Posted Jan 07, 2008 at 06:56PM by Ceasar S. Listed in: News, PSP Slim & Lite Tags: Sony, Skype, Nick Sharples
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Skype for PSP Slim & Lite only because of memory limitation - Image 1


We know some of you techies and geeks out there guessed this, but official confirmation just rolled in. Sony's rolling out the red carpet for Skype toward the PSP-2000, a.k.a. the PSP Slim & Lite (or Diet), only because the Slim can handle Skype's memory requirements and the PSP-1000 (PSP Phat) cannot. Sony's Nick Sharples stated:

Although PSP-1000 and PSP-2000 are identical in basic functions, there are differences in hardware specifications to some extent and, for that reason, PSP-2000 may differ in features from PSP-1000. We had studied the possibility of supporting Skype with PSP-1000 but had to give it up because of the smaller size of main memory on PSP-1000 series.


The real difference here isn't so much as with weight as it is with memory. In fact, the PSP Slim & Lite packs double the RAM in megabytes (or mebibytes for the crusading computer geek) than the PSP Phat. And for the developers, 64 MB of RAM is probably much easier to work with for porting a voice communication software for use over WiFi than 32 MB of RAM. More on this as they come in.


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   by Highsight - 2008-01-07
 » Wonderful!

Thank you Sony for maintaining the jackass image we have grown to know and love. :) Backwards compatibility? WTF is that? :D

   by Chivafighter - 2008-01-07
 » Damn

You know, rather than saying that it cant be possible for the PSP phat, tehy should put the same amout of work to find a way to increase the memory of the PSP phat, and it is possible....


   Re: alatnet1 - 2008-01-07
 » It is!

Yep, it is possible with the use of a page file system like windows.
I mean COME FRACKING ON, use the freaking memory stick as ram!

   Re: Mr Toasty - 2008-01-08
 » i thought...

people gave up that idea long ago. Flash memory loses it's capacity slowly, the more it is written to the faster it happens. Using a flash drive for RAM would kill your memory stick in months, maybe less.

Besides, this is such a ridiculous feature. Who's going to carry around their psp to use as a phone, when it only works near an internet connection.

Just get a pay as you go phone. Smaller, better looking and less of a hassle.

   Re: poopidoop2 - 2008-01-12
 » re

couldn't they have a lower quality sound for psp phat, then higher quality for slim
   by Loonix - 2008-01-07
 » Makes you wonder^^

That makes you wonder how Fanjita managed to place a SIP phone on the PSP, regardless of Classic or Slim.


   Re: Justingraziano - 2008-01-07
 » RE:

Because N00bz SIP Phone isn't nearly as nice as this one. Probably there's uses 24MB RAM and this one uses 48MB. Remember, since it's official, it's gonna look nice and have all the stuff that N00bz's doesn't have.

   Re: Korlithiel - 2008-01-07
 » Lacking security

I imagine Fanjita could do it since he didn't need to implement massive security protocols while Sony decided they couldn't live without them.

Probably did it because they felt they couldn't leave the system possibly vulnerable to new exploits that could be fixed in an update since they hold out hope that news of Pandora's Battery will die out on it's own.

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   Re: Loonix - 2008-01-07
 » RE: Justingraziano

of course yiu are right
the current version is a text only 0.1 version.
but when i loojk at applications like PSPradio or IR-shell and at the size of the furikup application there should be a lot room for improvement.
Mot every application needs vista optic ;)

   Re: CamHostage - 2008-01-08
 » Placement

The reason Fanjita can get SIP in and Sony can't is because he's building an application for it and using all application-available RAM, while Sony is trying to build it into XMB and working only with the general system RAM allocation.

They could build an application post-firmware that takes the kernal and makes it a dedicated application (I don't really see it needing that much RAM to do VOIP?) However, it doesn't sound like this is Sony's plan.

In theory, Sony's XMB feature is more functional and useful than a dedicated application because it's right there on the front end always, instead of being an application you have to boot and wait to use. You're around the house listening to music or looking at pictures or watching videos, all of the sudden you get a call on SKYPE and you connect to them right away.

In execution, however, I would much rather Sony have put effort into porting the PlayStation Network friends' list to PSP. VOIP "calls" between PSP and PS3 users would have been (or hopefully will be some day?) awesome, and the PSP needs a friend's list. Even video calls could have been doable (it wouldn't have been nearly as smooth as PS3's cool video chat feature, but the PSP Camera would have made a nice video phone app and the PSP's bandwidth could have handled some lo-res video signal.) Skype, meanwhile, that's cute for those who still feel they need a landline, but most of us live off our cellphones and either have a good plan or could care less about the bill.
   by Charlybob - 2008-01-07
 » Oh that's nice to know

We adopt it early because we think the company are good enough to pull it off, and now we're getting raped for that confidence.

