Sony has unveiled a new addition to the PlayStation franchise. Coupled with the Xperia Play it looks as though they really want to push mobile gaming still.
The new PSP (codenamed NGP - Next Generation Portable - although as above, branded PlayStation) will not feature a UMD drive - but unlike the PSP Go which relies purely upon downloaded games, the NGP will use micro SD cards, preloaded with games, and space reserved for save game data.
Sony are calling it out as having great integration with the PS Suite for Android, which is flying along nicely with the Xperia Play - allowing non PS branded phones to get in on the action.
It features a quad core ARM CPU - the Cortex A9, along with a new and improved GPU: SGX543MP4+. Attracting most attention will be a 5" 960x544 multitouch OLED and dual analogue nubs, without the Go's silly slide out mechanism.
[More after the link]
\/
It also features cameras front and back; WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth and GPS radios, along with a six-axis motion sensor (comprising of a three-axis gyrometer and a three-axis accelerometer) and also a three-axis compass.
Battery life is said to be four to five hours, and the NGP's dimensions are 182 x 18.6 x 83.5mm.
Sony have confirmed that the NGP will be on shop shelves in time for xmas, but are keeping hush on price. Industry analysts lead us to believe, however, that it will fall within the $299-$349 bracket. By using my unfair-currency-converter-specifically-for-tech-sales, that equates to around £250-£300 - although, using my own judgement, I think a price around the £250 mark is most likely, given the original PSP launch price - and this would also allow scope for some decent bundles to occupy the £300 spot.
