2.80 Blowout: The aftermath
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jul 27th 2006 at 11:34PM }
NOTE: This editorial is the opinion of Andrew Yoon, and does not represent the opinion of PSP Fanboy, Joystiq or Weblogs, Inc. With that out of the way, I'd like to take a minute to look how the new firmware upgrade released today has worked, and what it has shown about Sony and the PSP as a whole. While homebrew may be a hot topic, it's clear that most people use the PSP the way Sony wants us to. We got nearly twice as much traffic today on a day with this new firmware than we did yesterday. What does that mean? I think it means that people are genuinely interested in updating their PSPs and getting the most out of them.
The Good:
- Getting new firmware is a great deal to the consumer. When I bought a PSP at launch for $250, it couldn't browse the web, or download demos. Through these firmware upgrades, Sony has increased the value of the system over time. The addition of video podcasting is absolutely fantastic. It was a bit cumbersome to add media to the system, but now being able to download files wirelessly is fantastic.
- Sony's finally getting the message that we don't want to deal with their messed up video naming conventions. Folders are now smart: they're called "VIDEO" "MUSIC" and "PHOTO". Being able to put humanly named files into the video section is excellent. Supporting iPod video is yet another step in the right direction. Will I ever PSP Video 9 again? Most likely not. I will just use QuickTime Pro, or happily use the tons of iPod-formatted video out on the web.
- AOSS support. This is not really talked about, but what a life-saver. If you have compatible hardware, there's no need to input insanely long WEP or WPA keys or SSIDs. Just press a button and you have wireless communication. This is utter simplicity ... and it's something the DS has had since the beginning of their Wi-Fi service.
- Sony of America. You completely messed up the World Tour Soccer 2 demo you promised. If it's available on the UK site, why not on the US one as well? Also, why did it take the web team so long to make the system update available online? A lot of people don't have wi-fi connections to utilize. Clearly, Sony of Japan and the UK know what they're doing, but Sony of America worries me. Notice how we don't have a white PSP yet?
- Downloading demos now is still unintuitive. Why can't we have a folder called "GAME" and just dump one file. There's no reason why we should be naming folders ULUS4576 or something like that. It's not too hard, but not everyone thinks like a computer programmer.
- The PSP's video support is infintely better now. It can still get a lot better. Why don't MAQ and M4V files work in the "VIDEO" folder? That seems like a glaring oversight.
- As much as I'd like to see Sony offer full 480x272 video on our PSPs, that's not going to happen any time soon. However, I want them to get rid of that glitch that makes PSP videos unplayable in the PSP's new "VIDEO" folder. All video files should be able to go in there without any thinking at all.
- Software RSS. I bet we're going to see an RSS feed from Sony that lets you download demos/games directly to your PSP. That's the next step. Think about the current RSS interface, and then imagine downloading game demos with that interface.
- Streaming RSS video. It takes absolutely forever to download a long movie. Why not let us stream it like you let us stream audio? The next firmware will hopefully introduce RSS video streaming.
- Music playlists. You may see m3u files in the video folder when downloading from a podcast. I think this is a hint that full m3u compatibility is coming ... soon. I almost guarantee that'll be in the next firmware revision.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joel @ Jul 28th 2006 12:51AM
You cannot stream video that easely. It works on PC because he have 3GHZ (or 2, whatever you have) but the PSP doesn't have a Core 2 Duo, it has 237 Megahertz. Live streaming video needs mmuch more (that is, of course, if you accept constant pauses between videos.)
Sony of America: This post proves Andrew knows nothing about marketing. America is oviously making people die for it and when it comes, KABOOM, PSP sales boost up in America. It's in Asia because Sony is asiatic, it's in here in Europe for two reasons: evaluating the market, and because it has better compatiility with japan. I mean, European PSP could be copies of japan PSPs.
Colin @ Jul 28th 2006 1:03AM
"Streaming RSS video. It takes absolutely forever to download a long movie. Why not let us stream it like you let us stream audio? The next firmware will hopefully introduce RSS video streaming."
