Update: Hate to say I told ya so… But FreePlay has confirmed it — the recently discovered PSPgo save game exploit has been patched in firmware 6.20. Womp waaa…

You may miss it if you’re using 5.50 GEN-D2… That reports the latest version of the system software is already installed, which is no longer the case… Firmware 6.20 is live right now.

What’s new? Straight from Eric Lempell:

• Digital Comics Reader – PlayStation Network Digital Comics is a new service launching in December. It will allow you to download hundreds of classic and new comics from the PlayStation Store and read them page by page or frame by frame on your PSP system. Firmware update (v6.20) includes the Digital Comics reader application, which you’ll find under a new section called “Extras” on the XMB. Please note, the comic reader is an additional download; once you’ve loaded (v6.20) onto your system, simply click on the comic reader icon under “Extras” to download it to your PSP. In addition, you’ll be able to try out a free digital comic sample from the service soon. Visit www.playstationcomics.com for more information.
• Export video/photo playlists – This is a new feature that allows you to export your video and photo playlists from your PC to your PSP system through Media Go. Download the latest version of Media Go (v1.3) for this and a few additional enhancements.

I wouldn’t be updating so quickly if you’re a PSPgo owner, or an owner of any Pandora-proof PSP for that matter… Wait and see whether or not this update patches the recently discovered/rumoured exploit that my main man Beaker covered earlier last week. We’ll keep you posted.

Download: PSP Firmware 6.20

I picked up my PSPgo the other day, it came shipped with firmware 5.70, and a mandatory update forced me to 6.10 as soon as I got it online… But what I didn’t know, behind all its elegance was a TA-091 motherboard, or wait… Maybe it’s a TA-094. Whatever the case – they’re new – they’re locked down. We go-getters might be waiting awhile… Keep your go close; keep your fat/slim closer.

More TA-091 / TA-094 pics can be viewed following the source link.

And on another note, the fine people who’ve participated in the Dashhacks contest; we’ll be shipping yours out this coming week.

- source: psp.duowan.com

Update: And here it is… PSP Firmware Update 6.10.

Look at Sony acting all cool with their new firmware update… *Razor Ramon’s a toothpick* In our world it’s Yoshihiro and his 5.55/6.00 Games Decrypter. Join us, see what’s up.

But for real, Sony is preppin’ to release their 6.10 firmware update, which is of course aimed towards new PSPgo owners. Check it, from the L-Man himself:

PSP update (v6.10) will be available soon. This is a big update for us in preparation for the launch of PSPgo. New PSPgo owners should make sure to download the update to ensure full compatibility with MediaGo and with all PSP titles. Here are some of the key features we’ll be introducing:

SensMe

SensMe channels is a new music application for PSP that uses Sony’s proprietary 12 Tone Analysis technology to evaluate music tracks that have been imported from Media Go application on your PC to your PSP. The application automatically categorizes the tracks into 12 channels such as “Relax” or “Newly Added”. Check out the walk-thru demo to see how it works.

- Eric Lempel

Download: PSP Firmware Update 6.10

Update: Cool… A video showcasing 6.00 courtesy of WEED LOVER:

Update: Hrm… Even Lempel doesn’t mention any of the PSP GO features on his latest PlayStation Blog post. Why’s that?

Update: All right; first impressions… Nothing overly exciting… Plenty of new theme colours… Big whoop. 6.00!? C’mon… More like 5.56 or something. I’m more interested in the PSPgo and the Bluetooth Internet dealio. The change log posted below is spot-on with exception of the PSP GO specifics; I can’t confirm that until October. Anyway, let me reiterate:

PSP Firmware 6.00:

• PlayStation Store Games can now be grouped and displayed in folders based on their expire date under [GAME]
• Importing of playlists from the Media GO! applications is now supported under Music
• Under [Settings] > [Network Update] has been changed to [System Update]
• The number of Colors that can be selected under [Settings] > [Theme Settings] has been increased
• The PSP GO! system can now connect to the Internet via a Bluetooth modem such as a mobile phone

And furthermore…

• Revisions to strengthen security has been added. (Internet Browser)

Anyone spot anything that went unmentioned?

Now to Pandora myself back to 5.50 GEN.

It’s out — Get PSP Firmware 6.00 now via Network/System Update or download it below. More to come… Updating…

Download: PSP Firmware 6.00

The fortunate folk at Eurogamer got their hands on a PSPgo pre-release model… So here’s the inside scoop straight from the source –

The pre-release sample of the new hardware arrived with an unreleased firmware revision: 5.70. This may or may not be the system software that ships with the retail unit coming on 1st October. 5.70 does feature a number of changes over the current 5.51 operating system.

