THE BUZZ: While we in the West are still waiting to get our hands on the Vita, a few important updates have just come out for the hardware in Japan.

EGM’s TAKE: Japanese Vita owners today received the version 1.6 firmware update for the Vita, which brings in four somewhat major new additions:

* The Vita will now have a built-in maps app, powered by Google Maps. (The usefulness of this feature will no doubt depend on if you have the model with built-in GPS or not.)

* The Vita’s camera software has been updated so that users can now also record videos with the handheld. (Previously, only photos could be taken.)

* The Vita’s Home button will now flash blue when the unit is plugged in and recharging.

* A Mac OS X version of Sony’s Content Management Assistant has now been released.

That last point is one that’s especially important to me, as I myself use a Mac. Previously, I was using my PS3 to manage all of my digital content for the PSP, and had planned to do the same with the Vita. Then, that recent firmware update for the PS3 came along, which changed the way digital files work and caused the whole process to be far messier.

So, now us Mac owners will have the same ability to store and manage digital purchases via our computers that PC owners have. That’s great!