PSP gets radio add-ons and headphones from Griffin

Having gained prominence for creating some of the best third-party peripherals for Apple's iPod, Griffin Technology has turned its attention to Sony's handheld. Its support will begin with three genuinely useful products: iTrip, SmartShare and iFM.

iTrip sits snugly alongside the bottom of the PSP and transmits FM audio to any radio. Simply tune both the iTrip and radio to the same frequency, and your PSP will output its sound through your hi-fi system or in-car stereo.

It's the perfect solution if you want to experience the full dynamic range of the PSP's audio capabilities when playing a game or listening to music at home, or if, say, two people are sat in the back of a car watching a UMD film on a single machine.

iTrip's range has yet to be disclosed, but the iPod version of iTrip delivers crystal clear sound up to ten metres away from the intended receiver – more than enough for most potential applications.

More important, given PSP's already fragile battery life, will be the device's power drain. (On iPod, the use of iTrip notably – though hardly disastrously – reduces playback time.)

SmartShare is a more straightforward proposition. It's a headphone splitter with the added benefit of individual volume controls – simple but certainly convenient.

Which brings us to the last of our trio. iFM may be small, but it has big ideas, combining both FM radio tuning and (wired) remote control functionality.

The unit includes a pass-through headphone port and a carry clip for practicality, while the remote offers the basic control features associated with media playback, enabling you to enjoy music or inane DJ chatter without having to get your PSP out of your pocket or bag.

At the time of typing, UK price and availability have not been disclosed; you'll find them on sale on the other side of the Atlantic though for $49.99 (iTrip and iFM) and $14.99 (SmartShare).

For more information, check out www.griffintechnology.com.