E3 2011: Sony Announces PlayStation Vita

Next Generation Portable gets a real name; launch by year-end.

Rossi Fernandes|Jun 07, 2011, 11:47:45 IST

Sony first showed off their next generation handheld called the NGP (Next Generation Portable) early in the year. At E3, Sony made an official announcement that the upcoming console would be the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita). The word ‘Vita’ means Life in Latin. An official launch date hasn’t been declared but Sony says that it would be here by the year end.

A worldwide launch is expected by the end of the year

The Vita will use a 5-inch OLED multi-touch screen that supports a resolution of 960 x 544. There’s also a multi-touch pad at the back of the control, in addition to the other controls and the six-axis motion sensors and three-axis electronic compass. The Vita will be powered by a four-core ARM Cortex A9 processor, which is something no mobile devices have today. Wi-Fi 802.11n is supported, as well. The launch would be a global one and the Wi-Fi version of the device would sell at a price of $249 (approximately Rs. 11,200). There would also be a 3G version being sold in the US for $299. Sony has tied up with AT&T for 3G connectivity.

Pricing for the 3G model in other countries hasn’t been revealed yet.

By Rossi Fernandes

Our resident Hardware Ninja, Rossi, lives for speed - by uhh riding his bicycle. He's Tech2's utility man, dividing his time between cameras, software and intense bouts of Quake III. He's also a fan of all things obscure, case in point, Live for Speed (sic). Never heard of it? We rest our case. In his spare time he tries to teach our new joinees the tricks of the trade even though the blood sweat and tears, but give him a camera and all things forgotten.