So, I'm really enjoying the Vita so far. That said, nothing is perfect and I've noticed a few things that are kind of annoying. This may be a long read. The short of it is it that it seems there is no universal chat, being that any chat functionality is tied to an app. You're not consistently logged in the the network. Also, the Vita doesn't do a good job of notifying you of certain things or pointing things out like where the game updates and manuals are.
I'm copying this from the official Sony Vita forums:
1. Whenever you launch an app (ie: messaging, party, psn store, etc) the system always logs you into the PSN. Why can't the vita log me in when I power on the device or when I re-establish network connectivity? I would look at my friends list and see that my cousin was not online. However, when he launched an app, I received the notification that he was online.
2. Last night I tried to download a demo and to my surprise I did not have enough room on my memory card. It took me a few minutes to locate where I can see how much memory I have left. The location is Settings – System – System Information. It hit me that in order to manage the files on your memory card, you need either a ps3 or a computer. Granted a majority of people have either one or both, what if you are on the road? This is a portable device isn't it? Shouldn't we be able to manage the content on our memory card from the vita? There should be a memory card manager where it shows you how much memory you have. What applications are taking up memory, how many pictures you have, dlc, music, etc all under the same memory card application. I won't want to launch the Photo app to delete pictures, or the music app to delete songs. I should be able to manage all my content from the memory card application. This brings me to my third point.
3. The Group Messaging, Friends, and Party app should all be one application. It doesn't make any sense that I can't send a message to a friend from the friends app, or invite them to a party. Furthermore, in order to read the message it has to open the message app. Doesn't it make sense to open a PSN social app where it integrates all 3 into one Social application. Here you can see all your friends, send messages, and create parties all in application. Currently, we have to launch the party app and send an invite, then your friend needs to launch an app so that he can be signed on into the psn before receiving the invitation, when he clicks on the invitation it opens the messaging app, he accepts the invitation and finally he is in the party
4. The Vita doesn't do a good job of explaining features we don't know about. For example, no where does it say how to download updates for games. I just so happen to stumble upon the icon on the top left of the game launcher page. They should label the icons so we know that this is the download icon, game manual icon, etc. There's this one feature when you look at your friends profile called shared play history? I played with my cousin Hot Shots Golf last night, and it did not populate in the shared play history. Is this supported by some games? Or is this something else besides keeping a log of the games you and your friends play together.
5. The party chat app is fantastic although it has its limitations. I think we are back to square one with allowing the developers to decide if a game can support chat. My cousin and I were playing Hot Shots last night and we were unable to use the Party chat app and play Hot Shots. Why? Isn't it all on the same PSN network? I understand some games need to turn on networking in order to utilize all the power the vita has to offer (ie: Uncharted) but it doesn't make sense when a game that has online play, doesn't allow you to use the party app.
6. One cool feature is the ability to see all the activities of your friends for each game. For example, if you click on the game icon, you are brought to what I call the game launcher page. Here you can see the manual download updates, etc. If you wait a few seconds, you should see a couple of bubbles appear in the bottom. If you swipe your finger from the bottom up, you will be brought to an activities page. Here you can see what your friends have done in the game. Pretty cool. Only problem is, if you comment or give a thumbs up on your friends activity, there is now way for your friend to know you performed those actions. Your friend would have to scroll through all the activities to see any comments or thumb ups he received
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