Reviewing about PS Vita

The most recent portable gaming device from Sony Electronics is the PS Vita. It has a 5-inch display screen, front and rear touch screens, double control sticks, and a powerful quad-core processor, this delivers what was once exclusively a console only gaming experience to the handheld device market. Both Wi-Fi and 3G models are available which makes staying in contact with your friends easier as well as being able to play games while traveling. The PS Vita is quite amazing.

This is an innovative addition in that you can find your friends and other players who are close by for a game session or just to talk. The front and rear cameras make video chat possible with friends or just to see your defeated opponent.

   

PlayStation Vita Specifications

Display: 5-Inch OLED capacitive multi-touch display with 16-million colors
Resolution: 960 x 544 pixels
Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.3 x 0.73 inches
Weight: 9.8 ounces
Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex A9
Memory: 512 MB
Graphics Processor: Quad-core SGX543MP4+
Graphics Memory: 128 MB
Internal Storage: None
Wi-Fi Connectivity: 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
3G Connectivity: Available on some models
3G Network: AT&T
Bluetooth: Yes
Audio: Dual speakers, one 3.5-mm headphone jack
Memory Card Reader: Yes
Memory Card Formats Supported: PS Vita Memory Card
Front Camera: 0.3 megapixel
Rear Camera: 0.3 megapixel
Battery Life: 4 to 6 hours depending on usage
AC Adapter: USB-converter
User Inputs: Front and rear touch screens, dual control sticks, directional pad, two shoulder buttons and four face buttons
Additional Ports: Multi-use USB port
Additional Sensors: Six-axis motion sensing, three-axis electronic compass and GPS

What is So Outstanding About PS Vita

Display: It makes no difference whether you are gaming, watching movies, or using the available apps in the PlayStation Vita Store, the display on the PS Vita has incredible crisp clarity.

This display, which has amazing vitality, uses the OLED technology which allows for deeper blacks, brighter whites and bolder colors. This display is easily visible in bright sunlight or even direct sunlight in most cases as well. Developers haven’t had access to this system for very long and games have already presented outstanding graphics which put to shame both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with their quality. This display quality is likely to be improved even more as developers become more aware as to increase their ability to harness the power of the PS Vita.

PlayStation Network Intergration: If you are already familiar with the PlayStation Network, you can use the same account with PlayStation Vita. In this way you can access your existing network friends list as well as any Playstation Minis, PlayStation Suite, Digital Comics, or PSOne Classics that you might already have for use with other devices. This feature also allows the Trophy Collections to be played on handheld devices. Any changes that you make to your account will sync smoothly to the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Portable. These will connect to your existing account for easier management.

Comfort: Although the size of the PS Vita is a bit larger than the current generation of handheld devices available, the device is surprisingly comfortable to hold. There are slight indentations on the back of the device which fit the players fingers very securely for one-handed playing sessions. It will really amaze players how light the PS Vita is compared to existing PlayStation Portable devices. The device is extremely comfortable to hold during extended movie viewing and gaming sessions.

Controls: Two small joysticks on the front work just as well as their larger console counterparts once you adjust to the size difference. The front and rear screens are responsive but not overly sensitive. You will learn more about the small learning curve which is handled very well via the Welcome Park app that is pre-installed on the device. You can break yourself in to the user interface on the device by playing a couple of the mini games.

Social Apps: Social sites such as Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter and even Skype are free downloads from the PS Vita Store. All of these apps function smoothly and feature easy-to-use interfaces. Many games allow access to check on your social apps or converse with your friends while playing a game by touching the PS Home button on the face of the device.

Near: Near is a new social app which is found only on the PS Vita. By the use of Wireless Location and GPS services, The Near app allows you to find your neighborhood friends who are playing PS Vita at the same time that you are. You can start converstaions, join multiplayer games and view player profiles directly from the interface for easy team formation and a more personally enhanced online experience.

Cross Play Technology: Developers can include cross-platform support in the devices’ games. This allows the users of this device to compete against PlayStation 3 users in real-time. This makes it easier to connect with a greater amount of online users. Another important point about this technology lets you pause a supporting game on the PlayStation 3 and resume your game exactly where you left off on the PS Vita.

The Down Side of PlayStation Vita

Battery Life: Sony estimates that a single charge will allow for three to five hours of playing time. That’s with the default settings, of course, and with wireless or sound cut off. It is much less time if the sound and wireless are enabled. This uses up more of the battery life. If you are longer for longer battery life, say that of a smart phone or tablet, this device just doesn’t have that much. Don’t be discouraged though, there are plenty of travel adapters and a standard USB charging cable which makes charging very simple during traveling.

Proprietary Memory Card: Once again, Sony has decided to release an exclusive memory card for the PS Vita only. This card will not be able to be used with any other device such as with a digital camera. However, if you have an adapter, the card can be read with standard memory card readers. The cards are sold separately and are not included with the device. Any interfacing with the card must be done through the PS Vita or a specialized computer software.

Backwards Compatability: With this lack of a UMD reader on the device, there is no way for hardware-based backwards compatability to work. Having said that, the UMD Passport program does allow PSP games to be used for discounts on digital versions of games that have already been bought on the PS Vita Store. This means that you will have to buy your games twice to enjoy them on the PlayStation Vita, but it’s better than no support at all.