Sony's new handheld video game unit, the PlayStation Portable, is selling well but is far from sold out at stores nationwide, an analyst said on Thursday. Will the DVD features of the PSP push you towards buying one? Let us know!

One week after the $249 PSP package was launched in the United States, "big-box" retailers like Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. still have significant inventory remaining.

An analyst estimated the PSP sold as many as 575,000 units in its first week, with up to 300,000 left in the inventory channel.

With sales of console games slowing as manufacturers prepare for the next generation of game hardware, the industry is counting on the handheld market to pick up much of the sales slack in calendar 2005. Most analysts expect U.S. software sales growth to be flat to up 5 percent this year.

New Scientist has an interesting article on a recent Sony patent which sounds incredibly Matrix-esque.

"Imagine movies and computer games in which you get to smell, taste and perhaps even feel things. That's the tantalising prospect raised by a patent on a device for transmitting sensory data directly into the human brain - granted to none other than the entertainment giant Sony."

"The technique suggested in the patent is entirely non-invasive. It describes a device that fires pulses of ultrasound at the head to modify firing patterns in targeted parts of the brain, creating "sensory experiences" ranging from moving images to tastes and sounds. This could give blind or deaf people the chance to see or hear, the patent claims."

"While brain implants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the only non-invasive ways of manipulating the brain remain crude. A technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation can activate nerves by using rapidly changing magnetic fields to induce currents in brain tissue. However, magnetic fields cannot be finely focused on small groups of brain cells, whereas ultrasound could be."

"If the method described by Sony really does work, it could have all sorts of uses in research and medicine, even if it is not capable of evoking sensory experiences detailed enough for the entertainment purposes envisaged in the patent."

"Sony first submitted a patent application for the ultrasound method in 2000, which was granted in March 2003. Since then Sony has filed a series of continuations, most recently in December 2004 (US 2004/267118)."

According to a Sony announcement earlier today, Sony is planning to launch the PSP in Europe on September 1st. The console should be priced at 179 pounds, or 249 Euros, and will include the console, a 32MB Memory Stick, carrying case, headphones with remote control, a battery pack, power adapter, wrist strap and a game sample disc.

Sony had originally planned the European launch to be in April or May, but the date was postponed in order to make sure there were an adequate number of units for the US launch in late March.

We're surprised this hasn't happened earlier. A company has taken the 007 name and made a package of tech items branded "for your next mission". A laptop, camera, privacy filter and aluminum case. A little pricey at $3899, but a fun look nonetheless.

James Bond 007 TX Spy Gear bundle includes:

VAIO TX Ultra Portable PC (VGN-TXN17P7)
A must-have for double agents, the VAIO TX makes an impression while getting the job done. Weighing only 2.76 lbs with standard battery and measuring less than 1" thin, this ultra-portable, durable PC is designed for life on-the-go.

Cyber-shot Digital Camera (DSC-T50/JB)
Channel your inner spy as you capture spectacular photos - even in low light without a flash - with the ultra-compact Cyber-shot DSC-T50/JB. This slim and sexy camera features a 3" touch panel, 7.2 megapixels and 3x optical zoom.

Sony Display Privacy Filter (VGP-FL11)
Work on confidential documents in public without worrying about onlookers. This privacy screen makes on-screen data visible only to the persons in front of the PC.

Aluminum Attache Carrying Case
Originally home to a folding sniper rifle and ammo, the Sony version of the Bond attache case contains custom foam cutouts that provide a snug-fitting, secure home for your non-lethal precious cargo. The attache is constructed of black aluminum and features an embossed 007 Gun Logo.

Ultra-Portable and Durable
The luxuriously sleek and ultra-portable VAIO VGN-TXN17P7 notebook boasts an incredibly small and lightweight form-factor encased in super-durable carbon fiber. This best-in-class PC weighs only 2.84 lbs, is less than 1" thin, and features an incredible 5-11 hours of battery life.

Essential Mobile Wireless Companion
True mobility is as much about broad access, as it is a slim, lightweight design. The VAIO TX notebook takes access farther than ever before with integrated wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) technology. Access the Sprint Mobile Broadband high-speed service to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and hotspots. The VGN-TXN17P7 gives you the freedom to go farther, do more and stay connected.

Brilliant Display
The VGN-TXN17P7 notebook features a generous 11.1" WXGA widescreen display with XBRITE LCD technology and white LED backlight for higher brightness levels than standard displays. The result is deeper blacks, brighter whites, true-to-life color and razor-sharp detail. Since this notebook comes with anti-reflective coating to minimize reflection, you can enjoy a beautifully clear image from almost any viewing angle.

DVD Creation
Create, edit and burn your own DVDs with high-quality tools like Click to DVD software and the advanced DVD+R Double Layer/DVD-RW drive.

SmartWi Technology
Sony's original SmartWi technology seamlessly integrates wireless WAN, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth technologies by allowing you to quickly and easily toggle between these advanced wireless connectivity options.