Datel's Lite Blue Tool "Hacked" by Sony

Datel is being sued by Sony to prevent the release of its Lite Blue Tool, a service mode battery intended to boot a PSP 3000 into service mode.

Last Novemeber, Datel announced its battery peripheral that will enable homebrew games to run on PSP 3000. At that time the PSP 3000 was known to be impregnable, thus the excitement of all. But since the announcement, the Lite Blue was never heard of again and was never released, probably due to Sony's intervention. If you'll check Datel's website, there's no mention of the Lite Blue Tool anywhere, anymore.

This is indeed a sad day for pirates ;(

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PSP and PS3 Uber Numbers

On a recent Consumer Electronic Show held in Las Vegas, Sony released a number of numbers they are proud of. They ought to be, as these numbers are HUGE.

• 61.3 million - PSP and PS3's install base
• $1M - Total amount of virtual goods sold thru PlayStaion Home
• 3.4M - PS3s with PlayStaion Home
• $1.3 - Number of LittleBigPlanet sold
• 17M - Unique accounts in the PlayStation Network

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"No plans for a PSP2 are underway"

That's according to John Koller, Sony's director of hardware marketing. This is after news of a new PSP, aptly dubbed as PSP 4000, and a new handhled are under way.

Koller clarified that the media has misinterpreted Sony's new policy of focusing developers away from Universal Media Discs and towards digital distribution.

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Nintendo Tops Japanese Charts (Again??!)

As expected by almost anyone by now, the power that is Nintendo overwhelmed November's Japanese sales charts. This is especially so with the recently released Nintendo DSi, which observed a 35% increase.

The Wii also ousted PSP from the second spot, gaining just 2,000 units more than Sony's handheld system.

Aside from Nintendo's babies, every other console sales numbers fell. Here's the data from Media Create:

• Nintendo DSi - 126,648
• Wii - 56,702
• PSP - 54,782
• PlayStation 3 - 30,309
• Nintendo DS - 12,096
• Xbox 360 - 9,988
• PlayStation 2 - 5,743

[source]

Imagination Technologies and Sony Teaming Up for PSP2??!

While it's still in the rumor mill, many regard this to be actual news. And a good one too.

Britain-based Imagination Technologies has signed an agreement with an undisclosed company that many are saying is Sony. Reports say Sony will make use of Imagination's PowerVR SGX graphics processor for the PSP successor.

More powerful graphics for the next PSP. Is that what it really needs? I say good games, and innovation should be their focus. They should've learned that by now.

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Sony Now Has Playstation's YouTube Channel

Finally, the guys over at Sony has decided they must make use of this new technology the kids are all raving about... YouTube. Sony now has its very own channel on YouTube, featuring trailers and in-game videos of PS3 and PSP games. Neat. Welcome to the internets Sony.

Sony: Mystery TGS Games

Sony will announce a handful of new games at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. Aside from the impressive list they released, 14 additional games will be revealed, three of which will be for the PSP.

Here's the list of PSP Games that Sony will feature at TGS:

Ape Quest (SCEI)
Bleach: Soul Carnival (SCEI)
Dissidia Final Fantasy (Square Enix)
Dynasty Warriors: Multi Raid (Koei)
The Idolmaster SP (Bandai Namco)
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (Square Enix)
LocoRoco 2 (SCEI)
Mainichi Issho Portable (SCEI)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam (Bandai Namco)
Orochi Warriors: Second Coming of the Devil King (Koei)
Patapon 2 (SCEI)
Secret Agent Clank (SCEI)
Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 (Bandai Namco)
Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida 2 (SCEI)