Sony developing iPad competitor - report

By Robert Purchese Published 5 March, 2010

Combines PSP, netbook, eReader.

Sony, unhappy at Apple's dominance, may be busy developing smart phones that can download PSP games and an iPad competitor that will combine PSP, Sony Reader and netbook functionality.

That's what the reputable Wall Street Journal was told by "sources". And apparently these devices will launch this year.

Important bits like pricing and machine specifics aren't mentioned, but the report claims these new machines to be central to Sony's turnaround plan, which includes hooking everything up to a central online service.

That ties in to what Sony overlord Sir Howard Stringer was waffling on about in February, when he said PlayStation Network was the company's "not-so-secret weapon".

The arrival of PS3 Slim last autumn and a strong line-up of console exclusives has produced a turnaround for Sony's flagship console. However, the PSPgo has so far been a disaster, and Sony Ericsson phones are struggling - shipments were apparently down 41 per cent in 2009.

Can Sony afford to battle against Apple, Microsoft and Nintendo - to fight on three fronts?

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • yupyup #1 2 years ago

    Can it count leap years?

  • LiveForever #2 2 years ago

    This will fail because it will be over priced.

  • Buztafen #3 2 years ago

    Sony in "Please sir, can i have some more?" shocker!

  • MaFlippinHeadHurts #4 2 years ago

    I hope it's not the same guys responsible for the PSP GO

  • mrpon #5 2 years ago

    /drools

  • Doctor_What #6 2 years ago

    Yes, absolutely LiveForever, because well-designed highly priced items never sell in the high technology market, do they?
    /heavy sarcasm

  • davymackie #7 2 years ago

    "This will fail because it will be over priced."

    what........ like the ipod is.

  • darc #8 2 years ago

    If they can find a way to integrate a set of controllers that feels right for gamers, without compromising the form factor and presentation so much as to alienate non-gamers and business users, they could have a winning product here. Basically an iPad with physical controls and the PSx back-catalog? Priced right, I would buy one.

  • ruckus #9 2 years ago

    ...just include USB, SDHC as standard would be a start :p

  • fknetwork #10 2 years ago

    Iphone/Touch has sold over 75 million worldwide combined, a bit late Sony don't you think?

  • actionfitz #11 2 years ago

    Sounds lovely, but im wondering how many mortgages i'll need to be able to afford one.
    going their past hardware offerings.

  • kangarootoo #12 2 years ago

    "This will fail because it will be over priced."

    Thanks for sharing that insight with us. I've learned a lot.

  • nickthegun #13 2 years ago

    I think the challenge will be a good one, after all look at how well the MP3 walkmans competed with the iPod.

    They really cant lose on this one.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #14 2 years ago

    I can almost hear Jobs and his lawyers rubbing their hands together in anticipation of the patent lawsuits they can file against Sony for their new hardware ;)

  • Vlad27145 #15 2 years ago

    "Can Sony afford to battle against Apple, Microsoft and Nintendo - to fight on three fronts? "

    My bet would be on "no", but I'd really love for them to prove me wrong. They are already a force to reckon with in regards to MS and Ninty, Apple on the other hand is plain and simply a monopoly atm. Bring on the competition, for us it can only be good news.

  • polaris70 #16 2 years ago

    Just got myself a Sony ebook reader. It's great, got thousands of books on it. I don't need wi-fi, touch screens or any other needless add-ons for it that will bump up the already expensive price, I just need it to read relaxing on the couch. I use my PC for everything else.

  • ignatiusjreilly #17 2 years ago

    iPad competitor that will combine PSP, Sony Reader and netbook functionality.

    If it wants to include netbook functionality, it needs to be a proper computer that can be customised to the users needs and capable of installing the software and applications that the user wants, not just what Sony/Apple wants to provide.

    This is why the iPad doesnt appeal to me personally - it's just a gadget, not a computer (not that it's trying to be).
    Edited by ignatiusjreilly at 05/03/10 @ 16:20

  • MiniAmin #18 2 years ago

    @Polaris

    That's funny, I've had Sony e-readers before and they stink. Awful page lag, and despite the updates, they all remain useless at managing PDFs.

    Compared a Sony Television, Sound system, or Games console, their e-readers (and e-readers in general) have a long way to go.

  • asphaltcowboy #19 2 years ago

    But will it take UMD?

