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New PSP Firmware with Built-In Web Browser

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the bet-it's-harder-to-hack dept.

Volksport writes "Sony has released a new major firmware update for the PSP, bringing it to v2.00 (This link points to the install file). This new version offers updates such as a built-in web browser (User agent says it is Mozilla/4.0) and Korean language support. Although it was only released in Japan so far, it installs normally on US PSP systems." This version apparently breaks all hacks so far too.

14 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. Browser? by coop0030 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Has anyone tried out the browser yet?

    I want to know how it performs, and how easy it is to use before I go ahead and cripple the modability of my system.

    Thank you.

  2. Breaking hacks... by ZakuSage · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's not so much that this version breaks hacks... hacks haven't worked on 1.51 or 1.52. Sony probably did put new measures of security on this, though.

    Hopefully this firmware gets hacked soon, as I'm sure there's a lot of people who'd like to get back to playing Chrono Trigger on their PSPs.

    1. Re:Breaking hacks... by coop0030 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, I wouldn't care if I could play Chrono Trigger if Sony would release some more games for the PSP.

      Seriously, where is this plethora of games that were promised?

      The hype of the PSP is over, and it is all Sony's fault. Originally, there was a steady release of games, and some great games at that. Since the release of Hot Shots Golf on April 4th, there hasn't been ONE worthwhile title to get released for the PSP. Alright, I am a patient man, and I can wait for a good game. This is another problem I have with the PSP. The next noteworthy game to come out for the PSP is Gran Turismo 4 Mobile. To me, this game isn't even noteworthy because I have Gran Turismo for PS2 and I can't imagine playing it twice. Aside from GT4mobile, the next game I have to look forward to is Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. GTA:LCS isn't due out until Fall of 2005. Now lets assume Fall '05 means that it will come out in October. That means there will be a span of 7 months between blockbuster PSP titles (if you call Hot Shots Golf a blockbuster title). In the meen time Sony thinks its going to fill our desire for a new release as long as there are tons of UMD movies that come out. There are something like 100 movie titles coming to the PSP, which is cool, but if I wanted a handheld to play movies, I would have bought a portable DVD player.

      The bottom line is...I am bored with my PSP. My opinion is that Sony did a poor job of ensuring a steady release of decent titles after its launch. All we can do now is hope the software update gets to the states soon. I wouldn't mind putting the built in WiFi to good use. If the software update is good enough, it could hold me over until the next major game release, but I am not getting my hopes up. Honestly, the only reason I am hanging on to my PSP is because I can't wait until GTA comes out. I have a feeling it is going to be a title that will be worth paying 300 dollars just to buy the PSP so you can play it. I know there isn't anything Sony can do now to keep interest in their product (except release PSPs of different colors, i.e. white). All we can do now is sit patiently and await the release of GTA. Rockstar, please don't let us down.

  3. user agent string by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    (User agent says it is Mozilla/4.0)

    Of course it does, virtually every browser's user agent says it's Mozilla/4.0. All that means is that it's not Mozilla Suite/Firefox, which report Mozilla/5.0.

  4. Re:Hardest Decision Ever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How about picking up a laptop instead? Two PSPs will run you about the same price and still won't offer you all the features of a laptop.

  5. fxpsp by Rinisari · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If the browser is really the only new feature, why doesn't someone just port a decent browser to the PSP?

    --
    Colin Dean Go a year without DRM
  6. Re:Hardest Decision Ever... by kryogen1x · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So you're going to drop another $250? $250 is a lot of money just to play Super Nintendo on the go...

  7. hah by Momoru · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I love all the people here that are like "well i don't think i'll upgrade because i can use my gameboy emulator, etc, etc...so what if i cant play games". Why did you buy a bloody PSP if you didn't want to play PSP games on it? A PDA would have done all the "extra curricular" things you are doing, and would have been better at it and cost less. I agree these side things are neat add-on's to a video game system, and Sony is a bastard for taking that functionality away, but seriously there is no doubt i'd upgrade my PSP, because the thing is meant for playing games.

  8. A Worthy Effort by taskforce · · Score: 3, Insightful
    In some ways Sony are obliged to break our hacks... their Legal team probably told them they have to do it. (I'm sure the engineers are all sitting on 1.0 versions themselves) Nintendo would probably love to sue Sony (IANAL but I do know that there have been been lawsuits brought about for stupider things.)

    I think this is a great solution, because it actually benefits the majority of people who don't hack their PSP, and people who already have a different browsers won't use it if they don't need to.

    If only Sony would take this approach with their music bussiness and try and create better customer experiences than illegal download methods, rather than fighting them with lawyers. Hopefully this upgrade will be a good way to show Sony that superior features are a much better way of fighting the underworld than sueing them or DRMing them into hell.

    Unfortunately I think that Sony's different divisions are too diserate and isolated from eachother to heed this advice from eachother.

    --
    My 3D Texturing Skinning work (under construction)
  9. Re:It's about time. by Tx · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I really think Sony should consider removing the barriers to homebrew software! Does anyone have any insight into why they're so uptight about it?

    You really have to ask?

    1. Having hobbyists be able to manipulate the device will lead to people being able to play pirated games and movies as far as they are concerned, and they probably have a point.

    2. They might in the future want to sell you some of the features that you want to obtain via hacks. Why allow people to have for free what you might be able to make them pay for?

    --
    Oh no... it's the future.
  10. Re:Tempting - but no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Speaking as a PSP developer, and posting anonymously, I suspect Sony would support the homebrew scene more if most homebrews weren't emulators... which most first parties just see as "piracy engines."

  11. Re:Browser?! Who cares?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    What the hell are you talking about?
    Since when does the DS only play original nes games, that's not the point of the DS at all.
    Name ONE original game for PSP, because that's the point of the DS, innovative, original gaming. Granted there are some rehashes, but more and more are completely different way to play a game. It's nice being able to pick up a game for 10-20mins or hours on end. That's something DS offers but the PSP does not, legally. Notice how the only fun to be had on the PSP is illegal Nintendo games. No matter how much people put Nintendo down, it's always their systems and games people go back to.

  12. It's about time-Stable Kernel API. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    3-They're not obligated to maintain anything for anyone else (beyound any contracts they may have). It's just like when the kernel guys change the driver interface (again!), and Nvidia has to make a change (remember the "stacks" issue in 2.6?). Did people think that the kernel guys deliberately make those changes to break Nvidia drivers?

    ---
    The "are you a script" word for today is relying.

  13. Hacks stopped working... by kiwioddBall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'd say it would be pretty difficult for Sony not to break all the hacks.. Usually hacks rely on bytecode being in a certain location in memory, so for a release that is such a big upgrade, I'd say Sony didn't deliberately break the hacks... they just don't work any more.