The problem: Sony has yet to capitalize on PSP's movie capabilities
Why introduce a new disc-based format that means we have to buy all our DVDs again in UMD format when the handheld is perfectly capable of running high quality MP4 files direct from the memory stick?
Currently, there's no centralized repository for legal MP4 movie downloads (pay or free). That needs to be rectified. Granted, some people will always download pirated movies from BitTorrent, but for the less technically-minded honest PSP types, an iTunes-styled video download site would surely be welcomed.
Above: Downloadable PSP content served from PS3's PlayStation Storewould certainly help Sony's flagging handheld
The fix: Offer pay for download content in MP4 format
The ideal situation would be that the PlayStation Store starts offering downloadable movies and TV shows in a PSP format. It's encouraging, then, that Sony top brass, Phil Harrison, was recently quoted as saying that downloadable films, TV shows and music were all part of a ten year plan for PS3.
Whether a PSP format version of this content, which can be transferred to the handheld, will be made available is yet to be confirmed. But in our view, it's the best solution to the dearth of legally available movies which are so at home on PSP's impressive widescreen display.
