Homebrew typing application for PSP pops up

Ever since the PSP launched, people have proclaimed to be waiting for a certain "something" that would kick its nearest rival off its pedestal, dig it a grave, and then nail it into its coffin, all in one fell swoop. We're guessing that a keyboard attachment isn't the combo move that the fanboys have been waiting for, despite the abandoned efforts of Logic, and the new, successful efforts of a coder called Moneytoo, who created a homebrew application that lets you hook up a Palm Universal Wireless keyboard to your PSP so that you can write simple text files. Nevermind that it won't help with typing in crazy long SSIDs, WEP keys, or URLs, it's still a rather impressive coding job, not least in the context of Sony's repeated efforts to prevent people from running unsigned code on their little portables and Logic's consequent failure to produce a PSP keyboard peripheral. The fact that Moneytoo made it possible to use a 3rd party peripheral which can be picked up on eBay for around $50 was a nice touch too, but considering that there's currently no ability to save, or even open text files using the homebrew app, we'd recommend you hold onto your regular homework machine for a little bit longer. That beta tag doesn't mean "better."

[Brad @ Jan 20th 2007 4:22PM]

sick

[Matt @ Jan 20th 2007 4:50PM]

Where's the sink?

[Harry Bawls @ Jan 20th 2007 4:53PM]

Sony sucks. Nintendo DS is a million times better. The PSP design is obviously a Nintendo ripoff. Nintendo 4 lyfe.

[NiGhTmArE @ Jan 20th 2007 5:38PM]

Everyone give the fanboy a cookie!

That's what you wanted, right, Harry?

[riggs @ Jan 20th 2007 11:15PM]

i hate using the word "fanboy", but you my friend fit the description to a T.

[Lethal dose @ Jan 20th 2007 11:59PM]

PSP is by far a superior machine to the DS
The rest is just a matter of opinion.
The only prob with the PSP is its potencial isnt beying taken advantage off. Most part by the posture taken by Sony.

[James Smith @ Jan 20th 2007 7:38PM]

Me personally I consider myself a Nintendo fanboy, but I definitely believe if Sony released a keyboard and other peripherals for the PSP it would have definitely set it apart from the DS and might have helped sales a bit. Maybe even a cellular modem might have been cool too.

[David @ Jan 20th 2007 9:59PM]

Wow, this is so fricking old. I had support for TWO ir keyboards in PSPVNC back when I still was writing software for PSP (This keyboard and another).

[Zachary Stiles @ Jan 21st 2007 6:44AM]

Hah. *snorts*
Yeah guys, the PSP is toatally superior. I'll tell you, I've had times on my DS well away from any source of electricity, where a PSP battery would'ave choked and died on me long before I got home to charge it again. Also, bearing in mind a PSP does charge more often, batteries will wear and tear faster. (My DS needs charging like once a week, if that.)
On the other hand, you could take the both of them, and drop them four inches on to carpet, guess what. 50/50 shot someting goes terribly wrong with the PSP, that's what moving parts on a portable get you. My DS has been dropped plenty of times, on the other hand, usually from standing height, and has no more than 2 nicks. It still works fine.
I'm not saying both systems don't have their advantages and disadvantages, and I'm damn well a PC gamer, not a Ninty fanboy, but my point is it sounds ignorant to just say the PSP is altogether superior.

[Jamar @ Jan 21st 2007 9:12AM]

"On the other hand, you could take the both of them, and drop them four inches on to carpet, guess what."
Yep- the hinge on my DS broke off. On the other hand, nothing of the sort has happened to my PSP. I still like my DS better, though- if the PSP broke repairs wouldn't be as easy as supergluing the hinge back on.

[Tomer @ Jan 21st 2007 7:21AM]

Ive gotta say, without homebrew, the psp sucks. The ds is tons better. But with homebrew, the PSP is just amazing how many different things you can do with it that the ds cannot compete. The ds is still great fun, but with so many consoles emulated on the PSP, theres no competition in my eyes.

[DaMunky89 @ Jan 21st 2007 10:48AM]

Oh, yeah that's my one gripe on DS durability; My hinge wiggles just a little to the left and right if I poke at it. It's not a real problem, but worries me a little nonetheless. >>;;
The PSP isn't so self destructing as the Ninty-uuberphanboys would have you believe, but you've certainly got to take better care of it. There's a group of idiot freshmen on my bus who pass one around, and I wince every time I see them with it. -__- The UMD drive dosn't even work, they broke that first. *sigh*

Tomer, I agree about the homebrew. I currently have no interest in the PSP b/c I can't get my mitts on any of that good homebrew stuff, having anti-videogame-nazi parents who won't let me buy anything online.. but as soon as I'm on my own in a few years, I'll probably pick one up.
-Munky

[Volsfan91 @ Jan 21st 2007 3:54PM]

I personally own a PSP just for the homebrew capabilities. This thing is a mad emulation machine, especially since it now runs PS1 games fullspeed. BTW, the article mentioned that you can't open a .txt file on a PSP. However, this isn't true- the homebrew "bookr" reads .PDF and .TXT files flawlessly.

This is great app and an awesome first step. Why Sony continues to deny the PSP, I do not know. It drives me mad- even the PS2 continues to get more support from Sony. The US still hasn't seen any colors of the PSP besides the launch black, while other countries have 7 colors to choose from.

Just one example of why Sony drives me mad. (And BTW, I have consoles from all 3 companies in my house, and I don't really care for any of the 3 gaming co's.)

[pspuser1 @ Jan 22nd 2007 9:09PM]

With the application of a docs.google.com (or Googledocs/spreadsheets), wouldn't you be able to (however limited it may be) save a file to an outside server for private use?

>>>> see now everyones happy, no need for using a whole Pro Duo up with apps and .txt files