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if there were any doubts I was getting this before, they're gone now :-)

And granted, this is a couple weeks old, but it's the first I've heard of it where a definite price was involved.

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/345/C2209/

Wednesday November 5, 2003 12:15 PM EST
Source: The Register





Sony Electronics has recently detailed plans to release an all-in-one handheld gaming device that includes a digital music and video player and could even act as mobile telephone.

The $60 device is set to rival Apples iPod device. A prototype will be available by the end of 2004 and will look similar to Nokia's N-Gage.

The "concept model" shown by Kutaragi, Sony's executive deputy president and head of its gaming business, was a one-piece device designed to be grasped in two hands, with a bright, color screen roughly 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) in diameter.

See press release below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sony Details Gaming-Music Player, iPod Rival

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Japan's Sony Corp. on Tuesday detailed plans for a much-anticipated all-in-one handheld gaming device that includes a digital music and video player and could even act as mobile telephone.

Officials of the world's largest consumer electronics maker also said Sony would launch a rival to Apple Computer Inc's iPod digital music player next year for as little as $60.

Sony described a prototype for its PSP gaming device -- due out before the end of 2004 -- during a presentation to U.S. investors that reiterated plans to restore profitability at the company.

"PSP will be the Walkman of the future," declared Ken Kutaragi, Sony's executive deputy president and head of its gaming business, comparing a PSP prototype to Sony's highly successful earlier generation of music players.

PSP is designed to rival Nintendo Co. Ltd's Game Boy handheld game player, mobile phone maker Nokia Oyj's N-Gage wireless gaming device and Apple's iPod and iTunes music download service.

Sony plans to eventually add telecommunication features, Kutaragi told a news conference afterward, lending credence to speculation PSP devices would also serve as mobile phones.

Sony currently envisions a device that looks somewhat similar to Nokia's recently introduced N-Gage gaming phone, but with a bigger display that makes it looks more like a handheld television.

The "concept model" showed off by Kutaragi was a one-piece device designed to be grasped in two hands, with a bright, color screen roughly 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) in diameter, he told Reuters.

"PSP will not be one kind of product," Kutaragi said. Rather, it is a platform of related devices with the capacity to add or subtract features, he said, while stressing that final design details are not expected to be revealed until later.

While crediting Apple and its chief executive, Steve Jobs, for the success of the iPod, Sony officials said the PSP would allow consumers to watch music videos as well as listen to digital tunes.

"We are taking on iPod with our new device," another Sony official said. "We are coming at him (Steve Jobs) on that front."

Sony executives said that next year it will introduce versions of a rival music player to the iPod for as little as $60, a price only one-quarter or less than the $200 to $400 Apple charges for various versions of its sleek product.

Apple's lead in innovating in the portable music sector practically invented by Sony has been highlighted as typical of the problems at the Japanese company, which last month reported a 25 percent drop in quarterly profits.

Only $60 for Sony's handheld? Look out Nintendo.

That's frickin sweet, especially if the prices for the games are gonna be what I heard, ($15-20).

for some reason I highly doubt the PSP will be only 60 bucks. If it is, the games will probably be overpriced.

This topic has already been beat to death on other message boards; they're not talking about just one thing throughout that article. In fact, it's about both the PSP ~and~ a rival to Apple's iPod (which is the thing that will cost about $60). It's a very poorly written article because most people are mislead when they read it:

"Officials of the world's largest consumer electronics maker ~also said~ (notice they are talking about a different thing) Sony would launch a rival to Apple Computer Inc's iPod digital music player next year for as little as $60."

Sorry to disappoint :p

Yeah, if I read it right, the $60 their talking about is the accessory to PSP that would play MP3s..hence ipod killer.

Yeah that article is a bit misleading...it doesnt directlysay the PSP will be 60

yea the way I read it was that Sony's I-pod killer was going to be 60. Also Sony lies alot so I would still expect this to be an expensive machine(150-199)

I think sony would be stupid to sell this @ $60 a pop at release, if they can really sell it that cheap, they would probably price it around the same as a gbasp. No way this system will be $60 at release.

Still though, the PSP is starting to look better and better.

:o :( 8) :? :x :P :wink:

They are going to have difrent add-ons which do diffrent things. you buy the base model (60$) then you buy your addon for games or if u want to listen to music or watch movies you buy that add on.

somtin like that and shut up bout ma shitty spelling

Your spelling sucks.

In the new EGM, they list the "official" expected MSRP at $299........which I don't think I'll fork out right away...

Yea....according to EGM it'll be around 300 bucks :-/

Looks like people will be waiting around for a price drop. XD

it does look nicer than the n-gage though

The N-Gage was a horrible attempt at a handheld. It wasn't even practical as far as changing games :-/ (you have to take out the battery to change the game....)

Looks are the least of the N-Gages problems.

HAHA! Yes, the party for the N-Gage must have been a hoot!

The Ngage is such a joke.

It's funny, whenever I see one advertised, I always think to myself "they're still making that thing?"

Seriously, who would buy a game system that costs more than a Xbox/Ps2, and THREE times the price of a GC (well it did before it's price drop anyways...), and that only plays ports of outdated games that were on the playstation?

WHO?

Originally Posted by JoeySweredoski The Ngage is such a joke. It's funny, whenever I see one advertised, I always think to myself "they're still making that thing?" Seriously, who would buy a game system that costs more than a Xbox/Ps2, and THREE times the price of a GC (well it did before it's price drop anyways...), and that only plays ports of outdated games that were on the playstation? WHO?

Yes but remember its more than a Game Deck, its also an MP3 player and a Tri Band GSM world phone. I got 2 unlocked GSM phones with the same capabilities of N-Gage cept their not game deck but supports JAVA games and both are around $200-250, of course they look much better..For its other functions N-Gage is still a great buy.

Yes but remember its more than a Game Deck, its also an MP3 player and a Tri Band GSM world phone. I got 2 unlocked GSM phones with the same capabilities of N-Gage cept their not game deck but supports JAVA games and both are around $200-250, of course they look much better..For its other functions N-Gage is still a great buy.

lol
I actually forgot it did all that. Still, I don't see it sticking around for too long.