[NewsPoster]

Official PlayStation apps for iOS and Android will allow some limited "second screen" functions with the PlayStation 4, Sony has announced. Users will be able to handle tasks like buying PS4 games, which will then download to the console, or remotely watching other gamers playing. Actual gameplay enhancements will be simpler, such as displaying maps while playing an RPG.

Sony is concentrating most of its second-screen support on the PlayStation Vita, which will even be able play PS4 games when connected to the console over local Wi-Fi. The company says it hopes to make "most" PS4 titles playable on the Vita. The concept is somewhat similar to Microsoft's SmartGlass apps. Those, however, are about more direct control, for example letting people navigate the Xbox dashboard. Nintendo's Wii U console is based entirely around the concept of a second screen -- the main gamepad includes a touchscreen which can display secondary views or interfaces, or like the PS4/Vita combination, play entire games away from a TV.

[Grendelmon]

Nintendo was already doing this back with the GameCube and the Gameboy Advance/SP with select games (Zelda).

Sony and Microsoft will eventually "me too" the dual screens Nintendo has already implemented, just like they did with motion controls.

[panjandrum]

That sounds nice. Would also be nice if Sony would provide a native media streaming app for the Mac instead of forcing us to rely on third party products.