GPS Navigation on your PSP

So do you always carry your PSP with you so you play that game your addicted to?  Well now it looks like after years of coming up with a reasonable excuse for always having to take it with you, you now will have a solid reason for carrying it everywhere you go … GPS Navigation!  PSP Fanboy posted a bit saying that  American PSP owners will be able to enjoy GPS navigation some time next year. They indicted that the platform support navigation and maps and possibly integrating gaming that ties location in with game play.  Very cool!

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Crystal clear protection for your PSP ‘Slim & Lite’

With the Sony PSP ‘Slim and Lite’ being 33% lighter and 19% slimmer than the original PSP, it’s only too important that it’s protected in a way that is not only practical, but also suitable for its funky slim line image.

Coming very soon to Proporta is the Alu-Crystal Case (Sony PSP Slim and Lite). Using only the best at Proporta; it’s even made from the same type of durable and scratch resistant polycarbonate plastic that’s used to make protective eyewear.

All the necessary cutouts allow access to all ports and controls, so there’ll never be any need to remove your device from its case.

Proporta’s Alu-Crystal Cases are shatterproof, shock absorbent, and provide crystal clear protection that is unbelievably tough and leaves your Sony PSP Slim and Lite on display for all to admire.

For extra protection for your Sony PSP Slim and Lite, Proporta recommend their Advanced Screen Protector, to protect it from scratches, scrapes and dust evasion. Made from a new ultra high-clarity plastic, Proporta have even been able to improve the thickness without impairing screen brightness or clarity. And an added bonus - this protector is also fully washable and replaceable.

Source: email, Hannah Saffman, Marketing and Advertising Executive - Proporta Ltd.

PSP 3.90 Firmware Update adds Skype

This is pretty neat, but I think I will stick with Firmware 1.5 that came on my PSP when I bought it the 1st day they came out. I haven’t made one Firmware upgrade to mine.

Anyhow, Engadget brings word that the PSP 3.90 Firmware is out now and adds Skype…

Oh yes, Skype for your PSP-2000 (aka, PSP Slim & Lite) series is now a reality. At least outside of Japan. It’s only available via network update at the moment and adds expanded support for PLAYSTATION Network titles. You do have your $20 PSP Headset right? Good, so what are you waiting for punk, get outta here and let us know how it goes.

Read more about it at PSP Fanboy

New PSP (PlayStation Portable) Expands Its Entertainment Experience by Introducing Skype

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would introduce Skype features to the new slim and light PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system (PSP-2000 series). More than 246 million members are registered for the use of this communications software, which enables users to communicate with other Skype users around the world over the Internet. Calls between Skype users are free of charge.

 

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A PSP phone concept

I’m not interested in a Google phone, I have zero desire for an iPhone, but if Sony came out with a PSP phone, I would buy it in a second.

Just Another Mobile Phone Blog had this PSP phone concept that was created by cheyfx2 over at mobile-review and when I first saw it I was blown away.  It quite simply is the best concept device I have ever seen …. Sony, are you listening?

Besides looking just absolutely SLICK, the green glowing accent light is the frosting on the cake … I love it!

Digital TV tuner for slim PSP … not for US

Too bad!  I would like to see this little add on available here in the US but clearly set to accept our over the air signals.  It would be that little extra “nicety” to have when you are out in the yard play a game and want to catch the news or a show.  In any event, Electronista had this up today and I thought it was cool …I guess I’ll have to go to Japan to try it.

Accompanying the slim PSP, Sony’s SCEI gaming division has also announced a new digital TV tuner add-on for the handheld console. The plug-in adapter receives Japan’s 1Seg digital broadcast networks and also includes a new electronic program guide that keeps tabs on current and upcoming shows without interrupting the show at hand. The tuner is said to require the newer PSP design and goes on sale at the same September 20th launch for a price equal to $57; a US release is unexpected and would require a switch to MediaFLO TV networks.

Slimmer and Faster - The NEW PSP

The PSP world is buzzing!  Electronista reported today that Sony has plans to slim down and improve the speed of the PSP.  A great device that will benefit from these physical changes.  Nineteen percent thinner, thirty-three percent lighter and FASTER!  Very cool!

While technical features are largely unchanged, the new version loads games from Memory Stick or UMD much more quickly and also lasts longer on a single battery charge, according to Sony. The device also gains a video output to play games on a larger screen at the same resolution.

Sony has not confirmed pricing for the new PSP, which is expected to remain the same. New colors will be available for the first time in the US as well, with the reference black model accompanied by an Ice Silver model and a white, Star Wars: Battlefront edition with Darth Vader’s silhouette drawn on the back. All versions should be available by September.

I’m "gonna" build an Empire … and stuff!

It’s Sunday, the sun is shining, there is a cool breeze and I’m “gonna” build an Empire!  Yup, it is a day to relax and spend some time away from finding stories and play!  So I’m heading out to the deck with my 8525, PSP and Sony UX380N.

First, I’m gonna build an Empire!  Astraware’s Tradewinds is a GREAT game that can surprisingly consume a day as you attempt to build your empire through swashbuckling sea combat and trade!

With Tradewinds, you can:

• Choose from 4 different characters to play
• Travel to Far Eastern ports and buy goods
• Plan your trading strategy but don’t get caught with contraband
• Increase your fleet to battle the pirates and protect your goods
• Amass enough gold to retire — HEY, I’m already retired!

