Connect missing March relaunch?

With only hours left in the month, the revamped version of Sony's promised Web-to-PSP download service is nowhere in sight.

At the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in January, Sony announced that it would launch a revamped version of its Connect download service. Launched in May 2004, the service has struggled to compete with iTunes. As outlined by executives at the event, the new service would offer even more media than Apple's megapopular iTunes, such as books and games.

At Sony's main presentation at CES, Sony Computer Entertainment executive John Kohler took the stage and explicitly said that the service would be available this month. "One of the key news announcements that came out today from Sony Connect is the Connect video download service that will allow consumers to download feature-length movies and shorts to their PSP," said Kohler. "This feature will be available in March." The game and book services were expected to go online later this year.

However, now it appears that Sony will miss its own self-imposed deadline. With only hours left in the month, the Connect Web site remains the same, offering a limited number of selections in the company's proprietary ATRAC audio format.

If it doesn't go up later today, when will the new PlayStation Portable-enabled Connect launch? For now, that is unclear. As of press time, Sony reps had not returned requests for comment.

136 Comments

  • re4freak321

    Posted Apr 23, 2006 6:26 pm PT

    who cares!!!!

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 23, 2006 8:24 am PT

    HA HA (points finger and laughs)

  • Blazer88

    Posted Apr 23, 2006 6:37 am PT

    PSP,..hmm,..no thanks.

  • zakkro

    Posted Apr 22, 2006 8:32 pm PT

    I was so looking forward to paying EVEN MORE money
    for things I might not want or need.

  • WestCoastRida

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 4:11 pm PT

    itunes is at the top of its game, psp is has got their work cut out for them. But hopefully it comes out successfully w/ no problems

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 6:11 am PT

    Sony will get their online store/content butt in gear soon enough.

    Right now I'm enjoying the new Katamari on PSP and Phoenix Wright on the DS. Two totally different experiences on two totally different handheld systems and I'm loving them both.

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 6:32 am PT

    welll befor the DS started doing well all the PSP onerss at mty school always bashed my DS....so i guss that gave me the immpersion that all sony fans are that way sorry ill try to hold back

  • Author_1990

    Posted Apr 18, 2006 10:09 pm PT

    So I wasted my $250 for a PSP? Weird. I ENJOYED IT. I thought it has alot of potential and you only need some memory to further maxmimize this potential.

    I'm not saying the DS isn't great. I'm not bashing it and have never bashed any gaming systerm (well, I bashed Microsoft once but I still think their products are sweet). What I'm saying is that not all systems are perfect. The DS isn't perfect, the PSP isn't perfect. I admit I buy Sony's products more (but because of the game) than Nintendo's but I admit that Sony isn't perfect. Nintendo isn't perfect and Microsoft isn't perfect. Each company delivers something refreshing to the gaming market and I enjoy hearing what they bring. I wish I just had alot of money to burn so I can buy all but I don't.

    I can see a little "I don't like Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo" statement. But I never quite get over the fact that there is a system war. I dislike seeing people how they bash the imperfections of one system and say, "Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft is better than this.". I see the DS as a gaming device but I found the PSP more than that. I suppose it will be unfair to say that the PSP is better overall but it's just that I enjoyed the potential of their products. I can see it's imperfections and not quite enjoying them but I'm sure if I buy a DS, I will also bash the system the way I bashed PSP ("D@MN! I just spent more than a hundred bucks if I can use that money to save poverty?"). However, I'm sure to enjoy the DS. It's not perfect but it's acceptable.

    That is what I thought about the PSP. It's not perfect but it's acceptible. Each system has their own imperfections and I can't see why fanboys overstress those imperfections. "OMG! THE MEMORY IS ONLY 32 MB!" or "DS ISN'T A MULTIMEDIA DEVICE LIKE MY PSP" or "XBOX IS THE MOST POWERFUL CONSOLE" or "GAMECUBE IS FOR KIDDIES" or "PS2 IS SOO CRAP IT HAS LOW LOW POWER". Heck I won't care for the bashing. I'll just say, "Hey atleast I enjoyed it and it's acceptable and it's reasonable." Too bad I'm too poor and need to feed myself.

    Bottomline: Nothing is perfect. There's no need to overstress these imperfections. I hate it when my parents overstress that I'm dirty or I'm dumb because I know I can be usable and very acceptable. This is the same for the systems. They are imperfect. If I have money I will get them all. I tend to stay with Sony because the game series I grew up with are there. But anyway... continuing one. If I have money I will get them all. Right now I won't bash for any system at all because each system has thier own shine and all systems are imperfect. In the end, even though this project is delayed, it means that Sony is trying to enhance the product. I was glad they did this for the PS3. I wish they did this for the XBOX360 so that they can work on it more. Don't forget EA. They force an early release for some of my favorite games and made it crappy.

    Also, shouldn't you people get a job and feed yourself instead of fighting which system is better? I mean... this is 2006 people! This is the time where problems appear in every corner of the globe and is affecting us greatly. We have to do something other than bash each system about their imperfections. The only thing I am doing this is because I have spare time.

