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PSP Phone rumors resurface
These PSP Phone rumors just won't go away, will they? Another one has surfaced today via UK marketing magazine, Marketing Week. Their sources say that a phone incorporating elements from the PSP will be out in time for Christmas 2009. Interestingly, the article also intimates that "the relationship between Sony and Sony Ericsson has become 'frosty'" and that "Sony would "never give its PlayStation branding" to the Sony Ericsson joint venture." Interesting.If this phone is in the works, despite a breakdown between Sony and Sony Ericsson, could Sony be working on it alone? GameIndustry.biz state that Sony have previously confirmed that they are not working with Sony Ericsson on any such device. We'll be keeping our ear to the ground in case any new information becomes available. [Via GI.biz]
Sony Ericsson files patent on haptic gaming device, doesn't call it PSPhone
It's nice to know that Sony Ericsson is plugging away on making our crazy, dare-to-dream fantasies a reality. The latest proof that someone up there (and by up there, we mean Japan) likes us comes in the form of a new patent for a touchscreen handheld that forgoes physical buttons for a haptic-feedback scheme. The design mandates that the phone / game device would be free of the pesky clutter of regular buttons, and would instead by configurable to any number of forms (PSP, phone, MP3 player, digital camera) by arrangement of on-screen controls. The device would vibrate in accordance with button-presses, though it's unclear whether this will just be a standard vibration, or a more advanced, location-specific feedback system. Even with a little buzz, we're not quite sure you can replicate the feeling real gaming controls provide -- and that could seriously interfere with our typical success in games.[Via Unwired View]
Debunk: Revenge of Stuff's Sony Ericsson PSPhone mockup
The gaming community is buzzing this morning from some supposedly leaked scans of a possible PSPhone would give it a full 480 x 272 display, mini-analog stick, and drop UMD in favor of playing full PSP games via M2. Turns out they're scans from Stuff magazine from months ago, which seems to have passed under everyone's radar (including our own, initially) because so few people seem to actually read it.[Via PSP Fanboy, with help from Engadget Español]
PSP Phone reference spotted in Sony Magazine
Now obviously, before proceeding here you're going to want to find the largest grain of salt you can locate and keep it nearby. According to SEfanatics, a page in an issue of Sony Magazine (an office favorite over here) makes passing mention of a "PSP-Style phone" which is supposedly in development, then casually suggests the device could be "in shops as early as February." Of course, we've been hearing hushed conversations about this topic for some time now, though it does strike us as slightly odd that it's referenced in what is essentially a multi-page Sony advertisement. Sure, it's possible that something like that patent we recently saw could be headed our way -- obviously the company is still capable of throwing a few curve-balls in our direction, though we're going to need to little more evidence than this to start cracking open our piggy banks.[Thanks, Teemu]
