Rumours have been circulating this week that Sony is about to announce a new version of the PlayStation Portable handheld. Gaming website Spong has reported - through anonymous sources - that the idea of 'PSP2' has already been revealed to developers and that the new model and its games will feature on release lists by the close of 2007.

Current speculation also reports details of the PSP2's hardware capabilities, including a machine equipped with dual screens (no idea where Sony got that idea from!), an internal memory of 8GB, brighter screen display, and a continuance of the controversial UMD format, which has, in terms of playing full-length films on the original PSP, been quite a flop.

Despite respectful worldwide sales, a revamped version of the PSP hardware would certainly not be out of the question, especially since the console bears a few nuisances that Sony could use a brand new console to resolve. A second analogue stick and a proper on/off switch would be brilliant, Sony, thank you very much.

Despite the mutterings of the past few days, just last week Sony Computer Entertainment's senior product manager, John Koller, quashed rumours of a possible PSP re-design.

In a word to the press, Koller insisted that there would not be any new physical alterations to the PSP's form, although the way that the handheld interacts with consumers may change. Koller stated that the reason the company will not be pursuing a redesign is because it does not want to compromise on the portable's significant screen size, which is one of the machine's biggest assets.

Instead of a DS Lite-esque restyling, Koller said that the PSP's value would be bolstered in future by the release of new colours. So, there'll still be cramped fingers aplenty, but at least you'll have a PSP with a pretty new coating to help relieve your aching digits... or not, as the case may be.