New Vita FW Update in March. Sony to Cease Support & Remove Youtube, Near, and Maps.
Sony just announced out of the blue that they will be ceasing support for a majority of major apps on the Vita. Youtube is getting the axe too.
In a hitlist announced today, Sony said that the Maps and Near apps are reportedly going to stop being supported and all of them will be completely removed in a future firmware update in March. All data including bookmarks on those apps will also be removed and deleted once you update. Even if you don’t update the services will be completely shut off. Certain content from Near will remain for 7 days. The apps will no longer be able to be accessed. The Youtube app will still be able to be used until April 20th but the app will be removed from the Playstation store to download starting now and will cease to work in April. But why? What does it mean?
Really, it’s completely incomprehensible as to why Sony is giving up on these apps really leaving to speculation and finger pointing. There was no clear cut reason why Sony is deciding to do this. Some of these apps never even reached their full potential such as the soon-to-be extent Near; a 3DS StreetPass contender and/or equivalent. Sony has been consistently criticized for not supporting the Vita and this is another bullet in the chamber for that argument, for a majority of owners.
With Maps, Sony has nearly exiled the 3G versions of the Vita making the Maps app next to useless. It’s speculated that Maps uses the Google Maps Engine, which is subsequently being killed off by Google, but not until 2016. So it begs the question why now if true? Why remove two other apps? Sony doesn’t seem like they’re going to add a replacement Maps app in the future with the new Google My Maps Engine or an alternative service. Looks like that whole phone/console gaming on-the-go thing combination is extirpated.
. 
And Near, oh boy what a joke. It’s safe to say Sony just gave up on this. It was never even utilized fully or implemented in many games by Sony since the launch of the Vita. Its safe to say why this is getting the axe.
I suppose it’s somewhat understandable as to why they’re being removed, but its a huge inconvenience for users who did use them. But why Youtube! What! That’s a huge platform to remove. Youtube is a huge incentive for platforms. Its almost involuntary expectation that every device in the year 2015 at the very least has a Youtube app. What could possible be the motive behind removing a powerhouse like Youtube? I mean Sony even advertises and promotes new Vita games on Youtube! Why disconnect people like this? Maybe Sony really doesn’t want to invest resources further in the Vita? They made admittance to this already when asked about the future of AAA titles on the Vita back last year.
“The YouTube application for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) will no longer be supported after 20 April 2015, and the application will cease to be available for download from PlayStation®Store on 28 January, 2015.
Users can continue to enjoy YouTube via the “Browser” application, and will be able to access their YouTube data, such as playlists and channels, by signing in to the same Google account via the “Browser” app and on other devices.”
Honestly, Sony’s response to not having these apps sure implied like they’re done with cleaning and upgrading house with the Vita. They say that if you want to use Google Maps and Youtube just ‘go to the web-browser’. Well, suffice to say that’s not a very good response, is it? The Vita browser is the best gaming handheld browser out there (by trail statistics) but it’s no where near as competent as other mobile browsers (such as Safari on the iPhone).
Having dedicated, optimized apps with better settings, is a much, much better option. Youtube/Google just announced today that Youtube has finally switched from that dreaded flash to HTML5. Atlas, a great move, but again not a fantastic replacement for the Youtube app which was in no means, terrible. Whats more perplexing is that they even go as far as listing the differences between browser and app! Sony even illustrates the browser is worse via a chart on their new ‘comforting’ support page.
Oddly perplexing isn’t it? Removing features, more so useful features from a product is never good. The only logical conclusion to all of this is that the contract Sony signed with Google for these apps is over and Sony simply doesn’t care anymore or see it as a necessary service. But it makes you wonder if Sony’s long term vision for the Vita has changed.
NO, you shall NOT be first! 😀
Sony doesn’t give *** about the vita and with good reason. Most mid-range smartphones have better specs than vita and access to thousands of games (and several dozens of AAA class games). Also, smartphone games are much cheaper than vita games. Most people wouldn’t think twice before replacing a device that is big and can “only” play games with a device that can play games, make calls, take quality photos, share them online, have true 3G/4G service and as access to cheaper games and apps.
I own a vita and I love it, but the fact is, if I was buying it today, I would buy a smartphone with a big screen and not a ps vita.
What is the matter with you ???
I own a Nexus 7 and a PSVita for about 2 years now .. Point is that the tablet has reached its limits, there are a lot of games that do not keep a satisfying framerate whereas the vita has the same amazing graphical quality from the start and will keep having it until its dead … Secondly there are the controls, no tablet or phone can match the dual sticks with a mere touch input …
Last but not least, Vita games are definately more expensive but are incomparable to stupidass mobile games .. Where the heck will you play god of war, final fantasy X and killzone ???
