[url="http://games.slashdot.org/games/05/03/26/2313238.shtml?tid=212&tid=207"]The news is on Slashdot[/url], but there's some very cool things being done with the PSP. There's a web browser that's inbuilt in Wipeout Pure, using it to read E-books, [url="http://www.pspvideo9.com/"]converting your own movies and tv shows[/url], [url="http://www.gameseek.co.uk/productdetail/PSPfhyaqce6he5x223r/"]keyboards[/url].. I've always wanted a PDA device to do most of the above (and watch TV episodes/watch movies, or run MAME), and the PSP would make a very cool device to do all that, I think. It's a shame you can't burn your own discs though.
Some info about the version 2.0 Firmware upgrade on the PSP..
From July, 27th, 2005, the new system software update will start. This update will upgrade your system version to 2.0. Changelog:
Main function updated in system software version 2.0
- Network
Internet browser added
* Macromedia Flash is not supported. A part of the web pages might not be displayed correctly
* The startup of the internet browser can be limited.
- Video
Jump function added (UMD Video & UMD Music)
A-B repeat function added (UMD Video & UMD Music & videos stored in Memory sticks)
"4:3 mode" added to Video mode (videos stored in Memory sticks)
Sound mute function added (videos stored in Memory sticks)
MP4 (AVC) format playback support added (videos stored in Memory sticks)
-Music
Can accept music tracks in Atract3 Plus format from "Sonicstage" under version 3.2 (now for pre-order)
MP4 (AAC) & Wave (Linear PCM) format playback support added (music stored in Memory sticks)
- Photo
Wallpaper function added
Image receiving function added
TIFF, GIF, PNG, BMP format supported
- Settings
"Korean language" added to "system settings" -> "System language"
"Character set" added to "system settings"
"Theme settings" added
"Internet browser startup limit" added to "Security settings"
"WPA-PSK (TKIP)" added to security method in "Network settings"
Keyboard now support web input.
* All the setting before the upgrade will be preserved.
And damn, the white psp looks nice [:)]
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050721/scei09.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050721/scei10.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050721/scei11.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050721/scei1.htm
And today is the day for 2.0, hooray for everyone who has a Japanese PSP (me).
Here's the download page for PSP Japan:
download here:
http://www.playstation.jp/psp/update/ud_03.html
translate here:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/
But this morning They had not updated the downloadable version yet :(
Keep checking for Online PSP goodness, If anyone besides me gets the update, post on what its like.
http://dj01.psp.update.playstation.org/update/jp/2005_0727_62f6d3d18038…
get it here, it works for both US and Jap PSP's and keeps your system in english.
I'd post more but I guess I'm the only one here with a PSP?
Thought this would be the appropriate place to put it, discovered this competition being run in australia for film makers. Essentially its just a short film contest with a PSP logo on it but the premise is that you make a film (under a few different categories like "music video" "documentary" and some other more vauge headings like "artistic" ) to be screened on the PSP. The winners go up for download. Seems like a marketing tool but also a neat way of promoting the product, as it means we'll have some interesting home made content to look at when the competition concludes. Linky: http://www.pspexpose.com.au/
I'm tempted to buy a PSP, but I'm a little cautious forking out so much money for something I know little about. Sure there's the tech specs but the limited choice in UMD movies and games at the moment makes me a little hesistant to buy this just yet.
Probably a few months down the track when its cheaper (and when v2.0 firmware is cracked) I'll look at buying one.
The funny thing is when the PSP launched there were plenty of games to satisfy (allthough is was a very sony roster, ie mostly sports and racing orientated) but now theres a real drout. However theres also a whole handfull of games slated for "fall" release (which translates to what spring here?) so about the time PSP is actually released in aus, the games should start flowing again. Personally im thinking of picking up one for christmas, gripshift looks like a awesome title to start with.
Anyone else here looking to pick up a PSP?? There doesn't seem to be much hype for it at the moment. No subliminal Sony PS2-style TV ads, posters, movie trailers, newspaper ads, and whatnot so far, and it's getting released in 2 weeks. I wish I had one but like Moonunit said, nothing really stands out in the game library (apart from Luminous) for me. Homebrew has got me interested, but Sony seems keen to keep locking any of that stuff from happening. [:(] (wants C64 emulator action happening).
sonys launched a aussie PSP website www.yourpsp.com.au but really its everything you can expect from a official website, lots of flashy graphics and not a terrible lot of information. However it does have a release list there but who knows how reliable it is, it dosent even have twisted metal on it :S
You can get like 1G (or so?) memory sticks for it though, which is only half the size of a UMD disc anyway (but rather expensive). Being able to create your own UMD's wouldn't be that fantastic for your average consumer after you take into account you would have to buy a special hardware to create the disc. The number of people who would buy that is probably small enough to push the hardware over the $1000+ mark, which makes the memory sticks look a little mroe attractive :P
(What am i doing defending the PSP anyway?)
CYer, Blitz