- Check out this hack that lets you use an Xbox 360 Chatpad on your PSP:

- From Sony:

"Hi, everyone, there have been reports about the battery life of the new PSP system (PSP-3000) being shorter than the current model (PSP-2000), following an interview we recently did with Gamespot. I’d like to make a correction and clarify that the new PSP will have equivalent battery life to the current PSP, about 4 to 6 hours for games and about 4 to 5 hours for UMD videos. While the enhanced screen of the new PSP draws a little more power, our engineers in Japan worked to reduce the power consumption of the overall system including its components, so you won’t have to worry about losing any time when enjoying the more vibrant visuals displayed with the new PSP.

We hope this clears everything up, and we’re certainly excited about letting you all get your hands on the new PSP and checking out the enhanced screen when it hits retail next month."

- From IGN:

"This Fall, PSP will gain direct access to the PlayStation Store. This long promised feature will allow for PSP users to download demos and more directly to the portable without having to go through the PS3 or PC.

In Japan, Sony will commemorate the new PS Store-friendly PSP with the release of Mainichi Issyo Portable. The PS3 version of the Japan-only title is available as a free download, with Sony charging for items and gameplay modes that are added every month.

Perhaps more significant than both these developments, Sony will be offering PSP players some new connectivity options thanks to a new service that further ties the portable with the PS3. This Fall, select PSP titles will allow players to go through the PS3 to take their ad-hoc multiplayer modes online. When playing in this fashion, the PS3 can be used for text and chat messaging and also for matching.

Currently, Sony has confirmed that Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G will be compatible with this new service. In Japan, this is big news, as that title has sold over 2.4 million units.

Other titles, as well as further details on the service, will be announced in the near future.

Both these features will be compatible with all models of the PSP, from the original up to the new PSP-3000."

- The PSP-3000 model has been officially announced [1] [2] and will be coming to the US this Autumn [3].
- The new version includes a PS-button, (replacing the Home button to bring the PSP more in-line with the PS3,) and built in microphone, (older models can buy an external accessory.) [4]
- There is also a new LCD screen which is twice as fast and much brighter. [5] [6] [7]
- As such, some websites are dubbing this the "PSP Brite". [8]
- However, a better screen means more battery power drained. Sony are expected to resurrect the extended life battery. [9]

- Engadget noticed that the FCC has a posting for a 3001 model PSP, but there is no news on any new features yet.

- Time to catch up on a bunch of PSP news!
- Firmware v4.05 was released. New features were added including visualizations and a video store!
- There is a new Entertainment Pack bundle for those of you still looking to buy a PSP.
- Sony are so proud of their XMB interface, of PSP and PS3 fame, they have decided to port it to their Vaio Laptops.
- There may be a new model of the PSP coming. The 3000 model may add a microphone and PS button. Here is another version of the story.
- Someone got bored of waiting for Sony to get themselves together and release a PSP phone, so he went ahead and built his own.
- Another modder went ahead and added some features to the PSP that he thought should be there from the beginning. Changes include a touchscreen for his PSP.
- Finally, Sony have stopped making the extended life battery.

- From Joystiq:

"Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) was granted a patent on Friday for a "hand-held [sic] device with touchscreen and digital tactile pixels." It'd be a stretch to say any of this is explicitly indicative of a PSP 2.0 or PSP phone, but it is interesting to note that "game device" is listed as one of the potential applications, alongside a plethora of other sony handhelds: phone, portable media player, email device, web browser device or navigation device.

As for defining "digital tactile pixels," claims 19 through 30 of the patent suggest that vibration acts as the "tactile" response. As our friends at PSP Fanboy point out, it could be a long time before we see anything to do with this patent (assuming we ever do).

Fun fact: The patent lists former Sony executive Phil Harrison as the inventor. Harrison, now the Directeur Général Délégué at Infogrames, was with the company when the patent was originally filed in January 2008."

- Sony have announced their lifestyle app lineup for the PSP:

• Go!Messenger: Uses the PSP camera add-on for VoIP video chat.


• Go!Explore: gPs mapping software using the PSP GPS addon.


• Go!Cam: Turns the PSP into a digital camera


• Go!View, which uses the PSP antenna peripheral to turn the handheld into a wireless video-on-demand receiver. Sony is partnering with Sky in the UK for Go!View content.

- Sony have had to fix firmware v4.00 already:

"Hey everyone, here’s a quick heads up that a new PSP system software update, v4.01, will be released soon. This minor update includes the following:

* Display of search results under Internet Search has been improved for certain languages.
* Playback of video content under Video has been improved for certain file types.

Look for this update to become available during the next few hours."