Dedicaded gaming devices will always be better , no matter the specs, its the optimization that matters ..
As we say here in Greece, sciolism is far worse than ignorance and you are the perfect example ..
“Most mid-range smartphones have better specs than vita”
…and they have terrible controls (fingers on the screen blocking view, and/or the games only have a few actions) and cost an arm and a leg.
“Also, smartphone games are much cheaper than vita games”
Because most of those games are shovelware and/or are cheaply made.
“Most people wouldn’t think twice before replacing a device that is big and can “only" play games with a device that can play games, make calls, take quality photos, share them online, have true 3G/4G service and as access to cheaper games and apps.”
That would easily be the best choice to make, if those devices were not limited to using touchscreen controls, and if the games were not inundated with simplistic mechanics and free-to-play baiting.
Anyway, smartphones bring the phrase to mind, “Jack of all trades, master of none.”
Of course however, it is good at some things, such as phone calls, but still does many things poorly in comparison to many dedicated devices, such as certain video game consoles, music players, cameras, etc.
Remove apps … what a pathetic device … die sony die!
Will not updating to the newer yet to be released firmware ensure that youtube app continues to work normally….it should because the youtube resource is something sony does not control??
You’re only prolonging the inevitable by a short while, month tops. The service will be no more whether you update or not. You should actually read the article next time…
+1
Clearly he didn’t read the whole article… Hahaha!!
Well, reading is hard after all
Maybe he’d rather be the first than making sense!
Yeah, you have to do stuff and stuff.
You do realize that you can still likely use the internet browser to watch Youtube vids, effective even if it isn’t as elegant as the app.
You do realize it says that too? Double facepalm… Already thought before read though because its a web browser and wouldn’t make sense to axe YouTube completely as its flash, etc.
When i thought i couldnt get more dissapointed in Sony !
I will keep on playing on my vita daily. I’ve been playing playing on it daily since october 2013. I hope they dont dissapoint me more.
When i thought i couldn’t get more disappointed in Sony !
I will keep on playing on my vita daily. I’ve been playing playing on it daily since October 2013. I hope they don’t disappoint me more !
I have read that google wanted some kind of fee from sony and s. refused to do so. Youtube app was the most used app on my Vita and It will be missed… I hope that sony will “refund” us with new apps/better browser n more games… and if not I’ll cry. I also hope that next update will bring usefull stuff not just useless stability/exploit fixing junk.
Sony does not owe anyone anything for getting rid of free apps. “Boo hoo, sony is cutting off usless junk.. give me free stuff!” Thats all I can see from this post.
Yes they owe us something: when a company like Sony release a new console for the people and when you buy it it’s like sony made a silent promise with you that they will suport that console. Sony owe a lot of great AAA games that never came to us and since they are not delivering it (even from they first party companies) we expect at least good apps to spend your time while they release a decent game.
Near at least is required for some features of some games. So they absolutely do owe it to their customers to not discontinue features of the device just for the heck of it.
Except it isn’t “for the heck of it”. Google is switching to HTLM5 for video streaming, Sony and Google had a partnership that ended and Sony doesn’t feel it is worth their resources to invest in updating these apps. They were heavily touted and launch and ended up being rarely used, gimiky features. The Youtube app, by itself, is a poor reason to continue that partnership and put resources into re-writing the app.
Sony doesn’t owe you or I anything. You’re not entitled to AAA titles.
It looks like google is going to charge money for certain services. I dont think it will be done for consumers, but more for companies especially like Sony.
bought a vita, only hacked it for the good old days in 05-06 with the PSP. My phone is where its at now.
Think im just done with consoles. Maybe its my age finally catching up with me.
Maybe this means Sony is stopping Vita support soon, which would mean no more updates (a good thing for the hacking scene?). Pity about YouTube, though… Oh, by the way, I guess it’s Achievement Get: First for me 🙂 my first ever! (sorry)
Live long and prosper!
Darth Agnon
Planeswalker and Monster Hunter
Oops, sorry, not first! Ignore what I said above. The comments had failed to load or something…
You missed being first by almost 20 minutes dude. Comments failed to load my a$$ 😛 XDDDDDD
F5 Yo!….
Seems like to me not updating the FW would keep the apps working till however long for google to block those “out dated” apps to access their network. Its a a shame really, it defeats owning the 3g model now and makes me wish i got the non-3g model instead. However i did make more friends using “Near” because we can see who plays what in your local area making it easier to find other local players to 1v1 in the fighting genre of games for the vita.
