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Sony Portables (Games)

New PSP Firmware with Built-In Web Browser 299

Posted by CmdrTaco 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.
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New PSP Firmware with Built-In Web Browser More

New PSP Firmware with Built-In Web Browser

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  • Browser? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by coop0030 ( 263345 ) * on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:12PM (#13176879) Homepage
    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.
    • Oh, so you want us to fry ours so you don't have to check it out?

    • Re:Browser? (Score:5, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:24PM (#13177022)
      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.

      yes i have trie
      is very good an
      dont know if ar
      positive step f
      everything that
      futue of techno
      problem of reso
      is only 320x240
      so pages are al
      cut off....

      -Sj53

    • Re:Browser? (Score:5, Informative)

      by mackman ( 19286 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:32PM (#13177079)
      I've been using it for a couple hours now and I have to say I'm extrmely impressed. It's not the fastest nor can it handle large images (only has 24MB RAM to work with), but it looks wonderful, renders most pages well, and provides a few special page layout options to better fit the screen. Also, the text input is quick -- it uses a modified cell-phone keypad interface with shortcuts for typing common computer terms "php", ".com", etc. It also handles HTTP authentication and SSL correctly making it fully capable on most web sites. I don't think it does flash though.
      • I'm curious if it stores a history on the memory stick. I've been using th Wipeout Pure browser for a while now and it's extremely frustrating to have to reload pages when you hit the back button.

        BTW, except for some quirks that are specific to the WP browser, in general browsing on a PSP is a joy. I also browse extensively on my cell phone and have browsed quite a bit on PDAs and I find the screen size and button layout of the PSP is the best of the three for mobile browsing.

        TW

        TW
    • I want to know how it performs ...

      According to a CNET article [cnet.com.au], the PSP sports a MIPS R4000 running at 333 MHz. The performance is probably comparable to a Pentium II running at the same speed.

      In other words, the performance is good.

  • Hardest Decision Ever... (Score:5, Funny)

    by TJ_Phazerhacki ( 520002 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:12PM (#13176882) Journal
    To update, and lose the SNES9x and e-reader features I love, or to just go out and buy another one to play games on....

    decisions... decisions...

    • Re:Hardest Decision Ever... (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      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.
    • So you're going to drop another $250? $250 is a lot of money just to play Super Nintendo on the go...
    • Why don't you just get a Palm Pilot for your emulation and e-reader needs? It would cost the same and you'd be able to use it for many other things. I went with a Zodiac (Palm with PSP like controls) over a PSP because it was better for emualtors and that's all I wanted anyway (Zods don't run SNES at an acceptable speed for some, but there are other Palms out there with twice the processor speed that would). Google "Little John Palm" or "Little John Z" for the ultimate SNES/NES/GAMEBOY/GENESIS/ETC palm emul
    • is snes9x running any faster now? MK2, f-zero, and act raiser run unacceptably on mine. It's playable, but slow to the point of frustrating me enough to not play it. ...even with the processor scaled to 333mhz.
    • To update, and lose the SNES9x and e-reader features I love, or to just go out and buy another one to play games on....

      I can't speak to the SNES9x support, but do you realize that a web browser is an e-reader...?

    • To update, or not to update: that is the question:
      Whether 'tis nobler in the PSP to suffer
      The browsers and patches of outrageous Sony,
      Or to take mods against a sea of PSPs,
      And by opposing hack them? To crash: to turn off;
      No more; and by turning off to say we end
      The video-game and the thousand electric shocks
      That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
      Devoutly to be wish'd. To hibernate, to sleep;
      To sleep: perchance to DreamWeaver...
    • I decided to buy another since I made the mistake of upgrading my first. Found the old ver at a Gamestop for $200 with 1.5 firmware and rumor is they are giving away a free GBA from 2001 with the purchase of a used PSP....If you do choose to go look for a new one with the old Firmware, look on the side of the PSP box, if there is a "B" on it, it is the new one. Look for the one that has an "a" near the SKU........this is a 1.5.

  • Breaking hacks... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ZakuSage ( 874456 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:12PM (#13176884)
    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.
    • So in other words it breaks hacks. What was the point of your post?

    • Re:Breaking hacks... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by coop0030 ( 263345 ) * on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:16PM (#13176929) Homepage
      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.

      • Re:Breaking hacks... (Score:2, Informative)

        by ZakuSage ( 874456 )
        Well actually LCS is set to come out Sept. 1st. Death Jr, while not exactly a killer app, comes out pretty soon and looks pretty good.

