Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has announced that it will soon launch a new accessory for the PlayStation Portable. It's a new headset with a remote control to enhance the handheld's Skype and media capabilities. Find out the pricing and launch details in the full story ahead.

Remember this toy? That's the Picoo Z infrared helicopter model. Coder pacopad's homebrew application picoozIR lets you control this toy through your Sony PlayStation Portable with its previous build. Now on its version 4, you have a new flying engine among others. More details after the jump.

Download: PicoozIR v4

It's time for another update of Time Baby for the Sony PlayStation Portable by homebrew developer Art with less bugs and a better MP3 alarm. Time Baby version 13d, a rather quick update and the latest in the line that introduced infrared remote control compatibility, has sorted out most issues according to its creator. Learn more at the full article.

Download: Time Baby v13d
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Homebrew Development Forum

For those of us who enjoyed homebrew developer Art's Time Baby v13c on the Sony PlayStation Portable, here's some good news: the final version, version 13c, is now out and it's sporting the usual extra-special feature. What's the special feature, you ask? We won't spoil it for you, but it involves old remote controls, which is already awesome. Check it out in the full article.

Download: Time Baby v13c
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development Forums

Sakya has released a new version of LightMP3 on the PSP Development forum. This latest release ups the playlist limit to 300 tracks, allows the use of .PNG files as coverart, and adds a Shuffle/Repeat play mode. A complete changelog is in the full article.

Download: LightMP3 v2.0.0 Alpha 4
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development forum

Sony Japan has unveiled via press wire three new products it's planning to release for the months of March and April.

While the new microphone and PSP color are certainly interesting news, we have to say that the new cradle attachment for the Slim could be a potential hot-seller. Details for these three are in the full article.

PlayStation Portable Homebrew developer Art has released another update to Time Baby. Now on version 12d, Time Baby has even more improvements to the MP3 player, which already got an overhaul in the previous version. Check out the full article for the changelog.

Download: Time Baby v12d
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forums

Homebrew developer Art has released Time Baby v12c. Much like the previous versions,  the application's new function as an MP3 player has taken center stage with this release. Fans of the program will be pleased to know that the developer has made quite a few improvements that make this release much more accessible and functional.

Download: Time Baby v12c
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forums

The good news: Sony has announced by way of the PlayStation Premier in Tokyo that they're making plans to release the 1Seg Tuner for the PSP. This device will attach on the PSP's USB port, like the Go!Cam and the GPS transceiver, and will provide the PSP with the ability to view digital TV broadcasts.

The bad news: Sony further announced that this gadget is exclusive to the upcoming PSP-Slim. The 1Seg Tuner is expected to launch in Japan this September 20. It'll be interesting to see how well this technology will mesh with the Slim's previously announced video out capability. As for its technical specs:

• Model Number: PSP-S310
• Desired retail price: JP¥ 6,980 (US$ 57)
• Hardware specifications
• External size: Approximately 55 x 31.8 x 14.2mm
• Mass: Approximately 17g
• Accessory: Private case
• Interface: USB
• Broadcast system: ISDB-T
• Corresponding area: Japan
• Software specifications:
• Program viewing
• Subtitle indication
• Channel setting
• Program schedule indication and the like

Sony further announced that the PSP-2000 (though we'd just call it Slim) will also have six colors available arriving along its September debut (from left to right): Piano Black (PSP-2000 PB), Ceramic White (PSP-2000 CW), Ice Silver (PSP-2000 IS), Rose Pink (PSP-2000 RP), Lavender Purple (PSP-2000 LP), and Felicia ("Ferri shear") Blue (PSP-2000 FB).

  

Further complementing the PSP-2000's upcoming launch in Japan is a new set of audio/video cables to maximize its new video out function, as well as a remote control-equipped headphone accessory which can be bought for JP¥ 2,800 (US$ 19.99).

If you head over to PSPChina, you'll find a post for eBook reader: eReader v1.59. We have written about eReader v1.4, and that's a good place to start if you want to know how to use this program and navigate through it. Basically, the eReader by Aeolusc is an eBook reader program for your PSP. It lets you read simple text files, but more importantly, it lets you read HTML files, display images, and play MP3s. You can also download fonts in different sizes so you can choose one that's easy to read.

We'll update this as soon as we get more info. Meanwhile, if anybody out there knows more about it, then you can help out the rest of the non-Chinese-reading PSP community by telling us more about it.

Also, we'd like to welcome the PSP newbies who got PSPs for Christmas: Check out the FAQs, Guides, and Tutorials at our forums. You might look at Guides: General PSP for general PSP stuff (like figuring out the version of "firmware" you have in your PSP), and then you can jump into homebrew by reading the threads in the Guides: Hacks, Homebrew and Emulators forum. Recommended reading includes the ULTIMATE Homebrew Guide and the The Ultimate QJ Guide.

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Update: Tom sent in a very helpful translation of the original eReader post and of the readme. He provided info on what the newest features of eReader v1.59 Xmas Version (Ebook and Image Viewer) are, including info on the controls. There's also a very long and extremely important tutorial in this translation.

So for those who want to use this updated app ASAP, click on Full Article.