Firmware 3.90 now available on Network Update

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 29th 2008 at 11:00PM }

Ready for Skype? Here it is! Get it by accessing Network Update on your PSP. Here are the official details:

Support for PLAYSTATION Network titles has been expanded.
Skype has been added as a feature under Network.* (Only for PSP-2000 series.)

For more details on Skype and their free and paid calling services, visit the Skype official website. Note: Skype requires a PSP headset with remote control.

[Thanks, Jorge H.!]

Tags: 3.90, firmware, network-update, skype

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

merc25 @ Jan 29th 2008 11:03PM

yawn...wake me when it has something good.

merc25 @ Jan 29th 2008 11:05PM

upon further speculation, if Sony fix their MS driver that they **** royally in the last update, it might be worth it.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 29th 2008 11:11PM

yes they really REALLY need to fix that. besides that, yay for skype!

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 29th 2008 11:20PM

...so when are we getting the mics so we can actually USE Skype?

Syn @ Jan 30th 2008 1:01AM

Um...Goto the store and buy one?

Its been out for a long time.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 30th 2008 7:02PM

Yeah I know, I was just wondering where the bundled set was.

cswallow01 @ Jan 29th 2008 11:28PM

I like the Skype calling, though I don't have the headset yet, I have been looking forward to this feature, since it was discovered last year.

The only other major request I have for the PSP, is video streaming via either RSS or DLNA. DLNA will limit video to a local network while RSS will allow it over the web.

I wish the PSP could stream web video (like from Apple.com/trailers) in H.264, but most H.264 content on the web is in CALVC (not CABAC) and is in a MOV container, not MP4... Not to mention the aspect ratio limitations the PSP currently has with different profiles/levels.

I have an iPod Touch and can stream (well, real-time download) my iPod encoded 768kbps movies over TwonkyVision to my iPod touch and it works perfectly. It's just a bit hard on my battery life. Not via RSS, but through the web based interface of Twonky. I click on one of my Twonky hosted movies in Safari and the iPod Touch's Quicktime extension loads and it plays back, almost perfectly. I can seek or play/pause... Haven't done it over the internet, though.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 29th 2008 11:41PM

The PSP can't handle video RSS streaming. It's a bit too much for the little guy.

required @ Jan 30th 2008 11:48AM

you say that your iPod Touch can "real-time download"

the PSP can too, in fact you can subscribe to video feeds, they just need to "real-time download" before playing.

by the way, do you know that the PSP also supports LocationFree/streaming video content?

NukeAssault @ Jan 29th 2008 11:43PM

WOO!

... but i needs headsets. *sad face*

NukeAssault @ Jan 30th 2008 12:23AM

So i just made an account... where do i find my number. >_

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 30th 2008 12:44AM

you don't have a number, you just have a 'Skype Name'

NukeAssault @ Jan 30th 2008 12:05PM

So i how do i make a skype to skype call... =\

NukeAssault @ Jan 30th 2008 12:13PM

NM, i think i see... i just add said persons name to the contact list correct?

Tristan @ Jan 30th 2008 12:05AM

Whoa were almost at 4.00 what major thing could it contain!?

Anton @ Jan 30th 2008 12:21AM

You realize of course the could quite happily go to 3.100 for the next revision :)

emaxximus @ Jan 30th 2008 12:53AM

what could firmware 4.0 contain? Hmmm... how about: "support for PLAYSTATION network titles has been expanded... yet again"Which is not-so-secret code for "jack squat"

wowcool @ Apr 18th 2008 2:30AM

Anton you really have a solid grasp of decimals and sarcasm.

Aviv @ Jan 30th 2008 12:09AM

Hello PSP World !

I owned a PSP a few years back and got rid of it. Having focused heavily on programming and development I haven't had much time to game lately....

It seems as though I am going to be doing some traveling soon and I want to purchase a PSP. I'm in the states... Any recomendations would be greatly appreciated... Is there something I should know about the PSP Lite ? I think I want that one... Any comments? ??