A faster, smaller version I have nothing against, just helps the technology in consoles progress, but now, this messes it all up. Soon, there'll be PSP Slim/Lite only games and stuff, won't take long until it'll become it's own handheld.

Can safely say, I'm not going to be getting the next Sony handheld. At least, not until 3 years after it's launch. Then I might actually get the full system instead of a beta version.

   by Korlithiel - 2008-01-07
 » Sony loves it's consumers

Just as long as they buy all of the latest products they release they will pile on the updates that occasionally contain features worth using.

Oh what's that you say, you could only afford a launch console. And now you feel like your buying from Sega all over again. Gee, maybe it is because Sony is trying to split their market on purpose since Fanjita's latest release (along with all of the PSP titles, such as SOCOM, that support full voice chat while playing an 8 player match) that you feel so ******* over.

Well, you should feel like you bought a Sega console again because they were the last one's to ***** over their consumers so badly before they could no longer afford to **** with consumers like that and pulled out of the hardware game.


   Re: Justingraziano - 2008-01-07
 » NaH

Nah, Sony's to big to pull out of the hardware game. Blu-Ray is beating HD DVD big time and by next year or late this year the PS3 will be far more successful then the Xbox 360 and the PSP will probably be on it's fifth revision but the PS3 will still be keeping Sony in.

   Re: Khjar - 2008-01-11
 » ...

Search up sega and sony on wiki and do some research. They're not that alike.
   by Naroon Kasui - 2008-01-07
 » Stop crying plz.

It's just a simple fact, PSP Phat cant handle skype due to memory limitations. Sony DOES care about everyone, believe me. If they didn't, we'd have to pay for Skype, and everything that the online services offer, and possibly more.


   Re: fourmyfriends - 2008-01-08
 » give it time

It may be free for now, but it's been my experience with the psp that sony does not give you anything you will not have to pay for later, one way or the other
   by hollabackitsobi - 2008-01-07
 » Uh...

This is nice and all, but a homebrew VoIP program for the DS was released months ago. The DS has 4MB of RAM and works with all SIP VoIP clients, so why can't the more capable PSP "Phat"handle it?


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   Re: kratos2000 - 2008-01-07
 » duh :P

Nintendo doesn't try to screw us over. They don't complain about homebrew(atleast not that I know off), and they don't try to control what we own, just like sony is trying to do with each FW.

....AAANNNDDD Nintendo doesn't try to take away as much money from our pockets as sony does.

Slim is just better I find. I bought it b/c my old one 'went to sleep' and I'm happy. Have Hx on it though, no ps1 support grrr.

   Re: tsujinai - 2008-01-07
 » skype and voip is bit different

How to say, we have voip at home and the interface is simple and is just plug to internet and they give a number. skype as some more features to it basically. And about nintendo not screwing us over, you just don't know about it. I remember buying gba because their are gba only games, only to find out after several months they came out with sp with way better graphics, wouldn't say I'm happy about the huge change. If we relate it here, the GBA couldn't beat GBA SP graphics even when the game is the same, it's not even about backward capable, it's about hardware differences. There are things that just can't be done, and there is no way Sony can ask everyone to send in their old phat for a hardware update, they especially can't ask for money on this either. Also they don't expect or support everyone to support homebrew and hack their system at home to make it work (this is what we call high risk or ppl killing their system, low to zero return). But sometimes thats how life is. btw the reason you don't see this in ds and ds lite because hardware are very similar to almost no change to begin with and the programs or homebrew applications are also simple that not much change is needed to make it compatible in the other version.

btw ps1 works just fine on the slim for me kratos.

   Re: CamHostage - 2008-01-08
 » AAANNNDDD... you're wrong.

"Nintendo doesn't try to screw us over. They don't complain about homebrew(atleast not that I know off), and they don't try to control what we own, just like sony is trying to do with each FW. "

Oh, what? Nintendo tries to shut down every company that distributes illegit software as fast as it can, same as everybody. It's just that with DS, it's not a simple firmware patch and so not many people do it and it also doesn't compromise the platform's security very much (running real games on DS homebrew kits is tricky), but with PSP, everybody is just a net connection and a FAQ away from having an open system that can store any PSP game you want (paid for or not) on a relatively cheap and store-bought Memory Stick. Sony has a responsibility to the game manufacturers to seal that up if they can, homebrewers are just collatoral damage in the battle against piracy.

Sony's firmware updates have not been this trojan horse to lock out homebrewers and pirates like some people accuse them of, they have honestly been trying to make the system better with new features (and had plans to do much of this since the platform's announcement.) Problem is, when a work-around to encryption came up, they had to battle step for step trying to lock it up, and that's hurt the homebrew scene in the process.

