In a recent poll, Japanese Web site ITmedia asked its readers to vote on the new PSP features, both announced and otherwise, that they want the most. The least popular features, gaining 3 percent of the total votes each, were the camera attachment and support for electronic money. Another 14 percent of the votes went to the GPS receiver, which will enable the PSP to act as a portable navigation system and could be put to novel use in games as well.

However, the bulk of the votes went to support for the 1seg service. 1seg, so called because it uses one of the 13 segments allotted to terrestrial digital television broadcasting, began earlier this year and allows viewers to watch programming on a range of portable devices. A 1seg tuner for the Nintendo DS is already in the works, and was announced alongside the Opera Web browser in February.

BEYOND3D.COM - An internal SCEE Q+A re. PS3, from E3, has made its way onto the web. It's an interesting read - in many ways they would have been better off just releasing this, it would have better communicated some of their points.

The highlights, by my reading, or 'new' info:

- Console Assembly will start simultaneously in Japan & China in the summer
- Main semiconductor manufacturing had already started as of E3.
- Specifications are "very close to final"
- Hints at DLNA compliancy (see questions on HDMI)
- Stresses "PS3 is a computer" - notes that standard USB adaptors can be used with PS3. Specifically notes that you'll be able to use standard card readers, wifi adaptors and usb port multipliers (although doesn't address how this will be achieved wrt drivers), and transfer data from PCs and other AV/CE devices.
- The noise output of PS3 is approx 29 db! (Or roughly the same as a slim PS2).
- PS3 is 'BD Live' compliant. (Internet-connected Blu-ray features, like downloadable content and Picture-in-Picture info browsing during movies etc.)
- Up to 8 controllers are supported (presumably 4 wireless + 4 wired).

Read on for the Full Q&A 

SPIEGEL.DE - Phil Harrison is Sony's head game designer. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, he talks about accusations that Sony copied Nintendo's new motion-sensitive controller, why Blu-ray needs no copy protection, and what Playstation 3 has to do with MySpace.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: How do you respond to people who say you stole Nintendo's idea for a motion-sensitive controller?

Phil Harrison: On one level I understand why people say that. But it's a little stupid, if you don't mind me saying so. When we launched Playstation in 1994 we introduced the concept of real-time computer-generated 3-D-graphics for the first time. That was the innovation that drove the platform. When Nintendo released the N64 in 1996 and they had real-time CG 3-D-graphics, did you hear us say, "Nintendo, you've stolen our idea?" Of course not. These innovations are things that become possible because of a combination of technology, price and manufacturing capability.

ENGADGET.COM - We sure wish we had more details on this thing, but MaxConsole is claiming the "Undiluted Platinum" to be the world's first PSP modchip. Supposedly the chip is a flash replacement to allow for older or custom firmware versions in new PSPs, giving homebrew enthusiasts the freedom to finally do what they want with PSP software, without fear of an "update" from Sony foiling their plans. MaxConsole doesn't mention exactly how you'll be installing this little number, or how you'll find room to fit this "entirely inside your PSP," but forum users are thinking it'll take some high-end soldering skills. If this all plays out we should be getting more info next week, but we're going to stick with 1.5 for now thankyouverymuch.

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