PSP firmware 3.60 reveals hidden USB Charge feature

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 13th 2007 at 12:40AM }

We got our hands on a fully functional redesigned PSP, and we immediately grabbed pictures of the firmware that was installed on the system. Currently unreleased, version 3.60 was installed on the system. All of the features that are available in 3.60 will not work on the old PSP system, and it's unclear whether or not an older PSP system will even display the features found in this update.

Check after the cut to see the screens.

UMD Cache is used to increase the load speeds of games. As revealed earlier, the cache is added RAM found in the redesigned system.

USB Charge allows players to charge their PSP battery by connecting their systems via USB. Previously, the system would drain power when stuck in USB mode.

Connected Display Settings contains the settings for the new video-out feature.

Within the display settings, PSP owners can change the type of TV that's connected, and settings for screensavers. We connected a PSP to a TV and were impressed by the results: UMD movies look fantastic, but games will be bordered. PSP games are rendered at 480x272, progressive scan only. Because it's output at 480x272, there will be black borders all around the image when playing on the television.

See also:
Joystiq hands-on with the new PSP

Tags: breakingnews, e307, e3breakingnews, psp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Brandon @ Jul 13th 2007 12:48AM

Was the screen noticably different in any way, brighter, dimmer? What about the speakers? And can we get a good shot of the memory stick slot? No site so far has taken a picture of it.

Nate @ Jul 13th 2007 12:48AM

But can we still pt 2.60 on an old PSP, or rather 3.60 IE?

Nate @ Jul 13th 2007 12:49AM

3.60, I mean...

Brandon @ Jul 13th 2007 12:50AM

And another thing, is the screen inset or is it flush like the old PSP. Its hard to tell by most pictures because there appears to be a bevel.

Nushio @ Jul 13th 2007 12:56AM

I know Dark Alex just quit, and good thing. I doubt the guy has the skills to keep up with maintaining PSPLite 3.60 and PSPhat 3.60

john @ Jul 13th 2007 1:18AM

USB charging is nice, hard to believe it didn't happen already. But I can't even begin to think about picking up one of these until it's been hacked. Someone try to throw some of current hacked firmware on it!

DrXym @ Jul 13th 2007 5:18AM

You could charge via USB before - sort of. You could buy splitter cables that you could plug into the charge socket and USB B socket simultaneously. Charging was pretty poor this way but it was possible.

If Sony were smart, they'd bundle their PSP Media software on a CDROM to go with the PSP. If they were REALLY SMART they'd also make sure that it included convenient access to the music & movie store and seamless downloading.

tobin92 @ Jul 13th 2007 1:26AM

Could hypothetical the current PSP do Video output over USB....I am sure USB 2.0 can handle that resolution. Couldn't the charging over USB be possible as well?

BPM @ Jul 13th 2007 2:03AM

It really depends on whether or not the USB port was wired to have access to the video and/or power. And I don't think they were in the original model, otherwise this would've been utilized already.

Plus, video-out is done by the expansion port near the headphone jack on the new PSP.

BPM @ Jul 13th 2007 4:30AM

Turns out, I was wrong. Through homebrew, it is possible to use the USB port as video out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW3yl_hg4sQ

Brandon @ Jul 13th 2007 1:27AM

Can anyone confirm what the core slim psp price is? Is it more than the psphat and less than the bundled slims? Or will it be priced at 169 like the core phat one now?

BPM @ Jul 13th 2007 2:05AM

It's probably going to replace the existing model at the existing price.

Plus, the bundles at $200, as well.

bruce @ Jul 13th 2007 2:03AM

i dont like dark alex

Nter @ Jul 13th 2007 2:03AM

Brandon, the PSP Joystiq has is the Ice Silver addition, it'll come out in September in a bundle for $200.
It'll come with Daxter, 1GB stick, and Family Guy UMD Collection.

The redesigned Piano Black PSP wil go for the same price as the current PSP. 170.

Brandon @ Jul 13th 2007 2:27AM

Thanks guys, for some reason it was hard to find any in-writing confirmation of the price of that core pack.

