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Sony Announces Skype For PSP, Homebrewers Respond

Posted by Zonk on from the tit-for-tat dept.

Croakyvoice writes "Sony has finally officially announced that Skype is coming soon to the PSP. The VoIP service is slated to hit the company's handheld at the end of January. The application will be available via a firmware update and is only compatible with PSP Slim & Lite Consoles. After the announcement the PSP homebrew scene released a new application called Furikup which will allow you to make phone calls with your PSP and is compatible with the original phat PSPs."

60 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. What's that? by Jarjarthejedi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sony: An idea you say? Internet phone on a PSP? Why I do say old chap, that is a good idea! Let us put it in testing and quality assurance and then announce it's release a little before we put it out. Let us also make it available only on our latest devices, to encourage purchasing.

    Hackers: Internet phone on a PSP? Good Idea! I'll have a quick-build later tonight, should be able to get this done in a couple of days...hey look, the original's compatible too! That'll save a few bucks...

    --
    There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing
    1. Re:What's that? by MBCook · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've got a PSP "Phat", and I couldn't care less.

      That said. Let's look at the evidence.

      1. Portable game console
      2. Network connectivity
      3. Microphone on one side, speaker on the other
      4. Does 3D

      It's the return of... sidetalkin'!

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    2. Re:What's that? by Jarjarthejedi · · Score: 2, Funny

      The return of the N-Gage? Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse? Along with Microsoft giving away a good piece of software and 'In Soviet Russia...' jokes going out of style on /.?

      --
      There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing
    3. Re:What's that? by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 1

      Let us put it in testing and quality assurance and then announce it's release a little before we put it out.

      I may be misreading your intent, but are you suggesting that Sony's decision to subject a product to a quality assurance process before publicly announcing its release is a BAD thing?

    4. Re:What's that? by Jarjarthejedi · · Score: 1

      Not at all, I was actually trying to imply that their method is superior but slower, Testing and QA are important, but slow, which is why hackers can get things out much faster than companies.

      --
      There are two kinds of fool One says 'This is old therefore good' Another says 'This is new therefore better'- Dean Ing
  2. Re:Huh? by webmaster404 · · Score: 2, Informative

    No it is called the PSP slim and light not 2 separate consoles.

    --
    There is no "disagree" moderation, and troll, flamebait and overrated are not valid substitutes
  3. Nintendo DS by jshriverWVU · · Score: 1
    So how long till there's a DS port? The console has a full development suite and wifi is accessible, has a microphone. So start the clock :)

    I think the best news for the PSP people, is that an official sony product will work on any PSP. So you don't needs any homebrew hardware (flashcart,custom firmware, etc)

    1. Re:Nintendo DS by Macrosoft0 · · Score: 1, Informative

      [quote] I think the best news for the PSP people, is that an official sony product will work on any PSP. So you don't needs any homebrew hardware (flashcart,custom firmware, etc) [/quote]

      nope, sony decided the feature will only be available on the newer (psp slim+lite) model. not that there is a hardware incompatability. the newer model is mostly the same, except for the addition of a cache for quicker load times from umd's, and the backlight is improved (not sure about it, never noticed much of a difference).

      the most likely reason for the slim+lite only release is to encourage sales of the newer model.

      --
      stuff
    2. Re:Nintendo DS by cbeley · · Score: 5, Informative

      It exists. SvSIP allows to to send and receive calls with SIP on your Nintendo DS. You can download it at http://svsip.free.fr/spip.php?rubrique9. There are also a couple free places you can use with it to make free calls on your DS that you can find by looking at the accompanying gbadev forum thread at http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?t=14121.

      It's pretty cool, though, the out-going quality is sort of bad (it could just be the free service I was using), while the incoming sound to your DS sound just fine.

      So, take that PSP :-P

    3. Re:Nintendo DS by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      There is a bit of a memory and processor difference between the two. Can the DS handle it?

      I'm asking sincerely, not trolling.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    4. Re:Nintendo DS by cheater512 · · Score: 1

      Contrary to what Microsoft and computer manufacturers are telling you, 67mhz is quite fast.
      Also remember that its a ARM processor, not x86.

