Apple’s dominance in the digital music player market and growing dominance in the mobile phone market clearly has Sony worried. Reuters reports that Sony is considering developing a new combination game player/mobile phone device to “better compete” with the Apple iPhone and iPod touch devices.

Why should Sony be worried? It’s all about the developer of course!

The immense popularity of the iPhone/iPod touch coupled with the relative ease of developing for the platform has paved the way for thousands of applications in the Apple App Store. Increasingly more game companies are now developing games for the iPhone/iPod touch.. and therein lies the rub for Sony. It faces a threat of slowly becoming irrelevant as developers flock to Apple instead of developing games for say the Sony PSP.

The Reuters article states that Sony could be readying a new project team as early as next month to look into developing a new product which combines the key functionality of Sony Ericsson mobile phones and the Sony PSP.

Of course Sony declined to comment.

[Check it out via Crave]

Technorati Tags: Sony, Sony PSP, Sony Ericsson

Sony made several big announcements yesterday at E3 – headlined by the announcement of their new portable game system the Sony PSP go system. Let’s jump right into the details.

Sony PSP go System:

If we could summarize the PSP go, it would be as follows. The new portable game console is smaller and more expensive than the current PSP-3000. Yes, Sony goes against the norm in consumer electronics by announcing a new version of a gadget that is more expensive than the previous iteration of that gadget. Go figure. In any event, here are the details to the PSP go:

• 16GB flash memory
• Built-in Bluetooth to connect wireless headset and utilize Skype
• 3.8 inch LCD display (no it does not have a touch-screen display)
• Slide screen which reveals the controls
• No more UMD drive (replaced by the 16GB memory)
• Memory Stick Micro slot with support for up to 16GB storage
• 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than original PSP launched in 2005

The PSP go will come with a USB cable and an AC adapter. There will also be a number of “premium” peripherals for the PSP go (which means more opportunities for you to spend and for Sony to make money) including A/V cables, a protective filter, several cases/pouches, wired headphones, and Memory Stick Micro cards.

Here are the pricing and availability details: The PSP go will be available in North America and in Europe starting on October 1st for $249 U.S. dollars or 249 Euros. The PSP go will be available in Japan starting on November 1st for 26,800 yen (including tax).  Just for comparison, the current PSP-3000 goes for a mere $169.99.

PlayStation Network and your PSP:

Starting yesterday, Sony PSP users will be able to access the video delivery service of the PlayStation Store directly from their PSP. This basically means you won’t need the PC or the PS3 to act as a middle man anymore – just connect the PSP to your favorite Wi-Fi hotspot and you’ll be able to access thousands of movies and TV shows for rent or purchase.

Sony gets into motion controllers:

Sony also demonstrated their own version of a Wii-like motion controller shaped very much like a remote control also. Sony’s version of the controller had a glowing knob at the end of it which apparently is also tracked by the a camera attached to the PS3. The new controller is due out next Spring.

Games games games:

And finally, Sony made several big announcements in the area of gaming (because after-all, this is E3 we’re talking about here).

• Starting this fall, the PlayStation Store will offer digital versions of many UMD games from the PSP library including Gran Turismo PSP, Konami’s Metal Gear: Peacewalker, and Capcom’s Resident Evil
• Massive Action Game (MAG) will be coming exclusively to the PS3 – a game which allows up to 256 players to battle simultaneously on a modern battefield
• God of War III coming to PS3 in 2010
• Final Fantasy VII and Medal of Honor are coming to the PS3 and PSP

Technorati Tags: Sony, PSP go, PSP, PlayStation Store, Games

So how do the European PlayStation announcements affect those of us living here in the U.S.? Well, a posting on the Sony PlayStation blog has all the answers. Here’s what you need to know:

The new 160GB PS3 system will be introduced in the U.S. as part of a limited edition “The Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” bundle which includes the console, a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, the game “Uncharted:Drake’s Fortune”,  and a PlayStation Network voucher for PAIN. The 160GB limited edition bundle will launch in November for a price of $499.99.

Now with regards to the newly announce Sony PSP-3000, the portable game console will be introduced as part of two entertainment packs – the Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack and the new PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack which includes a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card.

