Sony PSP Go Launched with 6.10 Firmware

Sony today launched the PSP Go, the latest Playstation Portable, simultaneously with version 6.10 of the devices firmware and 95 new PSP games. Announced in June, the handheld PSP Go has no UMD drive, instead shipping with 16GB of flash memory on board. The $250 list price is $80 more than the current PSP-3000. The Go is lighter and smaller than the PSP-300, and also features an much more visual interface, with bigger album art and a virtual 3D interface. Firmware 6.10 includes the new SensMe feature, similar to the Genius function in iTunes 9, that will automatically sort music by genre or mood, such as "mellow" or "hip hop." PSP users can have the clock select the mood by time of day.

Sony's MediaGo software has also been updated, to version 1.2. It now has a more iTunes-ish user interface, making it easier to buy and transfer games, videos and music to PSPs The PSP Go also adds Bluetooth tethering, which allows the Go to borrow Internet connections of any close at hand device that supports sharing its online access, like a smartphone with broadband linkup, so a PSP user could surf the web or download games without having to be near a Wi-Fi hotspot. What will happen to all the old UMD game disks users of previous generation PSPs have on hand is an open question. Will PSP fans embrace or snub the new Go, with its high price? With competitors slashing prices and holiday season coming up, it is sure to be interesting.