Posted Jan 31, 2008 at 05:31AM by Tim Y. Listed in: News, Videos, PSP Slim & Lite Tags: XMB, Skype
Ó

Hands down, the biggest news we've picked up for this month of January is probably the announcement of Skype Support for the PSP Slim. With this service going live today, we imagine there's a lot of PSP owners out there wondering how this new VoIP service looks when it's loaded into the handheld (that is, if you haven't updated to firmware 3.90 yet).

That said, we're letting you know that we managed to pick up two Skype preview videos you may interested in viewing. The first will give you a brief rundown of the various functions that will show up on your PSP's XMB. The second is a brief hands-on test of Skype's sound quality. Enjoy the videos, and make sure to keep yourself informed regarding how you can upload the Skype feature into your slim!

 






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   by xCHRISx - 2008-01-31
 » hmm

can anyone give me any reasons why they would prefer this over a mobile phone?
and what exactly are we looking at when it comes to $/month


   Re: Xulap - 2008-01-31
 » Hmm

A reason could be:

- You can call other Skype users from wherever you are, for free.(WiFi)
- If you already take your PSP everywhere, why not use this?
- Some people don't have a Mobile Phone.

The charges:

- Pre-Paid Service: 2.1 cents per minute.
- Subscription: $3.00 per month.

   Re: aerischan - 2008-01-31
 » International

Skype's cheaper when making international calls. You don't have to pay a monthly fee for discounted int'l rates. It kinda works like a prepaid phone card. You buy Skype credits and use it to make your calls. If you do Skype to Skype calls, it's free.

Obviously it wasn't meant to replace cellphones. PSP with Skype is a somewhat more convenient alternative to lugging around a laptop or sitting in front of your desktop.
   by Mister Common Sense - 2008-01-31
 » .

Skype is impractical and retarded on the PSP.

Wow I'm already paying a cell phone bill, now I need to pay for this too?

I need to get a new PSP slim because my old PSP doesn't have enough RAM and a RAM upgrade isn't available?

I have to forget my custom PSP firmware and all the useful homebrew it provides to use this?

I have to buy a new headset to use it?

I have to be in a wireless hotspot to make or recieve calls?

The PSP has to be on and using battery power to recieve calls?

My god this is soooo stupid. I think this is more worthless than location free player.


   Re: Silver-Tiger - 2008-01-31
 » ..

1. No, PSP to PSP calls are free of charge. For other calls you have to pay, though.

2. Yes, you need a PSP slim, because there isn't a RAM upgrade available. So you're right on this one.

3. No, I'm pretty sure DaX will come out with a new custom firmware. this time much faster, because he doesn't have to code the NID changer.

4. No, you can use your old one or the PSP cam.

5. Yes, you 're right on this one.

6. Umm.... yes, but this is...normal.....
I don't think there is a mobile phone that doesn't use battery power....

All in all. I would say that Skype is only useful for you if you have Wireless Hotspots in the near or at home. But then again, why use the PSP to call somebody if you have your normal phone?


nevertheless, it's pretty cool, and at least Sony tries to improve their devices. It's the same with the DivX support rumor. Why is everybody complaining about that? They do something good for us, (BTW, it's free of charge again, they could demand money for it, so be happy about that!) and you have nothing better to do then to start complaining.
Sure, there are better codecs, but DivX is one of the most used codecs, and it's pretty helpful for us not having encoding time. Think about before you are starting flame wars about codecs, features or whatever.


   Re: ServiceMeister - 2008-01-31
 » You don't know sh*t

If you had gotten a PSP-2001 you'd already know that you CAN USE Wi-Fi and be plugged in, charging up the battery.

Learn to learn before you post.

People Like you shouldn't be allowed online.

   Re: Mister Common Sense - 2008-01-31
 » I shouldn't be allowed online because I make a valid point?

A cell phone works nearly anywhere. The battery lasts at least a couple days on standby. I'm already paying a bill for it.

The PSP's battery lasts 5 hours tops. It must be left on and in a wireless hotspot to have any usefulness as a phone. Skype requires an additional fee. Sometimes hotspots require an access fee. Hotspots aren't always easy to find. I know the PSP's charging capabilities, the battery doesn't have near the capacity of a cell phone.

I like sony products but I'm not a sony tool like you and don't senselessly buy every new product they make. I have a cell phone for calls and a PSP phat for games and only a total f*cking idiot (that's you) would buy a new PSP solely for trivial new features and to use it as a half assed phone.