      You dont need a dual core 3ghz processor to use Skype. :)

    5. Re:Nintendo DS by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      That doesn't answer the question though. Do we have an idea for what kind of hardware you need for Skype on a hand-held device?

      I know it runs on the Nokia n800 series of internet tablets, but again that is much nicer hardware than a DS.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    6. Re:Nintendo DS by mccabem · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Skype even runs on the older Nokia 770 with a slight bit of hacking. It's apparently not a hardware limit. :-)

      See here for more info:
      http://maemogeek.blogspot.com/2007/12/skype-on-n770-using-os2007-he.html

      -Matt

    7. Re:Nintendo DS by cheater512 · · Score: 1

      When you say Skype do you mean Skype or basic VoIP functionality?

      Skype wont run unless eBay ports it specifically of course.
      I would be extremely surprised if it was too slow for the VoIP algorithms however.

  4. PSP Microphone? by NFN_NLN · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So where does one get a PSP microphone? Or is it built in?

    1. Re:PSP Microphone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      You can buy headsets. They were originally released for games like SOCOM which have voicechat. Unless Sony feels like shooting itself in the foot, I would assume that they're compatible with Skype. Although, I have seen pictures of a different microphone that plugs into the USB jack, which would free up the serial jack next to the headphone jack so that you can do TV-Out on the Slim at the same time as talking on the phone. Gee, that'll be really useful. With all of these new features like TV-Out, Remote Play (which lets you connect to a PS3 over Wi-Fi, I believe) and now this software where you need to be near an access point, I get the feeling that the PlayStation Portable is becoming less portable.

      Ah, err, sorry for the digression. You can buy headsets or the new microphone that plugs into USB. I don't know if the headsets will work with Skype, but I assume the headsets will work with Furikup. The new microphone probably won't work with Furikup (yet), seeing as I don't think they're out.

    2. Re:PSP Microphone? by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      A long while back I remember reading online about how in England Sony had struck a deal to make the PSP do phone calls, and I wondered the same thing. Were they adding a mic to the PSP in Europe or what?

      http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/PSP/news.asp?c=3139

      Apparently that was in May.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  5. Skype annoys the hell out of me by drspliff · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just like MSN, AIM, ICQ etc.. they all lock you and your friends into using the software. Skype is no different, it's not interoperable with anything else.

    How many times have you reluctantly had to sign up for some proprietary messaging system, then got forced into using a advert laden badly made piece of software, or less than optimal alternative (hear that Microsoft MSN Messanger and Gaim?) when there are tried, tested and IMO superior alternatives.

    Me? I use SIP and have a number of hardware & software phones that work with it at home and in the office... for messaging I use IRC and always have done.

    If only Sony would adopt homebrew applications like Furikup instead of tying themselfs in with Skype or some other proprietary vendor.

    1. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by B3ryllium · · Score: 1

      What's wrong with Gaim? Pidgin, as it is now known, works fine for me.

      Of course, I do use mIRC for IRC, so I have low standards ... ;-)

    2. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      Furikup might as well be proprietary. There is in open source, and then there are open standards.

      Thankfully, we established open standards for email years ago, but it used to be that everyone used different protocols and networks, the way instant messaging and cell phones work today.

      Cell phones are slightly more universal in that a Cingular customer can call a Sprint customer, however the technologies of different networks differ enough that you can't take a Sprint phone to AT&T. The hope is that someday there are open standards to establish universal protocols for cell phones and instant messaging. Yahoo can still have their user list, and everyone with a Yahoo email address automatically gets an IM address, but why can't everyone universally instant message via email address? Someone on MSN can message a Yahoo user at user@yahoo.com?

      Jabber was a decent initial effort towards such a goal, but falls somewhat short since Jabber is an open protocol for small, internalized networks to an extent as opposed to a universal standard to link all networks together.

      Please, someone, make this happen. It would take Google, AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft to agree. How likely is that? And getting AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc. to agree is only slightly more likely.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    3. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by despisethesun · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Google Talk is based on Jabber/Jingle, so it would appear that it scales just fine. The problem is that everyone's been using MSN, AIM, and Yahoo for so long now that they're entrenched, and Jabber just isn't enough of an improvement to force people to change.

