According to reports, there appears to be some 'evidence' or at least indication that Sony is to open its PSP and PS3 platforms to third party applications OFFICIALLY.


Sony has always had an unusual relationship with third party software (we're not talking games). The PS2 explicitly allowed the running of Linux on it. The PS3 came with Linux support, which ended up with some institutions buying PS3s in bulk in order to run them in parallel as a cheap sort of super-computer (there's no cheaper way to get the Cell chip, apparently). Then Sony removed the Linux option from the PS3 Slim.

Sony has constantly battled with homebrew on the PSP. It has always been in the name of piracy, but the end result has been that it has been impossible to run third-party applications on the PSP, and the ability to do so on the PS3 has effectively been removed.

It was therefore a little surprising to see just how the Digital Comics feature has been implemented on the PSP. Although you need the latest firmware installed, the comic reader isn't part of the firmware. Instead, you have to manually download the software to a folder you create on the PSP called "APP". The look and feel of the comics app isn't all that in keeping with the PSP itself, and it launches as a "game". It looks like a third-party developed application, though the support and distribution are official. However, appearing in the "Extras" menu, it has us wondering what other "Extra" apps we might get.


News Source: Gamerzines