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: e307, psp, redesign, usb, usb charge, UsbCharge

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

rockeranimefreak @ Jul 13th 2007 12:49AM

wooohooo .............. well i guess i can get a second psp and keep the one i have on custom firmware 3.40..... damn 3.60 has video out i must get!!! :D

ONi @ Jul 13th 2007 12:52AM

We can always hope that the wiring in the original system is made the same way to allow USB Charge, but, yet again, it's only hope

Don @ Jul 13th 2007 12:52AM

How do non-UMD videos come out? Not only the 480 x 272 encoded vids like the PSPfanboy trailers, but 320 x 240? If you could try all types, that would be great...

Also, do you have composite cables, or just the component cables? If you tried to play a game using composite will it simpy reject the attempt?

And does the whole PSP XMB transfer to the tv, can you scroll through different sections (pictures, video, music, etc.) of the PSP on the tv?

rockeranimefreak @ Jul 13th 2007 1:02AM

the easy way to do none umd video out: get your psp!check. plug in usb!check. use pspvideo9 to convert your vids.check. put on psp!check. unplug usb from pc and walk over to your 360!check.Plug in usb to 360! check. enable usb on psp and turn on your 360 play video from portable device! enjoy :D now you can watch your psp movies on your xbox 360! (that is if you own one :P)

Abscissa @ Jul 13th 2007 1:09AM

Ahh! So the UMD Caching IS system-wide after all, which would seem to imply that it *will* work with existing games. Excellent!

Now if only they release another update which can display games via composite, I'll be ready to buy one of these things :)

Also, umm, somewhat offtopic, and I hate to be a stick-in-the-mud, but that animating favicon is REALLY annoying... Kinda takes me back to the 90's (and not in a good way).

Sai @ Jul 13th 2007 1:13AM

Yeah, looks like Dark Alex is no longer a threat anymore. I wonder if Crisis Core will require 3.6. No downgrader either. Homebrew has officially sunk with this release I am guessing?

zoen151 @ Jul 13th 2007 1:18AM

There is already a homebrew program that allows charging via USB.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 13th 2007 1:27AM

Finally a reason to buy UMD Movies! I'm totally getting one.

Also, if you wouldn't mind, could you put up a pic of how games, UMD Movies/Videos, and Photos on the TV you were testing it on?

Sai @ Jul 13th 2007 1:29AM

Yeah, I would love to see the quality that is outputted to the TV. Also, do the cables to hook the PSP to the TV come with the core pack? Or is that a peripheral that you have to buy separately?

kingofwale @ Jul 13th 2007 1:37AM

>I wonder if Crisis Core will require 3.6.

if Sony wants to screw its royal customer, then feel free to do so. When that day comes, I will be the first to ditch my PSP and go buy a DS.

Saigon @ Jul 13th 2007 1:44AM

^^ What the hell are you talking about?

maplestry555 @ Jul 13th 2007 2:02AM

NOOO....does this mean no more firmware updates for the original psp?

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 13th 2007 3:27AM

RE to Sai: I read somewhere that you do have to buy the TV-Out cables separately.

RE to maplestry555: Nah, I doubt it. If anything, they will provide the same firmware updates and they will work on both PSP 1 and PSP 2. The only difference will be that some functionalities won't be enabled if you have the original. (Again, this is just a guess)

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 13th 2007 3:31AM

"...The component AV cable connects via the headphone socket, but one isn’t supplied, so you have to buy one."

link: http://www.t3.co.uk/reviews/games/psp/New-PSP-Slim-and-Lite-review

Feedback @ Jul 13th 2007 4:36AM

This is badass, homebrew-arising my old PSP and SO getting this.

p-diddy @ Jul 13th 2007 5:24AM

September seems so far off.... :-/

BFBeast666 @ Jul 13th 2007 6:48AM

I'm totally pissed. I bought my first PSP five days ago and now they're churming out a redesign?! Argh!

NdFaN1083 @ Jul 13th 2007 8:03AM

So Sony is going to launch the new psp with High firmware, so no homebrew...for now...

merc25 @ Jul 13th 2007 8:13AM

"if Sony wants to screw its royal customer, then feel free to do so. When that day comes, I will be the first to ditch my PSP and go buy a DS."

Wow! I never been mistaken for royalty, you will pay for that insult.

1)Square might not have room on the UMD to put update on it.
2) They wouldn't be screwing their loyal customers, screwing their disloyal customers who break warranties by putting CFW on their PSPs, maybe.
3)They haven't made a game that requires 3.5 yet(or 3.40 and I believe 3.30 for that matter). We have awhile to go.
4) there is becus25's IE CFW, which will continue to be updated, and let's not forget DevHook(it's been around longer than any of the CFWs). DevHook allows people to switch between official Sony FW and CFW or previous Sony FW versions(it was originally created for 1.5 users, you know).
5)Be patient, these things take time.
6) DAX, although great, was never the end all be all of homebrew. There were others that came before, and those who helped during DAX's time("DAX's time" sounds odd doesn't it?)to spread and improve the homebrew scene. DAX is gone, but the scene still lives and moves onward.

.P@bL�// CeRoTrEs @ Jul 13th 2007 8:36AM

......I hope (and wish) that sony will not forget the users of the original PSP,aka:no more firmware updates,no game compatibility with the new games or other stuff.but knowing sony.....50/50 and im optimistic.

Kspraydad @ Jul 13th 2007 8:36AM

Hidden USB charge...

