According to Internet reports Sony is dropping several features from its PSX multimedia device, in order to meet the Japanese launch date later this month.
Amongst those features reported to have been dropped are DVD+RW playback, CD-R data (but not audio) playback, TIFF and GIF image display, Sony Cybershot movie support, MP3 playback and connection to the PlayStation BB online gaming service. Video file copying from the PSX to DVD discs has also been slowed from 24X to 12X speed and the machine itself has been made heavier.
Although some of these features may be incorporated into the machine as a future free upgrade (and likely as standard features in Western releases) these changes show the importance the device has to Sony’s future plans and sales in Japan over the holiday period.