        I agree though, that the flow of games is unsteady. This should pick up soon enough, the fall and winter schedule looks to have a lot of games at once.

      • Not only that (Score:5, Interesting)

        by Dark Paladin ( 116525 ) * <jhummel.johnhummel@net> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:24PM (#13177021) Homepage
        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.
        • Seems that Sony's more excited about the portable movie player stuff.

          That's because, inexplicably, they have sold a lot more UMD movies in NA than they have in Japan. I forget where I saw the figure but it was something like 25 million UMD movies sold, vs. 4-5 mil in Japan. So maybe they are just reacting to the market. Plus, it is natural to assume that there would be a flood of UMD movies at the beginning, rushing to full the vacuum.

      • There hasn't really been a noteworthy game release in the past six months on any platform. GTA: San Andreas was the last 'Killer App' and it's so expensive to just produce a par game that the development cycle has really slowed to just a handful of companies who can consistantly put out games before getting bought by EA.

        PC, PS2, Xbox.. none of them have had any decent releases recently. Most everyone I know has gotten bored of and then gone back to World of Warcraft because there really isn't anything out t
        • Killer 7?

          Recent, fairly big release (would be bigger if people were willing to buy non-sequels), very original. Answers all your complaints.
        • You can't have possibly played every last good game released on the consoles this generation. But there have still been great games released in the last few months. You shouldn't just stick to the annual six or so big releases for each system. I can't possibly recommend Phantom Dust highly enough (though you really should play it on Xbox Live to get the full impact). The recently released Forza Motorsport is also tremendously popular (and that is a big release, now that I think about it). But there are plen
      • I felt that way over ten years ago, when I bought an Atari Lynx... funny how it goes. Beautiful systems, beautiful potential. And nothing happens. ( well, except for the UMD movie stuff )

  • Be nice (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Karem Lore ( 649920 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:13PM (#13176893)
    If we could actually buy the unit here in Europe...Have to wait until September, but hey, the firmware is at V2...
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Re:Be nice (Score:4, Interesting)

        by jimicus ( 737525 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:58PM (#13177285)
        AFAIK, the basis of the legal action was trademark infringement; thus:

        "Fred's Imports has no license to use the names Sony, PSP or the logos. They're all trademarks owned by us. We've asked them to stop using these names, they refuse. Please order them to stop, your honour."

        Judgement for the plaintiff, now Fred has to sell his Sony PSPs without telling people what they are. And to really hammer it home, Sony consider "Fred's imports" shipping a box with Sony PSP on it a trademark infringement - and the court agreed.

        Does this sound like an abuse of the system to you?

  • summary is correct: no homebrew yet! (Score:5, Informative)

    by The Other White Boy ( 626206 ) <theotherwhiteboy.gmail@com> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:13PM (#13176897)
    if you're still sitting on your 1.5 bios psp and enjoying emulators and source ports of old games, you may want to hang on for a while before the upgrade. sure you'll get a browser, but until someone comes up with a work around for 2.0 (no hints so far) you may be stuck for a while.

    but hey i'm sure somebody will figure it out eventually. hopefully before new games start forcing you to upgrade to 2.0 to play.

  • A bold move on Sony's part (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Frangible ( 881728 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:13PM (#13176901)
    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.
  • ... and all the broken hacks are now functional again.

  • Knowing hackers... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Mad_Rain ( 674268 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:15PM (#13176916) Journal
    This version apparently breaks all hacks so far too

    Hmmm... knowing the rapid pace of hackers versus the Slashdot editors, which will come first: the hack to get the latest firmware to work, or the dupe of this story? ;)
    • > > This version apparently breaks all hacks so far too
      >
      >Hmmm... knowing the rapid pace of hackers versus the Slashdot editors, which will come first: the hack to get the latest firmware to work, or the dupe of this story? ;)

      Well, it was also released only in Japan, and in addition to the browser breaking the hacks, it has Korean language support. I'll bet someone will come up with a Firefox plugin to detect (or even auto-hide) the Slashdot duplicates. You'd probably have to be a really a

      • i tried sorta half heatedly to compile the firefox source using the psp toolkit and failed, obviously. but i'm sure some other people with a bit more knowledge have tried, seen the errors, and worked at it.

        judging by the other ports we've seen, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see a firefox port. i think the tcp/ip interface on the wi-fi still hasn't been figured out though, so that's probably where most of the effort is concentrated.

