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Sony's PSX Game/Media Hub Loses Features For Early Release

Posted by simoniker on from the the-doh-continuum dept.

StingRay02 writes "Sony's recently announced 'digital media hub', the PlayStation 2-based PSX, is getting a feature downgrade to facilitate getting it out of the door for the holidays in Japan, according to a GameSpot article. Apparently, the following features are being cut: HDD to DVD dubbing has been downgraded from 24x speed to 12x speed, CD-R playback will not be supported, DVD+RW playback will not be supported, MP3 file format will not be supported, TIFF and GIF file formats will not be supported, Sony's Cybershot movie format will not be supported. There will also be no antenna output, nor will it be compatible with the Playstation BB service. The original specs can be found on Sony's website." The company "plans to offer firmware updates to owners", but it's unclear as yet what features this will add.

2 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. Uh oh! by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Boy, it's always good news when you hear about a company pushing a product out the door in order to hit a sales date. Screw the long term effects of disappointing the consumer! We need sales now!

    This is bad practice. The PSX always seemed like this poorly thought of device that was just going to test the waters for the PS3 (and gauge what people wanted from their PS3 - video game device or all-in-one media powerhouse) anyway. The poor selection of a name coupled with this news about the downgrade really makes me wonder who's in charge at Sony and whether they are thinking long term at all.

    --
    I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  2. Fall of Sony? by AvantLegion · · Score: 3, Interesting
    This does make one wonder what the PSP and PS3 have to look forward to. The PSP seems like it might be the next overpromised device to get cut down.

    Is this foreshadowing Sony's fall from the #1 spot? Sounds impossible, but it also seemed impossible that Nintendo would fall after the NES and Super NES (and Game Boy, for that matter), but all it took was the Nintendo 64 to send them free-falling down the totem pole.

    Sony needs to not be screwing with this PSX crap, and maybe not even the PSP, but better focus attention on the PS3. There won't be a big head start for them this time.

    Of course, for Sony to fall, it means Microsoft has to step it up to the next level. They had a good first showing, and really led the way on complete online console gaming, but they have to bring in more balanced, broad development for the second go-around (and no flubs like too-big-for-some-people controllers on release).