Sony unveils next-gen portable device "Vita"

Three weeks after Sony's PR nightmare when its PlayStation network was hacked, the Japanese company is set to woo back consumers at the opening of the E3 video game expo in Los Angeles.After Sony President and CEO, Jack Tretton, offered his apologies to the crowd, he unveiled the newest collection of games.

The most anticipated announcement of the event though, was for the new handheld gaming device, called the PlayStation Vita. The Vita is set to compete Nintendo's DS and handheld gaming on smartphones. It will go on sale for 249 dollars, or 299 for a 3G mobile version.

The new console is set to hit the market during the holiday season, at the end of this year. Sony also plans to integrate Android capable devices into its network to expand its target group.