Despite rumors of a PSP-4000 on the horizon and a greater focus being placed towards digital distribution with the PSPgo, Sony isn't finished with refreshing its PSP-3000 product lineup in Japan.  Meet the Blossom Pink PSP, a eloquent new color sure to be an object of desire amongst feminine-minded consumers. Scheduled for a March 4 drop date, it'll debut at a 16,800 yen price point after tax, which Sony labels as a "limited offer."

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today revealed that the recent launch of PSPgo has been a success in European territories, boosting overall hardware sales of the brand by 120 percent over the previous week beside its UMD-touting cousin, the PSP-3000. No hard numbers, unfortunately, but this gives a vague indicator of retail performance. And, to Sony, expectations are being met:

PSPgo has performed in line with our expectations, driving 100 per cent incremental volume for the category and has benefited the broad PSP portfolio with PSP-3000 also enjoying a big lift.

Steady sales are always a good thing, but retail performance of the handheld has yet be gauged stateside and of course a launch in Japan is not scheduled until next month. With SCEA having released a Gran Turismo PSP-3000 bundle on the day of the go launch, we have a feeling that did not help numbers. If you’re a consumer, it’s clear which package offers more in the way of value proposition. Maybe too clear.

Sony: PSPgo sales “in line with expectations” [GI.biz]

PSPgo Meeting Sales Expectations In UK - [eXophase.com]

The PSPgo hits store shelves tomorrow and while it has generated a great deal of interest primarily due to being a digital distribution only platform, the relatively high price point is dissuading many consumers from purchasing. SCEE product manager Claire Backhouse isn’t worried, however, as she points out consumers who can’t afford plunking down $250 for the go may opt to pick up a 3000 instead, where the value is unquestionably higher.

We were very aware of concerns when we went into it and I actually expected a lot more negative responses than we actually got. They were really quite fine with it. They see it as a way of getting people into the store because it’s new interest, a new product. And they’ve had such strong sales as well of PSP 3000 almost off the back of it. If you bring out a new product, people aspire to that but they might not buy it, they might buy the PSP 3000 instead. Especially if they’re part of a family – dad might buy the PSPgo but the kids might get PSP 3000s. I think that works quite well for us.

You have to wonder whether or not this was Sony’s end game. Aesthetically, the PSPgo is definitely more of an eye-catcher than the original PSP, but when budget-minded consumers see the price point, they may end up settling for a 3000. Intentional or not, it’s a marketing strategy that will almost certainly work in Sony’s favor.

PSPgo – Sony’s plan for its new handheld [GI.biz]

SCEE: PSPgo To Drive PSP-3000 Sales - [eXophase.com]

As Sony is positioning Gran Turismo as a landmark title for PSP, they’ve went ahead and made the rather expected decision of announcing a limited edition bundle package.

That’s right, debuting alongside the standalone UMD disc and digital copy of the game on October 1 is a Gran Turismo PSP Entertainment Pack. Contents include a copy of GT, in addition to a Mystic Silver PSP-3000 unit, a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a music voucher good for 10 downloadable songs, and an “exclusive” downloadable voucher for the keys to a white Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. All this for $199.99 — $30 more than a standalone PSP. Not too shabby.

Unfortunately, the PSP unit included contains no special branding, diminishing this bundle’s value as a collector’s item. Still, for the price, it’s hard to argue the value here for prospective PSP owners. As of right now, the bundle is planned for release in North America only.

Sony Unveils Limited Edition Gran Turismo PSP Bundle - [eXophase.com]

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is upping the range of PSP styles prospective customers in Europe can choose from. Due out later this year are units in Turquoise Green, Lilac Purple and Blossom Pink. All will be sold standalone, with the exception of the Liac Purple PSP, which is bundled with the Hanna Montana game, just like its U.S. counterpart.

SCEE Bringing More PSP-3000 Shades To Europe - [eXophase.com]

Capcom today detailed its plans to release a Monster Hunter themed PSP-3000 bundle in Europe. Due out June 26, it is comprised of a plain Jane Mystic Silver PSP unit, screen wipe, and a branded carrying-pouch and skin. Oh, the actual game is included as well.

Perhaps this bundle will garner interest among the more casual crowd, but for most of us, wouldn’t you rather wait it out for a PSPgo?

Just a few moments ago Granite released a video showing homebrew running on the PSP-3000 using MatiAz’s TIFF exploit and Davee’s HEN. Davee is the one who recorded the video while Granite was the user responsible for the editing.

The video clearly shows Davee’s PSP running 5.03 OFW, launching HEN and then booting up into the HEN environment. From here he launched a popular PSP homebrew game, Jelly Car, as well as DGEN, a Sega Genesis emulator. We have no solid release date at this time for HEN’s release, however we are expecting it soon.

You can check out the video after the break!

It has been done!

The guys over at the french site PspGen.com just did it!

They are reporting about a PSP 3000 running HEN custom firmware through the recently found GripShift savegame exploit.

For those unfamiliar with it:
"HEN" is short for "Homebrew ENabler" and is basically the core of every custom firmware, it's that part that makes all the patches and other magic required to launch homebrew on the PSP.

The big difference of HEN to a custom firmware, as it's known these days, is that nothing gets written into the PSPs internal flash but everything happens in memory only - this also means it's gone by the next coldboot and needs to be reapplied through the exploit, but that's a small price to pay, most will say.

Although the creators of this achievement say it won't be released to the public until at least a second kernel exploit has been found (due to Sony patching it as soon as the files are released), this definitely puts up high hopes for things to come on the PSP 3000.

Find the original source (in french) including a video of said PSP 3000 running CFW behind the link below.

PSP 3000 on 'Custom Firmware' incl. video [ pspgen.com ]
HEN for the PSP 3000... [ LAN.st ]

According to a report stemming from one heavily Datel-sponsored website, the aforementioned code-pilfering peripheral maker has succeeded in accessing service mode on the PSP-3000. It was previously reported that the Pandora exploit did not work on the 3000 units due to various hardware-level changes, but Datel reckons they’ve discovered a workaround with the help of an all-new battery product, which is being produced by them, naturally.

As skeptics rightfully point out, there is no solid proof that Datel has actually managed to hack anything. As with the first revision of the TA-088 motherboard, the fact that a green LED turns on, does not mean homebrew code or custom firmware can be installed. File this one under wait and see.

About new D@tel Battery [Dark-AleX.org]