      --
      This poo is cold.
    4. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      It isn't scale. Jabber is still centric to a single network. I can't log into LJ Talk with My Gmail account, even though they both use Jabber, let alone talk across the two networks.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    5. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by Quarters · · Score: 4, Informative

      Skype is no different, it's not interoperable with anything else.

      Except the worldwide telephone network and most any/all cell carriers. If it has a phone number you can reach it via Skype.

    6. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by jeaton · · Score: 1

      You can talk between Jabber services, as long as both sides support server-to-server communication. LJ Chat appears to support it, based on their own documentation.

    7. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by wertigon · · Score: 1

      You may not be able to log in to your LJ Talk server with your gmail account - But there should be nothing stopping you from adding LJT users to your contact list on GMail, and vice versa.

      Jabber isn't one network, true, but many networks working cooperating through open standards. Pretty much the same thing the World Wide Web, email and internet at large works.

      --
      systemd is not an init system. It's a GNU replacement.
    8. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by drspliff · · Score: 1

      Yes, but...
      * You can't use things like DUNDI to make telephony networks available via mutual trust.
      * You don't get handy me@example.com VoIP/e-mail via appropriate SRV records.
      * Third parties can't implement it easily for new hardware or operating systems.
      * You're essentially tied to a computer or one of the select few phones that support ype.
      * You can't choose which provider you use for outbound calls (e.g. if Skype's routing is crap to some destinations, you're stuck).
      * Want an incoming number in your area? Skypes coverage is thin and lacking.

      The benifits of Skype with unified messaging/calls doesn't outweigh the problems it brings, as long as it remains based on proprietary protocols - it's already doomed in the long term.

    9. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by cheater512 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Jabber servers mesh together like a hybrid between Gnutella and eDonkey p2p networks.
      If your dude123@abc.com and you want to talk to chick456@xyz.com then abc.com will connect to xyz.com for you.

      I'm not sure what you mean by 'logging in' to LJ talk from GMail.
      You have to connect to the server your registered with to talk.
      If you log in to LJ talk and Gmail at the same time, you should be able to talk to yourself just fine.

    10. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by rbanffy · · Score: 1

      "however the technologies of different networks differ enough that you can't take a Sprint phone to AT&T."

      Not exactly. Most phones are either CDMA or GSM. I always wondered how it happened that in the USA the phone customers get so much more screwed than in any other place I know and seem uninformed about it - it's not incompatible tech - it's that telcos configure the phones they sell not to be able to connect to any other network.

      As in most places, you can easily buy an unblocked GSM phone you can use in any network you chose.

      --
      http://www.dieblinkenlights.com
    11. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by Fedarkyn · · Score: 1

      pidgem supports voice chat?

    12. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by metamatic · · Score: 1

      I always wondered how it happened that in the USA the phone customers get so much more screwed than in any other place I know and seem uninformed about it


      How the USA ended up with CDMA and a non-standard GSM frequency:

      When the spectrum was being allocated, Europe chose GSM and standardized it. Qualcomm approached the US government and said "Hey! You can't allow some European technology to take over when there is better US technology available! (Which incidentally we have patents on, *cough*)"

      The US government agreed, and allocated the standard GSM frequencies to CDMA instead.

      Then it turned out that CDMA wasn't better after all, and dual-frequency handsets were developed so GSM could be used in the USA anyway. And GSM eventually won (note Verizon are switching for their next generation network), but US cell phone users went through a lot of pain in the intervening decades.

      (Opinions mine, not IBM's.)
      --
      GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
    13. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by Quarters · · Score: 1
      * WTF is DUNDI? I'm only being half sarcastic. Is it something a majority of users even know of, let alone want or need?

      * See #1 Why do I care about VOIP/email via SRV records as a home user?

      * There are a ton of third party phones and routers with Skype embedded into them.

      * Skype phones are price competitive with other cordless handsets. I don't see your point as a valid argument. I'd pay just about as much for a regular cordless handset and then extra $ for a dedicated router if I wanted to use Vonage, et. al.

      * I can't choose a different outbound provider for my local POTS or my cellphone. If it sucks I'm stuck.

