Here’s some bad news for PSP owners who want to upgrade to the PSP Go when it’s released. Sony has killed the UMD conversion plan. The idea was that PSP owners who had original UMD copies of their games would be entitled to free PSN downloads of the title, so that they can play it on the PSP Go when they upgrade.

But sadly “legal and technical reasons” put the axe on this plan. Which really sucks for PSP owners who have games they absolutely love. It sure doesn’t encourage PSP owners to upgrade and must feel like a slap in the face.

Sony just announced a new Gran Turismo PSP Entertainment Pack that will hit retail shelves on October 20th for $199.99. Here’s what you get: Mystic Silver PSP-3000 system, Gran Turismo PSP game on UMD, a PlayStation Network downloadable voucher for a white Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, a color exclusive to this entertainment pack, 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, PlayStation Network downloadable movie voucher and a Sony Music Pass voucher good for 10 downloadable songs.

If you just want the game without the extras, the stand-alone Gran Turismo game will hit in digital and UMD formats on October 1.

As far as DIY projects go, we never thought we would see a DualShock 2 controller hooked up to a PSP, but here it is, proving that if you can think it up, it will happen. It allows one to control Sony’s portable console from a distance, or at least from as far as the cable (Or your eyesight) permits.

What’s neat here is that this is a 100% detachable solution. It’s the work of a French modder by the name of Flasheur, who refuses to be told how and with what controller he can play by the likes of Sony.

RealView Innovations is adding some much needed depth to PSP games this holiday season, with the V-Screen. The device “enhances the perceived depth of the 2D screen image.” So, we are guessing that it’s sort of like a pair of fancy 3d glasses that you set over your PSP instead wearing them.

Just realize that your PSP will no longer be so portable. It looks like this won’t require you to get right up to the PSP, so you shouldn’t look like Spock on the Enterprise bridge. Apparently it works with many games as well.

Check this out. Apparently UMD isn’t dead just yet. Cold and possibly maggot ridden, but not quite dead. Sony just let loose some details on the Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines PSP Entertainment Pack. You’ll get the ghostly white PSP-3000 and 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, plus an unnamed feature film on UMD. For $199.

Weird huh? Even with the PSPgo, Sony is still trying to unload movies on UMD. The proprietary format that no one wants or supports. Will they ever learn? What are they thinking?

Sony has a fancy new seal that they want to start slapping on new products. Specifically onto approved third-party peripherals for their game consoles. It could mean that we can expect better accessories or it may be a bunch of BS that does nothing but add a seal to products.

Before we can even guess what to expect, we have to wait and see who opts into the plan, and what nature of product they can get away with making. Hopefully it means better quality all around.

Reuters reports that Sony is putting a team together, maybe as soon as next month, to build a combination PSP/Sony Ericsson handset. It makes sense. They have to look out for both Nintendo and the iPhone threat. But don’t get too excited just yet.

Even if Sony is getting started on this, chances are we won’t see any results for a while. Sony declined to comment, which doesn’t mean anything and this sort of rumor goes way back. Don’t get your hopes up just yet.

PlayStation’s Al De Leon was recently asked about possibility of developers producing non-game applications for the new PSP Go. His answer? He stated that content “will mostly be games, but there’s an opportunity to look at non-gaming applications.”

While that isn’t hard confirmation, it does suggest that they’ve began to look into non-game apps. Any guesses as to what we may see? Maybe we’ll learn more at Gamescom in August.

Sure, the PSP Go! looks awesome. It’s slimmer, lighter, has downloads instead of UMD. But where’s the full QWERTY keyboard? Acidmods forum member folklord36’s PSP Laptop does have QWERTY, thanks to an Xbox Chat Pad. It also has relocated speakers, LED lighting and more.

The screen section is a modified Joytech visor that has the same finish as the PSP, and its sturdy hinge can be positioned at anything up to 180-degrees. We don’t know how long it took him to create this or how much it cost, but we wouldn’t mind having one ourselves.

The PSP Go may not have been big news thanks to all of the leaks, but Media Go is big news for Sony. Think of it as Sony’s “Itunes” that runs on a PC to sync content with your PSP. Sense Me is the equivalent of Genius and will display related content that users might like as well, based on what it already knows and and deliver custom music playlists.

All future PSP apps will be digitaly delivered via the Playstation Store. Sense Me? That’s the best name they could come up with?

We’ll here it is. Photos of the new PSP have arrived. The PSP Go improves upon it’s predecessor by making games available via wireless download or on Memory Stick Micro cards. No more UMD!

The device will feature 16GB of on-board flash memory for storage of downloadable games, movies and music from the Playstation Network. The controller slides out from under the screen to maximize screen size while keeping the console light and small. There’s Bluetooth and WiFi as well.

This battery kit was originally announced back in November of 2007. The PSP Extended Life Battery Kit promised to give you about 20 percent more battery life for $45. Then, it seemed that Sony pulled the thing in 2008.

Anyhow, now it’s back. You can find the PlayStation Portable Extended Life Battery Kit back on Sony’s website for $44.99. Looks like they are Backordered at the moment, but you can always get in line. You can always use more battery life.

Apparently Sony’s been thinking of doing a PSP games rental service for a while. A recent consumer survey that Joystiq discovered yesterday gauged interest in a PSN-powered games rental service for the PSP. The theoretical service would have PSP owners pay a monthly fee for access to a library of new and archived games on the PlayStation Store.

According to a report by Develop, Sony unveiled plans of a rental service to developers at GDC last March. A PSN-centric PSP would be far more attractive to developers who have shied away due to piracy or other concerns. This news re-enforces that rumor regarding music downloads for the PSP.

CNET has word that Sony’s been talking to some of the big recording labels about putting their music on the PlayStation Network for download, specifically for the PSP. It makes sense. The service already has a growing library of movies and TV shows. It’s just lacking music.

And since Sony is one of the four largest music companies in the world, they should be able to provide a few good artists. It resides in rumor territory for now, but we’d be real surprised if this didn’t happen. The PSP has never really lived up to it’s potential. This could help.

Sony often announces limited edition entertainment packs for its PSP console that bundle some new game with an exclusive color and other items to entice users to buy its portable console. The PSP-3000 is getting a bit long in the tooth now and rumors are circulating that a new PSP may be coming.

I’m not sure about the new PSP yet, but GameStop is getting a new exclusive PSP bundle to go along with the launch of the Dissidia Final Fantasy game. The bundle will include a mystic silver PSP-3000, Dissidia Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children CGI movie UMD, and a 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo.