The device features a "super oval"-shape similar to the design of the original PlayStation Portable, with a 5-inch (130 mm) OLED capacitive touchscreen in the center of the device. The device features two analog sticks (unlike the PSP which features only a single analog "nub"), a D-pad, a set of standard PlayStation face buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross and Square), two shoulder buttons (L and R), a PlayStation button and Start and Select buttons.

We were expecting much more of a heavy, bulky feel-like we first experienced with the original PSP back in 2005. Surprisingly, despite the PS Vita’s large 5-inch OLED screen, the device is extremely light. We left our first-gen PSP back at home, but we can say, we felt a considerable difference in weight. We’ve concluded that the lack of an optical drive (UMD) could have significantly decreased the weight.

What is clear is that the structural bulk allows Sony to make a hand-held that is truly comfortable to hold. No smartphone control compromises, no utilitarian square edges - this is an ergonomic star. Sony's taken stock of the PSP's many flaws and fixed them - the horrible bevelled analogue disc has been replaced by quite incredible dual analogue sticks that are responsive and a joy to use, the harsh lines of the unit rounded to fit nicely in your hand, the PS buttons smaller and less clunky. Uncharted: Golden Abyss plays as close to the PS3 original as you could wish to hope for, long-distance gunning against multiple enemies from behind cover very effectively translated due to the combination of the impressive screen resolution and the tactile joysticks. Call of Duty and FIFA are going to play like a dream.

The PSP's replacement has a five-inch, 16 million color 960x544 OLED touchscreen, twin cameras, twin speakers, two turntables and a microphone. We're lying about the turntables.

You also get twin analogue sticks and a ridiculously powerful quad-core processor based on the ARM Cortex A9, the same kind of processor you'll find in many top-end tablets. Expect four to five hours of battery life.

Description from Sony:

Re-engineering the experience - PlayStation®Vita innovation has jumped years ahead of the industry with a range of new and immersive features that will literally change the way you play the game. Don’t think of this as the next generation of handhelds. This is the next generation of gaming.

You can order here: Amazon.com | Play-Asia.com

Vita’s been rumoured to be the proper name of Sony’s next-gen PSP, which has been going under the codename Next-Generation Portable since its unveiling in January, as of last week.

Sony PlayStation and the names PSVita Vita now in Europe to register the fact, as from an entry in EU Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office. Also PSVita logo (see below) has registered by Sony. It’s classified for use under a whole list of goods, but you can probably guess it’s not going to be used for them.

Sony's moved E3 Press Conference its usual Tuesday event to Monday evening, Sony will finally come clean with the whole "PlayStation Vita"

In the course of next Tuesday starting E3, has Konami now a new trailer and a tech demo for their soccer simulation Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (PES 2012) published. These trailers, while based on the versions for the stationary consoles, however, appeared recently a possible NGP version, as part of a list of the launch line-up to Sony's new handheld.

This rumor was Konami has not yet commented, only a PSP version is now officially announced. Here you can now watch the two trailers.

Already yesterday was known the NGP / PSVita can also play PSP games from the PSN Store. Now reported that the PSP games are shown on the screen of the new handheld in higher resolution.

PSP games downloaded on the NGP will be able to benefit from the improved hardware. The graphics of those games can be upscaled (the NGP's resolution is almost double that of the PSP) to make them seem smoother and hopefully much better. This will support full backwards compatibility with the PSP's enormous library of games.

For example, Resistance Retribution has been shown working on the NGP. Now the original graphic by its higher resolution raised the value. PSP games downloaded for the NGP will also be able to utilize some of the new features it offers, second analog stick can be used to rotate the camera, greatly improving gameplay.