E3 2007: Sony announces PSP hardware “refresh” [Update]

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We do have some news coming out of Sony’s press conference, even though our team can’t quite update: Sony has announced the PSP is getting a hardware “refresh.” What does this mean? The system will be 33% lighter, 19% slimmer, and will feature a better battery life and faster loading times.

In addition, the system will be able to output to a TV! This means your pictures, videos, and games will all be playable on a big screen if you so choose. It’ll support A/V, S-Video, D-terminal video, and component cables.

Sony will be releasing a $199.99 “entertainment pack,” featuring the redesigned PSP in white, Daxter, Family Guy: Freakin’ Sweet Collection, and a 1GB memory stick. There will also be a Star Wars entertainment pack (which I will buy), featuring Battlefront: Renegade Squadron (I’m assuming in lieu of Daxter) for $199.99, starting in October.

[Update: Press release after the jump, with more details, and the addition of what type of output the PSP redesign will support. Also, images from PlayStation.Blog!]

PSP(R)(Playstation(R)Portable) Becomes Slimmer and Lighter

  New PSP Makes Its Debut To The Market Worldwide In September With Newly
                          Equipped Video-Out Port

   TOKYO, July 11 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)
today unveiled an enhanced design for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system
(PSP-2000) that has a more streamlined form factor and a video-out port which
will become available in stores from September in Japan, North America and
Europe.
   (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO)
   While succeeding the basic functions and design philosophy of the current
PSP including a 4.3 inch wide high resolution LCD screen, overwhelmingly large
for a handheld device, new PSP is 33 percent lighter and 19 percent slimmer
than the original version, making the all-in-one handheld entertainment system
even easier to carry around at approx.189g in weight (weight of current model
is approx.280g) and approx.18.6mm in thickness (thickness of current model is
approx.23.0 mm).
   Adding a video-out port(*1) enables new PSP users to experience high
quality UMD(TM) (Universal Media Disc) Video, pictures and movies from Memory
Stick Duo and game software titles(*2) on their TVs at home.  Also, new PSP is
equipped with enhanced feature to temporarily store game data from UMD,
reducing load time during game play(*3).  Moreover, the ability to charge the
unit through PLAYSTATION(R)3 or PC via USB cable during data transfer is newly
equipped(*4), further positioning PSP as a true handheld device.
   A new PSP comes in three basic colors of “Piano Black”, “Ceramic White”,
and “Ice Silver” to meet a variety of lifestyle and preferences for all
ages(*5).
   During the two and a half years since the launch of PSP in December, 2004
strong support from users worldwide as well as an abundance of exciting
software titles from publishers around the world have resulted in PSP
achieving cumulative shipment of 25 million units for the hardware and 100
million units for software titles worldwide by March, 2007.  The expansion of
the PSP platform is being boosted worldwide along with its exciting lineup of
software titles as well as the introduction of color variations.
   SCEI will continue to further expand the PSP platform and create a new
world of computer entertainment with innovative and exciting new titles and a
new PSP.

   (*1) Video output cables (AV cable/S VIDEO cable/D Terminal AV
        cable/Component AV cable) are sold separately.  Product lineup may
        differ by country/region.
   (*2) Progressive TV and PSP specific cable (D Terminal AV cable or
        Component AV cable) are necessary to output game software titles for
        PSP.
   (*3) Effect of this feature varies depending on software titles.
   (*4) PSP needs to be put in “USB Connection” mode.
   (*5) Color variations may differ by country/region.

