PSP update 6.20 includes comic book reader, possible stepping stone for e-book reader

PSPgo, courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment

In the midst of all the hullabaloo of Sony updating the PS3 with Facebook, the company snuck in a PSP firmware update as well, but as usual, it's not too exciting.

However, it's a little intriguing, and no, I'm not talking about the Playlist upgrades for photos and videos. I'm talking about the new feature in the Extras section that allows you to access the Comic Reader application.

The Comic Reader is a separate add-on that enables you to purchase and read comic books downloaded from the PlayStation Store. However, the Comic Reader app isn't currently available yet, so you're only teased thus far with what you can possibly do.

Obviously this is a move to give PSP owners more options and reasons to use their PSPs, but it makes one wonder if this Comic Reader may be a stepping stone toward incorporating e-books for users as well. The Amazon Kindle has been quite successful, the iPhone offers e-books for users to purchase as well, and it seems that Nintendo has ideas to implement something similar in their next DS incarnation. So it would make perfect sense for Sony, who seems to always be behind as of late, to want to try something similar.

It will be interesting indeed to see how successful this Comic Reader is. I will most likely try it out, as I'm somewhat of a closet comic junkie. However, I'm still not sold on the idea of electronic books or comics, because I personally enjoying physically holding either in my hand. But apparently I'm becoming a minority in the world of the Kindle.