I love my PSP more than my iPod

I have said many times before on these pages of Apple Matters that I consider my iPod the most beautiful thing I own. Well I am here to tell you, despite my love and dedication to all things Apple, that my iPod has been unseated from the once untouchable title.

Now what could possibly replace my iPod? My PSP. Ever since I laid eyes on it, I knew I wanted one. Ever since I got one, I knew I could never let it go.

I knew Sony wanted to compete with the Game Boys of the world, but I always thought they would release a cheap, cartridge-based, low-bit, substitute and slap the PS name on it.

Never in a million years did I think I would, in my ripe old age of 30, lust after a video game system. I spend all morning on the train playing it. I spend all day at work thinking about it. I spend the whole train ride home playing it. I spend the entire dinnertime thinking about it. And then I spend the whole evening playing it.

Despite it’s photo, music, and movie capabilities, I only use it for gaming. Don’t get me wrong: the movies look awesome, the photos are cool to have on you, and the music is adequate. But for me its just games.

I still use my iPod daily. I will never listen to music on the go without it. So how does the PSP replace the iPod on my list?

Well here’s my official reason:
Sony did what I didn’t think was possible: they took a dedicated (and highly opinionated) fanbase used to a standardized controller configuration and packaged it as a relevant and portable gaming solution. Sony then threw in the music, movie, and photo features as an added bonus. They used the various movie companies they own to promote new releases in DVD and PSP (UMD) formats. They provided a battery that gives me 5+ hours on every charge and better yet, they made the battery replaceable. They used an existing memory card format that is small and versatile enough to use in many Sony branded cameras. (conveniently, the USB cables from most Sony cameras also work with the PSP) They gave it wireless functionality for greater entertainment value in network gaming. And they made sure there were enough quality games out in the market at the release date.

In a nutshell: buy a PSP and you instantly enter a vast universe of games, movies, and peripherals.

This is not an Apple Matters endorsed petition for Apple to get in the gaming world. But the success of the PSP can teach many a thing to Jobs and Co. In a word: movies. Not movies in UMD format that you buy at the store. Rather movies in Quicktime HD format that you download from the ITMS. Come on, you knew it had to come one day. Why else would Apple being putting movie trailers on the ITMS?

The proven business plan is in place, the licensing and DRM is in use (Granted not fool-proof but certainly better than selling DVDs.), and the purchasing process is a well-oiled machine.

I propose a bigger iPod. With a 16:9 Widescreen ratio color screen. WIth a 5+ hour replaceable battery. With optional wireless subscription service much like a NetFlix Portable. If the first wave iPods only did music. And the second wave models did music and photos. It’s now time for the 3rd wave to incorporate movies. Good idea?

Oh one more thing. But the new iPod and get The Incredibles preloaded. If you got cross-promotion possibilities: use them.