So if you recall, way back at E3 2004
when Sony was showing off the PlayStation Portable for the first time in the US, they were also generating some buzz
with translucent keyboard and
cellphone attachments. Of
course, those never materialized -- but they have in fact finally shown up online, albeit at the USPTO. In two filings
dated November 10, 2004 (and made public in late February 2006 and only three days ago, respectively), a gaggle of Sony
designers submitted applications for both "ornamental design[s]" for a keyboard and phone add-on for the PSP
-- and trust us, the patent filings couldn't have been much less verbose. So will we ever see these things get
manufactured and released? Eh, even though Sony's launched some
unexpected PSP
accessories recently, we'd assume the phone attachment won't ever take off. However, Izumi Kawanishi has made it no
secret that
he wants
email on the PSP, and a keyboard would be quite a nicety if that's in the cards.
[Thanks, Ed C]
Read - keyboardRead - cellphone
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
.ed @ Mar 24th 2006 9:23AM
anything to make it more bulky.
i say we never see them.
jim @ Mar 20th 2008 3:09PM
i work for a game store in Arizona and i received a call today which is 3-19-08 and the woman on the line told me her son would call ffrom his psp but could not talk it was bought on St. Pattys day so folks it looks like it is allready here in the states. your psp is now a phone
downtownfb @ Mar 24th 2006 9:29AM
Seems like it might be difficult to use the device if the keyboard attaches to the top of the PSP, since that's where that 'accessory interface' is. Seens counterintuitive to have the screen below the keyboard...
Tony M @ Mar 24th 2006 9:30AM
Sweet!
But i agree, a little bulky
PodMonkeys @ Mar 24th 2006 9:37AM
How are you supposed to easily use it when its above the screen? Its too bad Logitech doesn't have one that integrates into a PGP that folds downwards.
DJ @ Mar 24th 2006 9:38AM
Wow, an eight pound cellphone. Gotta get one of them.....
Jamesology @ Mar 24th 2006 9:38AM
I LOVE my PSP but honestly I don't care about a phone attachment, I already have a RAZR like most ppl do and its thin and small. The keyboard is pretty pointless to me too, I don't wanna type unless I have too and that occurs very rarely. I don't mind the old method of typing; it just needs some getting use to just like my cellphone for text. But I guess more the merrier.
Dam these portable gaming things have too much to carry. PSP with it's new add-ons coming out, Gameboy with it's add-ons to make it do different things :Play-Yan and an adaptor to use headphones by which you are already carrying too. Then their games.
The only add-on I want for my PSP is "PDF" support. That would be awsome. Since it alreayd does a lot of things I need it to do, having PDF support would make ita perfect system.
BK @ Mar 24th 2006 9:44AM
umm...how is one going to type while holding the PSP??
TZK @ Mar 24th 2006 9:45AM
Great, useless top mounted accessories. How about PSP version 2 with a TOUCH SCREEN so you can eliminate half of these half-assed accessories. Toss in the cam and you are all set.
cast42 @ Mar 24th 2006 10:05AM
email is already on the PSP. Just fire up the PSP browser to e.g. m.gmail.com and of you go if you are in a wireless LAN. A keyboard could be an essential addon anyway.
Kamalot @ Mar 24th 2006 10:42AM
Sony spends a lot of time, money and effort trying to make the PSP into every device in the world, other than a kick-ass game machine.
Please, please please Sony. Give me a reason to fish my PSP out of the closet. A janky keyboard and cell phone aren't going to do it. I already have a Treo, a device with a kick-ass keyboard, cell phone, web browser, email client, movie player, RSS news reader and more. What I wanted when I got the PSP was a GAME system, something you are determined not to give me. Spend your time courting developers to build compelling new games for the PSP.
Loban @ Mar 24th 2006 10:44AM
"How about PSP version 2 with a TOUCH SCREEN..."
I think this is pretty much guaranteed as the DS is trouncing the PSP (worldwide)pretty much due to this feature alone.
weatherman @ Mar 24th 2006 11:04AM
A keyboard would be great, and if properly designed as a thumb-board it could actually work.
As to the question of bulk:
Nintendo DS: 22.01 cubic inches
Sony PSP: 17.52 cubic inches
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/27/doing-the-math-on-ds-lite/
'nuf said.