  • user agent string (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:15PM (#13176917)
    (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.

  • Tempting - but no (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Dark Paladin ( 116525 ) * <jhummel.johnhummel@net> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:15PM (#13176918) Homepage
    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.
    • I can see Sony's PoV. And I see yours too.

      I'd love to have a PSP with Sony's blessing that could run homebrew.

      But here's the hard part -- lets all think of a way to make it possible, for Sony's sake.

      I'm sure Sony would like more customers -- don't you? Running homebrew is good, as long as it doesn't make them lose game publishers.

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

      • Re:Tempting - but no (Score:5, Interesting)

        by Dark Paladin ( 116525 ) * <jhummel.johnhummel@net> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:39PM (#13177133) Homepage
        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 (Score:4, Interesting)

          by Zigg ( 64962 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @01:28PM (#13177617)

          Yes, it severely restricts development - but it's still a hell of a lot more open than the Nintendo systems...

          This apparently random comment confuses me. Are not the Sony and Nintendo development models, right now, equally "open"? I'm just trying to figure out why Nintendo was inserted into this statement.

          Anyway, the problem with your plan is that it enables piracy. Now that Sony's given their blessing to homebrew, it becomes completely legitimate to release i.e. a game image loader that runs on fully unmodified units.

          You could mitigate that somewhat by saying your $100 bought you a signature on your code-signing key that let your code run -- then we'd always know the source of said loaders. The problem there is that there will no doubt be someone's code, intentionally or no, that contains an exploitable backdoor that runs game images. And unlike the licensee's game with the overflow that can be discontinued or pulled from shelves entirely, that code will pretty much continue to be available forever.

          Game consoles are closed for two reasons. Number 1 is piracy. Number 2 is the revenue stream to the console maker. Barring some incredibly cool new method of building homebrew, sanctioned methods will never those two.

      • Re:Tempting - but no (Score:2, Insightful)

        by Anonymous Coward
        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."

      • Re:Tempting - but no (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Lothsahn ( 221388 )
        Sony could digitally sign certain homebrew applications and verify that they're legit for a fee from the developers.

        Or better yet, Sony could manage a user-based voting system where applications not supporting piracy would be approved by voting consensus, and those allowing piracy would be denied. Entry into this voting forum would be fee based for voting users ($10 admission?), to pay for Sony's moderation expenses. Users found improperly voting on a repeated (intentional) basis for software products

      • Re:Tempting - but no (Score:5, Interesting)

        by cduffy ( 652 ) <charles+slashdot@dyfis.net> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:58PM (#13177287)
        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 not "better MPEG-4" - the new video playback adds support for playing H.264 encoded video off the memory stick. It's the format that UMD Video discs use. This will surely make it much better for those who want to transcode TV shows and movies for playing on the go - the video quality at present isn't bad, but H.264 is way clearer, and you'll be able to have video at full screen resolution, unlike now. It's gonna be hot.

      (Yes, I'll be upgrading my PSP to the 2.0 firmware, as soon as the US version is out

  • It's about time. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by donleyp ( 745680 ) * on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:18PM (#13176950) Homepage
    The guys at psphacks.net [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?

    • Does anyone have any insight into why they're so uptight about it?

      Sony has always been uptight about people messing with their hardware.

      They want complete control over it. This way they think they will make more money by having complete control over the distribution of games, movies, memory cards, and anything else you can think of.

      What they don't realize is that people will still buy this stuff (if it is good), but they may get a few more people to buy their products if they just let people have fun with

    • Re:It's about time. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Tx ( 96709 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:29PM (#13177052) Journal
      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?
    • You need to look at it from the game publishers' point of view.

      They pay thousands for developer licenses and SDK's. To them, homebrew just flies in the face of that. Some kid can write a really fun game in a couple of days and never has to bother with any red tape.

      I'm not saying its right, but that is why.
      • You need to look at it from the game publishers' point of view.

        They pay thousands for developer licenses and SDK's. To them, homebrew just flies in the face of that. Some kid can write a really fun game in a couple of days and never has to bother with any red tape.

        They are also running a commercial business, and trying to rake in an obscene profit. The homebrewers are hobbyists, who really can't help but tinker with any hardware that comes their way. Homebrew is good for business, anyway, but as a publisher

  • Desperately wanting a better way to enter text (Score:5, Interesting)

    by jockm ( 233372 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:18PM (#13176951) Homepage
    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
    • God! I hate the freaking cell phone input, too!