Want to make yourself look stupid again stupidmeister?

   Re: Someone_PR - 2008-01-31
 » hey MCS...

I always agree with you in many post that u made.. but this is really for skype users and new one if they wants... you see, I use skype... and it will be good to call my already skype users that I had in my computer... instead to go to my computer to make the call I can do it now on the go... or at least in my hall or whenever in the house I'm at and not just stuck in the chair..

A downside for me... no video calls isn't that good then... and if you really want to make landline calls, is more cheaper than many others companies...

One question... the psp version support voicemails or something?

anyway I have a problem, I have two old psp and one is bricked installing the official firmware weird... so I can't say how good or bad it is in the psp anyway... is a bad thing that the psp doesn't have an always on or something... like the touch.. if I'm nearby my connection automatically connect... I don't have to reconnect everytime I need to use something with internet like the browser, rss channels etc..

Anyway dude... maybe you don't use the location free but I use it... like I said before... is priceless for me watching my TV channels in college when I have to wait for another class...
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   by sickofitall - 2008-01-31
 » maybe

this is useful in Japan, where they can chat with other psp owners. I don't know about anywhere else.


   Re: Nikolaos - 2008-01-31
 » Haters.

First of all, Skype on the PSP is a brilliant idea! It is just a shame that it is not on the older model PSP, so the people who keep complaining, well I think we know what PSP they have.

Sure a cell phone is great and more battery power but, most of you do not have long distance plans, so you pay a *****-load to talk long distance . Skype via PSP can do that quite easily and cheap! even free..That is just one point. Another is the fact that what if you go traveling? My cell phone doesn't work when I go into a different country, especially the USA, but I know damn well there is a ton of hot-spots that I can use PSP with. Also for you cell-phone lovers, does your cell phone have homebew like the PSP? does it have emulators like the PSP? the answer is NO, it does not.

My last and final point is, do you honestly think the PSP homebrew community is going to leave Skype as it is? The answer is Hell NO, we will definitely mess around and customize and tinker with Skype on the PSP!

And as for the guy who says PSP can only last 5 hours max. Lol I bet you my PSP will out battery your cell phone when in standby. Can you say, under-clock? Thanks.
   by ServiceMeister - 2008-01-31
 » douchebagalo

I bought a new psp because homebrew ***** bricked mine. Official firmware has never bricked any model I've owned (I'm on my fourth one now, thanks to homebrew sh*t), and I've owned one since the first week they came out. I admit that emulators are useful and fun, but still, I have a PC for that (with no risk of bricking from custom firmware). I don't have a psychotic need to take Chrono Trigger with me everywhere I go, nor do I feel the need to play clunky slowed down n64 games on a unit that was designed to do so much more.

Why would sony endorse programs that play their competitor's games? I have a GBA if I want to play Mario games or other Nintendo titles.

BTW, I do have a cell phone, but I like the idea that I can call my buddies who have skype phones for free, or simply chat it up with friends who are on their PC or PSP.

As for hotspot locations, that's what feet are for. If you can't find a security free hotspot, just walk around until you do. There are sill plenty of idiots who don't use WEP or other Wi-Fi security whose bandwidth is there for the taking.

Try walking around any college campus in the US and you'll get free wi-fi. or go to most motels in the country as well. I don't even live in a big city and there is more free Wi-Fi in this town than you can shake a stick at.

And as for battery capabilities, my psp lasts longer than any motorola battery, bar none, especially if you spring for the newer bigger battery that, yes, fits in the 2001 model without a special battery panel.

Again, do the research before allowing your ignorance to fall out, polluting teh intarnats w/ ur stoopids.

But, in your head, you've already won teh intarnats, so congrats. I'm sure your parents are proud you never moved from the basement.


   Re: Mister Common Sense - 2008-01-31
 » wow

That's halarious you managed to brick your PSP! What a moron!

Custom firmware 3.90 is here anyway so I can still use remote play. Where did this argument come from? Oh yeah, I was just saying it's pointless to upgrade to official firmware or buy a new slim PSP for Skype (which it is.)