That all i needed to hear to get me to buy one. I already have a 4gb card, so I can buy a slim for 170 and sell my phat to my brother for 70 or so dollars.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 13th 2007 3:17AM

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna pick one up myself too. Since it's at the regular core price, I think it's a nice bargain. I was actually surprised that a redesign would happen so early for the PSP. I expected a redesign to come out (at least) after next summer.

Sky Shark @ Jul 13th 2007 3:13AM

Wow that's a great way to alienate their customers. A firmware version that may not work entirely on the PSP 1.0. Also with this disc caching companies are going to probably put more into the games relaying on that caching which will make game load times even longer on the PSP 1.0. Also in response to the fanboys that will try and make remarks at the elite. All that did was add HDMI input to benifit those who couldn't use 1080p through VGA. It never stopped people hindered the proformance of the system to the masses at all. People who needed the HDMI and want 1080p that badly through VGA could buy that version but it never alienated most of the market. Which is what this version will probably do. Over time the games may even use more RAM then there is on the PSP v1.0 unless Sony regulates that. And if that happens we'll be stuck if we don't feel like putting out 200 bucks for a new game system that is currently being dominated by Nintendo.

Also like the Elite the DS Lite never alienated other early adopters who didn't feel like buying it. All it really did was add brightness controls, a better screen and a more comfy design, nothing more.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 13th 2007 3:20AM

...that is true. It's a very substantial hardware update that may end up feeling like a necessary one rather than an optional one.

Borat @ Jul 13th 2007 3:29AM

Sony demoed God Of War for the PSP on a TV during the Gamespot E3 marathon....and wow, that game looks so similar to the PS2 version on a TV. I was impressed.

BananaBoat @ Jul 13th 2007 3:30AM

They aren't fooling anybody. This "redesigned" PSP is just the progression of materials getting lighter, and cheaper. You aren't getting any added value (except for being able to play using your TV as a screen...for the low-res games...woot). Dark Alex quit, but surely someone else will crack the firmware. Even with that said, I wouldn't suggest purchasing this new one above the tried and tested PSP phat (which isn't much bigger -_-)

Cal @ Jul 13th 2007 3:40AM

Dudes, learn to use your cameras. The little flower icon turns on macro mode so the camera can actually focus on the system

Jon @ Jul 13th 2007 3:52AM

Joystiq seriously needs a new camera or learn to use macro on its old one...

DrXym @ Jul 13th 2007 5:15AM

I wish I could use a memory stick as cache. I don't see why it couldn't be used since the data could be encrypted first.

mnemo @ Jul 13th 2007 7:04AM

Hint: Disable flash and enable macro mode when photographing up close. ;-)

Karl Wagner @ Jul 13th 2007 9:02AM

What the hell?

I'm sorry, I don't like to use expletives, but branching the firmware in to two trees seems like the way to end support for the old model. I'm still waiting for a DLNA client, PSP Store, and a whole host of other features.

jerard @ Jul 13th 2007 11:20AM

thats 3.50 not 3.60

Thetower55 @ Jul 15th 2007 12:52AM

Couldnt the new psp have another flash like flash3 and thats were the video out and all the other features are stored. Then if they want to add a feature only too the psp slim, they make a special upgrade that adds data to the flash 3. then all the other updates only change flash0 and flash1.

KM @ Jul 15th 2007 7:37PM

Oh well, looks like I'm left in the dust. I don't even have enough cash to scrape up for a next-gen system yet. :\ I mean I did buy the slim PS2 a few years ago, but that was only because my fat one died on me. My PSP is in the best shape it ever was. It's not like you couldn't play your PSPhat on a TV before, or USB charge it. Sure it was a bit of a hassle to make a cable to charge it, but if you really wanted it you could. Well, I guess thats the brakes. At least there won't be so many noobs updating their firmware with the fat PSP, asking how to get homebrew capabilities.

That poses a question: Will there be updated security on the PSP2?