This unofficial Chinese...dongle, I guess we'll call it, brings a full suite of global positioning capabilities to the handheld, featuring Google Maps support in both 2D and 3D.

While this fancy new tech seems best-suited for the fancy new DSi, ironically it will only work on the older models of the DS, as it requires the use of the GBA cartridge slot.

nintendo ds lite gets gps navigation with google maps [technabob]

And while Skype is strictly limited to PSP-2000 users, those still sporting an original PlayStation Portable can use the GPS attachment without problems. Release dates for North America and Europe aren't finalized, but reps seemed confident that Westerners will be enjoying it this calendar year.

The guys at Area Code Inc. recently announced that they will be bringing their PC location-aware game Plundr to the Nintendo DS.

In Plundr you sail from island to island aboard a pirate ship buying, selling and fighting for goods. The twist is that your physical location in the real word dictates what islands you'll find nearby. The game is driven by @Loki's Skyhook Wi-Fi positioning system and the DS' built-in WiFi.

The Area Code folks showed off the DS version of the recent Where 2.0 conference. No word yet on when the game might be hitting the DS or if it will get retail packaging or hit the portable as homebrew. Brian Crecente

Plundr DS [Area Code Inc]

With GPS standard in most Japanese cars and many cell phones, Sony's move to create a GPS receiver for the PSP was surprising. Blog HiroIro has a fine product review using Japanese UMD title MAPLUS.

Comparisons are drawn between a Panasonic car navigational system of the PSP with the Panasonic navi starting up as soon as the engine turns over while the PSP takes the requisite five minutes to get fired up. The Panasonic navi can make it through tunnels or underground, no problemo while the PSP croaks. Pulling up addresses, names and phone numbers are easy on the Panasonic system; the PSP only provides addresses, which are "difficult on the eyes" to read.

Verdict? Standard car navi wins. Hit the jump for the dirt on how the Receiver works on motorbikes.

Motorcycles don't really have navigational systems (none that I am aware off). So the PSP navi might actually be of some use. Here's the set-up, above. The portable is slipped in a map case designed for touring. An external battery beefs up the portable's life. Earphones make it possible directions given from the software as during the day, seeing the PSP screen is difficult. Night is much easier.

Problems: It's impossible to tell the difference between national roads and prefectural ones, and HiroIro says the software's still seems like it was created 10 years ago. Now that's an endorsement. Brian Ashcraft

Motorcycle PSP Navi [HiroIro]

It's out! Japan's PlayStation Portables get their GPS on. The screw-attach peripheral works with Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and has a mini-game in which players can search for real locations. It will also be compatible with the upcoming Hot Shots Golf and will allow players to see how many yards they are from the hole. Standard GPS software forthcoming. I like the idea of this very much, but with GPS systems standard in cars and cell phones, I'm not sure how practical it'll be as a traditional navigator. Wait and see. Brian Ashcraft

PSP Navi [Thanks Kevin!]

Unfortunately there is no details at all about how it will support it. Like will you have to travel all over the world to play, that could be fun. :)

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops will follow the events of MGS 3: Snake Eater with Big Boss awakening in prison to find his former unit has started a revolt in South America.

The single player mode will be a steal action game with the ability to recruit comrades to create your own team. Players will be able to recruit enemy soldiers and unique non-player characters for the team, by playing through the single player mode.

Then you can go into multiplayer and use your team to take on other players. the cool thing is that you can actually permanently lose the members of your team. Fortunately, Portable Ops' multiplayer mode has a new white flag system that allows you to give up without losing the characters.

Nice, I hope that mode lets the victor humiliate the gamers as they stalk from the field with their girly white flags in hand. Brian Crecente

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - August 23, 2006 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced new details for Metal Gear Solid : Portable Ops, the newest installment in the Metal Gear saga for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. Redefining tactical espionage action on handheld gaming systems, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops will feature groundbreaking online play that will let gamers recruit their own comrades to create a unique fighting force as well as a full-fledged single player experience tied to the ongoing Metal Gear Solid storyline.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops delivers the series' trademark stealth action to the PSP system while introducing several new elements that add even more depth and variety to Big Boss' latest mission. As players progress through the single-player campaign of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, they will be able to recruit comrades to create an original fighting force. In addition to enemy soldiers, players can also recruit unique and rare non-player characters (NPCs) depending on their action in certain situations, building an armed force suited to their personal style of play. Each character will have a unique rating based on a sequence of personal attributes. Depending on the rating of the character, they will either excel or be deficient in a variety of combat skills, giving the player the ability to outfit their squadron with characters that fit the need of each particular situation.