This is really a huge blow for sony to do because lets say they make another PSP with 4g or 5g connection, i will probly skip it because of this experience.
Why!? Sony just want the PSVita to fail. It’s a shame, the PSVita has alot of potential :(.
Well, one day if native homebrew is possible we’ll get it back. probably ;-).
They need to get rid of them because they have to put ALL effort into blocking eCFW! Thats the most important thing for Sony.
+1
LOL!
Youtube was the most used app on my Vita. Videos look gorgeous on oled. Was planning on getting another Vita for using with the latest OFW, but after this- Nope.
RIP Sony
You really think that this is going to kill sony?
It wouldn’t make them more livelier
Well, they’re certainly dead to me.
Maybe take a closer look?? Playstation brand is doing ok cause of PS4, but Sony as electronics company is going down with their friendly marketing strategies.
all of those apps are completely worthless and I’m glad they are being removed you know the only thing they really did? they constantly ran in the background sucking up resources that could be used for games that need it…so rather then thinking about the negative the positive is it might give a performance boost in games especially if the apps were not optimized very well…also I don’t get all the *** in the comments near was useless and maps/youtube are EASILY accessed in the browser so you are all crying about nothing
So much salt in such a small man….
And this being the first time, I was ever contemplating a vita… Im not so sure now… With the PSP, I had a decent selection of the games I like to play… Not so much with the Vita… My family, and I play with our PSP together (almost religiously), and thought maybe it was time to give this thing a shot… Not so much now… Sad… IF this thing were to ever get broke wide open, I may reconsider it, because it could be an absolute powerhouse for emulation, and Homebrew (givin’ what was accomplished with the PSP)… So, as of right now, I may put this one on the back burner, till something happens to where, I would get enjoyment out of it… I already have 3 PSP’s and a whole slew of console, both new and old, and a PC I build from the ground up… Might as well keep on with that… For now…
Do we need more reasos to dream with the CFW for vita? we re waiting for you PSV-CFW…. be wellcome!!!
Shame.. :\ Oh well, I’m glad I took advantage of it while I can when I first downloaded it online when it was available.. Good run..
Can’t we just load youtube from the web browser and watch videos that way? Will this not work and when will vita cfw come out for us to pirate?
you can, but you can’t read descriptions, automatically jump to the next video in a playlist, thumbs up, add to a playlist, or write/view comments while watching a video.
One of the reasons it’s not only a good YouTube app, but one of the best on any device.
Certainly better than the PS3/PS4 app. I hate those versions.
First
all 3 apps rely on Google services, so it’s obviously not just an arbitrary decision by Sony.
and I question the statement that the vita browser is the best gaming handheld browser.
the n3DS has quite a decent browser too.
it opens tabs in the background instead of the foreground, making it easier to “collect” threads or Google results for later viewing.
it doesn’t force the bookmarks list on you when starting, it instead loads a new tab page with visible address/search bar and your most used bookmarks.
it scores 2 points higher than the vita browser on the HTML5 test(311 instead of 309)
it fills in search keywords automatically if you open the browser while playing a game.
it supports 3D images and video playback.
videos load quicker, the video interface looks better, and has additional options for playback speed, repeat, and 3D display(to convert SbS, SxS, anaglyph, etc. 3D to the 3DS’ 3D)
it has a switch to force mobile view and text wrapping.
the interface hides automatically when scrolling through pages.
and it has a keyboard with number row.
Not as good of a resolution though. Those features seem neat, don’t get me wrong, especially concerning it’s performance, but it just doesn’t visually look as appealing just due to the screen.
I’m getting one next week or so trading in my 3DS XL, so I’ll be able to see for sure, but it’s somewhat different in quality, despite it possibly being a superior app on paper.
I’ll get back to ya with my opinion later. I may just end up agreeing with your analysis.
that’s n3ds.. i bet future Vita update will beat n3ds html5 score to pulp
The End of the vita is nigh! XD 😛
Actually all of those app’s are useless, near is useless, maps also useless, youtube app it’s very limited imo, i use the smartphone or tablet for youtube or maps, I only use my vita to play games and nothing more.
Well This sucks but it also mean we regain some memory space on our Sony memory cards.
Not when it comes to near or maps.
Maybe some performance? Who knows. But it should add a few MB back as well.
Not really thrilled about that, doesn’t matter much, but woo! Lol
Hey an extra 3-4 megabytes…You can get one more mp3 song in it.
My vita become just an mp3 player
Don’t worry Sony! You still have a few believers. I think that the Vita will make a comeback after some time. Just like me.
