The PSP phone now looks like being mainly branded as an Xperia device, rather than a proper entry in the PSP series of gaming-based handhelds, with only a small PlayStation brand logo appearing on both units. Interestingly, the PS logo is in itself new, different to anything seen on current PS products, which also ties in with earlier reports stating that the device wasn’t meant to be an official successor to the current PSP, but instead a sideline to that particular brand. However, by the look of things, the design, and indeed planned support for a cross platform PSN, Sony are clearly looking to expand their gaming presence firmly outside the main PS line of products.
As previously revealed in early pre-production prototypes, both models of the PSP phone feature a similar slider containing the controls for gaming, much like on the PSP Go. Here we can see the familiar PS d-pad, along with the standard four face buttons iconic to the platform. Replacing the analogue slider found on all models of the PSP, is two separate touch sensitive panels, each performing the task of a regular analogue stick.
On another photo - this one showing a unit actually running – we can see that the system is powered by the Google Android 2.3 OS, with a familiar interface. There’s currently no sign of the Cross Media Bar (XMB) as of yet, although we imagine it will probably feature as an addition to the standard OS look as an alternative multimedia/games hub. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Sony’s CES press conference starts tomorrow evening, so hopefully more will be revealed, albeit officially this time around. Reports originally stated that a late 2010/early 2011 announcement was on the cards, so a CES unveiling would make sense.
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