View source for Software:PlayStation Vita system software

{{Short description|System software for the PlayStation Vita}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = PlayStation Vita system software
| logo = PlayStation Vita logo.svg
| logo caption = 
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| collapsible = 
| developer = [[Company:Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Interactive Entertainment]]
| prog_language = 
| programmed_in = 
| family = [[Unix-like]] (based on FreeBSD and NetBSD)
| working_state = Discontinued
| source_model = Closed source
| released = {{Start date and age|2011|12|17}} (as 1.03)
| latest_release_version = 3.74
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2022|05|10}}
| latest_preview_version = 
| latest_preview_date = 
| marketing_target = 
| language = Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English (United Kingdom), English (United States), Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish<ref>[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/psvita/settings/syslanguage.html System Language | PlayStation®Vita User's Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418160348/http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/psvita/settings/syslanguage.html |date=April 18, 2012 }}. Manuals.playstation.net. Retrieved on August 23, 2013.</ref>
| updatemodel = {{ubl|Direct Download|Download via PS3|Download via PC|Game Card|USB drive (PS TV only)}}
| package_manager = 
| supported_platforms = [[Engineering:PlayStation Vita|PlayStation Vita]] and PlayStation TV
| kernel_type = 
| userland = 
| ui = LiveArea
| license = 
| preceded_by = [[Engineering:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]] ([[Software:PlayStation Portable system software|system software]])
| succeeded_by = 
| website = *[https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/psvita/system-software/ USA]
*[https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/hardware/psvita/system-software/ EU]
*[https://www.playstation.com/ja-jp/support/hardware/psvita/system-software/ Japan]
| frequently_updated = 
}}

The '''PlayStation Vita system software''' is the official [[Firmware|firmware]] and [[Operating system|operating system]] for the [[Engineering:PlayStation Vita|PlayStation Vita]] and PlayStation TV [[Engineering:Video game console|video game console]]s. It uses the LiveArea as its graphical shell. The system is built on a [[Software:Unix|Unix]]-base which is derived from [[Software:FreeBSD|FreeBSD]] and [[Software:NetBSD|NetBSD]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/psvita-license/freebsd.html|title=FreeBSD|access-date=December 26, 2013|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114924/http://www.scei.co.jp/psvita-license/freebsd.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="latest">{{Cite web|url=https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/system-updates/ps-vita/|title=Legal|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=August 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828011805/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/system-updates/ps-vita/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Technology==
===User interface===
The '''LiveArea''' is the name of the [[Graphical user interface|graphical user interface]] of the PlayStation Vita system software developed by [[Company:Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]]. The interface features a new touch-based screen and acts like a hub page and allows users to hop between different parts of the game space.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/114/1146377p1.html |title=IGN - NGP's LiveArea Detailed |date=January 27, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2015 |archive-date=January 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125040455/http://psp.ign.com/articles/114/1146377p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The eighth-generation [[Engineering:PlayStation Vita|PlayStation Vita]] and PlayStation TV consoles use LiveArea as the graphical shell instead of the previous [[XrossMediaBar]] (XMB) interface, which was used by Sony's seventh-generation [[Engineering:Video game console|video game console]]s such as [[Engineering:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]] and [[Engineering:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]]. The [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]], Sony's eighth-generation [[Engineering:Home video game console|home video game console]] however uses neither LiveArea nor XrossMediaBar as its graphical shell, but rather utilizes a user interface called PlayStation Dynamic Menu.<ref>[http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2013/08/20/ps4-dynamic-menu-featured-live-video-feeds-of-friends-games-game-specific-messaging/ PS4 dynamic menu featured live video feeds of friends games & game-specific messaging] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030013242/http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2013/08/20/ps4-dynamic-menu-featured-live-video-feeds-of-friends-games-game-specific-messaging/ |date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref>

The PlayStation Vita system software uses LiveArea as its user interface, which includes various social networking features via the PlayStation Network (PSN). Users can select the icon for a game or an application on the home screen to open the LiveArea screen for that game or application in PlayStation Vita or PlayStation TV. As a new feature of PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV's LiveArea, latest game information such as downloadable contents are shown on the LiveArea screen for that game. In addition, by scrolling down the game's LiveArea, the "Activity" of other users who are playing the same game can be checked instantly.