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 9:08 am PT

    THE BIG DEAL IS PEOPLE WASTED 250$ buying a PSP im glad my friend warned me and told me PSP was a load of crap and id be better of buying a ipod if i wanted to listen to music also u can order a DS movie player of lik-sang wich plays music movies and holds pictures

  • spectyre

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 7:37 am PT

    What's the big deal. When I bought my PSP I never new they were going to do this. I got what I paid for and everything else is a bonus. As far as getting online with my psp, polyh3dron, it takes me about 10 seconds, even with a new connection.

  • Kwzy

    Posted Apr 14, 2006 8:00 am PT

    sony is the best}!!! they will put a good service for us

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 1:13 pm PT

    Damn who?

  • Surg1983

    Posted Apr 13, 2006 10:12 am PT

    damn Them

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 4:50 pm PT

    i new it was a good idea to stik with nintendo

  • sgreig5

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 7:45 am PT

    Ever after the launch of the Playstation, this has been Sony's song and dance over and over. If Sony was an employee in a corporation, they would have been fired by now. They need to be more realistic with their product launch dates. Flavour for the month for April... disappointment....again. Time for Sony to consider the Customer at the end of their product, instead of the dollar. Sony should stop worrying about what their competition is doing and start worrying about what Sony is NOT doing, like meeting deadlines.

  • polyh3dron

    Posted Apr 11, 2006 8:47 pm PT

    It's much tougher for me to get online with my PSP than my DS.. My PSP keeps getting an internal error when I try to set up a new wifi connection, and my DS takes 5 minutes to set up with a new wifi connection.

  • THECARISMINE

    Posted Apr 11, 2006 7:58 pm PT

    IS THIS THING EVER GONNA COME OUT AND WHERE IS THE NEW UPDATE jeez its bad enof the update fudged up everyones roms right now I'm willing to pay 15 for a game but trust me I will hack the thing if all these dates keep changing for reall though what is with sony lately can't they pick a price/date for anything

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 11, 2006 2:20 pm PT

    i wonder why people thought that PSP would blow DS out of the water cause it went the other way around.Its like sony dosnt relize people allready have ipodes for music lab tops for any movie u want or cameras to look at pictures.People dont bye handhelds for that crap they buy it for the games thats why DS is wining and 3rd party componies make games for them because its more inovativ.PSP is just same old same old

  • MTGWARGOD

    Posted Apr 11, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    Well guys ya know what? the Connect musicstore is actually better than iTunes, they have exclusive connect sets (band recordings just for connect)

    and stuff like Jimmy Kimmel live shows.

    Also without all the gimmicky crap that apple throws your way.

    plus the music you download is easy to put on your mp3 player, its not copyright protected.

    Give Sony a dang chance, everyone uses iTunes cause friggin iPods make you download them, what a scam!

  • corderor

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 10:27 pm PT

    cool go Sony goo!! woo... update this page!!!

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 1:20 pm PT

    http://www.codepoetsolutions.com/myth/dsvspsp.html

    what more prof can there be?

  • nintendogamer64

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    if the DS is a pice of junk why do so many people buy it?!

  • SamQur

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 9:17 am PT

    fanboys are gonna be disappointed....

  • S1nnful1ne

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 10:59 pm PT

    We have to wait for stuff to download with our WiFi and NDS users had to wait for WiFi in itself...

  • doggie138

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    The DS is a piece of junk

  • lageasy311

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    guys check out Miguel's page....I think he is'nt a PSP hater, i think he just can't speak English well. Don't bash him I don't think he was system hating, he was just loving on his system....he was saying that psp is a gamer's dream b/c it does have a better CPU but accidentally put psp instead of DS. Read his blog's he has HORRIBLE english. I'm not tyring to offend him actually i'm Defending him. So rock on PSP, I don't care what Nintendo fanboys say, theyr'e mad that they don't have the dough to own a descent machine. Forutnately I do, and I own both, and when I wanna play mario 500 I play my DS, but if I don't wanna look like a loser in public, i bring the PSp and listen to music and surf the web or watch a movie or play a game, or look at pictures I have on it........

  • yixingtpot

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 4:00 am PT

    it will happen eventually... but i use Mac OS so Sony Connect isn't even compatible with my system. i hope you can sign up via the PSP that way i can actually use it when it does re-launch.

  • RockMan-NEO

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 3:04 pm PT

    hehe, just trying to bring this bashing to a stop.

  • T_U_M_E_G

    Posted Apr 5, 2006 8:18 am PT

    RockMan-NEO, ty for bringing sense here! Ur my hero now

  • RockMan-NEO

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 11:06 pm PT

    Like i care. I just like to play my PSP games. As for the PSP haters. Grow up please....DS is great PSP is great, DS has more games with a nice touch screen, PSP has better graphics along with the other features.

  • willps3

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 5:12 pm PT

    By the way, Miiiguel is on something. Obiously he is a PSP hater. Thats fine!
    But, Miiiguel please think before you type. DS is known for good library of games and an innovative touch screen, not a powerful CPU and a joystick.
    It may not have the CPU of the PSP, but, I has decent graphics to create games for it and wait!!! Longer battery life and no 2 minute loading times.

