The problem with the Vita is not that it doesn't have software. It just doesn't have any of the software of the big names to call its own. Either the game has to be incredible awesome that it just grabs everyone, or it they need franchise hits that are not ports. And they have got to be something that can only be experienced on the Vita. If it is a game that could work on the PS3 then no dice. PSP had a bunch of good games, and you wanna know what happened to a bunch of them? PS3 HD remakes.
3DS is lucky it is mostly backwards compatible with DS family (perfect backwards compatibility is lost on Guitar Hero: On Tour, but that game was kinda weak), as well as having a large library of decent to good 3DS games with a few amazing games. All Vita has are playable to good games. They need a killer app that is only on the Vita and can only be on the Vita.
Sony needs a price drop and an app market, with prices comparable to AppleApp Store/Droid Marketplace.
This might not be what the Vita needs, but it could help: increased cross usability with PS3 titles. Hear me out. Nintendo is making the WiiU. The WiiU tablet is a touch screen that can be used as an auxiliary screen for the games. With this touch screen you can manage inventory, look at a map, remove the HUD from the main screen, all sorts of stuff. The Vita can already talk to the PS3, so why not step it up and get it to act as one of the PS3 controllers? I only use 5 of my 7 PS3 controller ports (1, 2, 3, 4, remote) why not add Vita to the list and beat Nintendo to the punch? Even better: the Vita you can take away from the PS3 and it can still play games; if you try the same with WiiU tablet, it just doesn't do anything. If you already have a PS3 and want a WiiU type experience, just get Move and Vita.
on second thought that sounds stupid I'll just get WiiU >_>