===Cooperation with home consoles===
The PlayStation Vita (and the PlayStation TV which uses the same system software as the PlayStation Vita) supports a feature called Remote Play with the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4. It allows the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 to transmit its video and audio output to a PlayStation Vita. However, unlike Remote Play between the PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation 4 which is well-integrated, Remote Play between the PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation 3 is only supported by a "select" few PS3 titles and results were often laggy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/ps4-remote-play-is-sony-s-killer-feature-and-it-s-not-even-new|title=PS4 Remote Play is Sony's killer feature and it's not even new|last=Sawh|first=Michael|date=November 29, 2013|work=TrustedReviews|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-date=November 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127174523/http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/ps4-remote-play-is-sony-s-killer-feature-and-it-s-not-even-new|url-status=live}}</ref> In a similar vein, the PlayStation Vita can be used as a [[Engineering:Second screen|second screen]] device for the PS4 (and for PS3, but only supported by very few games such as Class of Heroes 2G) for streaming content directly from the console to the PlayStation Vita.<ref>{{cite news |title=PlayStation 4 supports remote play on PlayStation Vita |author=Jon Fingas |publisher=Engadget |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/playstation-4-supports-remote-play-on-playstation-vita/ |date=February 20, 2013 |access-date=February 20, 2013 |archive-date=February 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221003102/http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/playstation-4-supports-remote-play-on-playstation-vita/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also, for users having both the PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation 3, it is possible to share media files videos, music and images between them by transferring multimedia files directly from the PlayStation Vita to the PlayStation 3, or vice versa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brorsoft.com/how-to/transfer-copy-videos-music-images-to-psvita-from-ps3.html|title=Transfer/Copy videos, music, images to PS Vita from PS3 freely|work=brorsoft.com|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618025805/http://www.brorsoft.com/how-to/transfer-copy-videos-music-images-to-psvita-from-ps3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Updates of the PlayStation Vita system software can also be downloaded to PS Vita devices via a PS3 system. Furthermore, a service called Cross-Buy can be used which allows players to buy certain games that support this feature one time, and play them in both Sony platforms. ''[[Software:Minecraft|Minecraft]]'' and ''[[Software:Terraria|Terraria]]'' are examples of such games, and their saved worlds are transferable between the consoles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/10/minecraft-ps-vita-edition-coming-to-ps-store-next-week/|title=Minecraft PS Vita Edition Coming to PS Store Next Week|last=Silva|first=Brian|work=blog.us.playstation.com|date=October 10, 2014|access-date=October 19, 2014|archive-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019185806/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/10/minecraft-ps-vita-edition-coming-to-ps-store-next-week/|url-status=live}}</ref> Minecraft is no longer cross buy as of February 25, 2016.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

There is also a feature called Cross-Play (or Cross-Platform Play<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.playstation.com/en-in/get-help/help-library/apps---features/other/cross-play-on-playstation-vita-faq-s.psvita/ |title=Cross-Play on PlayStation Vita FAQ's |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127012440/https://www.playstation.com/en-in/get-help/help-library/apps---features/other/cross-play-on-playstation-vita-faq-s.psvita/ |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>) covering any PlayStation Vita software title that can interact with a PlayStation 3 or a PlayStation 4 software title. Different software titles use Cross-Play in different ways. For example, ''[[Software:Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3|Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3]]'' is a title supporting the Cross-Play feature, and the PS3 version of the game can be controlled using the PS Vita system.

===Internet features===
With an Internet connection, the PlayStation Vita system allows users to access a variety of PSN services such as the [[Finance:PlayStation Store|PlayStation Store]] and the PlayStation Plus subscription service, and games and other content may be purchased from these services. Applications such as the Live from PlayStation app, as well as various video streaming apps, also require an Internet connection to function properly.

The "Browser" is a preinstalled app on the PlayStation Vita for browsing the [[World Wide Web]]. Although not very different from [[Web navigation|web browsing]] on a PlayStation Portable, the browser itself has been improved over the PSP's version, which is intended to result in a less difficult experience. The browser application does not have [[Tab (GUI)|tabs]], but users can have up to 8 separate browser windows open at once, and can also save images from websites to the PS Vita memory card by touching and holding on the image until a menu appears. However, while users can use the web browser while playing a game or watching a video, the display of some content will be limited; as a result, it is recommended to exit any open game or video before performing more intensive browsing tasks. Furthermore, while the PS Vita's web browser supports [[HTML5]], [[HTTP cookie|cookies]] and [[JavaScript]], it does not support [[Software:Adobe Flash|Adobe Flash]], unlike the PSP's web browser.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamasutra.com/view/news/38142/Report_PlayStation_Vita_Browser_Supports_HTML5_But_Not_Flash.php |title=News - Report: PlayStation Vita Browser Supports HTML5, But Not Flash |publisher=Gamasutra |access-date=September 11, 2012 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725053226/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/38142/Report_PlayStation_Vita_Browser_Supports_HTML5_But_Not_Flash.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Another application preinstalled on the PlayStation Vita at launch was "Maps," which displayed online maps when an Internet connection was available. However, it was removed by Sony via a system update, along with the "near" feature in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/01/28/youtube-app-and-maps-will-be-removed-from-ps-vita/ |title=YouTube app and Maps will be removed from PS Vita |date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906151355/http://www.vg247.com/2015/01/28/youtube-app-and-maps-will-be-removed-from-ps-vita/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Multimedia features===
Like many other game consoles, the PlayStation Vita is capable of photo, audio, and video playback in a variety of formats, and the built-in [[Physics:Camera|camera]]s can be used to take photos or videos. However, unlike the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4, it is not possible to play [[Engineering:Blu-ray|Blu-ray]] or [[Engineering:DVD|DVD]] movies on the PlayStation Vita since it lacks of an [[Engineering:Optical disc drive|optical disc drive]], or a [[Universal Media Disc|UMD]] drive as with the PlayStation Portable. However, users can transfer movies in a supported format from and to a PlayStation Vita system, and there are videos for download at the [[Finance:PlayStation Store|PlayStation Store]]. Also, users can transfer content that is playing or displayed on a PlayStation Vita system to a PlayStation TV system, allowing them to view the content on their [[Engineering:Television|television]]s instead of PS Vita screens. The following multimedia formats are supported on a PS Vita or a PS TV system:

* Videos: [[MPEG-4 Part 2|MP4 SP]], MP4 AVC / MP4 H.264 Baseline, Main, or High Profile Level 4.1
* Photos: [[JPEG]], GIF, TIFF, BMP, [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]]
* Music: [[MP3]], [[MP3 Surround]], [[WAV]], [[Windows Media Audio|WMA 9]], [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]] Audio, [[MPEG-4 Part 3]], [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] / AAC Low Complexity (unprotected)

Furthermore, there are a few entertainment applications available for download on the PlayStation Store for the PS Vita and the PS TV system. Sony announced at Gamescom 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nz.playstation.com/psvita/news/articles/detail/item401197/PS-Vita-introduces-your-favourite-social-networks/ |title=PlayStation News – PS Vita introduces... your favourite social networks |publisher=nz.playstation.com |date=July 21, 2009 |access-date=September 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001062834/http://nz.playstation.com/psvita/news/articles/detail/item401197/PS-Vita-introduces-your-favourite-social-networks/ |archive-date=October 1, 2011 }}</ref> applications like [[Company:Netflix|Netflix]] would become available via the PlayStation Store.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a554743/sony-drops-support-for-foursquare-app-on-ps-vita.html#~oAhlBdyuD54oeX|title=Foursquare app for PS Vita discontinued|website=Digital Spy|date=February 28, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924003843/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a554743/sony-drops-support-for-foursquare-app-on-ps-vita.html#~oAhlBdyuD54oeX|url-status=live}}</ref> Additional applications available for download include Music Unlimited,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://playstationlifestyle.net/2012/01/09/netflix-music-unlimited-coming-to-ps-vita/|title=Netflix, Music Unlimited Coming to PS Vita|publisher=PlayStation Lifestyle|date=January 9, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|archive-date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113072945/http://playstationlifestyle.net/2012/01/09/netflix-music-unlimited-coming-to-ps-vita/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Social:Flickr|Flickr]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2012/02/22/newly-launched-playstation-vita-gets-twitter-flickr-and-netflix-pics/|title=Newly Launched PlayStation Vita Gets Twitter, Flickr and Netflix [PICS]|publisher=Mashable|date=February 22, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|archive-date=March 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304230243/http://mashable.com/2012/02/22/newly-launched-playstation-vita-gets-twitter-flickr-and-netflix-pics/|url-status=live}}</ref> Nico Nico, [[Software:TuneIn|TuneIn Radio]], [[Company:Qello|Qello]], [[Company:Crunchyroll|Crunchyroll]], Crackle, Hulu Plus, Redbox Instant and [[Company:YouTube|YouTube]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/31/youtube-coming-soon-to-ps-vita/|title=YouTube Coming Soon to PS Vita – PlayStation Blog|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=June 5, 2012|publisher=Sony|archive-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605023248/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/05/31/youtube-coming-soon-to-ps-vita/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://us.playstation.com/psvita/apps/ |title=ps vita app list |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219130204/http://us.playstation.com/psvita/apps/ |url-status=live }}</ref> although many of them are not compatible with the PS TV at launch.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/playstation-tvs-video-app-selection-is-rather-sparse-ri-1645955562 |title=PlayStation TV's Video App Selection Is Rather Sparse Right Now |date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-date=November 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127020502/http://kotaku.com/playstation-tvs-video-app-selection-is-rather-sparse-ri-1645955562 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}{{Berkeley Software Distribution}}
{{Mobile operating systems}}
{{Video game console system software}}

[[Category:Mobile operating systems]]
[[Category:Proprietary operating systems]]
[[Category:Unix variants]]

{{Sourceattribution|PlayStation Vita system software}}