The cracking of the PSP has been the best thing to happen to the system for many of us, but too many of you people take it for granted. Homebrew used to be tough, we used to solder our machines with components from back-alley chop shops. Our machines broke when we tried to mod a system for imports, and we knew that going in, and we never expected our warranties to cover the potential damage. Now, it's a download and a system refresh, and there are STILL people *****ing that it's not happening fast enough and that the console makers are putting up a fight against it. Sony doesn't owe you an open-application PSP, they never promised you one and they don't benefit one bit from you making use of unlicensed applications. There's a reason they call the good folks who cracked PSP and other systems "hackers" and not "programmers". Homebrew is off-the-grid. Don't get confused, and don't act entitled if you step off the grid and into this other environment. You ain't in Kansas anymore.
   by hunteroo7 - 2008-01-07
 » All it is ...

Man All i got to say is that Sony PSP programmers are a bunch of losers and no good! They just don't wanna take the time to make a software compatible with the PSP Phat cause it is gonna make them make 2 FWs ! and that isn't what they wanna do! There are plenty of ways to make it work for the psp phat... but why have all the trouble? Mark my word! few month after skype is fully functional there will be Other alternatives instead of using the Sony's version! talking about homebrew!

P.S- I have been to japan recently and they have magazines with pictures and everything showing you step by step how to hack your PSP including the slim so you can run homebrew!

Sony's PSP team is just no good at programming thats all!

   by fourmyfriends - 2008-01-08
 » They will milk it for everything it's worth

Don't forget that when DAX pulled 3.8 apart, he found refferences for yet another hardware set. Sony says theres nothing in the works, yet they said that with the slim. They also screwed the Phat's with video output to TV. They could have made it work, but they made it slim only. Now there is new hardware in the works, whats next. I'm sure the next one will have no UMD drive, so no chance of disk exploits (i.e. GTA or Lumines) it will be pandora proof, it will only work through downloaded content. and no they won't put the camera in it, they still want to charge you for that, they are just now even getting ready to release it in the US. Sony will nickle and dime this project. There probably will be no PSP2, they will just keep "upgrading" I guarentee that there will eventually be a slim only game. I do have a feeling the the next psp will however probably steal the motion sensor from the homebrew scene, because if they can sell it, they will milk it

   by JohnnyMcKinney - 2008-01-08
 » Sony suck

All they care about is the money, screw that no program they add onto the Silm will talk me into buying the Slim. If I want to buy one I will buy one when I Damn well please. Which will be after I buy the PS3, which will be never... haha screw you Sony.

   by tsujinai - 2008-01-08
 » to 3 comments above me excluding the advertisement

You all sound pitiful, from the things you say. You make yourself sound really poor and maybe you are. You guys talk right from your own perspective. For all companies, money is main point for them. There are ways to overcome hardware with programming, but there is a limit to that. By making any program to push the limitation, it puts the console at risk of breaking down such as the bricking and such. Since not all people know how to do homebrew, they will ***** up, if it was someone else's program that saids they are not responsible, there is nothing they can do about it. However, think, if sony was the one who posted the how-to or the program which scrapped the console, what will happen then? EVERYONE will throw their console back and force a free repair. HUGE lost. You can take computer for instance, you can't put vista on an old computer that ran 95 or early 98, just can't work without any problems; problems such as 20 minutes to load desktop or even minutes per application. In this case, will you accuse microsoft as well or whichever company you purchased your computer from? This concept is not just about sony either; nintendo's gba to gba sp is also an example of hardware differences that can't be overcome with software (mainly graphics in this case). There is a reason that it is considered an upgraded or improved version, just because it's called slim or lite doesn't mean it only weights less.

   by hollabackitsobi - 2008-01-08
 » Uh...

@ tsujinai, the guy talking about the GBA...
The GBA and GBA SP are the EXACT same thing hardware power wise dude, the SP only has a backlight and a clamshell design. Don't know where you got your info from.


   Re: tsujinai - 2008-01-09
 » dude

i own both, i put them in front, it's not light only difference. but either way, if really there are no differences, it really is rip off. btw later version of gba also has back light.
   by Ozvaldo - 2008-01-08
 » That's Stupid

if they are only making for slim they should at least make something for the phat psp so you can send messages to your friend with psp like the ps3 it shouldn't take up alot of ram

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   by JaXeRiR - 2008-01-09
 » ::Don't ditch this idea completely just yet::

But seriously think about it.

Imagine if it would be possible for a great hacker like DAX (all honor to him) to hack the vshmain.prx to redirect the flash0:/vsh/module/skype.prx to ms0:/skypeforfatpsps/skype.prx for example... Then add the entry for the XMB icon for the Skype application to topmenu_plugin.rco..

Just an idea. Most of you probably are going to vote me down or something, but I don't care. Post your own ideas.



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