.ed @ Mar 24th 2006 11:12AM
upon further research, these filings were made specifically to protect the nonworking conceptual designs that were displayed at shows like E3. so sony could sue/make money if anyone went forward with thier idea.
i know when i saw them the first words uttered were "...impossible..." but they do /look/ neat...
but they are laughable at this point, and ass backwards from a working design perspective.
SpeedBrkr @ Mar 24th 2006 11:15AM
You should compare the PSP to the latest DS iteration to be fair.
Nintendo DS Lite: 12.96 cubic inches
Sony PSP: 17.52 cubic inches
.ed @ Mar 24th 2006 11:15AM
Nintendo DS: 22.01 cubic inches
Sony PSP: 17.52 cubic inches
DS lite: 12.96 cubic inches
weatherman @ Mar 24th 2006 11:16AM
Number of games (as of today) for each system:
DS: 93
PSP: 101
Number of games rated at or above metacritic score of 70:
DS: 45
PSP: 58
Seriously, it's time to stop reflexively bashing the PSP.
Wry Cooter @ Mar 24th 2006 11:43AM
All I need to do now is learn to type and read upside down.
.ed @ Mar 24th 2006 11:46AM
weatherman, your numbers are for US titles only, and unfortunately, they have no bearing on which system people prefer, or in your case /should prefer/.
if anyone is "reflexively bashing" any system, it's you.
the DS still outsells the PSP weekly by 2 to 3 times worldwide, and people own 3 to 4 times the number of titles on DS than PSP. these are well known and overly documented facts. so despite metacritic's averages, people simply prefer the system that you don't.
just deal with that and move on, don't say people are "reflexively bashing" a system by prefering it 3 to 1.
flame on.
Kamalot @ Mar 24th 2006 11:47AM
Nobody is questioning the averags score of games. Most of theose games that are highly rated are games people already have on their home system. Why would I get Burnout / Prince of Persia / GTA for the PSP when I can get a better Burnout / Prince of Persia / GTA for my home system? Home system has better controls, better sound, better resolution, better graphics for what is esentially the same game.
The DS offers unique games that you can't get anywhere else or games that are the best in their class. PSP offers rehashes of games that are better elsewhere.
Until they show up with some killer apps, thay are always going to be relegated to, "this was better on the PS2" status.
Sony needs to spend time / effort / money courting developers to build COMPELLING new games for the PSP.
c.Lake @ Mar 24th 2006 11:57AM
@ Weatherman - #14
I think you forgot to mention in your mathematical analogy the number of GOOD games that are actually fun, new, and different. Ones that aren't PS2 ports.
Nobody's bashing the PSP -- Sony is doing that all on their own.
KW @ Mar 24th 2006 12:27PM
Sounds great, but enough of the proprietary crap. Make it support ISO9660 and I'll buy it all!
BLACKOUT @ Mar 24th 2006 1:12PM
*whoooo* another reason to want a second psp.
another add on of the proposed f/w 3.00?
want the latest news for psp?
go to http://www.pspmod.com/forums/index.php
Mike @ Mar 24th 2006 1:27PM
#20
Good posting Geezer!
Kamalot @ Mar 24th 2006 1:32PM
"Do you really understand what you are writing or you just like pressing keys on your keyboard"
Even if someone is wrong, you don't need to be rude about it.
PSP Owner @ Mar 24th 2006 1:48PM
A cellphone? You got to be kidding me, please just put Skype on the thing and be done with it. No hardware needed. They already have a headset/microphone for the PSP, so why not Skype? Its so simple it almost makes me hate Sony even more.
Sean @ Mar 24th 2006 2:26PM
How can you patent a keyboard anyway? Aren't keyboards for computing devices a general phenomenon? Even detachable keyboards for portable devices such as PDA would suffice for prior art. What makes the fact that it attaches to a PSP so innovative that it deserves a patent? Frivolous patents are one of my biggest pet peeves.
Tim @ Mar 24th 2006 3:31PM
Is it just me, or is the PSP's input method a pain in the crotch? I hope this keyboard is all that it's meant to be.
And about the cellphone accessory...please spare the sidetalking jokes... ;)
mike @ Mar 24th 2006 3:39PM
Nintendo DS: 22.01 cubic inches
Sony PSP: 17.52 cubic inches
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/27/doing-the-math-on-ds-lite/
'nuf said.
------------
Um, the DS sold 150,000 units last week in JP.. there is much more to be said on this.. Sony is taking it up the ass (oh they sold 30,000 units)
Now.. you DO know the DS was redesigned right?
