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PSP-2000 in Europe before Japan
The PSP-2000, argh, PSP Lite will arrive in Europe before launching in Japan ... and yes, we're as shocked as you. Our Sony über-love of perfect quotations David Reeves says the PSP Lite will release in Europe early September at a €169 price, phasing out the old system. The system is not expected in Japan until September 20, sweet Mary Queen of Scot is Europe getting something early?Well, this is where things get a little tricky. Yes, Europe will get it early, but there's also a marketing maneuver being used in Japan in regards to the PSP Lite. Turns out the Crisis Core edition of the PSP will release in Japan on Sept. 13, a week before the the official PSP Lite does. The special edition unit will only have 77,777 made. But, now we're just getting picky, let's enjoy the moment for Europe. Yay for Europe, for once you don't have to wait months after everyone else.
The truth about PSP Lite's battery life
There appears to be some confusion about the PSP Lite's battery life. The system can go up to 8-10 hours ... but only if it's using the battery from the regular PSP. What?The upcoming PSP Lite will include a smaller battery for the smaller system. The battery that's included with the system will run for about 5 hours while gaming. However, if you have the battery from your original PSP, you'll be able to get 8-10 hours. The problem with this solution? The battery will bulge out of the system. Sony will offer a new backplate for those interested in adding the old battery to the new system.Does that make things clearer?
Japan gets the PSP lite in three additional colors
Showing a little love for the home crowd, Sony announced today that in addition to the three "basic" colors of black, silver, and white, Japanese PSP fans will also be getting the PSP lite in three metallic pastel shades: Rose Pink, Lavender Purple, and, um, Blue. No word on if we'll ever see these officially make it Stateside, but seeing as the original PSP was unlocked, you can bet some eager graymarketer is getting ready to cash in.PS. You know Sony should've given the new model an official name when even PSP Fanboy is calling it the "PSP lite."[Via PSP Fanboy]
1seg brings digital TV to Japanese PSP Lites
Finally, Japan is getting what it always wanted from the PSP: a 1seg digital TV tuner. 1seg is technology that allows Japanese PSP owners to watch digital TV while on the go. There's a catch, though -- the 1seg device will only work on the redesigned PSP. Burn!The peripheral is coming September 20th for ¥6980 (about $57). Those interested in picking it up will have to buy a redesigned PSP on the same day. Let's hope that this isn't a new trend of future PSP products becoming incompatible with the original model.[Via Joystiq]
Japan scores 6 PSP Lite colors
America must be the land of the colorless, because Japan's launch of the new PSP will come with a color selection that outdoes our own. Six colors will debut at the Japanese PSP launch, including some metallic pastel colors that certainly look unique. Considering how the original PSP was region-free, we're expecting these to become hits with the import community as well.[Via Joystiq]
Three extra colors for new PSP
In announcing the new PSP-2000 model for Japan, Sony revealed that the Land of the Rising Sun would also have six different colors to choose from. Rose Pink, Lavender Purple and Felicia Blue all join the previously-announced shades black, white and silver. Here's a screenshot of the new PSP palette. Notice how, unlike the Nintendo DS models, none of these colors are very bright or prominent.No word on if these colorful models will be released outside of Japan. The new model PSP is due out in September, whereby the old model will have to seek refuge as it's phased out.
PSP-2000 Japanese street date is Sept. 20
Sony has given the PSP-2000 (you must be joking with the name) a Japanese release date of Sept. 20. The handheld will release for ¥19,800 ($162) in six colors (black, white, silver and three pastels). If you'd like to know more about the gooey innards of the machine, feel free to check out what we learned from the manual. The PSP Lite PSP Slim PSP-2000 units will cost $199 in the US for an entertainment pack and $169 for the stand alone, they'll replace the original PSP model the same way the DS Lite replaced the phat.What's with the awful names being banged around? Seriously, did nobody at Sony realize that the year 2000 happened seven years ago and calling the system the PSP-2000 seems just a tad counter-intuitive? Whatever, maybe it's just the Japanese name, although David Reeves seems to clearly say it's PSP-2000 for the Europeans as well. We'll find out soon enough when we get the North American presser with a release date.Update: Yes, PSP-2000 is the model number (as PSP-1000 was the original). However, it is being referred to by Reeves (check the link above) and in widely reported articles as the PSP-2000 like that's the name. It will still be officially known as the PSP, as Sony is not rebranding the unit to differentiate it in consumer's minds. So the choice of Sony executives, instead of giving it a sexy name, is referring to it as the PSP 2000.
A look at the redesigned PSP's insides & manual
If you can't wait to get your hands on the redesigned PSP, than perhaps the inside look at the system, and it's manual over at Ookm will interest you. The blog post does a good job of not just showing what the new PSP version has for specs, but also what the original was equipped with (in case you forgot). It's certainly interesting to see diagrams of how the new PSP will hook up to your TV, and where exactly those component cables will plug into. The post also shows off parts of the manual that explain the USB charging feature, the expanded main memory, how it will use a new remote, and exactly where the WLAN switch was moved to. It's all great info, but as a PSP fan it's always difficult to see a PSP ripped open.[Thanks Don!]
Manual reveals some details on newly redesigned PSP Lite
We already uncovered a couple of the details gleaned from the newly redesigned PSP's manual from our own experiences with the unit, but there's a couple we weren't aware of. Here's the list: RAM has been doubled to 64MB, games should load faster The new system will support charging over USB The 1200mAh battery is rated at 3-6 hours, the same as the original PSP's 1800mAh battery (good news: more efficient, bad news: same overall runtime) Original PSP remotes will not work with the new PSP The fancy component AV cable will not be included (big surprise) The PSP Lite features a TA-085 PCB ... so, uh, yeah ... We'll admit it, we feel silly coveting this thing. Like the DS Lite, the PSP Lite is the same old PSP with a svelte new bod and yet, we're powerless to resist its charms. That new video-out functionality is pretty amazing though ... yeah, that's it.[Via Engadget]
Original PSP to be phased out
Much like Sony is phasing out the 60 Gig PS3, so too will go the original PSP. Sony PR, Patrick Seybold had this to say: "The newly designed PSP wil replace the original PSP design starting in September with the $169.99 PSP Core Pack and the $199.99 Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack." So if for some reason you like your handhelds with more bulk and less capabilities, quickly go out, and buy the original PSP while supplies last.
