This fan-made PSP concept is an awesome slider, with a look that beats the hell out of the old one and then spits on it for good measure. It’s got an amazing large screen and an iPhone style home button in front.

Just slide it open and it’s ready for gaming, revealing the D-Pad, two analog nubs, and the face buttons. This is one hell of a nice concept, considering I’m not much of a PSP fan and it’s got me wanting one yesterday. We can only hope that the next PSP looks something like this.

We’ve been checking daily for that next firmware update we told you about earlier this month that is to include Skype VoIP calling, and looks like it hit today. Version 3.90 is available for download from the Network Update menu on the PSP and will bring support for more PlayStation Network titles to the PSP along with the ability to make and receive free Skype calls on your Playstation Portable. The announcement comes today from Sony Europe but the update appears to be available for download here in the U.S. as well.

Unfortunately this feature is available only on the newer, slim PSP 2000 models and will require you to get a PSP headset and PSP remote control or Go! Cam to operate the Skype features. The 3.90 firmware with Skype lets you make free internet calls through the PSP Wi-Fi connection much like you would from a computer and will even let you setup a new Skype account on the PSP. If you have some Skype credit you can also make SkypeOut calls to landlines for a fee.

Sony is only days away from releasing the availability of Skype on the PSP and the company has released an announcement saying that the January 24th launch will be delayed. In particular, Sony officials said that the microphone products they’ve created for the PSP to go along with the Skype service are what is causing the problem.

Both the Single Pack and the Double Pack microphones did not meet Skype’s specifications, and instead of going on without them Sony is going to hold up the whole works. A new solution and a new launch date for the Skype service and microphones for the PSP are being “sought after” and will be announced at a later time.

The good news is that this delay so far seems limited to Japan. It’s strange that they would come to this conclusion only a day before the launch. Are the microphones for Japan customers different and not up to standard while the microphones for the U.S. are acceptable, or is there some other force in Japan that doesn’t like the idea of free mobile VoIP minutes?

Targus is showing off at MacWorld a new line up of “eco-friendly” MacBook bags made of PVC-free material. This product line is known as the Radius family and it consists of several messenger bags, backpacks and top loading cases.

The Targus Radius bags are composted of 100% recycled polyester, recyclable plastic and nickel-free metal, making them pretty eco-friendly. Each bag includes an EVA molded compartment to protect your Apple laptop and they are mostly fit to 15-inch models.

Here’s some good news if you own a PSP and are in any European country. ‘Go!Explore’ is coming as early as Spring, to turn your PSP into a GPS receiver. Roam anywhere in the city and even if you lose direction, your PSP will work as a GPS navigation system.

Just attach the GPS receiver into the device and load a UMD that contains the relevant maps for your area. That means a 3D-map with relevant landmarks marked on it, in the palm of your hands.

Targus wants you to enjoy your music as you roam down the street, sharing it as you go to others who may or may not want to hear it. The computer case maker has unveiled at CES the SonicPak, an audio backpack priced at around $100.

The Targus SonicPak is much like your typical gear carrying backpack with its padded compartment for laptop PCs, side mesh water bottle holders, adjustable, padded shoulder straps, molded carrying handle, oversized zipper pulls for easy gripping and a fully equipped interior workstation that includes plenty of pockets for your accessories.

Sony’s Playstation Portable handheld gaming console has been trailing in sales to the Nintendo DS since the DS’s inception, but Sony is a far cry from giving up quite yet. Last month we saw a pretty cool upgrade with the version 3.80 firmware for the PSP which brought internet radio through the systems WiFi connectivity. Now Sony is saying that they are partnering with Ebay’s Skype to bring VoIP Skype phone service to the handheld system.

The new firmware is slated to be available for download to the PSP by the end of January and will add a Skype icon and functionality to the Network portion of the PSP’s menu. When connected to the internet users will then be able to log into Skype, manage contacts, view who’s online and of course make calls through their PSP to other Skype users or other PSP owners with the Skype feature installed. Owners will even be able to create a new Skype account right on the PSP.

I was pretty excited just about the streaming radio coming to the PSP in this mornings article on the new PSP and PS3 firmware updates, but this one just keeps getting better. Along with the radio streaming for the PSP and the DIVX and voice changing features of the PS3 Sony snuck in another feature that allows you to play PS1 games remotely on the PSP. The new feature will let you download PS1 games to the PS3 or simply put in a physical PS1 game and stream it to the PSP to play through a Wi-Fi connection from anywhere in the world through Sony’s Remote Play. Now that is pretty cool, and will be even cooler as soon as I can find some PS1 games.