      * I've had a SkypeIn number for area codes in; central Virginia, Outside of Wash. D.C., a small town in New Jersey, and a town in central Illinois. I've never not been able to get a local area code # for a location I need.

      To the end user the proprietary protocols mean piss-all. If they can pick up a VOIP phone and call a device that has a POTS number associated with it nothing else matters. The Gizmo Project is an interesting idea. Maybe someday I'll see a Gizmo capable phone next to the Skype phones in my local Best Buy, Circuit City, or Radio Shack. Given that it's been around for 3-4 years and hasn't achieved that level of penetration points more to it being "doomed" as opposed to Skype.

    14. Re:Skype annoys the hell out of me by Quarters · · Score: 1

      OMG! People have to pay for phone service? When did this injustice start?

  6. They'll be able to talk to DS users by tepples · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Now that both PSP homebrew and DS homebrew have SIP, PSP homebrew users will be able to talk to DS homebrew users over the Internet. What other gaming systems have cross-platform voice chat?

    1. Re:They'll be able to talk to DS users by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      I'm the only person who encouraged modding the parent up, but that is redundant?

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  7. Re:Huh? by dancingmad · · Score: 1

    Ah, thank you. It's a lame name. Someone needs to mod my previous post down.

    --
    "There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter," Jeeves, (Jeeves and the Impending Doom)
  8. This is cool by chuckymonkey · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As I've told many people the PSP isn't really worth owning unless you load custom firmware and your own applications on it. The functionality is immense, for instance I can read books, stream video from my PC to my PSP, play homebrew games, backup my games to SD, rip my PS games and play them, SSH, and quite a bit more. I actually think that I would hate the device if I couldn't load custom software on it. Anyway, back to actually working.

    --
    "Some books contain the machinery required to create and sustain universes."-Tycho
    1. Re:This is cool by Echnin · · Score: 3, Informative

      Since we're on the subject - could you direct new PSP owners such as myself to good sites discussing homebrew on the PSP? I tried Googling for a while, but didn't find very good sites on the subject. Got myself one of the new slim PSPs in Beijing last month, and they fixed me up with custom firmware and everything, but still not finding many good homebrew apps to use...

      --
      Lalala
    2. Re:This is cool by Fallen+Seraph · · Score: 4, Informative

      I recommend: http://www.psp-hacks.com/ and http://pspupdates.qj.net/ for the most part, as well as their respective forums at: http://www.psp-hacks.com/forums/ and http://forums.qj.net/f-psp-development-hacks-and-homebrew-13.html/ Lots of cool stuff there and you can always ask for help or advice. Personally, I have Bookr, PSPSSH, PSPIRC, and IRSHELL on mine. All very useful tools imo

    3. Re:This is cool by Peter+Bortas · · Score: 3, Informative

      http://ps2dev.org/ is useful if you are at all interested in development. The PS2, PS3 and PSP open source devkits are developed and discussed there.

    4. Re:This is cool by chuckymonkey · · Score: 2, Informative

      Another good one is maxconsole and the forums there.

      --
      "Some books contain the machinery required to create and sustain universes."-Tycho
    5. Re:This is cool by Henry+Pate · · Score: 4, Informative

      I got old (fat) PSP for Christmas so I spent some time modding it out and here's what I've found.

      4gb memory sticks can be found for $60 online and are a great investment.

      You can use this program to backup your UMD disks and then compress them, put them on the memory stick, and tada.

      iR Shell is awesome, it provides a the ability to control IR devices, nice skinnable shell, good file browser, lets you switch out of games (think alt-tab), play MP3s while you're playing a game and mute game music, toggle CPU speed, do adhoc wifi transfers between PSPs, take screenshots and much more, you can find a larger list of features (and the un-official forum) here.

      PSP Vault has a very nice downloads section, tons of guides and very active forums.
      Psp-homebrew has a great list of homebrew you can sort by firmware version. compatibility
      QJ.net is another good resource.

      PSP Radio lets you stream internet radio on your PSP.

      There are NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, Sega Genesis, Neo-Geo, N64, Atari 2600, C64 and probably others.