      The thing drives me nuts. Not because it's cell phone input, and a9-like predictive text wouldn't help.

      It's because the entire notion of cell phone text entry doesn't work when I have to move a cursor to the correct button, then press a singular button through it. This is annoying and breaks the whole flow of input.

      Entirely too slow. They need to think of a new input method, one that allows for reasonable text input speeds, not 1 word per hour.

  • fxpsp (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Rinisari ( 521266 )
    If the browser is really the only new feature, why doesn't someone just port a decent browser [getfirefox.com] to the PSP?

    • Re:fxpsp (Score:5, Informative)

      by thatguywhoiam ( 524290 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @02:23PM (#13178270)
      If the browser is really the only new feature, why doesn't someone just port a decent browser [getfirefox.com] to the PSP?

      Well first off the slashdot write-up is incomplete.

      This update includes other features, such as ability to swap backgrounds and change themes, and some other sundry items, but there are THREE major features:

      Web browser
      AVC video support on MemoryStick
      AAC audio support on MemoryStick       Photo sharing via wireless

      The web browser was never going to be Firefox, thats just not how Sony operates. Besides it would probably be very inappropriate (although using the rendering engine is a different story). From what I hear, it is pretty much HTML 4.01 compliant, has CSS support (not sure what level), HTTPS, and Javascript. That's pretty good. It also has some sort of pseudo-tabbed thing where you can keep 3 pages in saved state at once. You can pan around the page with the analog stick, and the bookmarks are kept in a regular HTML file (which I would suggest loading up on your comp in TextEdit or whatever to save your thumbs).

      The AVC support is HUGE. This codec (H.264) is the basis for nearly everything coming out and the quality jump from the previous H.263 'simple profile' MP4 has to be seen to be believed. I would conservatively say a threefold increase in resolution - its that good. Also should result in smaller files. One hitch is that the format is still 320x240, so for widescreen content you are best to make an anamorphic clip. The PSP provides an anamorphic mode for unsquishing the picture and it interpolates very well. A shame to not use the 480x272 but I suspect many people would find out pretty quickly that at that rez, you're going to max even a 1GB stick really quick (doubt it could hold a 90min DVD at that; UMDs are 1.8 gigs I believe). Also note that AVC will take a lot longer to actually compress clips unless you have a fairly modern computer.

      AAC audio support is huge as well for those of us with half their iTunes collection in AAC. No I have never bought anything from iTMS, I just like AAC. I had to set up a smart playlist that picked from my (much smaller) MP3 collection previously.

      The photo sharing thing is just cool.

      There are some other odds and ends, like GIF/TIFF/BMP/WAV support, some additional wireless security, etc. On the whole I'd say the upgrade is worth it unless you are *really* into your homebrew (which some are).

  • Well... (Score:2)

    by Shads ( 4567 )
    ... there has to be SOME compelling reason to break all the "neat" hacks for the PSP. A webbrowser and such is sufficient for some people... but I don't look for alot of people to fall for it honestly.
    • My brother-in-law is almost falling over himself to upgrade his 1.51 PSP to 2.0. He has to have the latest and greatest revision of whatever just to have it.

      I'm sitting back and waiting still. I was going to jump on the PSP and then the DS came out and then I was unsure... now it seems both platforms have faded away.

      What happened to the DS? I assume N is still making them but the last newsworthy blurb was about the GameBoy Micro on Engadget. Same thing with the PSP.. nothing since the exploit a few mont

  • Region encoding (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Generic Guy ( 678542 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:19PM (#13176971)

    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.

  • hah (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Momoru ( 837801 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:20PM (#13176987) Homepage Journal
    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.
    • 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?

      That's pretty funny and I thought the same thing. I love people saying that they have a PSP so they can play with a GameBoy emulator. Guess what people? I also like playing GameBoy games, which is why I bought a GBA.

      I'd really like PSP fans to explain to me why it's worth paying t

    • Basically, most people playing GBA games on the PSP are playing pirated games. Yeah, I said *most* - I know that doesn't include you. Ironically, its easier to play pirated GBA games on the PSP than on Nintendo's unit, thanks to the memory stick.

      I have a PSP, but I'm waiting for the price of those Memory Sticks to drop a bit before I decide to try emulators. I wonder if you can fit the emulator + games on the stock 32MB card??

