Sony said to be prepping PSP-3000 with built-in mic

There may not have been any word of a new PSP out of E3 as some had suspected, but it looks Sony may have a bit of a late surprise for us, at least if these tantalizing pics from PSPChina are to be believed. Apparently, this new PSP-3000 model remains mostly unchanged from the current PSP-2000, with the notable addition of a built-in microphone and a somewhat less notable PlayStation button in place of the usual Home button. As you can see in the picture after the break, the signature steel ring on the back of the PSP also appears to have been trimmed a bit (there's a pic of the inside of the case as well, for the curious). Not exactly the DS Lite sort of upgrade that'd make everyone ditch their old PSPs to be sure but, as we've seen with the PSP-2000, it would be about par for the course for Sony.

[Via Joystiq, Khattab]

[boutch @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:12AM]

Crap... pandora no more

[Adrian Morgan @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:47PM]

I see no point in the update, the graphics are better than the DS anyway, the main thing that make get a new PSP would be better load times.

The screens good, the price of UMD movies have come down a bit now.

[gabe @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:54PM]

u guys are tools - the PSP is a failure even with Pandora.

the games are mostly awful - more than anything the controls are trash.

what a waste of time

make the PSP2 already!

[Charles Han @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:21AM]

I don't think I'll ever update my psp slim unless sony comes up with a psp that has graphics close to ps3, now that would be something worthwhile.

[Paulmichael @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:29AM]

You're expecting waay too much out of a portable device. Near-PS2 quality graphics are fine by me.

[tekdroid @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:44AM]

screen would have to be at an unheard-of-in-a-portable resolution to be close to PS3. Battery life would be horrendous too.

[Charles Han @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:18PM]

okay i think ppl are misunderstanding my comment. I was merely stating that at least for me there isn't any compelling reasons for me to upgrade newer psp models unless the graphics vastly improve. Because like Paulmichael stated psp is already close to ps2 graphics which is really good already. And I was merely assuming although it maybe many years from now ps3 graphics on the newer psp is bound to come, maybe around when new playstation comes out or something. and for tekdroid as technologies improve so does power efficiency. Just look at the old psp and psp slim although the battery capacity has gone down the power, psp slim still gets same play time as the old psp model. And if you put in the regular psp battery in the psp you almost get double the play time.

[tekdroid @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:31PM]

Charles,
Yeah many years sounds right. Even if that stuff is all technically capable now, it would need to be affordable for the device to be successful on the market. It's a balancing act and a question of priorities.

The current PSP is horrendous to view even on an overcast day, let alone sun. I think they should focus on that, personally. It should be about gaming outdoors and away from home, IMO, and it works so poorly in these environments (DS not any better).

[Niz @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:23AM]

how about dual joystick?

[silverblackvoid @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:06PM]

im with you on that one.

[deyanimay @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:51PM]

Maybe some sort of L2 R2.

[ianoid @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:17PM]

Are they high? Dual analog joysticks should be the only reason to release another PSP iteration. Without that, they'll definitely lose marketshare to the iphone.

[walex @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:47PM]

all we just need is built in accelerometer, mic/ 1.3MP camera, and a clickable analog (L3)

[Ruben @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:00PM]

@ianoid

So the PSP with one Analog, one Digital, and 8 buttons is going to lose to a device with no buttons, unless it gets a second analog?

Makes sense.

[yui @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:27PM]

PSP2000's analog stick is not as durable as PSP1000's. Hope they will solve this issue.
Also, in-game XMB, and in-game full screen TV out please.

[Sami Mashouk @ Jul 27th 2008 3:21PM]

i agree, the new psp needs:

-2 joysticks
-possibly L2 and R2 buttons at the backe ( relocate the battery)
-better storage medium (perhaps flashdrives or downloads) NO UMDs
-better support for the playstation store
-increased ram and a better grafix card
-higher resolution screen
-proper mp4 support

[Schfelzerberg @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:30AM]

I'd prefer if they made improvements to the multimedia player, more particularly the music player wherein you can sort them and add playlists. I'm using my PSP right now as a PMP since I never really had anything I'd like to play.

I just hope GT4 Mobile comes out soon. It's the only game I want to play on the PSP.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:53AM]

Neither GT4 or any Gran Turismo will ever go mobile on the present PSP. That's just a pipe dream. I'd been waiting for years to have GT on the PSP and look what it got me.

Even my avatar is unhappy about the situation.

[DarCowAlways @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:47PM]

Sure it will, it's just taking... it's time...

[kjb434 @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:30AM]

So this means Sony will back its way into the phone market.....

[homerl @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:23PM]

No, no, no! Don't you see, this hardware addition of a mic leaves Sony with the smooth next step to adding cellular feature next. PSPhone anyone?

[Jay6464 @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:24PM]

Unless your comment was supposed to read "Sony Entertainment will back it's way onto the phone market" you might want to remember the branding 'Sony Ericsson' which is still one of the top phone manufacturers in the business...

