Sony to End PS Vita Support

[Demon_Skeith]

Sony is to stop support for Maps, YouTube and elements of Near in the coming PS Vita updates.

All of the features in Maps, and some of the features found in the Near app – like locations or displaying maps – will be disabled and removed completely via a system software update expected in March.

As for the YouTube app, Sony said support will cease from April 20, although the application will be unavailable for download from the PlayStation Store as of January 28.

Sony is quick to point out if you’re a YouTube user, the Vita’s browser will still offer access to the video-streaming service.

No reasons have been given for the removal, but we’ve reached out to Sony and if we hear anything, we’ll let you know what’s what.

source

Hmm, this can't bold well.

 

[Kasem]

I can already feel the backlash that will be coming!

 

[VirusZero]

Disabling the youtube app makes sense. I mean the browser already handles youtube videos as of an update like 6 months ago. So having to switch to a special app for youtube almost doesn't make sense anymore.
And for their map function... has the map function been absorbed by the browser too? (I never used the map function on my Vita or tried to use maps from the browser.) I mean if so then it makes sense too. 

Though disabling Near makes a bit less sense. I mean there were some games that made use of Near. (Like in Ragnarok Odyssey you could use Near to trade skill cards or weapons.) So why disable it? I mean sure, not everyone may have used Near... but some likely did and this isn't a case where having Near would hurt developers if they wanted to use it.

Overall, I don't think these changes are that bad or as "doom and gloom" that the title may indicate.

 

[froggyboy604]

I wonder if there would be a small performance boost, and increase storage space on the Vita after disabling YouTube, Maps, and Near if these apps run in the background while the Vita is on like some smartphones which have YouTube, and Google Maps running in the background unless you disable them in the app settings for YouTube, and Maps, or uninstall YouTube and Maps on a Rooted smartphone.

I think most people use YouTube, Map apps, web browsers, and other apps on their smartphone, tablets, and laptops these days, so apps for handheld devices are not as important as the past when fewer people own smartphones and tablet.

A lot of people probably rather have fewer apps installed on their Vita, so they have more storage space for installing some of the bigger games made originally for the PS2 which are many GBs in size.