    • A PDA would have done all the "extra curricular" things you are doing

      Currently available open PDAs have distinctly sub-par joypads.

  • Early adoption (Score:5, Informative)

    by GoRK ( 10018 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:21PM (#13176999) Homepage Journal
    As no one seems to have pointed out yet, it's likely that someone will release a modified 2.0 that will give you all the new features AND let you run homebrew apps.. But if you upgrade to 2.0 now, you'll lock yourself out of the ability to run the upgrader for any hacked version. This is pretty typical of 'softmod' style hacks; being an early adpoter is not the wisest course of action.

    Unless of course there is a vulnerability in 2.0 that will let you run homebrew... If you want to bank on that, be my guest.
    • Not really.

      The update is encrypted and signed. You can't modify it. //yeah, yeah, "break the encryption" but it's most likely signed by PKI and we don't have the private half.

      • Re:Early adoption (Score:4, Informative)

        by GoRK ( 10018 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @02:21PM (#13178248) Homepage Journal
        Perhaps you did not already know this, but at least someone understands [ps2dev.org] how to decrypt the PSAR files containing the firmware as it's possible to disassemble the update application. (Also the decrypted firmware images of 1.51 and 1.52 firmwares have been floating around, so it has been done.) It's also known how to write to all of the flash memory in the PSP.

        While it would not be possible to reencrypt the PSAR and re-sign the updater PBP so that it would run like the original, it would be possible to modify the decyrpted firmware then write an application that flases said modified firmware to a PSP in order to create a PSP with 2.0 firmware features that can still load unsigned code.

        However, as I said before, the ability to do this to your own PSP means that you will have to begin with a PSP capable of executing unsigned code in the first place (currently 1.0 or 1.5) in order to run the hacked flashing utility and write the unencrypted and unsigned hacked-up firmware image to flash. Thus, if you update to 2.0 now you will perhaps not be able to install a hacked 2.0 that can run homebrew code IF such a thing is created and IF no exploit is found in 2.0.

  • A Worthy Effort (Score:4, Insightful)

    by taskforce ( 866056 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:23PM (#13177011) Homepage
    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.

  • I think its all in the view of who you are. I am glad that most the people on this site are a little more educated than alot of PSP sites I have found. I read comments about things like this update and all you read about is, people who have 1.5 wanting to update to 2.0 and people with 1.51 complaining to the 1.5 about no updating.

    If you want to update thats your choice. Sony isn't making you update (yet) and you really never actually HAVE to update. Even if updates are manditory by new games you shouldn't c

  • sweet (Score:5, Interesting)

    by bonk ( 13623 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:25PM (#13177023)
    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?

  • List of Features and New Ceramic White (Score:5, Informative)

    by Xeo 024 ( 755161 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:26PM (#13177031)
    Network Features:

            * Internet Browser - Probably the biggest thing yet to come to the PSP, a web browser. The browser supports standard 4.01 HTML, but will not support Flash streaming. Although some minor bugs, you will be able to connect to any website through your wireless hotspot.
            * New Network Menu - This is the new icon that will be installed on your PSP, it will act as the shortcut to the web browser.

    Video Features:

            * Jump Function - Jump function added (UMD Video & UMD Music)
            * A-B Function - This allows you to repeat one portion of the clip.
            * 4x3 size - A new size to watch videos in
            * Mute - Mute function added for videos, even though a general mute function came with the original system.
            * MP4 (AVC) playback - New playback format.

    Music Features:

            * ATRAC3plus playback - Now you can put ATRAC3plus files on your PSP.
            * MP4 AAC & WAVE Support - This version will allow you to play MP4 audio (MP4's AAC format) as well as Linear PCM WAVE files.

    Photo Features:

            * Wallpaper Feature - Another big feature for the PSP, can you guess it? You got it, a personalized wallpaper feature.
            * Photo Sharing - You can now share images with a friend using the wireless ad-hoc connection (local)
            * New Formats - The PSP can now read TIFF, GIF and BMP files.

