PSP CPU Core -
MIPS R4000 32-bit core
128-bit bus
1-333MHz (1.2V)
8MB eDRAM main memory
2.6Gbps bus bandwidth
FPU, VFPU (2.6 billion flops)
3D graphics extended instructions
I Cache, D Cache
PSP Media Engine -
MIPS R4000 32-bit core
128-bit bus
1-333MHz (1.2V)
2MB eDRAM submemory
I-Cache, D-Cache
90nm CMOS
PSP Graphics Core -
1-166MHz (1.2V)
256-bit bus
2MB eDRAM (VRAM)
5.3Gbps bus bandwidth
664 million pixels per second pizel fill rate
3D curved surface and 3D polygon engine
Support for compressed textures, hardware clipping, morphing, bone, tessellation, bezier, b-spline (NURBS)
Maximum of 33 million polygons per second
24-bit full color (RGBA)
Sound Core -
VME (Virtual Mobile Engine)
Reconfigurable DSP
166MHz (1.2 V)
128-bit bus
5 giga operations per second
CODEC capabilities
3D sound, 7.1 channels
Synthesizer, effecter, and other abilities
ATRAC3 plus, AAC, MP3 for audio
Media -
UMD (Universal Media Disc)
60mm-diameter disc
660nm laser diode
1.8GB capacity (dual-layered disc)
11Mbps transfer rate
AES crypto system
Unique disc ID
Shock proof
Regional code system
Parental lock system
Repeat ordering system
Other Specifications -
16:9-format widescreen TFT LCD (480x272 pixels, 24-bit full color)
MPEG4 AVC decoder
Wireless LAN (802.11)
IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
USB 2.0
Memory Stick
AV in/out
Stereo headphone out
Lithium ion battery
Expansion port
Keep in mind, the current prototypes are only 4.5 inches in diameter. This could mean trouble for Apple's iPod, especially as mini-hard drive prices continue to go down. There is some good news (for apple) though, now that these specs. have been released, Apple has almost a year to meet or beat the PSP. While Apple has never really been clear with what direction they want to take the iPod, in recent months Apple has made it clear that they do want increased iPod functionality.
Source: apple-x.net
"We are taking on iPod with our new device," said a Sony official. "We are coming at him [Steve Jobs] on that front."
If there is any company in this world who could pull off a comparable iPod competitor, it is Sony. Many companies have claimed to have what it takes to unseat the iPod from its throne, yet no one has even come close. Sony thinks they have what it takes and it could cost as low as $60.
So what is this magical player?
Sony recently announced many details concerning the "PSP", a handheld gaming, music playing, video playing and possible cellphone all-in-one handheld device. While the PSP isn't due out until the end of 2004, it is expected this device may be the answer to anyone and everyones handheld needs. The device is expected to be a powerful competitor for Nintendo's Game Boy, Nokia's N-Gage and Apple's iPod.
As for a possible look of the PSP, this conecpt image from Sony has leaked:
According to GameSpot and ZDNET Japan, these are the current PSP specifications:
PSP CPU Core -
MIPS R4000 32-bit core
128-bit bus
1-333MHz (1.2V)
8MB eDRAM main memory
2.6Gbps bus bandwidth
FPU, VFPU (2.6 billion flops)
3D graphics extended instructions
I Cache, D Cache
PSP Media Engine -
MIPS R4000 32-bit core
128-bit bus
1-333MHz (1.2V)
2MB eDRAM submemory
I-Cache, D-Cache
90nm CMOS
PSP Graphics Core -
1-166MHz (1.2V)
256-bit bus
2MB eDRAM (VRAM)
5.3Gbps bus bandwidth
664 million pixels per second pizel fill rate
3D curved surface and 3D polygon engine
Support for compressed textures, hardware clipping, morphing, bone, tessellation, bezier, b-spline (NURBS)
Maximum of 33 million polygons per second
24-bit full color (RGBA)
Sound Core -
VME (Virtual Mobile Engine)
Reconfigurable DSP
166MHz (1.2 V)
128-bit bus
5 giga operations per second
CODEC capabilities
3D sound, 7.1 channels
Synthesizer, effecter, and other abilities
ATRAC3 plus, AAC, MP3 for audio
Media -
UMD (Universal Media Disc)
60mm-diameter disc
660nm laser diode
1.8GB capacity (dual-layered disc)
11Mbps transfer rate
AES crypto system
Unique disc ID
Shock proof
Regional code system
Parental lock system
Repeat ordering system
Other Specifications -
16:9-format widescreen TFT LCD (480x272 pixels, 24-bit full color)
MPEG4 AVC decoder
Wireless LAN (802.11)
IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
USB 2.0
Memory Stick
AV in/out
Stereo headphone out
Lithium ion battery
Expansion port
Keep in mind, the current prototypes are only 4.5 inches in diameter. This could mean trouble for Apple's iPod, especially as mini-hard drive prices continue to go down. There is some good news (for apple) though, now that these specs. have been released, Apple has almost a year to meet or beat the PSP. While Apple has never really been clear with what direction they want to take the iPod, in recent months Apple has made it clear that they do want increased iPod functionality.
Source: apple-x.net