PSP Web Browsing

[racketboy]

I was just wondering how the web browsing experience is on the PSP...
I have the DS browser and the touch screen makes a lot of sense, but I can see how the PSP could have advantages in other areas.

But I'm having a hard time understanding how to click on links, type, and other things without a touch screen.

[Perseid]

When you start you're on the bottom row of buttons. Hit up to get the address bar. Hit X. Enter the URL, which takes about 20 minutes. Once the site comes up hit L to dismiss the menu. Now you can move the pointer with the nub or use the D-Pad to jump between elements. X selects stuff. Triangle brings the menu back.

It's nice that it has Flash support but you're right - it's a pain to use.

[durkada]

I've become more and more impressed with the PSP web browser -- in fact, the whole idea of the PSP becoming a sort of multimedia conglomeration seems to be panning out. I was under the impression one could get a mini-keyboard for the PSP, which would make typing in URLs/Passwords, etc, fairly easy. But, overall, despite the fact that you input information using the dpad and various buttons, I've come to grow proficient at this. I can enter in a URL or whatever far quicker than I could with a character recognition system, or a push pad keyboard(in non-qwerty form, at least).

But, the DS has opera behind it. Opera kicks ass. Well, with a caveat -- I tried Opera for a mobile phone device and thought it was a terrible experience. But otherwise, on the Wii, on PCs, Opera is still one of the most amazing browsers. Firefox comes close, and in some ways surpasses Operas functionality with user-submitted plugins, but Opera still boasts the best features with the smallest resource footprint.

The widescreen, higher resolution and vastly prettier screen on the PSP is a definite advantage. And, for the most part, I find that it retrieves and renders pages very quickly -- most of the latency induced is always because of the nature of wireless communication and traversing the internet. I run a webserver for various home related things (mythtv, wikis, ampache, etc), and those pages come up nigh instantly.

And, again, with each firmware release its becoming more powerful and polished -- almost as if Sony has a plan.

I'm also fond of the fact that it is incorporating RSS feeds.

For my own part, I find the PSP more ergonomic. As much as I loved my Gameboy Advance SP, it was a pain to hold. The DS is even worse, by my tastes.

One of the things I've found surprising about the PSP is how easy it is to navigate a page once its loaded. Moving about with the DPAD is intuitive and simple. But, with that said, I tend to shy away from the mouse and use keyboard shortcuts when browsing -- another reason why Opera kicks ass. The less I have to move my hands from one input device to another, the more efficiently I work.

I also appreciate the fact that the PSP browser is standard with the system. Again, I was dubious about the whole convergence of web browser, media device -- but am quite happy with it. I also like the firmware releases. While many may represent failed attempts of counteracting the homebrew crowd, they usually come loaded with a great many system improvements. I don't know if the Opera browser you pay for in cart form has the capacity for flash upgrades.

Its something of a pity that the PSP wasn't this polished during its initial release. It wasn't bad, by any means -- but it would have been to the systems benefit if it were synonymous with the advanced features it now flaunts.

Anyway, hope this helps.

[racketboy]

so how does one type in text? is there an on-screen keyboard like putting your name or initials in on a game?
Can you buy external keyboards?

[Niode]

You just click on the text field with the cursor and it pops up a text input screen and you can input text using a pseudo phone keypad. Text input is quite fluid. It's not ultra quick, but satisfactory for a mobile device.

[Scooter]

You just click on the text field with the cursor and it pops up a text input screen and you can input text using a pseudo phone keypad. Text input is quite fluid. It's not ultra quick, but satisfactory for a mobile device.

Geez, wouldn't a pseudo keyboard have been more effieicent? I suppose for the younger crowd who is used to texting on a cell phone keypad such an interface is almost second nature, I just personally find it cumbersome. If I ever find a hotspot I can use or ever install a wireless modem in my home I guess I'll have to build a list of favorite URLs so as to avoid future typing adventures.

I know there were plans for a PSP keyboard at one time, not sure if it ever came to market though.

[Scooter]

A quick internet search tells me that Sony canned their plans for a keyboard and I could not quickly find any third party PSP keyboards that were yet available.

[Niode]

There are a few OSK plugins for custom firmwares out there. Which are supposed increase text input speed and be easier to use than sony's effort.