      Wifisniffer is a great probably that does just what it says.

      PSP Weather is another good one.

      PSP HTTPD lets you use your psp as a webserver.

      Portable VNC lets you control your PC with your PSP and there is software that will let you use your PSP as your gamepad for your PC.

      PSP XTI is a TI-92 (Graphing calculator) emulator for the PSP. GPS is soon coming to the PSP (USA only), it will be available as a UMD but no release date or price has been set.

      There are many others, just browse the file collections and forums.

      If you have a PSP with the factory firmware and wish to downgrade it can be an annoying process, it depends on what version firmware you're running.
      This forum post as has the information you need.

      Used PSPs can be had for less than $100 in stores near me, including a 1gb pro-duo stick, I think I've squeezed $100 worth of features out of it.
      Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes

      --
      Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes
    6. Re:This is cool by harryk · · Score: 1

      not to argue with you, but gps for the psp is already here. There are a couple of hacks that you can create your own cable to interface with various GPS units, or you can buy the official GPS unit for the PSP, psp-290 I believe is the part number. Thats the route I took, the official unit.

      Couple the hardware with the homebrew application MapThis! and create a map pack (trivial, but time-consuming). It works quite well.

      I believe the author of MapThis! is an individual by the handle of Deniska (sp?) and there are a couple of different ports and mods that add function (like speed based zooming).

      Anyway, cheers.

      harryk

      --
      think before you write, it'll save me moderator points.
    7. Re:This is cool by speculatrix · · Score: 1

      whilst I am impressed by the fervour to crack the PSP's security to allow homebrew, wouldn't effort yield results quicker if you started with a more open platform.

      wouldn't it be easier to get a Nokia N800 tablet which is "open" out of the box, has a higher res *touch* screen, twin SD card slots (no memory stick shite), and a standard linux development platform? Want games, how about a GP2X? Want a keyboard, how about a Zaurus?

    8. Re:This is cool by tepples · · Score: 1

      whilst I am impressed by the fervour to crack the PSP's security to allow homebrew, wouldn't effort yield results quicker if you started with a more open platform.

      wouldn't it be easier to get a Nokia N800 tablet For one thing, the photo in the Wikipedia article doesn't show any buttons for the right thumb (like the O and X buttons of the PSP or the A and B buttons of the GBA). Games in genres that use traditional controls (D-pad plus buttons, rather than D-pad plus the touch screen) would need the player to touch the screen with the right thumb. Speaking of games, the Wikipedia article also doesn't provide evidence of commercial games for when the user feels done with running homebrew apps, apart from classic point-and-click adventure games run in the ScummVM emulator. Or is the user supposed to carry both a PSP and this device, or both a DS and this device?
  9. SIP client for the PSP! by Critical_ · · Score: 5, Informative

    Furikup is a beta quality SIP client for the PSP. It's always nice to see the increasing number of devices supporting SIP. Without the luxury of having a PSP to play with Furikup, but having another SIP device (Nokia E61) I can give some recommendations to new users Voice-over-IP (VoIP).

    There are a number of free incoming number DID providers. A few examples:

    SipNumber provides Iowa State numbers.
    IPKall provides Washington State Numbers.
    OrbTalk provides London geographic numbers.

    Google's Recent acquisition of GrandCentral is a very tempting prospect even though it is not a true SIP provider. You can get a phone number in almost any locale with GrandCentral and forward the number to the above two US-based providers. You may almost register for a Gizmo account and forward directly to it through GrandCentral. Once the Gizmo SIP account is registered to your device it'll ring when called from a regular landline.

    The problem with having this many accounts is finding a service which can aggregate your numbers in one place so you don't have dozens of SIP accounts to register in your device. Voxalot is a nice service but they charge $15/year. Another one is PBXES.org but I would stay away from them. They have a notorious reputation of locking accounts and demanding a 50 Euro ransom to regain access. My personal favorite is MySipSwitch. It's free, does SIP aggregation, and allows simple dial-plans to maximize cheap calling over SIP. It's also an open-source project and the developers directly answer questions from the community in the forums.

