PSP, PS3 To Get Skinny App Store

The AppStore comes to PlayStation.

Published 16/03/2010 at 9:00.
By Alex C [nofi].

We’ve mentioned an AppStore-esque interface and tools for the PSP and PS3 before (nearly a year ago, in fact) on TheSixthAxis, but last week’s GDC saw this finally come to life, with the “Skinny” software development kit (SDK).

Although a quick search on the official channels was fruitless, Develop is reporting that the cleverly named Skinny is a lightweight tool that will allow content creators to get non-game applications onto the PSN Store, easily.

Sony is describing Skinny as “a simple yet effective means for content holders to put their intellectual property on the PlayStation platforms without software development” and cites a day as the average time it takes to create the app.

Skinny is “ideal” for “strategy guides, game maps, cheats, training manuals, episodic videos, eBooks and eMagazines” and consists of a web-based editor/authouring tool and a software client for both the PS3 and PSP.

The user creations still require submission to Sony for approval, but this will quickly pave the way for lots of mini-apps on the PlayStation Store. Look out for a TheSixthAxis app on your PSP as soon as we get our hands on it…

Thanks, superjag86

Comments

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Raging Starfire | 16/03/2010 09:04
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TSA app heh? already sounds interesting
- ryman102990 | 16/03/2010 12:40
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  i won’t let it happen! then i wouldn’t need my laptop at all! hah
wotta | 16/03/2010 09:05
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Looking forward to seeing TheSixthAxis app in action, now all we need is an iPhone app :D
- shields_t | 16/03/2010 09:10
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  I must admit I’m amazed you guys have never tried. Your hand at developing a TSA iPhone app.
  - wotta | 16/03/2010 09:13
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    I’m sure will happen. Maybe I will learn C++ hehe
  - DJ Judas | 16/03/2010 09:18
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    Android please ;)
  - shields_t | 16/03/2010 09:20
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    It’s only got a steep learning curve if you want to produce something that’s actually any good ;-)
    
    Maybe you couldwork on a keyboard app for those with fat fingers like myself, as the comment above is testament to!
- gclarkey | 16/03/2010 10:07
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  321 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
  
  Platform specific apps alienate people who can’t use them. If a separate app at all is to be developed, a web based portal designed for mobile devices is a far better option and reaches many more users.
  - cheekyMcB | 16/03/2010 10:20
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    Second this. Not everyone can afford a smartphone and if they do they might buy an incompatible one.
  - wedgehog | 16/03/2010 17:51
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    I agree, web based portal is better.
KeRaSh | 16/03/2010 09:06
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I like the idea of it.
- cam the man | 16/03/2010 14:04
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  Could be good.
  There could also be a lot of pointless apps made like there is for the iphone.
GreenMekon | 16/03/2010 09:13
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Sounds pretty interesting.
Mick939 | 16/03/2010 09:23
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So a tsa app eh? How about one for iPod touch? Make navigating site etc much easier
- Kovacs | 16/03/2010 10:50
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  The site is very user-friendly on my iPhone. Not sure what enhancements you are envisioning.
shields_t | 16/03/2010 09:37
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……and just like that, TSA becomes “mobile theme TSA” on my iPhone. It’s like the TSA gods are reading my comments!
DJ Judas | 16/03/2010 09:48
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Likewise on my hero, very nice!
bunimomike | 16/03/2010 09:59
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Stunning news and I’m eager to see how it gets used. One to watch, that’s for sure. I love me some iTunes App purchases.
T-82 | 16/03/2010 10:00
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455 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2010

Come on Sound Spectrum and RabidHaMsTeR, get on this and bring us G-Force, Soft Skies, White Cap and R2, R4 (respectively) music visualisations for PS3/PSP.
eirekun | 16/03/2010 10:10
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575 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009

Cool, is it still the case that there will be another SDK (non-skinny) for Apps like a MediaServer etc.
I do love PS3MediaServer but I’d really like something that lived on the PS3 & gave me coverflow-esque displays, internet link throughs etc.