This is what I'm talkin' 'bout. I watched stuff on my computer whilst I was waiting for the a video podcast to download. I didn't like having to delete some stuff offa my memory stick just to fit the podcast on either.
Andrew Yoon @ Jul 28th 2006 1:05AM
To Joel: I never said anything about LIVE streaming video. The tech for streaming video is in the PSP: it needs to simply display the video as it continues writing to the Memory Stick. For some reason, you find its ability to render 720x480 h.264 video on 222MHz reasonable, but watching 320x240 streaming video requries a 3GHz processor? You have to stop smoking whatever you're smoking.
The marketing comment, I won't respond to, just because I find it absolutely hilarious.
Tim @ Jul 28th 2006 1:17AM
"I bet we're going to see an RSS feed from Sony that lets you download demos/games directly to your PSP"
I hate to say it but do you not realize you can very easily download the game demos using the psp web browser from the psp mini sites that are automatically bookmarked for you.
Chris @ Jul 28th 2006 1:27AM
Great post, Yoon.
The Insomniac @ Jul 28th 2006 1:34AM
Tim: Very true, but I like not having to WORRY about when the game downloads are available. RSS makes life easier...
And here's a thought: Why aren't they bundling these demos in the freaking Firmware updates? When you install the firmware, demo extracts to the Game folder, and you're good to go. It's not rocket science.
OVerall, a great article...believe me people Sony may look disorganized, but they knowwhat they're doing. They've always been very methodical. With that said: SONY, WE WANT online capable PHANTASY STAR ONLINE!!
Do it!
pixelator @ Jul 28th 2006 1:45AM
Nice wrapup, Andrew - great food for thought.
"America is oviously making people die for it and when it comes, KABOOM, PSP sales boost up in America. It's in Asia because Sony is asiatic, it's in here in Europe for two reasons: evaluating the market, and because it has better compatiility with japan."
Wow, possibly the two most knackered sentences ever posted to PSP FANBOY, followed up by the crowning glory, "I mean, European PSP could be copies of japan PSPs."
Meth kills, my lad. Lay off that and the rock.
daniel-kun @ Jul 28th 2006 2:34AM
About bundling the demo with the firmware update: This will require additional space on the Memory Stick. AFAIK the last firmware update was 20Megs. To the people that stick with the shipped 32MB card, this is already a big deal.
It would be nice to be prompted "There are new Demos available for this firmware, do you want to download them now?" after you upgraded. That way, you can delete the firmware-update ROM before downloading the new demos, too.
meh @ Jul 28th 2006 4:07AM
maybe 2.81 (or whatever the next one will be) will have direct flash downloads into the game or movie folder. that'd be so much easier. and it would also encourage more PSP homebrewers to turn to flash gaming. Sony has pretty much given them an alternative to homebrew.
aceface @ Jul 28th 2006 8:59AM
Andrew, great post. Joel...wtf?
Amr @ Jul 28th 2006 12:50PM
The psp has AOSS support since fireware 2.00 its not new.
look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOSS
Bennett @ Jul 28th 2006 3:30PM
actually, i already use .m3u playlists on my psp it has been incorperated since 2.0 you just have to make the playlist from WMP and have the files from the psp in a folder in music and album art works too.
phipscube @ Jul 29th 2006 2:45AM
Andrew you are a breath of fresh air to this site.
Your very informative, seem to care a little and have some really cool facts. All that along with the ability to criticise where its due and not just bash and act sarky like most of the other Jostiq staffers.
Joystiq... hire this guy.
francisco @ Jul 29th 2006 10:22PM
yo wait does any1 know when 2.81 is coming and why did it take them so long to do 2.8 comeon sony step it up ppl are selling there psp's and getting ugh nintendo ds ( wich isnt bad i have one) but for ppl who sell the psps for it means sony isnt doing to good
PSPUser @ Jul 31st 2006 3:49AM
homebrew already has streaming video and @ full rez and so much more, fw1.5 users can even emulate 2.71 give it 2 weeks and the hackers will have 2.80 also.
Sony needs to step it up if they want everyone to upgrade. Stop fighting with homebrew and move on, time is money and Sony has wasted too much of both on the hackers.