The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) is the latest portable gaming console from Sony Electronics. Boasting a 5-inch display, front and rear touch screens, dual control sticks and a powerful quad-core processor, it brings the console gaming experience to the handheld market. With Wi-Fi and 3G models available, staying connected with friends or using your handheld device on the go has never been easier.
The innovative PS Vita Near app makes it easy to find players and friends in the vicinity for a quick game or conversation. Front and rear facing cameras make it possible to video chat with friends or see your defeated opponents. The PS Vita’s seamless integration of gaming and social media will revolutionize the way that portable gaming is enjoyed.
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 Great About the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita)?
Display: Whether you’re gaming, watching movies or using the apps available in the PlayStation Vita Store, the display on the PS Vita is crisp, vibrant and incredibly bright. The OLED technology used in the display allows for deep blacks, bright whites and bold colors. The brightness of the screen allows for use even in bright light or direct sunlight in most cases as well. Developers have only had access to the system for a short time and games already present graphics that could go toe-to-toe with both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in quality. Display quality is likely to get even better as developers learn how to fully harness the power of the PS Vita.
PlayStation Network Integration: If you have used the PlayStation Network before, you can use the same account on your PS Vita. This provides easy access to your existing friends list as well as any PlayStation Minis, PlayStation Suite, Digital Comics or PSOne Classics you might have purchased for other devices. This feature also brings Trophy Collections to the handheld market. All changes on your account sync seamlessly with any PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Portable devices connected to your account for easy management.
Comfort: While the device is larger than many handheld gaming devices on the market, the way the device feels in your hands is surprisingly good. Slight indentions on the back of the device offer a firm fingertip grip during one-handed operation. The weight of the PS Vita will be a surprise to existing PlayStation Portable owners. The device is quite light and remains comfortable to hold during extended movie watching or gaming sessions.
Controls: The two joysticks on the front are slightly smaller than their console counterparts but work great once you adjust to the size difference. The front and rear touch screens are responsive without being overly sensitive. The slight learning curve is handled very well through the Welcome Park app that is pre-installed on the device. After playing a few of the mini-games available, you will feel right at home with the user interface of the PS Vita.
Social Apps: Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter and Skype are free to download from the PS Vita Store. All of the apps work incredibly well and feature easy-to-use interfaces. Many games allow you to check your social apps or chat with friends while playing a game by touching the PS Home button on the face of the device.
Near: Near is a social app exclusive to the PS Vita. By using Wireless Location and GPS services, the Near app allows you to search for other PS Vita players in your area. You can start chats, join multiplayer games and view profiles directly from the user interface for easy matchmaking and a more immersive online experience.
Cross Play Technology: Developers can include cross-platform support in PS Vita games. This will allow PS Vita users to play against PlayStation 3 users in real-time, opening up the potential pool of online opponents substantially. Another feature of this technology allows you to pause a supporting game on the PlayStation 3 and pick up where you left off on your PS Vita.
What is Not Great About the PlayStation Vita?
Battery Life: Sony estimates between three to five hours of use on a single charge. That is with the device at default brightness and with wireless or sound disabled. By enabling the wireless and sound on the device, you can count on battery life to stay towards the bottom of that estimate. If you are looking for the battery life of a smart phone or tablet, it simple is not there. However, a variety of travel adapters and the standard USB charging cable makes charging the device simple while on the go.
Proprietary Memory Card: Yet again, Sony has decided to release a proprietary memory card. This means you must buy a memory card that is specifically designed for the PS Vita. It will not fit in your camera or function with standard memory card readers without an adapter. All interfacing with the card must be handled through the PS Vita or specialized computer software. These cards are not bundled with the device and must be purchased separately to use many of the features of the device.
Backwards Compatibility: With a lack of UMD reader on the device, hardware-based backwards compatibility is out of the question. However, through the UMD Passport program, owners of PSP games can use their PSP to get discounts on digital versions of the games they already own on the PS Vita store. While this essentially means you will have to buy your games twice to enjoy them on the PS Vita, it is better than no support at all.
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