  • willps3

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 5:01 pm PT

    Sony gets greedy. Sony disappoints it's customers. Sony gets punished!
    Is this the 1st time people see this? I saw this right when I bought my PS2.
    What a mistake! I'll make sure I buy an XBOX or Nintendo product next time.

  • Mandibles

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    miiiguel ur an idiot. ok im not going to go bashing on the ds or anything but the ds doesnt have an analog stick and doesnt have a stronger cpu than the psp ur anoob i think any self respecting ds owner here could tell u the ds doesnt have an analog stick it has a touch screen. can i get a ds owner to help me on this and tell this guy.wat a noob and the site is working now and there are other psp sites u can download from.

  • Spongedart

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 2:59 pm PT

    it works try www.connect.com/psp

  • xjuggernuatx

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 2:23 pm PT

    I am so sick of seeing system bashing. it makes me sick. Both ds and psp are good in their own right. nintendo makes killer first pary games, well sony delivers on the multimedia aspect of the system(and there are googd games on it too) so stop with the rampet bashing.

  • kuruppath

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 9:28 am PT

    depressing

  • miiiguel

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 6:43 am PT

    DS has this powerfull CPU, much powerfull than PSP, and the landscape screen is amazing, it has an analog stick, one can see movies in it while on vacation, it has a standard memory device - it's really a gamers dream!

  • LordFlasheart11

    Posted Apr 4, 2006 5:20 am PT

    I'm sorry to say this, but we are used of this kind of behavior of Sony, hopefully they don't delay the PS3 or otherwise it might give them a real bad corporate-image, promising things and never delivering them. Tssss

  • amigo767

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 2:18 pm PT

    Nintendo fanboys piss me off. Im not for any company, since i bought all of the systems, but it is clear that the PSP is better. U can do a lot more stuff on it and a lot of the DS games are childish and retarted, the only good ones are like mario kart and mario 64. as for metroid, i had more fun playing socom ONLINE. also, ds is kidish. the only people who I know who play DS are my friends younger siblings, meanwhile, if i go on a public bus, train, or subway, i can see at least 2 or 3 people using a psp in some way. so all yous ds punks shut your mouths, cause ds will never be half of what psp is xD.

  • Konfusion

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 12:34 pm PT

    SONY is sooo not in it lately. If it wasn't for the hype by its blind fans (IMO it's worse than Nintendo's), the would have absolutely nothing.

  • 3xperienced

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 12:24 pm PT

    I'm very disappointed, I was looking forward to the new download service. The thing that worries me is when it will ACTUALLY be released - I'm tired of waiting and waiting.

  • MadonnaProject

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 11:30 am PT

    OH JUST GET OFF PSP'S BACK. STOP DISSING THE POOR THING, MY ANIME AND MOVIES LOOK MUCH BETTER ON THE PSP.

    BESIDES IF THE PSP HAD BIGGER BUILT IN MEMORY IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A FORCE TO TAKE ON THE VIDEO IPOD.

    but the ipod video wins in sheer storage space.

  • Reddsk

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 11:09 am PT

    Come on Sony... I'm so looking forward to this.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 10:59 am PT

    DS owns, because it has a music download like Sony wants since 1969! oh yeah!!!

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 10:35 am PT

    DS owns. oh yes.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 9:39 am PT

    System bashing sucks, dudes!, why bring DS into this ? I sense some "jealousy", because there's no real reason for someone to want a device "to die" or something, gosh!
    I myself, and don't want to sound pretensious, don't see myself using a DS, it's kiddish, or at best girlish, but's that's me.
    About the "real" issue, it's shame really, but not because of this episode in particular, but these "lies" are becoming somewhat regular in Sony, look at PS3 "game footage episode" last year at E3, and the "release date episode"..., nevertheless PSP is still a great device, it's cool looks good, have nice new games and retro ones, it just delivers what I've bought it for .

  • malcolmx99

    Posted Apr 3, 2006 5:20 am PT

    I have to say that PSP is getting too ambitious, trying to get on itunes, I rather they improve the software or get more features, rather that leave things half done.
    I like the PSP, great graphics and easy to use, but it seems that NDS have more games to choose from. Hope that Sony gets more games from software and games gaints!

  • harry2k5

    Posted Apr 2, 2006 12:13 pm PT

    who is surprise sony didnt come thru?
    not me for sure

  • saiyanlarry

    Posted Apr 2, 2006 10:09 am PT

    lol i'll watch movies on my dvd player, listen to music on my ipod, and go to webpages on my computer thank you very much. and for portable games i'll play those on my ds, since apparently even you, a big ds hater, say psp isn't for games.

  • Jammaren

    Posted Apr 2, 2006 9:37 am PT

    the psp hasn't got 3 hours battery time maybe 3 hours playing game time but unlike the ds you can watch movies and listen to music or go to webbpages and that kind of stuff. and one more thing ds SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

advertisement
Click Here

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!