The PSP 3000 has finally been hacked, thanks to Datel and their new battery peripheral. Datel’s Lite Blue Tool boots the handheld console into service mode, where users can downgrade to earlier, cracked firmwares. The PSP 3000 model had been proving notoriously difficult to hack, until now. Datal’s Lite Blue Tool can be purchased for $29.99.

The Sony PSP just received its fifth major firmware upgrade the other day. The upgrade, among other things, allows users to access the PlayStation store to download goodies directly on to the popular portable. Well, it remained hack free for a paltry two days before the illustrious "Dark_Alex" hacked into it. He changed the code to make it safe for homebrew enthusiasts to receive the update without losing programs or data. Wait, that doesn’t sound very dark. Next he is going to hack it so it helps old ladies cross the street and retrieves cats from trees. Thanks Alex!

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) unveiled Go!Messenger, the wireless communications package and the Go!Explore, the new Satellite Navigation package all for PSP, due for release in January 2008.

With the very latest in VOIP technology, PSP users can now keep in touch with each other, for free, from any wireless internet connection.

“Go!Messenger is adding unique communication functionalities to all the existing multimedia experiences,” said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, “enabling more than 8.5 Million PSP users across the SCEE region to communicate with each other, through Video or Voice chat.”

“Bringing GPS navigation to PSP is simply fantastic and shows again the unrivalled potential of PSP,” said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “Developed in collaboration with key companies TeleAtlas and NavNGo, the market leaders in the map data and Navigation software industry, Go!Explore offers the best and most innovative In-Car and Pedestrian GPS navigation experience. With the ability to use 3D city maps and even 3D landmarks in certain key cities, GPS on PSP is a totally unique experience.”

In case the exiosting colors of black, silver, and white, were not to your liking, Sony announced that it is adding three metallic pastel shades of Rose Pink, Lavender Purple, and Blue.

Hold off on buying a PSP! Sony announced the coming-in September new $199 PSP will still include the 4.3-inch LCD and UMD, but is 33 percent lighter, 19 percent slimmer, has sped up game load times and improved battery life. You will also be able to play your PSP games on a big screen TV.

So wait until September or you will just get yesterday’s news.