   Re: majorbb100 - 2008-01-31
 » retard

yeah i mean come on youve got to be a complete idiot to even brock your psp more than once but 4 times! wow...
   by antonyfl - 2008-01-31
 » lmao

I lol @ people that would take precious time to argue about trivial nonsence. Not that I am saying giving your two cents worth is bad as long as its kept "clean". But its funny how you would argue about the usefullness of a feature when if you think it is a piece of crap, then the simple answer is not to use it. The only way I would deem this usefull is if I travel on business trips alot and make a lot of phone long distance phone calls and is near wifi hotspots, which isnt all that uncommon due to the steadly increasing technological advances in this century (Japan satisfies all these requirements).

My ultimatem : If you find it useless then don't use it. If you need it then use it. If you find it cool to use about once or twice then go ahead, but dont waste your money on a new psp if you find it trivial.

   by K33PY - 2008-01-31
 » wtf you all on about

As antonfl says if you like it use if you don't then don't fecking use it. lol
This is my first post on this site although I have been a member since the beginng.
I have bricked my psp due to a fake memory card incident but it's still here with me now running on 3.80m33-5 just the way it was suppose to lol.

As for ServiceMeister's comments about bricking ur psp well maybe you didn't read the README like you where suppose to. If you don't want to run CFW or HB on ur psp then don't but don't flame it either, there are some great ppl on here who devote so much time and effort into making HB programs that help the community to evolve.

I'd love to stay and ***** with you all on this matter some more but oopps I nearly forgot I GOTTA LIFE LOL.


   Re: majorbb100 - 2008-01-31
 » what

where did you get a fake mem card. go to best buy and get an 8 gig
   by ServiceMeister - 2008-01-31
 » clarification

First PSP: UMD read error, discarded.
Second PSP: bricked during downgrade, was TA-086
Third PSP: Still own, use as car MP3 player
Fourth PSP: 2001 Vader edition

There are some useful homebrew, but as a whole, it's not that interesting to me. I followed this site from firmware 1.5's release, and got very interested, but constant alpha builds of programs that never evolved really bugged me.

I praise DAX for his efforts in creating the CFW's and all the time he's spent on them, but wouldn't all that time and effort be better spent working WITH Sony rather than against them? I mean, he could be improving the PSP-3000 (which will be coming, I assure you) from the inside, making the entire design process a creative and enlightened endevour. Not that anything he has done has been foolish or unappreciated.

As for Mister Common Sense, I just find it funny when people get mad a company for making a product that works the way it is designed to, rather than catering the needs of a FEW. (yes, homebrew enthusiasts are a minority, not a flame, just a fact)

and btw, I bought the new one because I could. I wanted the TV out so I could watch UMD's on TV and so I could play some games on there as well. Skype was a feature I heard about after my purchase.

hmm...let's see. I only have to own one copy of, say, The Bourne Identity or Ghost in the Shell or the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon special, instead of owning them on several formats, not to mention the ability to take a small portable device that I can use to make presentations on for class (why use power point when I can make JPGS and the PSP photo viewer?), DJ with at parties with an accompianing video show, or even just watch what I want on a hotel's TV?



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   Re: zeecron - 2008-01-31
 » Dont dog dax llama!!

I didnt even think about buying a psp until i found out about custom firmware. Sonys handheld has the power for it to be used for so many awsome things that sony doesnt even contemplate it to be used for. Dax makes it so that programmers can write awsome apps to make the psp so much closer to the potential that it should be. Skype is not that great of a feature but the camera and gps are i think. They are the only reasons i would buy a psp if custom firmware wasnt available on it. And the sad thing is they dont even offer either in the US. I had to buy my cam from ebay and spent like 80 bucks. I use it all the time. I think sony should have set up skype where it could be ran from the mem stick for phats. And im hoping maybe that Dax will release some sort of way to buy skype and use it on a phat. Because your precious Sony wont make available on phats which they could have easily done. Its morons like you that keep Sony doing things like letting older systems become no use only a few years after they are made. Watch how fast your 01 starts not having features for it while sony keeps on throwing out systems and making new features for basicly the same system over and over. The TV out is the only thing that i see that makes the new psp kinda worth buying. I could care less if its lighter its not like phats are like carrying a bowling ball around or something.

   Re: nem2k2 - 2008-01-31
 » further clarification

So you aren't really on your 4th PSP thanks to homebrew are you? It's more like...

First PSP: You didn't take care of it so the UMD drive broke
Second PSP: You are a dumbass
Third PSP: WTF? Why count one that isn't even broken?

I have installed custom firmware and homebrew on over 30 PSPs and not a single one has ever bricked. If you manage to brick a PSP you shouldn't have been messing with it in the first place. Don't blame homebrew, blame your own incompetence.


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