Highlighting the wireless capabilities of the PSP system, the game will offer a number of familiar characters from the previous Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater game for the player to recruit, depending on their location. Based on the unique IP address contained in all wireless hot spots, players can locate and download characters unique to that spot. No logging on to the hot spot is required - players need only to locate a wireless access point in order to generate the data to recruit that character. These characters can then be formed into a four character team and taken online for multiplayer battles against opposing users.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops also introduces a new "White Flag" system to the game's multiplayer modes, letting players choose to surrender and live to fight again or battle to the death and risk permanently losing some of their most valuable comrades. Placing emphasis on stealth gameplay, the White Flag system further evolves online play for the Metal Gear series and creates a bond between the player and their team as they work together to achieve their objectives.

The single player campaign of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops follows the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, with Big Boss awakening in prison to find his former unit, FOX, has started a bloody revolt in South America. Set in 1970, the game acts as a missing link in the ongoing Metal Gear Solid narrative, as players learn more about returning characters such as Para-Medic, Major Zero and Sigint and also witness Big Boss' greatest tragedy - one that sets into motion the events of later games in the series' timeline.

The story of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops will be brought to life through powerful and fully-voiced cut scenes featuring original artwork by acclaimed visualist Ashley Wood. The game will feature an impressive voice cast, with actors from previous Metal Gear Solid titles returning for Big Boss' PSP system adventure. David Hayter will again voice Big Boss, while James Mathis and Jim Piddock return as Sigint and Major Zero, respectively.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops will launch for the PSP system this winter. For more information on the game, please visit www.konami.com/gs .

A recent poll quizzed Japanese folks about what functions they'd like to see appear on the PSP. What do folks want? A big chunk of those polled wanted 1seg support. Beginning this past April, 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video and data broadcasting service in Japan. In short, it lets people view digital TV on portable devices. Talk about an application that's absolutely perfect for the PSP. What do folks not want? Functions like the PSP camera add-on and the GPS receiver weren't that popular, which doesn't bode well for these products when they launch in Japan this fall. Three words: better market research. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [GameSpot]

The Playstation Portable will be getting e-mail support and GPS add-on this year, according to PSM. Of course the word comes through the Playstation forums, then Evil Avatar and then PSP Vault, but I think it might be true.

Although it's contrary to my lazy nature, I hopped on over to the forums and looked at the scan myself. According to the article the email will come by way of a new firmware update (wait, firmware that has nothing to do with hacking? Say it ain't so). Sony Mail will be a built-in email program that will use a unique ID assigned to each PSP. I think this is believable because only Sony would require you to create ANOTHER email address to be able to use email from your PSP. When will it end?

The article goes on to say that Sony will be releasing a GPS add-on for the PSP as well. The package will include a GPS and a UMD with navigation software and maps. New UMDs will come out for extra cash with different maps and updates.

PSP To Get Email GPS in 2006 [PSP Vault]

Tiger Telematics announced today that their yet-to-hit-North-America portable gamer the Gizmondo will now support a street level GPS mapping program.

Gizmondo Navigator 2006 will come on a different SD memory card for each region, giving the device satellite navigation to specific house numbers, postal codes, streets or points of interest in both 3D and 2D. It will even support turn-by-turn voice instructions.

GizNav uses CoPilot software to deliver the mapping. The software will be bundled with the Smart Adds-enabled Gizmondo in a special Satellite Navigation pack for 199. Or you can buy it separately for 99 for just the UK and 199 for all of Europe. Gizmondo will also be selling an in-car cradle and charger for an extra 29.99. The software hits the UK on Sept. 30.