The PlayStation Vita had a "blue light," Just like the Wii, that would go off during certain events. You used to be able to message friends on your friend's list. This would cause the blue light to go off, game updates, news, and other events such as successful game save uploads that would happen when the system saved to the PSN.
Most of those features are now done... closed down due to the support for the console ending. However, you can still get the light to activate by turning on the game data upload to PSN. The data uploads every morning (early) and kicks the blue light lol.
The interesting part, and what I really dug about the Vita, is that it made it so much easier to message friends. It was much harder and disruptive to message on screen with the PS3, PS4 and PS5. I would offload that to the Vita and it was also touch screen... so much easier to get a message out. This feature is now gone with most other features as well when the console was shut down. When you would get messages, this would also kick the blue light into gear.
Here is a way to get that old light kicking up again. Do you remember this blue light? Does it kick memories for you? Thoughts... comments... Post it up!
Here are a couple topics on the Nintendo Wii Blue Light... and a little bit of nostalgia:
https://www.chickendinnergaming.com/forum/retro-gaming-and-hardware/a-blast-from-the-past-blue-flashing-light!!
https://www.chickendinnergaming.com/forum/retro-gaming-and-hardware/the-wii-s-blue-light
Not sure I remember the blue light. Was that the Playstation logo on the home button? This was that one console that snuck in past my retro gaming radar. Knowing what it was at the time I grabbed it up in a pawn shop, mint condition, for something like $80. I knew they did not know what they had. (You contain your excitement until you get in the car.)
The Vita pulled me into it's world. I was getting email, web surfing, YouTube, gaming, sending text to friends, getting trophies, even online gaming for the first time with Ragnarok Odyssey. I used as a link to my PS3 for remote play. Carried it with me on business trips and used skype to keep in touch with my family. A couple of those trips were overseas in Prague. You could even set it up as a phone, which I never did. Had a fellow worker that set it up as a phone. Looked very weird when he used it. There was this PS network app where people would use their PS camera to just connect and communicate their world live. I found that very interesting when it was people in another country. It was like people inviting you into their home. I used the camera occasionally, but the color was terrible, not the best to install on a console like this. I can't remember all of the apps I had on here because when the support stopped they started snatching the app off with updates. Netflix was one of them. Played my first Persona game on this console and finished it. I don't do that with very many games.
This console caused me to dislike SONY. Here they had great hardware in a portable and it was like they did not know what to do with it. The PSP had great support. That was a time in gaming history that I think back on as being fun. I have been pulling this out recently.
Oh yeah you were asking about the blue light. I am sure I knew about it back then but somehow I do not remember it.
That's correct, it was the small PS button. It glows blue... and orange in some cases. The orange is mostly for power related events. LOL ... yes, this was mostly a blue light topic. However, you did bring up awesome points.
Your co-workers used it as a phone?! That's a new one for me!
The PS Vita was one of my favorite handhelds. It just didn't get support... and you're right, they couldn't figure out what to do with it. I liked the PS Vita 10 times more than the PSP. The PSP was cool, but just hard to get into for most ... anything. This is another topic for another time, but I used to rock SOCOM Fireteam Bravo (and newer versions) on the PSP... and online. What a fun game that was back in (starting in) 2005.
I'm not sure there will be a handheld like it unless the Switch starts going down that route. Honestly, it's one of those times in gaming history that was awesome and probably won't be repeated. That's also ok, and gives great memories.