Seriously, who are these masochists still trying to keep the PSP alive? Get a DS already... holding out for Zelda?
Idrissa @ Mar 24th 2006 3:44PM
Man sony is just wasting their time, If I was them I would probably make the PSP 2 buy end of 2007 and make it a touch screen with camera on the back.
Mike @ Mar 24th 2006 4:38PM
#26.
Geezer, you shouldn't apologize. You've made the most coherent arguement in this thread.
Cheers!
Griff @ Mar 24th 2006 8:15PM
Bravo Geezer, Bravo.
JazzyJeff @ Mar 24th 2006 10:34PM
Y'all are forgetting that the keyboard and cellphone attachments are concepts and probably wont be produced in the first place. Voice-activated text entry will probably be incorporated into the VOIP circuitry on the new PSP. It's also possible that this new PSP will see the coming of the PDA-like functions in the new firmware version 3.
Optimus Mind @ Mar 24th 2006 11:16PM
JazzyJeff: What kind of wild-eyed speculation is this? Jrff, you are speaking fantasy and dreams. Wake up.
mattie @ Mar 25th 2006 2:05AM
i gotta say... i live in nyc and for all the talk of how much the DS is outsellign the PSP i've never actualyl seen a DS. i've probably seen about 30 to 40 PSPs either at work or when i'm out i with friends. i'm not saying one is better then the other... i do have a PSP but i rarely use it.. i'm just not tha tmuch into games anymore. any useful keyboard with be great for me because i'd love to use it as a web browser when i'm sitting on my couch, but the small amout of memory and lack of keyboard make it completely useless for me.
rico @ Mar 25th 2006 3:31AM
it's a little awkward with the keyboard on top.although it could be possible if a firmware could invert the internet browser when connecting to the internet.forceing the bottom to become the top and vice versa,thus placeing the keyboard in the more comfortable position.
Jamesology @ Mar 25th 2006 7:08AM
who cares about what DS fanboys say, they just bitching b/c they can't afford both of them... I have both of them and ove them both. Why not get a better job or tell your mommy not to be so poor.
Sony is new in the field and so is Microsoft, but they are doing very well. Is Nintendo fans scared that they might end up like Sega? Is that why you Nintendo fans are always bitching?
Well at least they didnt mention anything about my country Japan again. I hate it when they try to represent sales in Japan when they are NOT from here anyways. WTF is up with that?
ompa @ Mar 25th 2006 8:04PM
Stop comparing the PSP and the DS. They have different target audiences. Wow some of you guys are hard-core fanboys.
Go Geezer. You really HAVE made one of the only decent arguements.
Om3ga @ Mar 25th 2006 8:15PM
I believe VOIP was one of the upcoming features shown for psp at the psp meeting... so i guess cell phone functionality is not that far off.
ALso I don't know why every psp or ds segment has to turn into a ds vs psp contest, Ds and psp are in vastly different markets. so what if the ds is outselling the psp? does that mean the psp is failing? no it still selling at about #3 worldwide behind the ps2 and the DS, shipped about 15million units (money in sonys pockets) worldwide, and has done better than and other handheld competitor to date. i'm not saying people should start praising psp or anything. but at least stop comparing it to the ds. we know you love your ds, so go play it instead of wasting your time blogging about how much the psp is a useless piece of junk.
LeeForget @ Mar 25th 2006 8:19PM
I think that if that keyboard is released that in fm 3.0 that they will have a option to completly flip the screen when the keyboard is plugged in, or by a selection in the options. Tha tis the only possible way i could see this keyboard even closely being useable...
Chris @ Mar 25th 2006 11:15PM
Cello. Why doesn't somebody just release there keyboard hack already? You know it's out there. A friend of mine can hook up his keyboard to his- don't worry, it's miniature, but is having a hard time writing a program. Somebody, by now, has to have one working with theirs. Jeez, just tell us already.
micks @ Mar 26th 2006 4:21AM
the keyboard doesnt make sense... unless u inverted the psp, but the keys would have to be turned too. As it is your hands cover the screen when u type.
"I already have a RAZR like most ppl do" - dude, not everybody is a CHAV... do you have it in the magenta colour?
