A contest being ran by FITC and the indie UMD label Silver platter sees you - the ordinary flash coder - coding something amazing to utilize a PSP Keyboard which is coming to the PSP in Spring next year. Yes, a PSP Keyboard is finally on its way! FITC and Silver Platter have teamed up for a contest dubbed as 'Type This' to find the coolest Flash applications in order to give away an amazing stash of prizes.

The winning Flash application will be bundled with the keyboard and PSP on UMD, or downloaded using the PSP's WiFi connection. There are no limits to the amount of times you enter, as long as your Flash application is designed to fit on the PSP's screen and would utilize a PSP keyboard. Here's the list of prizes you could be in with a chance of winning:

1st Place winner

• Your Flash piece will be bundled with the new keyboard released for the PSP in spring 2007!
• The Action Pack, only from Silver Platter which includes:
• One (1) PSP and Three (3) UMDs
•  One years Supply of new UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear Amp Speakers, PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case (Customized with your APP!)
• Two full tickets to FITC Hollywood 2006 (or two tickets to FITC Toronto 2007)

2nd Place Winner

• One (1) year Supply of new UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case
  

3rd Place Winner

• Five UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case

This is a very unique opportunity to win yourself some great prizes, let alone the priceless prize of your application being bundled with a new PSP keyboard set for release next year. We've been waiting for one for so long so roll on the PSP Keyboard!

Thanks for the tip nathan42100!

Art from the QJ forums has released another homebrew application today, building on his simple clock which was released almost a week ago. This is another milestone on Art's quest to create a  project that has a few live simultaneous displays all in one application. He is sharing his work as the program develops and this is where he is at so far. The above picture doesn't really describe what this program is, other than that it contains a clock. It's not that simple though.

Time Baby v3 for PSP is actually a talking clock with many features, something we haven't seen in my time here at QJ before. Here's the full feature list:

• Displays the time in 24 hour format with hours, minutes and seconds
• Rolling odometer style graphic display
• Speaks the time in hours and minutes
• Bean counter sub display can be turned on or off (can be used to count laps, or anything, with headset remote as trigger)
• Works in real time, so no operation freezes any other operation (ie. display does not freeze while speaking the time, etc.)
• Tested with iR Shell - Can speak the time through the headphones while an mp3 is playing.

Download: [Time Baby v3]
View: [Forum release thread]

Pink is the color of universal love. Emotional love of self and others, friendship, affection, harmony and inner peace. And the latest addition to the PSP's color palette is love indeed.

Available (for the moment) only in Europe for €229 and £169, it comes bundled with Pink's UMD video that include her music videos for Stupid Girls, Who Knew, U + Ur Hand, and Crash and Burn (as well as an interview with the pop artist) , carrying pouch, wrist strap, 32MB Memory Stick Duo, white headphones and remote control to compliment.

Recently, PlaystationPortable.de got their hands on this adorable handheld, and here are some of the lovely photographs. Notice the PSP camera on top? It's like icing on top of cake isn't it? Strawberry Short Cake that is.

For those guys that have that a special someone in their lives that aren't exactly into gaming, this would be a good gift for her. A homage to the "matching shirts" perhaps? Black PSP for you and a pink one for her? Lovely.

QJ is not turning you hardcore gamers into sissies, but keep in mind that only real men can pull off a dizzying pink PSP.

Passengers riding on first class 'green car' seats in Japan's Hyate trains are going to be offered PSPs on a rental basis. This is after the deal between Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and the East Japan Railway Company has been signed, making the said service applicable from October 1st 2006 to March 31st 2007. Only customers who buy a travel package through View, Japan Railways East's official travel agency will be eligible for the PSP rental service.

This campaign is an effort by SCEJ to bring the PSP to a wider market, and open the eyes of Japanese businessmen to the power of the PSP on their journeys. Obviously, this allows Sony to reach more age groups, instead of the traditional casual gamer, attracting businessmen/women who have free time every day just commuting to work.

The rental package consists of the PSP, headphones with in-line remote, and software titles selected by Sony Japan. Of course, if Sony provided 1.5 PSPs with a homebrew application that allows you to read ebooks such as Bookr, I'm sure they'd be more pleased with the package - until they heard that newer PSP firmwares don't run homebrew that is.

Logic3, who provide quality peripheral products to the video gaming industry, has released a handy in-line remote for the PSP. This remote allows the owner to control the volume, fast forward, rewind, play and pause functions of the device. The remote also features a hold switch that allows you to lock the remote so the buttons cannot be pressed accidentally, and a spring loaded clip so you can attach it to yourself!

The package comes complete with headphones (and you are able to use your own headphones if you so desire) and carries a recommended retail price of US$19.99. You can now sit back and relax while you watch a movie on your PSP while still being able to control the handheld's functions with this remote.

When Sony installed Sony Access machines inside malls, I knew I'd be skeptical about it, probably because of my unpleasant experiences with vending machines. So my hat is off to Brian Crecente for having the guts to try one of these robotic stores that's stocked with all kinds of expensive Sony products - digital cameras, MP3 players, headphones, PSP core packs and a selection of PSP movies and games. Better keep those dimes and quarters.

The state-of-the-art machine has a flat screen television where you can watch Sony commercials and examine product details. Placing orders is a breeze with the touch screen feature. Paying for the product is just as easy with just one quick card swipe. Call me crazy, but that robot retrieval system is just amazing.

Okay, enough of the talk and watch Sony Access in action.



The Sony Access robotic store is quite impressive, but it doesn't come with Sony bags where you can plop your purchase in. So, until Sony adds that feature, you better keep your receipts. You'll never know when you'd need to show security your proof of purchase.