It’ll make a comeback when natively custom lol
as Sony believer, i need new hardware with better support. I’d buy it day1
What aspects of Near are going away? This will remove functionality from some games, which kind of makes me wish Sony hadn’t ever made Near in the first place if they weren’t even going to maintain it for the life of the console.
I’ve had my Vita since launch (Europe) and i didnt even know that a Youtube app existed for Vita. I have heard of it a long time ago though, but i completely forgot about it. I’ve always used the browser, works just fine, in my opinion. No idea about Google Maps, i havnt tried that in the Vita browser.
Idk guys, the youtube app for the vita actually sucked in my opinion. I always use the browser for youtube on mine.
And i cannot believe you said Safari for IOS is a good browser. I’m like “What ._.”
+1
hot from the wire.
hackerscollective holland did a hostage on the nos tv studio live on tv.
he had a broadcast and demanding sendtime.
he was overpowered.
austin over.
Fine with me, now let us uninstall Welcome Park, Email, Calendar, Parental Controls.
finally!
i was waiting for a native cfw to remove this trash
i love this update
(still waiting to remove all the other useless apps Lol)
Damn! Might as well ask for the mp3 used on the maps app… I sure do love its sound :3
ohh that’s wrong… it’s the near app that has the sounds…
This is BS. The Sony Vita had more features on release than it has now and is going to have. These updates have literally been downgrades. Screw Sony /Rant
Well as they have given up on the devise then the vita hacks May aswell be released
it’s like they wanna kill psvita as soon as possible.. i bet they building its successor as we speak, it may be a PSPhone or second coming PS4 in portable form. With PS4 reception is so great they ain’t gonna waste a time to make PS4-like handheld, they may be aiming for multiplatform game release aside of 1st party titles instead of ports from old title. Vita is failed because so much ports.
for the Youtube app, it has something to do with their APIs, google will be updating it and for some reason (probably because the Vita is not doing really well) sony wont put up with the extra effort to continue supporting the application.
y’all forgot to mention that they’re axing Music Unlimited too!!!!!!
But for for what it’s worth, i’d trade Music Unlimited, Youtube, Near, and Maps all for Spotify any day of the week!
Maybe now that they’re trimming some fat they’ll focus on games more…
…
…***
Honestly up until I was hoping sony was just trying their best to support vita, but now I’m completely convinced that they really don’t care about vita anymore. I will never buy sony handheld again. I don’t have 3ds but it’s true that is far more better choice.
I am not so surprised who does not remember Sony’s big cut on there PS 3 in it’s prime? they gave everyone the finger as they took out “other OS” even thought that was a selling point for many buyers. and if you dared not update you where left out not able to play newer games or play online! And just to add a smack to your face. if you put CFW on your PS 3 to play the new games and still have “other OS” and play online they can ban you and your console.
I hope the PSV gets cracked way open I am talking native PSV crack what they are doing Sony did they deserve it
Wow for a hacking/coding site, this article was quite ignorant, the reasoning is simple, Google is moving the apps from APIv2 to APIv3. Sony doesn’t want to invest in them, so will not update them. Youtube can still be accessed on the web browser when Google fully moves Youtube to HTML5.
Sony doesn’t want to…………. or doesn’t know how to? 😀
And the web browser is shyte. Forget that!
wow wow you do understand that we speak about a huge company, you realize that until now the company is ditching its own console ,there is no lame excuse boo-hoo hackers are to blame,the company strategy is faulty ,as for the browser thingy did you try to use your smartphone browser for youtube? I DID and it is not convent as the application.
do not applause features gone applause added feautures
Agreed, as long as the web browser improved then it’s good i guess… youtube app is sucked because it always run on HD setting as soon as it start, there’s no setting to stop that. Well, maps can be accessed with browser so…. i guess not really a problem. I just hope twitter app will not get the same treatment, it’s very good compared to browser version.
Alright. Lets break down your statement:
” apps from APIv2 to APIv3″
Is moving? The API transition is something that is way over a year old; like March 2014. Its not even a legitimate reasoning as to why. It doesn’t explain an end to the services especially for Youtube which is a Google app.
“Sony doesn’t want to invest in them, so will not update them.”
I state this in the article.
“Youtube can still be accessed on the web browser”
I also state this in the article. Its not as good/ lacks features.
“Google fully moves Youtube to HTML5.”
It’s already happened.
may be there is a huge bug in that application and they affire to hackers find out son !
yeah ,,, that’s what ima thinkin too
well, march update may include big performance change for web browser..