    Coupling this with services like PhoneGnome, it's possible receive calls from all over the world with some very simple guides (link #1, link #2) out there. Go ahead and give it a try. A big congrats to the coders that are bringing SIP functionality to the PSP.

    1. Re:SIP client for the PSP! by ramul · · Score: 1

      furikup might want to change their product name if they want any success, at a glance it looks vulgar...

  10. Re:Huh? by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 1

    Yes, but I have heard that a new special version for the skype services will be coming out. This PSP will sport an new shape, roughly that of a half-circle.
    .
    ..
    ...
    Yo quiero Taco-PSP. *runs*

    --
    Demented But Determined.
  11. Re:Huh? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

    Sony seems to just call it the PSP. I don't see any "slim and light", it's looks like an ad-hoc name for it.

  12. SIP+linux+Nintendo ds by xtracto · · Score: 1

    Any chance to get a port of a Linux SIP application for the DS??? (can be console based!)

    --
    Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
  13. Re:Huh? by ucblockhead · · Score: 1

    It's called the PSP 2000.

    --
    The cake is a pie
  14. Skyp for PSP?, I want by v4vijayakumar · · Score: 1

    Skype for iPod

  15. umm by toddhunter · · Score: 1

    is that Furikup as in drinking from?

  16. Mylo? by xENoLocO · · Score: 1

    My sony mylo has had this for over a year... what took them so long?

    --
    "The need to build the internet comes from something inside us, something programmed... something we can't resist."
  17. PSP Camera? by blankoboy · · Score: 1
    Will Skype on the PSP work with the Chotto Shot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go!Cam ? Free video calls from your PSP from any wireless hotspot in the world = fantastic.

    Now SONY needs to get Skype onto the PS3 and compatible with their eyetoy accessory. If this comes out you can be those cameras will start selling like hotcakes. It will make the PS3 video communication device bringing Skype to the casual (non-PC/Mac) users....ie: my mother.

  18. For PSP's but what about Linux by Wowsers · · Score: 1

    How about a DECENT Skype application for Linux (and a 64 bit version at that). Surely PSP's have an even lower usage rate then Linux, and yet Linux gets a pretty crapified feature-less 32 bit version compared to the Windows one.

    --
    Take Nobody's Word For It.
  19. How about just a sip client? by Trauma_Hound1 · · Score: 1

    Really, sip client would do me better, since I already have a voip service, that allows me to bring my own devices. I have x-lite on all my machines at home and my work machine. I can receive phone calls where ever I am.

    --
    Don't Vote for Norm Dicks! http://www.nodicks2008.com Another nutless dirtbag that voted for the FISA bill!
  20. Skype is proprietary software by tepples · · Score: 1

    Do we have an idea for what kind of hardware you need for Skype on a hand-held device? Skype is proprietary software with a secret protocol. This means either you'll need a CPU of an architecture that already has Skype (that is, x86), or you'll need 10 times the CPU you think you need to run an emulator. SIP telephony, on the other hand, is already on PC, DS, and now PSP.
  21. GP2X in what store, and with what games? by tepples · · Score: 1

    Want games, how about a GP2X? Where are the commercial games for the GP2X, other than an M-rated gangster simulator? And if a child who attends a U.S. high school asks for a GP2X as a gift, or saves up to buy a GP2X, where can a parent who is afraid to shop online purchase the product?
  22. Re:Sony needs to put skype on the PS3 by xouumalperxe · · Score: 1

    You are aware that you'll have some trouble finding a webcam that can feed that HDTV a high resolution signal, right? (not to mention actually streaming it in real time at a decent frame rate)

  23. Good news at last! by antek9 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think this is good news. I couldn't care less about Skype on the PSP (although better to have the option than not have it), but this means that Sony are on good terms with the team behind Skype and VoIP will eventually be available on the PS3 as well, which is what I have been waiting for since I got the Playstation Eye. It just seems natural, and finally, our video calls to Japan might get through with better quality than now.

    This post might have nothing to do with the parent post, but I'm with him concerning Itoh Misaki (I have to say, Ryoko Shinohara rules big time, though).

    --
    A World in a Grain of Sand / Heaven in a Wild Flower,
    Infinity in the Palm of your Hand / And Eternity in an Hour.