191w ago - Update: Edge-Online is now reporting that Analysts Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities and Jesse Divnich of EEDAR wouldn't be at all surprised if Sony's next handheld supported the platform holder's proprietary UMD format.

According to PlayStation Insider (linked above), they have received a tip regarding the functionality of the upcoming PSP 4000.

Apparently it will feature the PSP Go's 16GB memory, however, it will also retain the UMD drive if the rumor is accurate.

To quote: "We received a tip today that Sony is working on a PSP-4000 that will feature the Bluetooth interface seen in PSP Go, as well as possibly featuring some of it's other features like 16GB's of internal memory, but it will likely retain the UMD drive as all of the other versions in the PSP-X000 series have.

I wouldn't get your hopes up for that second analog stick yet though, as that is likely to be put off until PSP 2 releases. You will still be able to at least use your Dual Shock 3 or Sixaxis controllers with the new PSP-4000, assuming these rumors pan out.

It looks...

222w ago - Sony's rumored PSP-4000 will apparently include a sliding front screen (similar to the non-Sony concept art pictured below) and boast a "complete aesthetic overhaul" based on existing PSP technology.

According to a "highly trusted source," the revamped handheld is set to be unveiled at GDC or E3 this year, though companies are keeping mum on any further details.

Additionally, the source also backs up Eurogamer's claims of a 2009 release date for the platform, so we can expect to be getting our hands on the swanky new portable device at some point this year.

To quote: VG247 has learned that PSP-4000 does have a sliding front-screen, with a highly-trusted source confirming fresh details on the unannounced machine this morning.

PSP-4000 is not PSP2, but rather a "complete aesthetic overhaul" based on existing PSP tech.

Much is now known by some parties of the console, which will be announced at either GDC or E3 this year, but cards are currently being clutched very tightly to chests.

The revamp does have a sliding front-screen, and we're assured the design being currently touted isn't a million miles away from this now-infamous image.

232w ago - Eurogamer (linked above) posted news that a PSP-4000 will be released in 2009, which will apparently feature slight hardware upgrades.

They also mentioned that a PSP2 is still planned, despite David Reeve's recent denial.

To quote: Sony plans to refresh the PlayStation Portable product line with a PSP-4000 model in late 2009 and launch a true successor - a PSP2, if you like - later.

Publishing sources, speaking to Eurogamer, were unable to provide any further detail on next year's update, which will presumably follow this year's PSP-3000 in taking an iterative approach. The PSP-3000 launched this October and followed a 2000-series model, the first Slim & Lite, in September 2007.

Even fewer details were available on the PSP successor, but we're told that developers are already working on games.

Sony has not ruled out either scenario, despite SCEE president David Reeves' assertion in MCV last week that "there are currently no plans for a PSP2". "I go to Tokyo quite a lot and no one has referred to it - I think they have their hands full at the moment," he said, non-committally.