Well, OK, I won’t spend the entire day building my Empire!  I am going to spend some serious time with my PSP and get back into some racing with Need for Speed - Most Wanted!  It has always been an “adrenaline rush” game for me.  I started playing it again last night and decided I needed to do it today.

And I just might take a break, have a couple of “cold ones” and watch a movie that I just added to my memory card last night…

And of course, I will be checking the “net” throughout the day with a new toy, a Sony US380N that I was fortunate to get to use for a while.  It is very cool, impressively responsive and definitely defining for me a new way that I look at Experiencing Mobility.

So what are you doing today?

A NEW PSP? Soon!

Kotaku reported a couple of months ago that a new and improved PlayStation Portable was said to coming. Of course there were no details and of course I finally decided to get a PSP last month … hey, I can’t believe I waited so long!  In any event, Kotaku got some of the skinny on the upcoming device and shared it on their site.

It will not be a new one but rather a redesign of the current model.  It will be slimmer, using a new LED screen that will have incredible image quality.  With the LED one can expect even better battery life.  Supposedly the UMD will be faster (thank God) to speed up the load times and it will come packed with 8GBs of internal flash memory.

A camera?  A possibility but is the cost worth it to gamers?  I don’t think so!  hopefully that option will not appear.  Kotaku is indicating that the cost will be under $170.

A new name?  Not sure but they did have a recommendation so head over to Kotaku and see what they had to say about the Rumor: PSP Slim Details Revealed.

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PSP 15 Hour Battery - WOW!

Got a long plane flight? Need a few extra hours of PSP playtime? Crave brings us word about the battery you need to accomplish this life long dream.

I personally think it look to big to keep the whole Portable part of the PSP acronym, but that’s just me. 

Features:

- Lithium-Polymer Technology for longer life
- 4500mAh capacity
- The only PSP-mounted battery available in the US
- Uses the standard PSP charger
- Weighs only 5 ounces
- Fully charged in as little as 5 hours
- 8-15 hours of playtime depending on usage

“Need that next on-the-go gaming session to go all night? The new Extended PSP Battery from Blue Raven Technology may be your dream product. The snap-on lithium polymer 4,500mAh battery pack aims to deliver up to 15 hours of PSP playtime–a big step up from the three to five hours offered by the PSP’s default battery. But the increased playtime comes at a cost: The Extended PSP Battery is about the same size and weight as the PSP itself (5 ounces for the battery versus 6.2 for the PSP), and it costs a whopping $90. On the bright side, it uses the PSP’s charger to juice up, so you won’t have to lug another wall wart around. “

Source: Crave

Sony drops price of PSP in UK - Finally!

  … and all you folks in the UK thought that Sony forgot about you!  Well, they didn’t … they were just a little slow in giving you the news that they would drop the PSP price to £129.99.  I guess that extra £50 will entice to to buy a new game too. Pocket-lint.co.uk reported that in addition to the new price, five new Platinum titles will be launched concurrently with a new, lower price of £14.99.

The new Platinum titles are:

• Ridge Racer 2
• Tekken
• Killzone
• Loco Roco
• Moto GP

A new, thinner PSP coming soon?

Gizmodo is reporting that Sony is working on a new, thinner PSP.

It’s only been two days since we reported on those PSP 2 rumors and already a Sony exec has made our rumor official by confirming the company’s plans to make a PSP2.

Source : Gizmodo

1.8-Inch Hard Drive With 60GBs on a Single Disk

Samsung First to Introduce 1.8-Inch Hard Drive With 60GBs on a Single Disk

Samsung Electronics Ltd. has introduced the world’s first 1.8-inch hard drive with a 60GB(1) per disk capacity and a super-slim form factor that is just 5-millimeters tall. Samsung’s sleek new 1.8-inch N-series features 20GB, 30GB, 40GB and 60GB per disk capacities — the largest one-disk storage capacity offered by any drive on the market today. Samsung’s 1.8-inch N-series is currently shipping.

Samsung’s new 60GB 1.8-inch hard disk can store data equivalent to 60 135-minute movies, 1,500 40MB music videos, or 15,000 4MB MP3 music files. Samsung’s 1.8-inch N-series hard disk drives are available in both internal and external HDD type.

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Windows Mobile and Symbiam Stand Out says Ballmer

Check out what Ballmer has to say about Windows Mobile in a News.com article. He even calls Crackberries and Palm niche markets, not that I can disagree with the statement 100%.

When it comes to smart devices, there really aren’t that many players. Basically, you have Nokia/Symbian, you’ve got us. Actually, I’ll be so bold as to say that the two of us stand out in that area. Then you have some guys who are more niche players–Palm is more of a niche player, (Research In Motion’s) BlackBerry is more of a niche player, those Linux devices from Motorola, particularly in China, (mean it) is more of a niche player.

On another note about Ballmer… if you have never seen him speak, go now, seek out his next engagement. You won’t be sorry. He is one of the most entertaining public speakers I have ever had the pleasure of sitting through.

Credit : Jason Langridge’s WebLog

Vaja iVolution Cases Are The Best, Hands Down

I have just drifted back to the dark side of the PDA world, in a small sort of way. I am using a Treo 650 PDA/Phone for my work now, after trying several different Pocket PC based phones. But that’s not the point of this blurb. Having made the purchase, I wanted to have the best protection available for this rather spendy phone. Since I’m paying for both the phone and the case, I wanted it to be a good match.

After some research, I purchased a Vaja iVolution T-66 case a dark blue one. For those of you who may not be aware of Vaja, they are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and specialize in hand-made cases for electronic gadgets. I have used them before, and their quality is second to none.

 

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