We knew some upgrades were coming for both these devices and today both the PSP 3.80 firmware and the PS3 2.10 firmware upgrades are available for download.

We haven’t seen the PSP 3.80 version available online yet but it is available through the Network Upgrade menu option directly on the PSP bringing streaming internet radio directly to the handheld device. In fact, I’m listening to the ShoutCast player on my PSP while writing this. You’ll need an Wi-Fi internet connection of course, and after installing the update there is a new menu option in the network settings for Internet Radio. Selecting it brings you to an “About” page that shows two different but similar players available for download to your Memory Stick, one from ShoutCast and the other from IceCast, each having 50 genres to choose from once downloaded.

The iViewer HTM 9000 should make alot of PSP and iPod owners very happy. The device wirelessly plays back files coming from any multimedia source to a NTSC, Pal or Secam TV. The manufacturer says that it works with the iPods and the PSP as well as digital cameras and camcorders. They are fairly vague about it.

The iViewer sends the files to your TV via some sort of mini embedded antennae. You simply choose one of 4 channel options to view the content on. The device also features input composite video and a built-in stereo encoder. Power is in the form of a standard DC plug for DC power in, but it also has a compartment for 4 AAA batteries. Should you want to view your content on a TV instead of your small screen, it will only cost you $26.99 to pick one up and let us know how it fairs.

Firmware upgrades for the Sony PSP usually don’t have changes that are incredibly drastic but for some reason I still get pretty excited any time they come out. It’s almost like getting a slightly new gadget each time, even though I still have the older, fat PSP. Anytime I hear of any upgrade on the way I’ll check for it using the utility on the PSP daily, since most of the time I can get it there before it’s officially released.

Version 3.80 however does promise to bring something pretty cool - streaming internet radio. The update will allow the PSP to pick up streams of online radio broadcasts in the same format that it supports such as Shoutcast MP3 streams. The upgrade will also expand its feed-reading capabilities the ability to pick up “photocasts” from RSS feeds. It will also allow users to import OPML feed lists from other feed readers to import the same feeds on the handheld console.

Fans of the new Sony PlayStation Portable who aren’t fans of the gaming device’s battery life will be happy to known Sony wants to address your concerns. The company is getting ready to put out its Sony PSP Extended Life Battery Kit, priced at around $45.

The Sony PSP Extended Life Battery Kit consists of a 2200 mAh battery pack which goes where the current battery is. Since it’s a little bulkier than the current one Sony is including in the kit a custom cover which will match the color of your PSP 2000.

Sony has recently launched the online Playstation Store that allows PSP owners to download games, wallpaper and themes for their PSP. This online service makes a lot of sense for multiple reasons. For one it gives a central place to instantly get games and other things for the PSP online. But for many of us it more importantly could help due away with that goofy UMD media for the PSP games.

Sure the new PSP Slim offered a little bit faster startup time for games but a person still had to load it up and wait a while for the game to start. Also, the spinning of that UMD used up batteries that wouldn’t be the case with a game saved all in memory.

Sony has announced the release of a couple of bundled PSP packs that will come in a “Deep Red” color heading for folks in Japan. One of the bundles comes with a 1GB PRO Duo memory stick and a 1Seg tuner, and the other comes with just a 32MB memory stick without the little stand and without the 1Seg. This new Deep Red PSP model will only come in these bundles and so far is only available in Japan, hitting streets on December 13th. Aside form the color there appears to be no changes to the handheld console, and also no word on pricing or the U.S. getting any of this Deep Red. One more picture after the jump.

If your old PSP wasn’t slim enough or white enough, or if you like Darth Vader slapped onto consumer products, then by all means rush out and get this limited edition PSP. It’s scheduled to hit store shelves today and is part of a $199 bundle, which includes Star Wars Battlefront.

This makes great bling for geeks. I sense many sales. The force is strong in this one. PSP fans and Star Wars fans alike can thank God they have Vader. You know…Since Jar Jar didn’t quite take off. Thanks to the original trilogy, there are plenty of images to adhere to items for years to come.