Important Apps We Want On The PlayStation Vita
As the Vita readies for a worldwide release, apps like Twitter and Flickr will finally be available on every store (although why they weren’t available last week considering they are on the JP store is baffling). But what else would we want to see on the app store? Read on to find out.
YouTube App:
The world’s biggest video site, filled with billions of cat videos, fail videos and game trailers, there’s a pretty high chance that you visit YouTube several times a week. But when I visited the main site on my Vita, I was greeted with “You need to upgrade your Adobe Flash Player to watch this video” – which was ironically an ad for the Vita. Not only should the browser be updated to work properly, a separate YT-focused app would be a great addition.
Hulu, Vudu, BBC iPlayer and Other VOD Apps:
Along with YouTube, other video on demand apps are extensively used on other mobile platforms. While the US and UK are getting a Netflix app, other apps like Hulu and Vudu and free ones like BBC iPlayer and 4OD would go a long way to making the Vita a fully-rounded multimedia player. Considering all the apps listed are on PS3, Sony has already made contact with the companies involved and should be able to negotiate a Vita release.
G+:
As Facebook and Twitter are already covered, the rapidly growing G+ should be too – especially considering the browser can’t post on G+ at all. For obvious reasons, a G+ app is the number one most requested Vita feature by PSLS’ G+ followers.
Digital Comic Reader App:
After Sony prematurely cut off support for the comic reader on PSP to look into other platforms, the logical next step is the Vita, where its better looking screen, touch capabilities and improved online capabilities make it perfectly suited to display comics. Sadly, Sony has yet to announce a comics reader for the Vita, but hopefully we’ll see one in the future.
Sony Reader App:
The whole point of the Sony Entertainment Network is to integrate all of Sony’s digital services, but Sony’s popular Reader app for mobiles and their Sony Readers is nowhere to be seen. The app would be an important part of their cross-platform synergy, as well as a nice treat for users of the Sony Reader system.
Google Goggles App:
A pretty nifty app that lets you scan barcodes, reverse Google image search, translate languages and even solve Sudoku. The inclusion of the app would make the camera useful outside of simply playing AR games.
News Reader Apps:
As some of the above apps suggest, the Vita’s browser is rather lacking. As such, adding something like the PSLS-compatible Pulse would mean that reading news on the Vita would be much easier, and far better.
Calender Apps:
Preferably the Google Calendar or another popular multiplatform app, calendar apps are increasingly used by people desperate to keep track of their busy lives. Having yet another system to remind me when I’m supposed to remember an anniversary is always be handy, and, as such, would make an important app.
PlayStation Suite:
How the PlayStation Vita and Suite will work together hasn’t been fully revealed by Sony, but its use would benefit the Suite by giving developers a bigger market, as well as benefiting Vita owners with more games. It’s also silly that I can play some PSOne games on an Xperia Play, but not the far more powerful Vita. This is certainly something that should be remedied soon.
Are there any apps you’d like to see on the Vita? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Apps we didn’t mention because they have already been announced and are coming – Skype and an Alarm Clock.
24 Responses to “Important Apps We Want On The PlayStation Vita”
Yeah, hopefully all that comes and many other things. Really hate Sony to lock us out of everything.
As for the Sony Reader App. The screen of the Vita is too small to be able to enjoy such a feature. The whole reason I didn’t get into the comics on the PSP was that the screen was too small to enjoy the comics. I have a Sony Reader, I think it’s around 7″, and it’s hardly big enough for digital books.
People use the app (and similar ones like the Kindle) on smaller mobile screens. Plus, you could always hold your Vita in portrait view
It’s still way too small to be able to actually enjoy reading a book from. The smaller the screen the more eye fatigue you will have as well. So not only is it not enjoyable, but technically it’s bad for your eyesight unless you are viewing huge words.
@solo13 by your analysis of the screen/word sizing, you would be implying that most paper back books are also bad for your eyes. Considering the size of the pages/text. Unless it was huge print type, of course…. i would like a comic reader at the least. Bigger than my phone screen and pocket sized (i wear big pants) unlike my tablet. Would be perfect for my 20/20 vision.
@Vesra – it’s a bit different though between on a screen and on paper due to the backlit display. I’m not sure on all the technicalities, but I do know that those displays are linked to eye strain and fatigue, whether it’s LCD, LED or even old CRT displays.
Hulu of course is a must , don’t forget pandora for streaming music, maybe a kindle ap as well, also YouTube would be useful. Also how about home for the vita? Was there any talk of that?
Yelp and Getglue are good apps as well. A Google Voice app would be great.
When the title said “important apps,” I guess I thought they’d be…important apps. No, thanks.
I would like google earth. How about some app to manage emails
The last update added “maps” which pretty much google earth
Audible app for my audiobooks.
if they released a good Japanese/English dictionary app for the PSVita in Japan, I would expect it would greatly boost PSVita sales in Japan.
Is the psn store not getting updated today? Was it delayed didn’t see anything on it.
It should be updated at some point, I guess they’re just delayed
Thanks , I was worried something was wrong with my psn haha.
My guess is around midnight tonight, east coast time. Since sony is spread out doing midnight launches for the vita across the states.
Pandora Radio and Grooveshark would be awesome, doubt they’ll happen because Sony wants to pimp their own music service but hey one can dream right?
YouTube app would be nice but with my phone being 4G n all I’d prefer my phone. I can’t really think of important apps but apps that would be great to have like pandora radio, ebay, soundhound, amazon n etc
it needs Gmail
DON’T SAY THE WORD? ‘App/Apps’ Apple might SUE! ! !
(they seem to be suing everyone nowadays) :-/
They do more than just sue these days…
http://s3.sidereel.com/episodes/1223157/featured/Screen_shot_2011-04-25_at_12.04.12_PM.png
i was hoping sony would continue allowing the sony location free tv app. any thoughts
I have the ps vita 3g version, and yea some apps I would love to see are.
1, SMS texting app, crucial in my opinion.
2, Msn Messenger ( and the other well known ones)
3,Adobe flash, so you can play youtube would be nice.
Ps Vita is great for games and I think it has the potential to be just as great with apps. Just wish Sony would release them, or developers would make some to use Ps Vita’s potential. But apps to me are just as important as games, I believe the more apps the better for everyone. Just thought I would throw my two cents in….