New PSP Firmware with Built-In Web Browser

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.

Comments

Be nice

[Karem Lore]

If we could actually buy the unit here in Europe...Have to wait until September, but hey, the firmware is at V2...

A bold move on Sony's part

[Frangible]

I have to wonder how much of the new features in this release are to "compete" with the old firmwares people are keeping to run ripped games and homebrew? If so, it's certainly an interesting and bold move on Sony's part -- keep offering more and more compelling features in the "secure" firmware and eventually enough people will opt for it over their older firmware.

Tempting - but no

[Dark Paladin]

Sadly, I've enjoyed too much of the homebrew software to stop now (such as playing my Game Boy games - yes, I own copies of them on my PSP, or Chess, or watching the progress of the movie player that supports AVI and OGG), so while the web browser is nifty, and better playback of MPEG-4 video is nice, I'm keeping my PSP at 1.5 for as long as I can (which means I can't buy any new games, which is all right since there aren't any PSP games right now that interest me, and looking ahead none that will until early 2006, while the DS has some good ones coming out late next month).

Odds are, though, a Sony rep/fanpeople probably read the above as:

"Blah, blah, blah, I pirate software, blah, blah, blah, I'm a thief, blah, blah, blah, I have a tiny pee-pee because I like the DS".

But I'll give points to Sony for at least trying to meet people's needs. Good start - just needs better follow through.

Of course, this is just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Re:Tempting - but no

[Dark Paladin]

I wrote a thing on this some time ago, but here's my humble thoughts. They are probably flawed, but it's a good launching point.

What I would do as Sony is release a $100 "amateur developers kit", with the license that all programs created can only be offered free of charge unless published by Sony, and Sony has no liability on programs. With the program as compiled is a big warning "Sony takes no responsibility if you break your PSP running this program!"

This way, Sony gets both money and developers creating content. They can cherry pick what they really like and publish it if they want (since the author is not allowed to charge money under the license). Regular publishers know that they have more competition, but as the PSP's list of apps grow this sells more PSP's, so "big name" developers get to step up and market to a larger base. (And let's face it - shareware/freeware games hasn't killed off big PC publishing games - mainly console competition.)

This is kind of my "launching point" on this thought. Yes, it severely restricts development - but it's still a hell of a lot more open than the Nintendo systems, but not as open as the GP32, so Sony stands to win either way.

Like I said, just an idea. I could be wrong.

Re:Tempting - but no

[cduffy]

So how can we help Sony design a way to authenticate that homebrew apps aren't in fact pirated games?

Provide a mechanism by which folks can either:

- Send a homebrew game in for automated signing (after basic automated validation using some straightforward heuristics that the game doesn't look pirated -- say, validate that there are no consecutive 1K blocks that match those from any commercially published game after some basic normalization like removing NOPs) for use on ONE PSP, for free, with minimal turnaround time, with a limit on how many requests an individual can make per day (so crackers can't repeatedly attempt to break the automated system or, once they've broken it, churn out copies signed for tons of PSPs).

- Send a homebrew game for manual validation that it isn't a ripoff of a commercial game. If it passes manual validation (which would of course require automated validation as a prerequisite), it gets signed for use on *all* PSPs. The individual who sends it in is charged some token amount ($5-$10) to discourage folks from generating excessive workload for Sony's staff.

As a first attempt, how's that sound?

It's about time.

[donleyp]

The guys at psphacks.net have some information too.

I, for one, plan to get it ASAP. I think the browser is a great addition.

I am dissapointed in Sony for working so hard to disable the hacks people have come up with. What's it to them how we use the HW we bought?

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?

Desperately wanting a better way to enter text

[jockm]

I installed it this morning. Most sites I looked at came though ok. I had trouble loading all the images from /. Overall it is very cool.

What I do want is a better way to enter text. It was never much of an issue with the PSP until now. The phone like text entry system is a little wacky. I would like a true virtual keyboard with some kind of a9 like predictive text

Region encoding

[Generic Guy]

This update also apparently helps enforce region encoding (e.g. DVD players), which of course is incredibly stupid on a handheld portable device.

Upcoming games reportedly use region locks.

Not only that

[Dark Paladin]

But all of the PSP releases are - movies.

Yay. I can spend $20 on the DVD version of the movie, and another $20 on the PSP version (unless I simply encode the movie myself with Yade/FFMPEG on OS X and copy it up to the memory stick).

Seems that Sony's more excited about the portable movie player stuff. Maybe they fear a video iPod so they're trying to flood the market with PSP releases to make the studios think that the PSP is the "format of choice" or some such. Either way, as a gamer the PSP is getting more use reading killyourfm.com than it is as a game device.

sweet

[bonk]

It's about time.

I think the psp has some serious potential to be an all purpose multimedia device. You can already play music, movies and watch your pictures on this thing.

I think it would be interesting to set up a web page and some utilities to control your home stereo/digital music player, DVR, lights and anything else you would like, intended to be controled from your psp. The wireless router would have to be configured to only accept your psp's MAC, and some other authentication would have to take place on the web page/server end (having to enter a username/password would be a real drag to seamless integration)

I'm definately interested in getting a PSP now that they have included a built in web browser (that doesn't need some goofy hack to get around). Though, like many others, I also want to wait until someone figures out how to crack/bypass the security so homebrew apps can run again. Or for some company to release a signed emulator for the psp, I'd be willing to pay for a NES or SNES or whatever emulator if it wasn't complete garbage.

Does anyone know if the digital signed executables for the PSP is intended to stop piracy of UMD games, or if it is designed to stop any homebrew development? Both?

Real time firmware update war

[British]

Wow, PSP hasn't been out on the market long, and firmware updates are coming out as fast as hacks can be made for them.

To me, that is funny. The endless waltz of people releasing useful software for them(emulators), and then Sony does an upate soon after, with an incentive like a browser, etc.

Maybe I'll get a PSP when the dust settles.