PlayStation Portable System Software

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PlayStation Portable System Software is the official, update-able firmware for the PlayStation Portable. Updates add new functionality as well as security patches to prevent homebrew applications being run on the system. Updates can be obtained in four ways:

  • Direct download to the PSP over Wi-Fi. This can be performed by choosing "Settings", "Network Update" from the XMB.
  • Download to a PC, then transfer to the PSP via a USB cable or Memory Stick.
  • Included on the UMD of some games. These games may not run with earlier firmware than the version on their UMD.
  • Download from a PS3 to a PSP system via USB cable. (Japanese version only)

While system software updates can be used with consoles from any region, Sony recommends only downloading system software updates released for the region corresponding to the system's place of purchase. System software updates have added various features including a web browser, Adobe flash support, additional codecs for images, audio, and video, PlayStation 3 connectivity, as well as patches against several security exploits, vulnerabilities, and execution of homebrew programs.[1] If the power supply is lost while writing to or updating the system software, the console will no longer be able to boot unless the system is booted from a different source such as a battery in service mode where it can be restored.

The latest reported firmware version shipping pre-installed on new PSPs is 3.95, which was released on April 8, 2008. This is on the Deep Red God of War PSP. All other PSPs are still presently reported at 3.80.

Contents

[edit] System Software Versions

Version Date Released[2] Description
3.96 June 3, 2008

Currently provided only with the US version Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2

  • Support for PlayStation Network titles has been expanded.
3.95 April 8, 2008
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles has been expanded.
  • Downloaded PlayStation game controls can now be further customized.
  • Remote Play has been expanded.
3.93 March 18, 2008
  • The Internet Radio feature has been expanded.

Slim-only features:

  • Skype feature has been added under Network. (Japanese version only)
3.90 January 29, 2008
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles has been expanded.
  • Support for the Go!Messenger service (under Network). (European version only)[3]

Slim-only features:

  • Skype feature has been added under Network. (Excluding Japanese version)
3.80 December 17, 2007

Current PSP Slim & Lite Shipping Firmware

  • Streaming internet radio player
  • Added new music visualization effect
  • Video scene search
  • RSS now supports OPML and pictures
  • PlayStation Spot now available at BB Mobile Point (Japanese version only)
  • Added ability to play PlayStation games from disc or hard drive via Remote Play with the PlayStation 3 system

Slim-only features:

  • One-segment broadcasting recordings (Japanese version only)
3.73 November 29, 2007

Possible Initial release for a revision of the PSP Slim & Lite with new TA-085 v2 motherboard. At this time it is unclear if this began with 3.72 or 3.73.

  • Improved system stability by fixing problems where the UMD drive would occasionally suspend and then fail to reload data.
3.72 October 30, 2007

Possible Initial release for a revision of the PSP Slim & Lite with new TA-085 v2 motherboard. At this time it is unclear if it began with 3.72 or 3.73.

  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
  • Remote Start now available under Remote Play. Remote Start requires a Playstation 3 system with system software version 2.00.
3.71 September 13, 2007
  • Revisions to strengthen security have been added.
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
  • A correction has been made to the settings for some regions (i.e., the PlayStation Spot icon was removed for regions other than Japan)
3.70 September 11, 2007

First "universal" firmware version for both the original PSP-10xx and PSP-20xx PSP Slim & Lite series

  • Custom themes
  • Support has been added for assigning buttons in [Remote Play]
  • A scene search feature has been added under [Video]
  • Sequential playback is now supported under [Video]
  • Simultaneous playback of content under [Music] and [Photo] is now supported
  • PlayStation Spot icon added under [Network] for regions other than Japan
  • Video bitrate limit raised to 2Mbps from 768kbps
3.60 September 10, 2007

Initial Firmware for the Sony PSP Slim & Lite No update to this firmware was ever made available. This firmware was only available pre-installed on the initial release of the PSP Slim & Lite with TA-085 motherboard

Slim-only features:

  • TV output added
  • Support for the 1-Seg Tuner [Japanese version only]
  • UMD cache support
  • USB Charge option
  • Additional color themes for XMB
3.52 July 24, 2007
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
3.51 June 29, 2007
  • Illuminati exploit has been patched.
3.50 May 31, 2007
  • Allows Remote Play to be used via an internet connection.
  • "RSS Channel Guide" has been added as a feature under "RSS Channel".[4]
  • CPU speed limit removed, allowing CPU to run at 333MHz rather than 266MHz.[5]
3.40 April 20, 2007
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.[citation needed].
  • "Certificate Utility" option erased. (Can still be accessed by pressing triangle on the selected game)
  • Saved data from PlayStation format software can be used on both PSP and PS3 systems.[6]
3.30 March 28, 2007
  • Support for thumbnail images within RSS channel and in video folder.
  • MPEG-4/H.264 support for 720×480, 352×480, and 480×272 (native resolution).
  • "Wireless Hotspot" added (6 months of free T-Mobile Hotspot wireless internet access was added for US users)[7]
3.11 February 8, 2007
  • Added:
    • Reset option for PlayStation Network games.
    • "Portable TV" menu under "Network". (Japanese version only)[8]
3.10 January 30, 2007
  • Added:
    • Dynamic normalizer.
    • Conserve memory option.
    • "PlayStationSpot" menu under "Network". (Japanese version only)
  • Secret patching of sceRegOpenRegistry and GTA exploits.
3.03 December 20, 2006
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
  • Added:
    • Support for taking photos and videos using the camera.
3.02 Dec 6, 2006
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
3.01 Nov 22, 2006
  • Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
3.00 November 21, 2006
  • Support for:
  • Added a music visualizer.
2.82 October 26, 2006
  • Revisions to strengthen security have been added.
2.81 September 7, 2006
  • Support for memory sticks with a capacity of greater than 4GB.
  • Security update to fix libtiff exploit.
2.80 July 27, 2006
  • Support for Video RSS feeds.
  • Update for LocationFree Player to support AVC video codec.
  • Secret patching of sceKernelLoadExec bug, but opening sceRegOpenRegistry exploit.
2.71 May 30, 2006
  • Support to download Game Demos from the Internet Browser.
2.70 April 25, 2006
  • Support for Adobe Flash Player (Version 6).
2.60 November 29, 2005
  • Support for Audio RSS feeds.
2.50 October 13, 2005
  • Network
    • LocationFree Player added.
    • [Auto-Select] and [Unicode (UTF-8)] added to the browser.
    • Settings for [Text Size] and [Display Mode] and the input history of online forms accessed can now saved in the browser.
  • Video
    • Copyright-protected video can now be played.
  • Settings
    • [Set via Internet] has been added to [Date and Time] in [Date & Time Settings].
    • [WPA-PSK (AES)] has been added as a security method under [Network Settings].
  • Other
    • Korean input mode has been added to the on-screen keyboard.
2.01 October 3, 2005
2.00 September 1, 2005

Initial UK release

  • [Network] (added in this release)
    • [Internet Browser] added.
  • Video
    • 4:3 Screen Mode has been added (for video saved on Memory Stick Duo media).
    • Go To feature has been added (for UMDVIDEO and UMDMUSIC).
    • A-B Repeat feature has been added (for UMDVIDEO, UMDMUSIC and video saved on Memory Stick Duo media).
    • Audio options have been added (for video saved on Memory Stick Duo media).
    • MP4 (AVC) has been added as a playable file format (for video saved on Memory Stick Duo media).
  • Music
    • The combination of SonicStage version 3.2 (or later) and PSP system software 2.00 (or later) has made it possible for music files in ATRAC3 plus format to be transferred to a Memory Stick PRO Duo
    • MP4 (the audio codec for MP4 format audio files is MPEG-4 AAC) and WAV (Linear PCM) have been added as playable file formats (for music saved on Memory Stick Duo media).
  • Photo
    • Wallpaper feature has been added.
    • Image transfer feature has been added.
    • TIFF, GIF, PNG and BMP have been added as viewable file formats.
  • Settings
    • Korean has been added as a system language in [System Settings].
    • [Character Set] has been added in [System Settings].
    • [Theme Settings] has been added.
    • [Internet Browser Start Control] has been added as a security mode in [Security Settings].
    • WPA-PSK (TKIP) has been added as a security mode in [Network Settings].
    • Web address shortcut feature has been added as an input mode for the on-screen keyboard.
1.52 June 15, 2005
  • Revisions to strengthen security have been added.
  • Support for UMD music.
1.51 May 18, 2005
  • Security update to patch "KXploit" exploit
1.50 March 24, 2005

Initial North American release

  • Support for:
    • content authorization.
    • new video codecs.
    • multiple languages.
1.00 December 12, 2004

Initial Japanese release

  • Original release
  • No content authorization system.

[edit] Custom firmwares

For a list of custom firmware versions, please visit Custom Firmware available for PSP

Some developers have developed custom firmware versions, which allow extra functionality to the user such as custom icons and fonts on the XMB and different applications. Most notably however is the lack of security patches found in official firmware, allowing homebrew developers to run code on later versions of PSP firmware.[citation needed]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Sony releases anti-piracy PSP update", The Inquirer, 2005-10-03. 
  2. ^ Update History
  3. ^ BT Go!Messenger website.
  4. ^ Firmware 3.50 now available on Network Update. PSP fanboy. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
  5. ^ PSP CPU power unlocked. GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved on 2007-06-26.
  6. ^ PSP Firmware 3.40 for the US. QuickJump. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  7. ^ Sony PSP Firmware Update 3.30: Free T-Mobile Wireless Access Included. Gaming Bits. Retrieved on 2006-04-05.
  8. ^ PSP Updated : New firmware lets you reset. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.

[edit] External links

Official PlayStation Portable System Software Update page

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