Additional info on the new PSP-3000 from the blog posting:

• “The LCD screen will have a wider color gamut and higher contrast ratio to deliver deeper, more vibrant colors, as well as anti-reflection technology so you can see the screen more clearly when playing outdoors. As you all know, the PSP’s screen is a key strength of the hardware, and this update adds an absolutely dazzling LCD screen to the handheld.
• A built-in microphone allows for Skype calls and multi-player gaming communication directly from the hardware – eliminating the need for attaching a separate headset. “

The Ratchet & Clank Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack will be launching in October for a price of $199.99 and will include a limited edition “Silver” PSP system, the game Ratchet & Clank Size Matters, a UMD movie, a PlayStation Network voucher to download echochrome, and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card. The 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack will also retail for $1999.99 and later this year, Sony plans on releasing a standalone PSP in the PSP Core Pack which will remain at $169.99.

[Check it out]

[Check out the press release]

Technorati Tags: Sony, PSP-3000, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack, PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack, limited edition \"The Uncharted: Drake\'s Fortune\" PS3, PlayStation 3

Sony formally introduced the PlayStation Portable 3000 today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. The PSP 3000 will feature a new display which supports more colors and is usable outdoors. There will also be a built-in microphone which will make the device an even better platform for Skype users. The new PSP 3000 will go on sale in Europe for a price of EUR 199 ($294 dollars).

In other PlayStation related news, Sony announced two new storage SKUs for the PS3 in Europe – a new 160GB model and a new 80GB model. The 160GB PS3 will retail for EUR 449 and will be available starting on October 3rd. The 80GB PS3 will go on sale for EUR 399 later this month.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony PSP 3000, PlayStation 3 160GB

The FCC has published their latest testing information about the upcoming Sony PSP-3001 redesign on their website. There’s not much information on what this PSP really offers that’s different from the prior version although President and CEO, Jack Tretton of SCEA, did say that the new portable console would be cheaper to manufacture and harder to hack. From our standpoint right now – there’s really not much of a reason to upgrade if you already have a PSP.

[Check it out via New Launches, Gizmodo]

Technorati Tags: Sony, PSP-3001, PSP

EA’s given me a reason to consider picking up the upcoming “Need for Speed Undercover” action racing game -  the title will be featuring Maggie Q as the lead character in several live-action sequences for the story line. Don’t remember Maggie Q? She starred in Mission Impossible III and Live Free or Die Hard and well yeah.. just do a Google image search on her.

Need for Speed Undercover will hit the U.S. stores on Nov. 18th and European stores on Nov. 21st and will be available for Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, PC, and mobile platforms.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: EA, Need for Speed Undercover, Maggie Q

Ever wish your Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) had a bit more juice on hand for those long running games? Well, Sony’s got the perfect solution in the form of the new Sony Extended Life Battery Kit which contains a 2200 mAh battery pack for the PSP. The new battery kit provides up to 20 percent more power to the older PSP-1000 and up to 80 percent more power to the newer PSP-2000. The kit comes with two covers – a Piano Black cover and an Ice Silver cover – and will be available in mid-December for a price of $44.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony Extended Life Battery Kit, Sony PSP

In early 2008, owners of Sony’s PlayStation Portable in Ireland and the UK will be able to send video directly to their PSP via wireless or PC connections. Sony and BSkyB announced a joint partnership that will deliver entertainment content from Sky and third-party providers to the Sony handheld.

More at SiliconRepublic.

Technorati Tags: Sony, PSP, Playstation Portable, Video on Demand

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced a new version of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) which features a streamlined format and a new video out port. The new PSP will be offered in the PSP Core Pack as well as in two new PSP Entertainment Packs – a limited edition Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack, and a Star Wars Battlefront PSP Entertainment Pack. Not only does the new PSP sport a slimmer, lighter form factor, the new portable game console will be available in multiple colors including “piano black”, “ice silver”, and ”ceramic white”.

The first newly designed PSP will be made available in North America on Sept. 10th via the Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack. The package will include:

• PSP “Ice Silver” version
• Daxter video game
• Family Guy – The Freakin Sweet Collection on UMD
• 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card
• MSRP of $199.99

The limited edition Star Wars Battlefront PSP Entertainment Pack will become available starting on October 9th and will feature:

• PSP “Ceramic White” version
• Silk screened image of Darth Vader on the back of the unit
• Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron video game
• MSRP of $199.99

The PSP Core Pack will feature the “Piano Black” version of the new PSP and will come with an AC adapter, and battery pack for $169.99. This will also be available in September.

Engadget has additional information about the new Sony PSP form factor that isn’t in the press release. According to the gadget site, the new portable console will feature:

• 4.3 inch LCD screen
• 33 percent lighter in weight 
• 19 percent slimmer in size
• Faster game load times
• Improved battery life
• Video output

Here are some pictures from Engadget:

[Check out the Sony Press Release]

[Check out Engadget's posting]

Technorati Tags: Sony PlayStation Portable, PSP,