DJLW @ Jan 30th 2008 9:03AM

Congrats on choosing a PSP! I travel quite a bit for work as well, and find myself using it more and more all the time. Here are a few things to think about; sorry if they're already self-evident to you.

1) PSP Lite is the way to go. There are small, but significant, technical upgrades which make it worth it. But in the end, the reduction in weight takes the cake. After playing it for awhile, find an original PSP and pick it up. You'll be amazed how heavy the first generation feels.

2) Definitely go with a bigger memory stick. At least the 4Gb model, which seems to be perpetually on sale these days. :-) Myself, I have the 8 Gb stick and have no problem filling it up.

3) Avoid UMD movies like the plague. As much as I like Sony and support their products, this is undeniably a dying format. Besides, why would you want to purchase UMDs of films you probably already own? There are plenty of programs out there to convert DVDs you own to files playable on the PSP.

4) Utilize the new PSP on-line store. Lots of fun stuff (themes, demos, PS1 titles...) to download.

Lars @ Jan 31st 2008 1:41PM

I agree with everything DJLW said except not entirely with the UMD movies. I would say buy them if they're on sale cheap, like five bucks or so. It's definitely worth it when you travel. Of course, if you never travel then don't bother. Yes, you can rip movies from DVD and just store them on the stick, but they take a lot of space, so it's not such a good option for when you travel.

wowcool @ Apr 18th 2008 2:30AM

ofcourse Lars UMD movies take up physical space. You have to make the choice, it really depends on the size of your memory card.

texinick @ Jan 30th 2008 12:30AM

I have the Go!Cam here, and it seems to have a Mic in the side, I wonder why they didn't set this up to work with Skye.

Once again another useless release from Sony. Don't get me wrong, Skype seems to work well on the PSP, but the lack of peripheral is just ridiculous... there's no sign of it on my suppliers pricelists, so much like the PSP Component Cable, we'll be SOL for a while to come!

Sony: "Here's a wonderful new feature for you..."
Sucker: "Great, when can I have it"
Sony: "Next week"
Sucker: "Coooooool"
Sony: "You can install it, but you won't be able to use it yet"
Sucker: "Wha?"
Sony: "The required extra won't be available for another 8 weeks"

Good one Sony.. when you finally deliver something USABLE and ON TIME, wake me up!!

pjak @ Jan 30th 2008 1:08AM

The USB camera MIC does work, but the camera itself does not with Skype!!! But it does with GoMessenger - that has also been added as an option in the Network section...

see more here: http://gomessenger.software.eu.playstation.com/

texinick @ Jan 30th 2008 1:15AM

pjak, the Camera Mic doesn't appear to work with Skype.. I just tried it, and my wife couldn't hear me through Skype here.

Have you had it working?

Lars @ Jan 31st 2008 1:44PM

Funny, I saw headsets in stores long before the firmware update.

pjak @ Feb 2nd 2008 10:06AM

reply to texinick:
yes, of course I tried it that's how I know it works (between PSP and PC)...check sound settings on your wife's Skype...

also reply to Lars:
yes, there are headsets on sale (with any socom game) but NO remote cable for PSP2000 (so MIC doesn't work). I'm in Europe by the way... Sony is going to start selling the headset and remote control in a single package sometime in Feb2008...see www.yourpsp.com for details...

TinMan @ Jan 30th 2008 12:57AM

Umm, hello? Did anyone watch the video? You can use Skype, you just need to use the earbud remote along with the PSP headset, which are both out, and he said they'll come out with a pack with both.

texinick @ Jan 30th 2008 1:14AM

Actually, the headset ISN'T available here in Australia. The ONLY way of getting it seems to be with SOCOM!

cswallow01 @ Jan 30th 2008 12:58AM

If the PSP can handle LocationFree streaming in H.264, then it, I'm sure, can handle RSS/DLNA streaming.