   PSP(R)(PlayStation(R) Portable) (PSP-2000) Product Overview

   Product Name          PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
   External              Approx. 169.4 x 18.6 x 71.4 mm / 6 3/4
   dimensions            x 3/4 x 2 3/4 in (width × height ×
                         depth) (excludes largest projection)
   Weight                Approx. 189g / 6.7 oz (including
                         battery pack)
   CPU                   PSP CPU (System clock frequency
                         1-333MHz)
   Main Memory           64MB
   Display               4.3 inches (16:9) full-transparent
                         type, TFT drive,
                         480 x 272 pixel, Approximately
                         16,770,000 colors displayed
   Sound                 Built-in stereo speakers
   Main                  Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b)(Wi-Fi)
   Input/Output          High Speed USB (USB2.0) (mini-B)
                         Memory Stick PRO Duo(TM)
                         Analog Video Out
   Main Connectors       DC In 5V connector
                         DC Out connector
                         video out/headset connector
                         USB connector
                         Memory Stick Duo(TM) slot
   Key/Switches          Directional buttons
                         (up/down/right/left), analog stick,
                         Action buttons (triangle, circle,
                         cross, square), L/R buttons
                         START button, SELECT button, HOME
                         button
                         POWER/HOLD switch, WLAN switch
                         display button, sound button, volume
                         (+/-) buttons
   Power sources         Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery pack
                         AC adaptor
                         USB power supply
   Internal disc         Read-only UMD(TM) drive
   drive
   Supported             PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable)@Game
   profile               UMD(TM) Video
   Access Control        Region code, parental control
   Wireless              Infrastructure mode
   Communications        Ad hoc mode (connects up to 16
                         consoles)
   Supplied              AC adaptor
   Accessories           Battery pack (1200mAh)

   Supported codec (in Memory Stick)

   Video         —  Memory Stick Video Format
                     – MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC LC)
                     – H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC LC)
                 —  MP4 File Format
                     – MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC LC)
                     – H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile — CABAC only —
                         (AAC LC) / Baseline Profile (AAC LC)
                 —  AVI
                     – Mmotion JPEG (Linear PCM or μ-Lau)
   Music         —  Memory Stick Audio Format
                     – ATRAC3(TM)
                     – ATRAC3plus(TM)
                     – MP3
                 —  MP3(MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer3)
                 —  MP4(MPEG-4 AAC)
                 —  WAVE(Linear PCM)
                 —  WMA(Windows Media(R) Audio 9 Standard only) (*6)
   Photo         —  JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21 compliant)
                 —  TIFF
                 —  BMP
                 —  GIF
                 —  PNG

   (*6) WMA Playback feature needs to be enabled.

   PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) (PSP-2000) Color Variations

   Product Name          PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
   Color Name            Piano Black
   Product Code          PSP-2000 PB

   Product Name          PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
   Color Name            Ceramic White
   Product Code          PSP-2000 CW

   Product Name          PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable)
   Color Name            Ice Silver
   Product Code          PSP-2000 IS

   PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) Peripherals for PSP-2000 only (sold
   separately)

   Product Name    Battery Pack
   Product Code    PSP-S110 / PSP-S110 U / PSP-S110 E / PSP-S110 G
   Specifications  External dimensions: Approx. 36 x 10 x 57mm
                   (1 1/2 × 3/8 × 2 1/4 in)
                   Weight: Approx. 30g (1.06 oz)
                   Battery type: Lithium-ion rechargeable
                   battery
                   Voltage/Capacity: DC 3.6V/1200mAh

   Product Name    Headphones with Remote Control
   Product Code    PSP-S140 / PSP-S140 U / PSP-S140 G
   Specifications  Remote functions: PLAY, PAUSE, FF, FR, VOLUME(+/-), HOLD
                   Headphones: Inner-Ear Headphones

   Product Name    AV cable
   Product Code    PSP-S150 / PSP-S150 U / PSP-S150 E
   Specifications  Composite cable
                   Cable length: Approx. 2.5m

   Product Name    S VIDEO cable
   Product Code    PSP-S160 / PSP-S160 U
   Specifications  Cable length: Approx. 2.5m

   Product Name    D Terminal AV cable
   Product Code    PSP-S170
   Specifications  For Japanese market only
                   Cable length: Approx. 2.5m

   Product Name    Component AV cable
   Product Code    PSP-S180 / PSP-S180 U / PSP-S180 E

   Specifications  Cable length: Approx. 2.5m

   Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

   About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
   Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the
progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the
PlayStation(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment
system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system and
the PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(R)) system.  PlayStation has revolutionized home
entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2
further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked
entertainment.  PSP is a new handheld entertainment system that allows users
to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity
stereo audio.  PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the
state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power.  SCEI, along
with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony
Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc.
develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third
party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets
worldwide.  Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is
an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

   PlayStation, PLAYSTATION, PS3 and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc.
   Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus are
trademarks of Sony Corporation.
   Windows Media is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
   All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE  Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
   -0-                             07/11/2007
   /CONTACT:  Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Corporate Communications,
03-6438-8686/
   /First Call Analyst: /
   /FCMN Contact: /
   /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO
            AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
            PRN Photo Desk [email protected]/
   /Web site:  http://www.playstation.com /


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