    Setting Features:

            * New Character SetTheme Setting
            * Internet Browser Restriction Setting - Set security settings for your web browser.
            * WPA Support - Don't like WEP? isn't secure enough for you? you can now access the net with WPA-PSK (TKIP.)Web Support on Keypad

    Source [gamebattles.com]

    Sony also released a ceramic white version [engadget.com] of the PSP.
  • User agent says it is Mozilla/4.0

    Most versions of Internet Explorer say Mozilla/4.0 at the beginning. In fact, almost all web browsers stick a "Mozilla" in at the beginning, as can be seen here. [wikipedia.org].
  • I'm surprised someone hasn't programmed a homebrew web browser, for those who want the 2.00 functionality but still want to play custom software.

  • I was thinking of getting a PSP (Score:4, Interesting)

    by acb ( 2797 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:36PM (#13177108) Homepage
    but then I decided against it. Without hacks it'd be useless except as a means of consuming expensive commercial content, and Sony are doing their worst, technically and legally, to keep it locked down. As far as hackable, portable devices, the Nokia 770 looks far more useful.

    OTOH, I'd be tempted to buy a PSP if Katamari Damacy was out for it (I don't live in the US or Japan and thus can't get the PS2 version), but apparently they're porting the next version to the Nintendo DS as well.
    • Without hacks it'd be useless except as a means of consuming expensive commercial content, and Sony are doing their worst, technically and legally, to keep it locked down.

      You mean, like a DVD player?

      Joking aside - I think some of you guys have an odd attitude when it comes to homebrew on the PSP.

      It is a Sony PSP. The way I look at it is - if homebrew works, thats fantastic, but anyone who buys a PSP and hangs their hat on the homebrew capabilities is setting themselves up for heartbreak. Sony sells t

      • If you want MAME, buy an appropriate PDA.

        Which make and model of PDA has an appropriate joypad, one at least as good as the one on a GBA SP or a PSP?

        • Which make and model of PDA has an appropriate joypad, one at least as good as the one on a GBA SP or a PSP?

          Nothing, probably. Which will it be - no MAME at all or MAME with bad controls?

          By the way, your PSP vs DS page (sig) really... lacks perspective. It reads like a typical kneejerk fanboy reactionary screed. No need to feel so threatened by the PSP, dude, you are obviously happy with a gameboy, why not leave it at that?

  • If the update included software to turn my PSP into a WiFi detector it would be worth sacraficing and/all opportunities to use homebrew apps.

  • Finally.. (Score:4, Funny)

    by kronchev ( 471097 ) <kronchev@gmailPASCAL.com minus language> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @12:52PM (#13177235) Homepage
    Finally, we can stop those goddamn hackers from stealing Sony's money by running a Nintendo emulator on their $250 unit combined with the $60 memory stick they bought! Stupid kids want everything for free, god bless Sony for taking back what was theirs!
  • Considering it only took one day for Windows Genuine Advantage to be hacked [extended64.com], it certainly wont take long for them to get around whatever got put in 2.00.
  • Sony...with their Pr0n Station Portable. Now you can get pr0n wherever you are.

  • Real time firmware update war (Score:5, Interesting)

    by British ( 51765 ) <british1500@gmail.com> on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @01:01PM (#13177308) Homepage Journal
    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.
  • I've heard rumors that v2.0 would support h.264 playback, so is this in there and if so does it work well?

    I probably use my PSP as a portable video player more often than to play games, so having a better codec would really be cool.

  • Why this is important (Score:3, Interesting)

    by RoLi ( 141856 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @01:33PM (#13177678)
    This is actually very important because millions of Playstation 3 are going to get sold and they will probably use the same (or a very similar) browser for it too.

  • Why a Browser? Easy! P0rn!!

    Every kid who has lost access to the family computer, or encountered parential controls on it, will want this now.

    And the parents will never suspect how this goes right around them.

  • that is exactly the reason for "slowly" introducing features since they've had all along from day 1. they want people to keep updating in order to benefit from the features that should have been there since the begining. of course the reason they do this is to prevent most people from using the good firmware, the ones that help them to reclaim ownership over the physical device which they legally bought and are entitled to do with as they please.

    microsoft did this just recently... they released an update to
  • ...the best method of making sure an "appliance" doesn't get hacked to run Linux (or any other FOSS OS) is to provide relatively frequent updates that add new features that all users will be dying for. They'll gladly dump the hacks they've applied for cool new functionality that the hack doesn't provide. The second prong here is that before a new update is done, you analyze the code of the popular hacks and then insert code in the update to stop them from working. Very smooth...

  • Hacks stopped working... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by kiwioddBall ( 646813 ) on Wednesday July 27, 2005 @06:12PM (#13180677)
    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.

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