Once upon a time, tech pundits predicted Sony"s PlayStation Portable would be an "iPod killer" because of all its flashy features. But the PSP has suffered from a slightly unfortunate image among gamers and gadget lovers: It"s the device that can do pretty much anything, from surfing the Web to playing games, but that actually seems to spend most of its time gathering dust.

As the PSP hits the third anniversary of its U.S. launch this month, Sony is cranking up the fight again. Updates to the operating software have introduced Internet radio stations, for example, and Sony recently made voice-over-Internet service Skype available on the device, meaning that users can make cheap or even free phone calls to anywhere in the world. Later this year Sony is rolling out a GPS service for the gadget.

But the biggest selling point may be coming this week, with a new game called God of War: Chains of Olympus. But Chains of Olympus is showing up at the beginning of a year when the PSP"s fortunes have already seemed to be improving, if modestly.