  • Widge #20 2 years ago

    TBH, I'd rather have a PSPGo that could make phonecalls (touchscreen natch) and take photos. Add that in and I'd be well away with it!

  • RexRunti #21 2 years ago

    What is in iPad actually for? I know this is about Sony but if they want to compete against it I'd like to know what they are competing against.

    PS This is a serious question, I would be grateful for an answer.

  • drumbaby #22 2 years ago

    "Iphone/Touch has sold over 75 million worldwide combined, a bit late Sony don't you think? "

    PS2 had sold over X million the world over, a bit late Msoft don't you think?

    Good job for Xbox fans that Msoft didn't subscribe to that defeatist logic.

  • X201 #23 2 years ago

    Just make a device that I can dump txt and PDF files to and read them without hassle and I'll buy it.

  • chaywa #24 2 years ago

    Yay, another portable device whose battery will be utterly dreadful

  • Shikasama #25 2 years ago

    This is going to be the most interesting corporate face-off in history. Apple vs Sony? Fuck me!

    Just who WILL manage to be the most expensive?

  • kangarootoo #26 2 years ago

    @RexRunti

    I wondered the same thing, but I can see the appeal from a "what was that thing I saw yesterday... /fires up iPad in 2 seconds, has a look, shuts it down" and "where is the pub we are going to... /fires up iPad, has a look, shuts it down".

    Its a bit overpriced for most of us, but I see the appeal as an instant access internet, email and general app device. There are things I use my iPhone (I finally succumbed) for which would nebefit from a slightly larger screen and an easier to use typing interface. I'm not getting an iPad for the current price point, but I see the appeal of the device. If someone gave me one for free, I'd probably get quite a bit of use out of it at home.

  • AOFanboi #27 2 years ago

    Ah, Sony... is "Vaio" Japanese for "expensive"?

  • coolbritannia #28 2 years ago

    So many jokes, first one wins though. Most people criticize M$ for a lack of innovation, seems Sony are falling into that category too.

    Sony - always late to the party.

  • spookyzombie #29 2 years ago

    Sony want a bite of Apple? There's an app for that.

  • patchbox360 #30 2 years ago

    pop me Ico, FF10 and mgs2 on the sonypad and u've got a sale.

  • kaya08 #31 2 years ago

    Competitor is a bit strong isn't it?
    Crappy rip off that no one want or buys would be closer to the truth surely?

  • Quixz #32 2 years ago

    HP's slate is miles ahead of the ipad. Look it up!

  • raion #33 2 years ago

    ... uhm. I sincerely hope this is not going to become the PSP 2. I don't want all that useless stuff. I want a gaming device.

  • des #34 2 years ago

    "Can it count leap years?"

    Funniest first comment ever.

  • Widge #35 2 years ago

    Well I want something that is more than a gaming device.

    Which one of us is right?

  • raion #36 2 years ago

    @Widge: both of us. That's what I meant: I hope this is going to be whatever you want it to be, so you'll be happy, but that separately there will be a psp 2 focusing on the only thing I expect from a playstation.

  • GamerG #37 2 years ago

    Cant see Sony doing a decent OS, if they do do something it'll run Windows 7 imo

  • kingheff1 #38 2 years ago

    Whilst I think the idea could be apealing, it will certainly have better games than the I-pad, the main concern would be upscaled graphics, which are going to look a lot worse, I'm guessing.
    But if they can combat that, get Google on board for Android apps and Chrome browsing, who knows maybe it could be good.

  • Mnia786 #39 2 years ago

    @liveforever - 389 for an oversized pad is cheap then...?

  • Dizzy #40 2 years ago

    Commercial suicide.

  • poopmonster #41 2 years ago

    *Yawn*

    Sony, bless them for trying, don't have the corporate culture to go head-to-head with the likes of App Store. Their development platforms aren't as accessible as Apple's, and I can't see that changing. They predicted thousands of minis, and where are they? There was about 50 last time I looked...

    They should maximise what they have already. A mature, powerful home console and an existing marketplace. Christ, if we could make PS3 games using an SDK as pick-up and go as Apple's, it would be a very different story. But no... it's lots of red tape and overly complex technical requirements.

  • frunk #42 2 years ago

    I think Sony are in a good position to actually do something right here. Better than anyone else. So lets call this product the PSPad and we might get a better idea of what it is all about.