Kristofer Speer @ Mar 29th 2006 3:59AM
OK, here's the problem. This thread has been going on the assumption, the FOOLISH assumption that the keyboard WILL be mounted on top. That image was a mock up for E3. I recently have seen photos and it plugs into the top yes but its mounted so it folds down and when its up it protects the screen. JEEZ, I can't believe people are that gullable, amazing. As far as the argument of PSP VS DS. I've played both. People who say there are no unique games for one OR the other are not paying attention. Luminous, Megaman x (The revamp is freaking amazing), some of the sports and racing games, mercury, the prince of persia game isn't a remake of one of the console ones. There is a vast list, I'm sure there is for the DS as well. Here's the thing, after playing both I've come to the conclusion that the PSP trumps the DS as far as system power and versatility. This thing can actually compete with the xbox ps2 generation of consoles. No games yet have utalized it fully clocked. They run more at 50% of the systems potential. LOOK IT UP, seriously look it up, do a better job then you guys did with the keyboard...Gullable... the DS was outdated before it was ever released, however I'm sure its fun to play and I won't begrudge someone for getting one.
Optimus Mind @ Mar 31st 2006 4:22PM
kristofer: I don't know who paid for your education, but they were ripped off.
Just because the PSP is powerful does not make it fun.
And as for the 'foolish assumption' that the keyboard will be mounted on top, that's because it will be, according to the patent (above) and actual photos of the device (http://www.hizone.info/data/2004/05/13/images/sony-psp-keyboard.jpg).
Richard @ Apr 2nd 2006 1:09PM
Just to annoy people and to settle this i have both a PSP and DS and can safely say that the PSP sits on its own collecting dust unless i need to take ages unreliably surfing the net on it.. my DS however, is the funnest piece of handheld hardware i've ever owned.
I just think that the PSP is trying to be a home console as a handheld, but it doesnt work, because the games dont do anything to warrent being handheld. The DS however relies on the fact its small and handheld, because it does something that needs it - a touchscreen wouldnt work on a home console.
There we go now you can all have a go cos i turned it even more into a DS vs PSP topic
Chris K @ Apr 4th 2006 4:36AM
@ #45+46
There are lots of asumptions on the web, but there are pics of both the one on the top and one that folds down and acts as a screen cover... here is a pic of the one that fold down:
http://www.journaldugeek.com/blog/images/2005_s2/logic3_pspkeyboard.jpg
and as Optimus Mind said, here is a link to the one for the top:
http://www.hizone.info/data/2004/05/13/images/sony-psp-keyboard.jpg
Chris K @ Apr 4th 2006 4:43AM
And WTF this is a thread about psp keyboards, if you want to compare PSP to DS, then go to the PSP Vs DS thread...http://www.engadget.com/2004/12/08/psp-vs-ds/
Lee @ Apr 8th 2006 12:39PM
wel maby the keybord wil have upside down keys and when u plug it in the screen flips and so u use it the other way up
metal @ May 7th 2007 6:12PM
look guys not all of us have a kick as 3 in one mabile/keyboard and entertainment system and tbh the more you can do with a machine the better... it already has a nice processor and web browser +people are starting to add MSN onto it so all it needs is a nice keyboard that fits under the screen... yes i said under!!
the psp is great if you just want to play games but before you go saying you have something else thats better for browsing the web think of the others who dont!
not all of us are rich enough to have some things so a nice addon for our psp would be just the thing we need, saves me spending £$£$£$£$ on another item to check my emails or brows the web when im away from my PC.
im sure alot of people would love a keyboard for there psp so sony get it sorted!! and for those who dont then just dont buy it ;-)
syklops @ Jun 14th 2007 9:56AM
Personally I love my PSP.
However, I have only found 2 games which are actually best played on the PSP. One is Tony hawk. Playing that on a PC without a game pad sucks. On a PSP the control are all nice and close together and my game play improved no-end. Why don't sony take advantage and make previous tony hawk games available on the PSP. The N-gage had a Tony Hawk port which rocked, though I cant remember which one(possibly 4?) which is not available for the PSP. The only other game which is good is Wipeout, again because the controls were in the right places.
I have tried Medal of Honour(which made me feel like I was drunk when playing with the slow reaction times). Marvel Alliance just got boring once you got over the excitement of playing as spidey. TMNT, Ghost rider, and other movie spin offs were the same.
What I love about the PSP are the extra apps, most of them homebrew's. It has a decent book reader, which even reads PDF's. I can even have an SSH client for accessing the servers in work while I am in the pub. The SSH client comes with a really nifty onscreen keyboard which uses the analogue stick to move around which after some practise make typing pretty fast. Add to that the internet/music/movie/photo capabilities, you have almost a laptop stand-in(not replacement). Almost.