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PS Meeting 2005: PSP 2.00 Details
Net browsing, AVC video, wallpapers and more, oh my!
by Nix

July 21, 2005 - Just announced in Japan today, Sony's first major update to the PlayStation Portable operating system is packing some major features -- there are still a gaggle of requests that we have for other upgrades, but this 2.00 package goes a long way towards fixing the quirks and complaints users might have had about the system. The 2.00 update has some significant new features, and with a due date in Japan of July 27th in Japan (with a NA release likely soon after or the same day), these cool features might be yours in the very near future.

Sony Computer Entertainment has released a list of the features to be included in PSP v2.00, and we have translated and pulled out details on these in the list below. Once it's available, you can get the 2.00 update either by downloading it from a hotspot to your PSP, by uploading it from your PC via USB after grabbing the file from SCE's service, or by updating with a PSP game with 2.00 included. Here's what's in the package:

NETWORK - Internet Browser - The biggie of the bunch, a new browser function has been added to the PSP so that you can connect to a website any time you are in the area of a compatible / accessible WiFi hotspot. The browser supports standard 4.01 HTML, but will not support Flash (although it is listed what sounds to be a sniffer function for Flash to show when it is requested but not available ... might it be part of the PSP brower someday?)

NETWORK - New Network Menu - This is where the web browser will be housed. The icon for it will be a globe, and it'll cycle in with the music note, film frame, and game logos.

VIDEO - Jump Feature in UMD Video/Music - Yes, it doesn't sound nearly as interesting as our original translation of "Performance Jump." It's a new skipping feature in UMDs, perhaps direct chapter access control or something to that effect.
VIDEO - A-B Repeat Mode - A handy feature for watching clips you like, this feature allows UMD Video, Music or Memory Stick videos to repeat your favorite scenes

VIDEO - 4x3 Video Mode of Memory Stick Video - We're not sure what this accomplishes, as videos were already 4x3. The only way for videos to be bigger and wider was to cheat the system and stretch would-be 4x3 pixels in odd ways with alternate apps.

VIDEO - Audio Adjustment Function of Memory Stick Video - Seems to be muting and gain controls for when your homemade videos are not the way you want.

VIDEO - MP4 (AVC) Playback - This is the good stuff. Homemade PSP videos have so far been hobbled by limited codec implementation and an adherence to a regulated Memory Stick standard. Instead, the PSP is finally allowed to branch out and play more complex, high-quality, full-screen video in the advanced h.264 codec. Exact implementation of the AVC codec may still depend on certain variables, but get your compressors ready.

MUSIC - ATRAC3plus Support on PRO Duo - Correcting a silly technical gaff in the Memory Stick format, music fans can now put ATRAC3plus files on their PSPs. (SonicStage v3.2 software is required.)
MP4 AAC & WAVE Support - The PSP can now play MP4 audio (MP4's AAC format) as well as Linear PCM WAVE files.

PHOTO - Wallpaper Feature - We're guessing this is the much-requested feature for taking your favorite pictures and smacking them in the background of the PSP menu. There's no mention of a randomizer or anything else that would make this feature even more cool, but at last, something other than that swishy swirl on this month's color.

PHOTO - Picture Sending - You can now trade photos with other PSP owners over an ad-hoc (local) wireless connection

PHOTO - New Formats - The PSP can now read TIFF, GIF (we're not sure about animated GIF yet) and BMP files.

SETTING - Korean Language - A new language option on the menu. That'll be nice for them

SETTING - New Character Set - No details available on this -- hopefully, this is a quick-select for punctuation and other hard-to-type characters.

SETTING - Theme Setting - No details.

SETTING - Internet Browser Restriction Setting - A set of options for configuring the access your PSP has to the net, presumably your cookie and personal security handling.

SETTING - WPA Support - If WEP isn't secure enough for your home, you can now access PSP with WPA-PSK (TKIP.)

SETTING - Web Support on Keypad - It's unfortunately not as cool as it sounds (we were hoping for USB keyboard support to be added, as there are a couple of USB manufacturers with mini-keyboards on deck.) The old dial-a-letter keyboard will be the input for the web browser.

Version 2.00 is a free update for PSP, and has a lot of features to help put the PSP in even better shape as a multimedia machine. The only issue with the update, of course, is that the security updates in previous updates will carry over to the newest version -- that means that the homebrew and EMU applications that are running wild in the PSP underground will be locked out in the newest edition. Hackers are notorious for finding a way where there is a will, and the will of the PSP gamer to get all of these features in their system without losing some of the cool extra apps will certainly be a driving force. However, cracking the security of the PSP in version 2.00 won't be as easy as it was with the swiss cheese early PSP versions, so it is unknown when or if any of that access will be returned. Since homebrew/hacker applications have also allowed access to pirated PSP games (copies of many games have unfortunately already been ripped off and posted up), that's just how Sony wants it, and they will certainly keep seeking to lock down their system.

Whether or not there will be a winner in that game of cloak and dagger, these features are handy and much-needed upgrades on the system for general users, so look for news on availability in North America of the 2.00 update soon.

Although you may want to wait until SCE releases the update on the North American PSP site, IGN has the all-region-compatible update for download below (the file is from SCE in Japan, but the update is in English if that is your standard language setting.)

Sony Announces Firmware 2.0 Release Date for the U.S.

We finally get a browser of our own. by Jason Allen

August 1, 2005 - Sony announced the release date today of the next firmware update for American Playstation Portables. Beginning August 12, 2005, users can download Firmware Upgrade 2.0, which gives westerners a web browser, photo sharing options, a customizable interface, broader network connectivity, and a few tweaks to the audio and video play back.

The release is going to include all the features that the Japanese got last week in their nifty upgrade. Sony recommends that if you have an American PSP and you downloaded the Japanese software, that you go ahead and download the American version. Operating under the Japanese 2.00 update on your American PSP voids its' warranty. In this case, the Japanese software is said to fall under the category of "unauthorized software." The 2.0 update has now been tested and authorized for use American PSPs specifically, and the NA version to be released will be fully authorized for use with your PSP.

There's no official word, but we're expecting Sony to populate the web with a few PSP-sized websites that view easy on the screen. They did it with the Japanese update, offering Sony sites that gave product info about the PSP. Sony has also mentioned that the 2.0 update will be made available (and, by that, will be required) in select PSP games released this fall.

Users will be able to download the update directly to their PSP through the Network Update feature under settings. An 802.11b hotspot connection is required for this option. Users can also download the upgrade file to their PC from http://us.playstation.com/psp, and then upload it to their PSP through USB.

Check back soon for more updates.

psp.ign.com wrote:Sony Flakes on 2.00

The Firmware update gets pushed back a week.
by Jason Allen

August 12, 2005 - Sony pulled a switch on us today. Although reps for SCE originally reported to us that the Firmware update 2.00 was going to be downloadable this week, its release has now been moved to next week. According to SCE's press release:

"The PSP Firmware 2.0 Upgrade for the North American market will be available during the week of August 15th, instead of on August 12, as previously reported."

Sony's reps did not provide a hard date for us, or explain what the hold-up is (we assume they're still testing things, but with version 2.00 already out for weeks in Japan, we're not sure what testing is being done unless they're fixing the update over the Japanese one.) We have at least been give the promise that it will be out some time next week. As far as we know, all the same features that were originally in the Japanese version will be available in the North American version, and nothing is being added or changed.

Check back soon, as we will have updates on the update as word comes in.