The only issue is when it comes to that is 640x480 CAVLC, which the PSP can't do, atleast right now. But I don't really want it for that purpose. I would use RSS portion of TwonkyVision to stream my 480x208 and 480x272 768kbps and 96kbps encodes via Handbrake to my PSP.

I do get the feeling it will work with the current hardware. It's just a software limitation....

I don't think it should stream the movies so much so, just that it should download the packets "on-the-fly" in realtime and decode them, while supply pause/play and ff/rw functionalities, thus providing better playback without loss of streaming bit-rates & drop offs, etc.

Edwin @ Jan 30th 2008 1:19AM

the cam DOES work with the service,
you just have to hold the PSP like a phone with the mic facing down...

bAssackwards @ Jan 30th 2008 3:37AM

Really? I have been holding off on buying the cam, but this might push me to purchase it sooner than later.

Brello @ Jan 30th 2008 1:30AM

I could spend the $70 to use skype and TV out...or I could put it towards more games. I'll go with games!

bAssackwards @ Jan 30th 2008 3:22AM

I just tried it out on my PSP. Very nice quality and no delay! I do have a cable connection but was worried that my old school WiFi hub would cause some lagtime.

The main thing I was wondering about is if you can do conference calls or not and yes, it is supported! I had a friend call me and then have them add a person to the call. I don't believe the PSP itself is capable of calling someone on PC and then adding more people to the call. When I was in the conference call I only saw the first person that called me.

Overall pretty neat feature but could use some tweaking in regards to conference calling.

Surtur @ Jan 30th 2008 9:00AM

Where is the support for 640x280 video resolution! Alot of video podcasts are in this resolution and I hate transcoding!

Otherwise I love my PSP. RSS and Internet radio are my favorite features.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 30th 2008 7:05PM

Yes we NEED that added. I hate having to convert video podcasts like the 1UP Show just so they'll play on the PSP. I miss downloading them straight from the RSS feeds...good times...

Errol @ Jan 30th 2008 11:41AM

I'm saddened by the thought that i can't use Skype, but a new firmware has been released, and that's always good. I'm downloading it now.

Alien @ Jan 30th 2008 2:12PM

Yay ... its finally here :D Il download it right away :)

Sean @ Jan 30th 2008 3:21PM

I guess I should update, I'm still on 3.71 OFW

psp fan @ Jan 30th 2008 5:58PM

i have a question i'm an owner of the old psp and i wanted to know if should buy the new psp because of this skype thing and i wanted to know since this new psp is out will they be making things that run better on the psp-2000 and not putting it on the old psp ?

Edwin @ Jan 30th 2008 9:53PM

pretty much... but wait until some good games (like God of War or FF7:CC, or WipeOut come out so you have time to save some moolah for those games, the PSP 2000, and peripherals that might come out later...

for now, enjoy da psp phat... use those last moments to really enjoy it... *cries... misses ol' psp phat...*

Lars @ Jan 31st 2008 1:48PM

I guess it's time for me to bite the bullet and get a slim.

eagle angel @ Feb 2nd 2008 11:16AM

help me, i ahve a psp2000 and just upgraded to version 3.90... im excted because of its skype feature. but when i turned it on, it did say im in version 3.900 but there's no skype icon.. howcome? help me

Los Havros @ Feb 3rd 2008 1:47PM

I have a PSP-1000, and when I try to copy the update file into PSP > GAME > UPDATE and then try to run the update, it is listed as corrupted. I've never had this problem before. Also, I would down load via wi-fi, but I'm no-where near an access point. Any thoughts?

adam @ Feb 9th 2008 10:37AM

i have a silver psp and have not registered it yet because i dont know how to!

Mike @ Feb 16th 2008 9:45PM

Your description of the update is wrong. PSP2000 (Jap models) don't contain skype yet as this update is for EU and US models.

Ive just downloaded 3.90 to my limited edition FFVII CC PSP and there's no icon for skype. Its been patched as the update is delayed in Japan.