[Giroro @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:15PM]

Sony-ericsson is failing right now.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/sony-ericsson-sees-net-profits-fall-97-looks-to-cut-2-000-jobs/

[tekdroid @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:31AM]

if the translation is to be believed "volume increases" I can only hope to mean SOUND...

[216 @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:34AM]

I still have my original PSP from 2005, and I have yet to see a reason to upgrade to any of the newer PSPs

[Akshat @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:48AM]

same here
i have a psp phat... i dnt use skype
and my phat works perfectly at 3.90m33-3... no reason to upgrade whatsoever

[deyanimay @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:56PM]

4.01 m33-2 with 1.50 addon FTW!

[bluestriker @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:23PM]

Same here. I like a little weight, the 2000 doesn't have enough. :P I was planning on putting custom firmware on my PSP, but I haven't figured it out completely yet, plus laziness is always a factor.

I don't like how they trimmed down the ring on the back, I thought that was a cool design feature. :/

[Kattleox @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:38AM]

Well, I was thinking about getting a PSP-2000 to upgrade from my PSP-1000 which I picked up circa 1980. BC. However, I may just have to wait out on this to see whats what. If it has integrated GPS or some tomfoolery like that, then I may just have to wait and pick up one of these cats instead.

[tekdroid @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:45AM]

you will never get integrated GPS in this device.

[h0mi @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:20PM]

Id settle for GPS being released period, doesnt have to be integrated. I also need to get my phat screen fixed.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:11PM]

Yeah, the GPS attachment for the NA market is way overdue. I feel so foolish for evangelizing to friends and family about its arrival in "Early 2008".

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:39AM]

If Sony can't somehow make the PSP's screen brighter and clearer (like with the DS Lite), what is the point in pushing out a new model then? It's just the same ol' chunk of plastic that's just polished up. This is the only thing keeping me from buying a new PSP since my original one broke not too long ago.

[tekdroid @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:42AM]

both screens suck in the sun.

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:03PM]

Sure the refresh kind of sucks on the PSP, but it's a damn beautiful screen.

[stryker412 @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:49AM]

Glad I just picked up a 2000. I was waiting through E3 to make sure nothing new was coming out. Oh well, it doesn't look like a worthwhile upgrade. However this is all based off the case alone not the innards.

The only thing that would get me to buy another one would be dual analogs.

[waterwagen @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:58AM]

The PSP is a nice machine, but I would really kill for a handheld that could play Xbox Live Arcade games. Money is tight right now, but I would buy that device tomorrow.

[inteller @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:59AM]

Skype, PSP = game over iphone?

[deyanimay @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:59PM]

not quite. PSPhone with touch screen = downfall of the iphone.

[Josh @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:33PM]

Not really, the iPhone is much better suited to the task of being a phone than the PSP ever will be. Sorry, but it's true. As much as it's shortcomings are, the iPhone is a phone and the PSP is a gaming device.

The lack of keypad, either touch or tactile is crippling for a phone and whilst it has skype, that relies on their being internet access nearby (and open access as well). It's fine for a quick natter to your friends, but it's just not comparable to a fully fledged SIM'd phone.

Not to mention that the iPhone has other stuff going for it than being a phone, it's got the App Store - 3rd party apps which Sony are too pig headed to allow and it is basically an iPod as well as a web browser (using a joypad for a mouse? no ta).

I do love the PSP but marketing it as a phone is stupid.

[DarCowAlways @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:56PM]

How do you know the new update won't add a SIM slot? It could happen if this microphone leak is to be believed. You're acting as if this would be the only update to the PSP if it was released.

The PSP does have a store for digital content, and they're going to have videos and TV shows on it soon, in addition to the games, wallpapers, themes, etc. that's already there.

And another thing-- there has long been speculation on a PSP keyboard. Remember that? Just because it isn't out now doesn't mean it's never going to come.

While I agree that it isn't as dedicated as a phone as the iPhone, what you're saying is that it would suck as one, without thinking about the things that could very well come out for it in the near future.

[Macfly @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:09PM]

I just love one of the comments on the chinese blog:
"Above the truth is the truth, but not for you the truth"
Very Zen!

[Mojo_Yugen @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:31PM]

I think that was on my fortune cookie last night.

[jntaylor @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:34PM]

Don't see the need to upgrade my PSP-2000 Slim. Love it very much and use it 90% of the time as a media player.

[Engadgetluvsappl @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:42PM]

We wait upon you, Dark Alex.

[KeegdnaB @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:48PM]

I do not own a PSP....if I choose to get one I guess I'll wait for the revision

[Lazarpandar @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:25PM]

480 x 272 vs 480 x 320

The PSP's screen is skinnier, but is still in the same league as the iPhone's.

[albi @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:57PM]

psp screen is amateur compare to iphone/touch screen. put them two together and you will see the difference, HUGE

[jupiterthunder @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:37PM]

Totally meaningless comparison. Two totally different classes of devices. You wanna compare the PSP screen to the DS screen then go for it, but comparing the PSP and iPhone screens is irrelevant. Yeah, it's always nicer to have a better screen choosing between these two isn't an option.

[Christian @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:08PM]

Need 2nd joystick and I'd go for it.