Release a new iteration of the Vita ever year. That would keep Vita visibility very high, and the hype leading to each new release would really help stir up sales. Once the new model launches,  discount the old one. Notice I said it needs to follow the iPhone model, not PSP model. It needs more than just a form factor redesign. What do you think? Is this a good idea?

No, it is not a good idea. Sony would bankrupt in a second. They'd loose so much from the hardware. Plus noone would buy an expensive device only to see it discounted a year later.

People have to care about your product first for that model to work.

Sony creating an Android phone (first and foremost) with slide-out game controls as a secondary gaming device ... that would probably work better than what they're doing now. The Xperia Play was an OK idea, they just didn't bother to support it at all and tethered it to outdated hardware.

No.

Apple and Android users say Hello. Ipad, Iphone, Ipod. Galaxy S 1,2 & 3 are jsut some of the devices to use this model.

OT- I don't think it would work out for developers though. I don't think every Dev would like to go and put in the work to patch a game to work with every new Vita entree.

Remember every new entree is updated with a new firmware and more Ram and processors or whatever.

This sounds like a good idea actually. It would only work if people were interested in the Vita though, but GTA V will do that (if it releases on the Vita)

They are still supported post launch. Pretty much every phone runs all apps for at least 2 or 3 years. This is a completely different product too, people need phones but they don't need a handheld console. Not relevant.

Of course this model can be like that too but still there would be too much loss on the hardware. Game quality would be lessened due to the shorter development times etc. Simply bad idea.

Only if they add full phone capability, and upgrade hardware but also specify that Vita games must work on all models from original to latest.

Didn't both Nintendo and Sony start releasing yearly iterations of their handhelds in the latter half of last gen?

Bad idea since Sony loses money on every Vita and tries to make it back with games, Apple makes a ton of money with every device sold so they release them every year.