What?  Over fifty million PSP sales and many hundreds of millions of Walkman-branded device sales over three decades suggest otherwise.  Sony have huge brand recognition for both IPs.

99% of gamers do not shun handheld gaming platforms to buy mobile phones to play three thousand different games where you tilt the device to stop a ball falling down a hole or steer a car.  People buy a PSP to play games.  People buy an iPhone to make calls and surf the WWW - most of those who wish to game as well, and have chosen the iPhone over the PSP and DS, are the type who are looking for the aforementioned, casual, play-on-the-bus-to-work crap.  Hardly a threat to the PSP with it's existing and announced library.  And no, Metal Gear Touch is not an example of how iPhone games are going hardcore as it proved the platform sucks for anything more than "don't let your ball fall down a hole".

It makes me laugh: one minute the PSP is inadequate because it doesn't have a second analogue stick, the next minute it's obsolete thanks to a device with no buttons at all.  If PSP2 has game downloads, a much better browser than PSP, dual analogue sticks and a touchscreen, it will sell very big numbers.  And few will give a toss that they cannot make cellphone calls.

I really do not know how to respond to this post. Are you really trying to dispute the fact that Apple mobile devices are more appealing/popular than Sony mobile devices?

I have NEVER owned a PSP and I have never purchased a Walkman. Just take a walk around in big U.S cities, Apple products are everywhere and people use them quite frequently. I very very rarely see PSPs out in the wild and I have not seen a Walkman branded mobile device in years (other than on a store shelf). I am talking at least a decade.

I really do not know how things work outside the U.S., but I really cannot understand how you can compare the brand of the IPod/Iphone with that of the PSP and um...the Walkman? That's laughable to say the least. LOL Just wow. No wonder you used an alternate account to communicate this.

I do not think that is what he is saying, I think what he meant is simply people buy an iPhone to make calls and stuff and use it AS a phone. People buy PSPs and DS' to play games, if I wanted to play games I definitely would buy a PSP/DS over an iPhone. If I wanted to have a nifty new multimedia phone then I'd buy an iPhone. Another fact he was stating was against the statement that Sony has no power in the market because

"Over fifty million PSP sales and several hundred million Walkman sales over three decades prove you are talking bollocks."

That was not a slam on Apple, just a statement that Sony has established themselves as a solid force in the market.

 You will see I've edited my post a lot since you quoted me.  Too much too drink tonight and my first version needed much work.....

Firstly, I disputed the implication that Sony has no brand recognition for mobile technology.  This is just bollocks.  Even discounting the Walkman IP, people know the brand name PSP and what it is.  Outside of the US we do not obsess so much about the iPhone; the hype mostly exists your side of the ocean.  And I did not "compare" anything, you inserted that claim.

Secondly, just because Apple devices are more "appealing" than Sony devices it has nothing to do with whether or not the iPhone will compete with/beat the PSP for gaming.  The iPhone is principly bought for calls and the web; the PSP is bought for games.  But you *are* an utter idiot if you think the iPhone is more appealing for gamers.  And that is what is under debate here.

As for your claim that you have not seen a Walkman-branded device in a decade.  Well, I'm not sure if I can accept if that is anything other than bullshit.  Every Sony MP3 player is branded a Walkman, and about half of Sony-Ericsson's phones are too.  In the UK, I see many more PSPs or Walkman-branded devices than iPhones.  There's a whole world outside of the US.....

Haven't got a clue what an "alternate account" is.  Grow up.

Your joking right? User friendly my ass. Just try and add anything that Apple doesnt support, or modify the OS to do something they dont allow. The Iphone is a POS. There are much better devices out there that cost much less and do much more. That however is for phones. From a gaming standpoint, Sony has the Iphone killed with there PSP. It is designed for games in mind and has the controls. Its downside is the UMD, but that has been fixed already to a point with the PSN. All there games are available via download. The new PSP will take that a step futher with a much nicer and bigger screen, 2 sticks and built in storage. If they add in a 3G service of some sort like what Amazon does with there kindle, it will pwn it even harder.

everything is better than the iphone in terms of gaming.
There aren't many types of games that benefit from the iphone most games are actually worse because of the lack of input.

although i think it is a good idea to get rid of umd, going hard drive only right now is a risky move. I feel like we are still at least two years away from having games go download only. Sony would be smarter to wait till next year or possibly early '11 to release a true "psp2"

Sony attempted to compete against Apple (with the iPod) and Nintendo (with the GBA and DS) when they launched the PSP, and (even though they had a lot of advantages due to the unblemished track-record of the Playstation brand) they were easily beated by both companies ...

Right now, Nintendo and Apple are stronger brands then they have ever been before and have earned more respect from third party developers than they have ever had before ... At the same time the Playstation brand has never been weaker and Sony has lost a lot of influence with third parties because neither the PSP nor the PS3 are the same monsters that the PS2 and Playstation were.

While I can't tell Sony what to do, I would personally suggest that they focus on producing a system that wasn't (necessarily) in direct competition with both Apple and Nintendo and to focus on producing a system that appeals to an under serviced market.

1) I do not recall communicating Sony had no brand recognition so what exactly were you trying to dispute?

2) And the topic of the thread implies the PSP 2 will possibly be an "Iphone beater." You are really losing me with the direction of your argument.

3) I do not need you to accept anything. When is the last time the Walkman brand received widespread consumer attention and hype/anticipation from the media? Everyone is always talking/speculating about the current and future position of the iPhone/iPod. LOL As I have said, I have not seen the Walkman outside of a store shelf in at least ten years and I very rarely ever see a PSP. And the demographic seems to be young adolescent boys (age 12-15). Accept it.

4) It's funny that you give this implicit illusion that Sony mp3s (the Walkman) are such hot commodities. I cannot even recall the last time I have heard the Walkman in real life discussion other than on this site by Sony enthusiasts. I really am just completely flabbergasted that you are giving the Walkman so much credit.

5) When the PSP 2 launches, lets see if the game software sells will be comparable to that of the iPhone/iPod.

Remember, you responded to my post first...ill-prepared, I might add. I do not need to edit my posts. I communicate what I intend the first time.

What they should do is put there games on a mem stick. Small media like the DS yet allows them to have a slot for storage as well. That way you can fill the HDD to the brim with games etc. yet still be able to bring more music/movies or games along.

I have an Ipod Touch 2nd gen, and anyone that thinks the gaming is comparable to the PSP is delusional. Also, the games range from 1$ to 10$, and are meant to be pick up and go games, not something to actually devout time to. In no way are the Ipod Touch/Phones a competitor to the PSP/PSP2.