    Those complaining about innovation need to take long look at the iPad... its an iPhone/iPod but bigger... not really *that* innovative really! Sony have more options for convergence here and actually do something more desirable.

    They are one of the few companies who can compete with Apple from an industrial design perspective... so from a "nice bit of kit" it will be up there with a iPad. TBH - a big touch-screen PSP with a few real buttons and a USB port would put it streets ahead of the iPad from a gaming perspective (REAL buttons, direction pad). Only thing unproven is Sony & Touch technology - that will be interesting.

    The OS will be based on the XMB - not Windows 7 - this is a PSP based device not a PC based one. I think it could be a strength here.

    So Games... assuming it had "PSP buttons" well it would have the PSP/PS1/Minis back catalogue upscaled a bit. Then maybe some PSPad games using full resolution/touch capability. But they may not decide to go the "touch route" - that would be a mistake as it would be seen as a PSPGoBIG - which would kill it.

    Convergence:
    - XMB brings Skype/Web/Videos/Music/Streaming browsing within a few seconds of swith on
    - Sony has a VAST eBook catalogue & music service which could become part of the PSN Store
    - PSN Store already has the movie/games/apps side covered.
    - PSP TV/PSP 3D GPS navigation/PSP Camera are all out there and could be brushed off and integrated
    - iPlayer in the UK

    If they decide to integrate that lot AND bring it out for the magic $499/£300 mark then the device is more compelling than an iPad for access to my wallet.

    Big issues:
    - XMB based OS will mean difficulty in doing the "muultitasking" that iPad is being slated for... ie How does a 3rd party messenger app interface while you are running a word processor/web browser, etc???
    - Sony is shit at writing web browsers - so get Google/Opera to do that for you and ensure Flash works and it propels itself beyond iPad

    Make sure it has touch, real buttons, camera/GPS and those issues above sorted and it could beat Apple at its own game if the price is similar.

    Hmmm after typing that I realise its a bit of a tall order for Sony... good luck to them. Sony stand the best chance, but given their recent track record they will probably stumble.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #43 2 years ago

    Does it have Flash?

  • Praetorianer #44 2 years ago

    What frunk said.

    For Sony it is a key issue to compete against Microsoft and Apple, not so much Nintendo. The strategy behind those three competitors is to be the #1 content provider platform for mobile and stationary devices, especially owning the #1 place in the living room, so to say. Sony and Microsoft are both content providers and that's a huge, huge market they are competing for. Apple already has a strong contents sale platform with iTunes, and M$ and Sony HAVE to catch up.

    There have been lots of critical voices complaining that Sony should have been the ones to build the iPod/iPhone/iPad, and I agree with that. They moved too slow into that direction and now have to face extremely strong competition, but if any company can make this kind of effort, it would be Sony, with all the in-house power and know-how in different branches of the electronics, hardware and contents industry. If they manage to create an easily accessible, stylish, powerful smartphone/tablet that can also easily be developed for (apps, user content), don't make the mistake to rely too much on proprietary standards (flash etc., but let's see where the whole HTML5 thing is going) AND get the pricing right, I see the possibility for success.

  • freakzilla #45 2 years ago

    So it ill be too big to carry around?

  • Praetorianer #46 2 years ago

    It depends...i think the pad/tablet will be almost as big as the iPad, and it has to be, just because its usability as an eBook reader or as an option for convenient browsing would suffer too much. The smartphone will probably be sized like the iPhone or other common smartphones like HTC ones.

  • Sunyavadin #47 2 years ago

    It already has competitors. Phones, netbooks, and laptops. All of which do more than it can, and better.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #48 2 years ago

    I'm with Poopmonster, (as dirty as that sounds.

    Isnt it strange that this is happening, after recent comments made when iPad was announced, down playing it. This shows the reality is quite different at Sony (and Nintendo too, I guess).

    It makes sense for Sony to compete with MS and Apple. After so many debacles from their camp, though, I feel Sony are too corporate to be in touch with the man in the street, and knowing what we want in options. Its been this way with them and their mp3 players for years too, and PSP is just an extension of that, that still managed to trip and fall. Sony not even being address the recent UMD to PSP Go business, shakes faith in them.

    An iPad like device will be good for them to try, to be more open and break their cycle. One thing is for sure, this news is likely to rattle Nintendo's cage too, with their possible unveiling of their new handheld at GDC.