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Hands-On With the PSP-3000
Eurogamer got a chance to take a look at Sony's latest hardware revision for the PSP. Their overall impression of the new model is positive, finding that a redesigned screen offers noticeably better graphics and higher brightness without affecting battery life. They also say the button pads may be slightly different, and the unit comes with useful firmware upgrades.
"Elsewhere, our side-by-side comparison of the current PSP/PSP-2000 firmware, 4.05, and the new 4.20 firmware on the PSP-3000 reveals a 'USB Auto-Connect' option, which promises to automatically switch the handheld to USB mode when a cable is connected. It will do this from anywhere on the XMB, but it won't interrupt gameplay. ... The new-model PSP also allows you to play games on a TV by hooking it up with a special adapter (sold separately) and a composite cable, whereas the old one would only allow composite cables to display video, with gaming reserved for component output."
Yeah, seriously. I absolutely love my PSP with CFW, the improvement compared with the stock firmware is dramatic. For those who aren't up to speed, you can do this stuff plus a hell of a lot more:
*Adjust the CPU/GPU clock, with separate settings for games and XMB. This makes a huge difference to the smoothness of a lot of games.
*More brightness levels for the screen while in battery mode.
*Allows you to back up your UMD games over USB to ISO files.
*Allows the use of ISOs without needing the UMD (cures loading time issues with games)
*Emulators! Almost everything up to and including the Playstation is emulated at full speed. SNES, GBA, Mega Drive, Neo-Geo, CPS1, you name it. For me this makes it the best console I've ever had, handheld or otherwise.
*Selectable region for UMD movies.
*Tons of other stuff homebrew developers have made; demoscene stuff, email programs, there's even a port of Cave Story!