Um...we knew this 2 days ago...

gullum @ Jul 13th 2007 9:37AM

All future games will play on the launch PSPs. I gurantee it. It's not the PSP2. Its just a redesign of the PSP. Just like the slim PS2. It came with built-in infrared and a built in network adapter but all games that came out afterwards, still played on the original PS2.

This is exactly like that.

Quest @ Jul 13th 2007 9:58AM

@ .P@bL�// CeRoTrEs "......I hope (and wish) that sony will not forget the users of the original PSP,aka:no more firmware updates,no game compatibility with the new games or other stuff."

As I stated in a post 7/12, it is the SIZE of the update that matters. More likely that there will be a way for the updater to recognize Launch PSP v. Redesign PSP. That way the "useless" parts of the FW update won't load to the Original PSP, just the Redesign with extra RAM.

BTW, is it confirmed that 3.51 is ONLY to patch the Lumines hole?

Amar @ Jul 13th 2007 10:23AM

What's the point of having a firmware update for the old ones when none of these features will work on the old systems.

But will Sony give updates that only work on the new PSP or will there be future updates that also work on the old PSP?

Caliche @ Jul 13th 2007 10:27AM

What, I think that Sony should care first for the PSP 1 instead of making another the old version of PSP has a lot of stuff that can be done with it, HD Video Output???? what why would I conect my PSP to watch a movie, I can just buy a DVD.

neil @ Jul 13th 2007 10:59AM

it's a shame they had to redesign the headphone port for video. couldn't they have designed an out for the USB port so that it could be backwards compatible?

SKI @ Jul 13th 2007 11:37AM

@ merc25
2) They wouldn't be screwing their loyal customers, screwing their disloyal customers who break warranties by putting CFW on their PSPs, maybe.

If you have to have a new PSP Slim to have 3.6, then yes they are screwing them. And Homebrew apps allow you to make any game believe you are using any firmware.

pspman @ Jul 13th 2007 11:50AM

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO US I BOUGHT MY PSP FOR 300
$ and now they made a new 1 thats just great. The sony rep said that there wasnt going to be a new psp. Im gonna kill sony they should alteast let us trade the old psp for the new 1 is unfair for the people who have the old psp!!!

VENOM @ Jul 13th 2007 12:29PM

So...will any of those features (UMD cache, video out, etc.) possibly work on the original PSP? I'm not sure if I want to fork over money for a redesign...

Kspraydad @ Jul 13th 2007 12:22PM

@pspman...thats ridiculous.

A note to PSP Fanboy...

Here is some investigation you can do...

Ask SONY (since you have access...you did get to play with the new console) if they are going to restrict use of the extra 32mb to ONLY umd load times. If they are not going to restrict it to that then game makers will use it for in game processing thus making those games incompatible with old psp.

This is important to know.

Anthony @ Jul 13th 2007 12:28PM

wow, i just hope they will continue with updating the old psp. i'm not mad eof money and woould buy one, but not til christmas when i get 300 dollars, but by then i would have to wait to get one for there wouldnt be any on the shelves by christmas time, and i'll have to wait any way!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

SO MUCH DO THINK ABOUT!

djsyndrome @ Jul 13th 2007 1:14PM

". So...will any of those features (UMD cache, video out, etc.) possibly work on the original PSP? I'm not sure if I want to fork over money for a redesign..."

No and no. These are hardware-enabled features, and you'll have to pony up to get them.

merc25 @ Jul 13th 2007 1:41PM

". So...will any of those features (UMD cache, video out, etc.) possibly work on the original PSP? I'm not sure if I want to fork over money for a redesign..."

Video-out, according to reputable sources, is physically impossible on the original PSPs.

The cache however could very well be fixed with an update. Instead of having the 64MB of internal memory, they could create a folder for memory sticks to cache to(think Temporary Internet folder on Windows).

jetch @ Jul 13th 2007 2:27PM

i was looking at the first screen... The front faceplate...its not monolitic like the original psp? i can se the screen then the faceplate..if so...this is going to make my screen dusty in the frame (sorry about my english, noob to english)

clankman @ Jul 13th 2007 4:01PM

Can you guys at PSPFanboy ask Sony or check it out for yourselves the Internet Browser. See if its the same or the upgraded it.

Dahk @ Jul 13th 2007 4:21PM

Hmmmmmm Andrew Yoon has a... Canon SD450! Its quite a big guess though =( A damn load of Canons all look so similar.

Brandon @ Jul 13th 2007 5:40PM

There is no way sony is going to neglect existing users as far as future updates, that would mean ignoring 20 million users to cater to a few thousand new psp slim users.

walker truly @ Jul 13th 2007 7:18PM

Does your camera have a "macro" setting? If it does you could use it to obtain close-up shots that are in focus.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 13th 2007 8:11PM

RE: pspman
Redesigns and price drops happen constantly in the game industry. If you are that much of a gaming fan, you should've known that.

Also, here is a review I found of the redesigned PSP. They gave it 4 stars out of 5 only because it doesn't feel like an important hardware update.

Link to review: http://www.t3.co.uk/reviews/games/psp/New-PSP-Slim-and-Lite-review

Eternal_Lust @ Jul 15th 2007 2:53AM

This makes sense now it goes along with that new service Sony is working on the Movie Service that they want to release on the PSP and PS3 so that is the reason behind the liposuction that the original PSP received. Does anyone agree with me or does anyone else believe this as well?