+Geo-Kate Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) Being a bit of a gadget freak (much to the annoyance of the 'Kate' part of 'Geo-Kate'!), and I'm sure some of you on here are too, Sony's plan to release a GPS module on the PSP comes as great news to me! Since getting a PSP last year, I have been wondering why on earth Sony has't done something like it already. It seems such an obvious marriage. The PSP has far greater processor power and memory than any GPS unit I can think of. great for fast route calculation and map drawing. The UMD discs the machine uses store up to 1.8GB of data, so think of the quality of maps that could be installed. It has an extremely good rechargable battery life, and a lovely large clear display! possibly the memory stick could be used for saving waypoints, tracks, routes or even cache details. I don't know when the module will be available, nor do I know what kind or maps will be availiabe. I'm thinking they will just be road maps, at least to start off with. This is one accessory I will be watching closely over the coming months... Edited March 30, 2006 by Geo-Kate Quote Link to comment
+third-degree-witch Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Ohhhhhh that sounds intresting..have a psp im already bored of so will keep hold of it and see what this is all about Quote Link to comment
Lavareef Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) This is one accessory I will be watching closely over the coming months... Me too, me too. The only thing that concerns me is Sony's attitude to homebrew (i.e. coded by someone other than Sony) software. I understand their position, which stems partly from the fact that the PSP is not designed for this sort of thing, and partly because it enabled software piracy, but the simple fact is that if it's not Sony-made, then Sony will actively try and stop it working on the PSP. This relates to the GPS because ultimately, what form the "GPS Software" will take is up to them. If they decide to release an in-car navigation suite for North America and nothing else, then it's tough tits for us in Europe. If they decide it's not worth the money to release software suitable for hiking/geocaching, well then it's tough again, and unlike with a pocket PC, nobody else is able to step up and release for free what Sony is unwilling to release commercially. So, yes, I'm very interested in this too, and will be watching it, but I'm not holding my breath for anything other than in-car satnav. Edited March 30, 2006 by Lavareef Quote Link to comment
Da Rubber Chicken Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Hey i also have a psp and this gps on it sounds wicked...... I was wondering do you think you can get GSAK on it? Quote Link to comment
+Geo-Kate Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 This is one accessory I will be watching closely over the coming months... This relates to the GPS because ultimately, what form the "GPS Software" will take is up to them. If they decide to release an in-car navigation suite for North America and nothing else, then it's tough tits for us in Europe. If they decide it's not worth the money to release software suitable for hiking/geocaching, well then it's tough again, and unlike with a pocket PC, nobody else is able to step up and release for free what Sony is unwilling to release commercially. So, yes, I'm very interested in this too, and will be watching it, but I'm not holding my breath for anything other than in-car satnav. I fear you may be right on that one, I dont expect sony to release OS style mapping any time soon if at all. Even with road mapping it will be a good tool. Quote Link to comment
davester Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Considering that Sony can't sell the things for love nor money I guess this will a way to pick up a really cheap GPS by the end of the year. Quote Link to comment
+Birders Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Er... what's a PSP please????? Quote Link to comment
+The HERB5 Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Er... what's a PSP please????? Programmeable Simply Paul. Quote Link to comment
+Geo-Kate Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Er... what's a PSP please????? Programmeable Simply Paul. No, it stands for PlayStaion Portable, Sony's handheld gaming/media device. Quote Link to comment
rynd Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) I looked at the PSP when they first came out but I just couldn't stomach having to buy and re-buy media in another format. Especially one that is completely proprietary. Edit: Spelling Edited March 30, 2006 by rynd Quote Link to comment
+CrazyDruid + Redhead Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 I love my PSP I use it a lot if I am out and about, lol you just got to find the WiFi hot spots Lighter than the Laptop.... Surfing on it is really good, I was on here yesterday and I was sitting in the car while my Mrs was shopping Quote Link to comment
+McDeHack Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) Apart from playing just a few games on my PSP version 2.5 I have found a way that I can read ebooks. I can have a good background colour and whatever text format. It is much better than reading on my Ipaq. As for the GPS, I wait in eager anticipation. I would like to be able to install OS maps onto the card. I know Sony might not include this in their plans but the home brew for the PSP is very open on most versions now. Edited March 30, 2006 by McDeHack Quote Link to comment
+McDeHack Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 I have searched the PSP sites, but I cannot find any referance to this GPS for the PSP. Any links please? Quote Link to comment
+sTeamTraen Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Sony had an ad on the radio here in France this morning, for their in-car navigation system. Apparently it can find your way to the nearest hotel, garage, or restaurant! Wow! Who'd have thought it possible? Let's face it, Sony just "don't get it" now that the world is 'netted up. They used to make the best electronics products around, and my daughter's Sony MP3 player is beautiful to look at, but they can't do software or support. Even Microsoft is better at both. Quote Link to comment
+Geo-Kate Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 I have searched the PSP sites, but I cannot find any referance to this GPS for the PSP. Any links please? I found the news in the 'news' section of the official PSP website, and found a few results searching for PSPS and GPS in Google. To be honest I am a big fan of their equipment, I have never used a Sony GPS before, or a PC, but I have phones, mp3 players, high end audio equpment, a PDA and surround system, I can't fault any of it! Quote Link to comment
+CrazyDruid + Redhead Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Apart from playing just a few games on my PSP version 2.5 I have found a way that I can read ebooks. I can have a good background colour and whatever text format. It is much better than reading on my Ipaq. As for the GPS, I wait in eager anticipation. I would like to be able to install OS maps onto the card. I know Sony might not include this in their plans but the home brew for the PSP is very open on most versions now. Are you using the paperless printer? I use it to grab the webpages for off line browsing on my PSP Quote Link to comment
+McDeHack Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Apart from playing just a few games on my PSP version 2.5 I have found a way that I can read ebooks. I can have a good background colour and whatever text format. It is much better than reading on my Ipaq. As for the GPS, I wait in eager anticipation. I would like to be able to install OS maps onto the card. I know Sony might not include this in their plans but the home brew for the PSP is very open on most versions now. Are you using the paperless printer? I use it to grab the webpages for off line browsing on my PSP No. I did try that but I found it was not very good. I use 'PSP ebook creator'. You will need a big card as each page is in .jpeg but you can make your own background colour ( I use white and black print and font and font size) The lot goes into the 'photo' folder with another named folder. The downside is that it does not remember what page you were on when you shut down. Quote Link to comment
+McDeHack Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 I found the info on the PSP GPS. Not out untill October. Loads of time to find a 'Homebrew' for OS maps then. I just checked my memory card. One book, 1,000 pages=40 meg Quote Link to comment
+choccymandm Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Slightly OT, but just out of interest, there was talk of making one for the Gameboy Advance. Not sure where it got to though? Company called RedSky are offering one for pre-order here but no release date. Also theres a privateer who, if you fancied getting really techincal you can build your own GPS to GBA sat nav system - GBS GPS back on topic it just gives me another excuse to buy a PSP ... thank-you Kate! Quote Link to comment
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