Not surprisingly, it’s the Settings area of the XMB that gets the lion’s share of the changes:

• Network Update is now listed as System Update, but, curiously, has the same options.
• Video Settings obviously doesn’t have the first four UMD-related toggles.
• System Settings now has a “Your Birth Date” option (second from top), and a “Display Panel Close Option” toggle, which allows you to set it to either “Standard” (goes to a clock graphic) or “Enter Sleep Mode”. Also “Battery Information” seems to be gone, as do UMD-related options, but there’s a “Format System Storage” option in addition to the usual Memory Stick format option.
• Power Save Settings loses the “Backlight Auto-Adjust” option for some reason.
• There’s a new “Bluetooth Device Settings” entry, which consists of a toggle for switching Bluetooth on and off and a “Manage Bluetooth Devices” entry.

Hooking up the PSPgo to a Mac via USB, we find that the total available storage available to the user is 14.74GB, formatted in the FAT32 configuration (hence introducing a 4GB file-size limit).

Sony has opted out of using a conventional USB cable format on the new handheld. The PSPgo itself uses a wider, thinner connector for the console, terminating in the standard USB connector. So, similar to the iPhone and iPod Touch, it’s proprietary cable time. It also appears as though Sony has moved away from the old AV port that debuted on the PSP-2000 – there’s a common-or-garden 3.5mm stereo jack connection for headphones only, not the more traditional extended interface with its support for external remotes and the like.

That’s the gist of things. For the full article, follow the source. It’s a good read.

- source: eurogamer

Perhaps this update will never see the light of day, whether that be from Sony’s website or Network Update; however, G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra UMD comes pressed with firmware 5.55, much like IdolM@ster SP and 5.05. Currently, as confirmed in the below video, 5.55 is required to run G.I. Joe. But really, we all know that’ll be hacked/bypassed in due time.

- source: dark-alex

If I’m not mistaken Eurogamer was one of the first to publish rumoured details of the PSPgo — dubbed the PSP-4000 at the time (now modeled the PSP-N1001) — with the PSP2 to follow. So consider what you’re about to read speculation with perhaps a little credibility backing it up…

Eurogamer.es is reporting that PowerVR technology from Imagination Technologies will form the basis of the still-in-development PSP2. The site claims to have insider sources that reckon that a quad core iteration of the low-power SGX543MP chip, codenamed “Hydra”, will be present in the next generation handheld, not to be confused with the forthcoming PSPgo.

The chip itself appears to be very close indeed to the enhanced GPU experts say resides within the iPhone 3GS, providing a generational leap in performance over older PowerVR MBX processors found in the previous models. The same technology is also found in select netbooks such as the Dell Mini 12, as part of the new low power Poulsbo chipset. The single core version of the chip has been demonstrated at CES running Quake 3 Arena at 30FPS.

…

So just how plausible is the original Spanish Eurogamer report? Having shared with us some of the more “off the record” information about the source of the info, it’s a likely proposition, not least because Sony is hotly rumoured to have been the mystery “major international consumer electronics company” mentioned in this press release issued back in November last year.

- source / full article: eurogamer

Ah — maybe the PSPgo isn’t faster after all… Engadget Japan apparently contacted Sony Computer Entertainment regarding the recently filed FCC docs; the ones we showed you on July 4th. It turns out the mentioned clock speed is actually in reference to the PSPgo’s USB — not the CPU.

- source: engadget

Check this interesting news tidbit out… The PSPgo — model number PSP-N1001 — apparently packs a faster CPU than its predecessor. That’s according to recently filed documents over at the FCC. Now it’s suspected the PSPgo will remain locked at 333MHz; however — you know what’s up when the device is cracked open and its true potential unleashed.

(click to enlarge)

- source: sonyinsider

So I was reading around the Internet that Custom Firmware 5.00 M33 users were just blocked from accessing the PlayStation Store. Since I have two PSPs I thought I’d check this out for myself… I dug up my old PSP-1000 and upgraded it to 5.00 M33-6 (from 3.90 M33). With that I tried accessing the PSN store and likewise on my PSP-2000, which is already running 5.50 GEN-A.

5.00 M33-6: It’s true. You are now prompted with, “A system software update for the PSP system is required. For update methods, refer to the instructions for the PSP system.” And even with spoofing your version using the ol’ version.txt method — you’re still denied access.

5.50 GEN-A: Keep on… You’re still in business.

Silly move on Sony’s part… Why would you ultimately deny money from custom firmware users? I’ve purchased downloads, still do.