We have some more PSP2 rumors today. Nikkei believes that Sony’s new handheld will have a data-only 3G connection allowing an always-on way to play multiplayer games or access the PlayStation Store. The connection would come from NTT DoCoMo in Japan and maybe other carriers.

We don’t have any info on how pricing would work. Discounted 3G rates could be the ticket here. Users might get a free but small amount of data every month and pay extra only when they need to expand the amount of data they use. In other news, the handheld’s touchscreen is now AMOLED rather than the expected LCD. Is that realistic though? Maybe not. AMOLED’s chief supplier Samsung is still facing production shortages that would keep it from large-scale AMOLED production until later in 2011.

We’ve been waiting for a long time and Sony may finally make the PSP2 public on January 27. A rumor from “trade sources” suggests that it will be shown at a special event in Tokyo. Publishers were reported by MCV as having known since late last year and would have had development kits for some time.

The company’s PlayStation head Kaz Hirai has already hinted that the system was in development and that it would combine touch and buttons. A full touchscreen along with a possible back touchpad and dual analog sticks might show up in the initial model. Sony is also planning a major jump in performance that might give performance closer to that of the PS3. The photo above is from an earlier leak and has changed since then to be a non-slider.

Lately we’ve been hearing new reports of the PSP2. There’s talk of a touchpad on the back of the device for one thing. Apparently Sony has been showing it off to some developers. And now Kotaku has learned a few more details, like a larger display, an inch larger than the current PSP’s with high-def resolution.

Apparently Sony is still fine tuning the internal hardware, trying to overcome some overheating issues. They are looking at a release sometime in the fall of 2011. Probably for the 2011 E3.

Rumors are swirling that Sony will be announcing a new version of the PSP in just a few weeks at E3. And we aren’t talking something like the PSPGo. We’re talking a true PSP successor.

With E3 just around the corner in June, we will know for sure soon. Don’t forget, Sony needs something to compete with Nintendo’s 3DS. Sony’s latest financial results show that they absolutely need a new PSP. How about 14.1million PSP sales in 2008, to 9.9million in 2009?

A rumor coming out of Spain suggests that Sony is working on the PSP2. The system would have graphical capabilities more or less like the original Xbox. According to the rumor, the GPU of the system is being handled by the same people who make the iPhone’s, Imagination Technologies. It’ll be able to support OpenGL 2.0 and Direct X 10.

Great graphics are one thing but the PSP’s real problem to date has been the lack of interesting titles. At any rate, we’ll have to see how this rumor pans out. But with better graphics, you’re gonna need more choice games.

Some of us think that the PSP could do with a major overhaul instead of just minor updates and upgrades. Designer Tai Chiem certainly thinks so, which is why he has taken it upon himself to unleash this radical concept on an unsuspecting world.

The idea is that the Sony PSP 2 is a small cylinder lightsaber deal with a flexible OLED display that can be rolled out when needed and rolled back when not being used. The electric charge that juices the display would stiffen it. It also sports stereo speakers on both sides. The design also supplies two joysticks, something PSP fanboys have been wanting. Sadly it will never happen, but it’s great eye-candy.