Firmware 4.00 brings Google to the XMB
by Jem Alexander 
{ Jun 16th 2008 at 2:30PM }
4.00 also adds the ability to change the speed of video playback on your PSP, essentially adding a fast-forward function. You can also slow down your videos to watch them in slow motion, if you're that way inclined. Despite this being a X.00 update, there is no megaton announcement here. No kitten spawners or in-game ExEmBees to be found. Still, Google's pretty cool, right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Neuromancer @ Jun 16th 2008 2:41PM
"The Google function will retain a history of your last 20 searches."
That's not always a good thing depending on what you're looking for...
Davinator @ Jun 16th 2008 2:48PM
Looks like no divx this update =(
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 16th 2008 2:58PM
Now THAT would have been worth a 4-0-0
lorddshadow @ Jun 16th 2008 2:50PM
well...at least we got something decent...i was hoping we would get something a bit better but i guess that gives me more time to play my new ps3...
RadioScott @ Jun 16th 2008 2:54PM
That's it? 2 features? Definitely not worthy of calling it 4.00. 3.9 maybe.
Frastoglegnia @ Jun 17th 2008 1:27AM
People are commenting on new features of 4.0 as if they knew exactly how the new features would be implemented. The blog doesn't go into detail about the complete user experience. People might well be right about how the google search feature will work. Then again, they might not. It's also possible the engine will display pertinent captured text and avoid loading web pages entirely. We don't know how it will work because no one has used the new feature or even seen it in action.
People are also placing too much emphasis on the numerical importance of 4.0. The previous firmware was 3.9, which doesn't mean that 4.0 is a milestone. It means that Sony revises its firmware frequently.
Finally: Just because the blog entry mentions two new features doesn't mean those are the only features being introduced. I don't know about you, but I'm patient enough to reserve my outrage for the shortcomings of the actual release as it's experienced by users.
I'm a lot more concerned about US developers abandoning the PSP than I am about too few features added with firmware. That's what homebrew is really for -- not piracy but user-determined functionality and feature sets.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 16th 2008 2:56PM
"Still, Google's pretty cool, right?"
It would if it weren't so unbelievably obvious that Sony is starting to run out of ideas for the updates.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 16th 2008 3:05PM
Like multitasking internet and music ¬_¬
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 17th 2008 3:03AM
Seriously. That would be very useful.
drdre74 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:18PM
where is the PSN on the psp? I'd like to be able to access the PSN store without a computer or a ps3 since i have a mac. Hooking it up a PS3 is pain when im not near my ps3. Where is the new flash player 9 or something. SONY loves to drop the ball. They must not like making money and pleasing fans
brad @ Jun 16th 2008 3:07PM
I don't see how Google XMB is any faster than making Google your homepage on the web browser.
Where's the Flash update to enable YouTube already? Or more codecs so that we play wmv, mov, mpg, etc without converting to mp4?
Now those updates would be 4.00 worthy to me.
Trickob @ Jun 16th 2008 11:30PM
forget youtube, I wanna watch Strongbad!! er... Homestar...
matt @ Jun 16th 2008 3:08PM
2 features??!?! are they serious?!?!?
gurbinder @ Jun 16th 2008 3:12PM
WTF THIS IS IT, THIS IS WAT IV EBEEN WAITING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE SERIOUSLY ......sigh..... Sony dissapoints me once again...
Eric E @ Jun 16th 2008 3:13PM
I think theres gotta be hidden stuff prepping for the 'BIG' Ps3 update (in game XMB, trophies, ....., profit).
I just see this as a sign of that coming
Tim Parsons @ Jun 16th 2008 3:19PM
I havent touched my PSP since I finished off Crisis Core anyway. God of War & FF7 were the only reason i got a PSP(slim) to start with., though a do use it as a Remote for my PS3 alot of hot days so i wont have to have my TV on
music player ? @ Jun 16th 2008 6:42PM
Hey I assume you're using PSP as a remote to control music?
Do you use the native PS3 music player?
Curious 'cuz the player doen't seem ready to handle a large music library... not genre or artist sorting. Am I wrong?
thx
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 17th 2008 3:09AM
ur right. i used my launch PSP as my primary MP3 device until i bought a Zune 80 last month (which is great by the way) and i can say that the PSP gets the job done but it wont be threatening any of the top stand alone MP3 players any time soon.
the only way i kept it organized was by putting the tracks in titled folders when i added albums to the PSP. the biggest problems i had with it where lack of space (only had 4GB) and the sheer size of the thing when it was in my pocket.
Don @ Jun 16th 2008 3:30PM
"4.00 also adds the ability to change the speed of video playback on your PSP, essentially adding a fast-forward function. You can also slow down your videos to watch them in slow motion, if you're that way inclined."
We can ALREADY do that... too bad nobody seems to know the PSP video capabilities.... there are 3 speeds of FF/REW actually. And if you hit pause, then right on the D-pad, video plays in slo-mo (slo-mo also accessible from the triangle menu)
LM2007 @ Jun 17th 2008 5:40AM
And he is right, that can be done long time ago, how no one did not noticed!?
matt @ Jun 16th 2008 3:38PM
it's weird to see Sony's fall from grace happen so soon after it's recent reign of PS & PS2. Microsoft is definitely delivering the goods when it comes to exclusives. you can't beat their Live and Achievement services. and multiplatform games on the PS3 are usually 360 ports even though the PS3 is capable of more. Not much has to be said about Nintendo. the Wii and DS selling like crazy.
Sure, MGS4 is amazing, but it won't sell too many systems. Killzone and Gran Turimso 5 won't either. i highly doubt we'll see a PS4 seeing how the PS3 probably won't even sell enough to deem profitable.
Nate @ Jun 16th 2008 5:24PM
What in the hell does that have to do with the PSP? Stop trolling. Stop spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt. The PS3 is coming on like a juggernaut at this point, and Microsoft is sweating bullets. But again, that has nothing to do with the PSP.
Angryfinne @ Jun 16th 2008 3:46PM
Well, its official. Fantasy really is better than reality. Whoever made that fake 4.0 update feature list a few months back needs to learn some programming skills and apply for a job at Sony.
Andrew @ Jun 16th 2008 3:52PM
Well it's about time it's a new update for the psp I wish they had a update for it in the future which the psp can multitask
nomad @ Jun 16th 2008 3:58PM
to bad sony dos'nt know how to multitask. all they know is one thing,how to screw us.
David @ Jun 16th 2008 4:12PM
Youtube? Divix? PSN Store?
and they call it 4.0? SOny you are a POS. Why bother redesigning the PSP? for Skype?
what a waste, atleast give us games.
Spartan X2X @ Jun 16th 2008 5:21PM
Wooooooooooooooooooow, this sucks, I thought this was gonna be a good update, but looks like sony Flubbed it again, although I guess the google thing will be cool, maybe
Binaryfiend @ Jun 16th 2008 4:28PM
Come on people, there will be some hidden features and more than likely there will be changes so that it works with the coming PS3 features.
myuusmeow @ Jun 16th 2008 8:25PM
Oh yeah. Hidden features. Maybe they won't tell us "support for PLAYSTATION Network titles has been expanded" this time.
Binaryfiend @ Jun 16th 2008 8:33PM
Well actually they did add a few things not posted last time.
I had commented about it:
When playing PSone games on your PSP from memory stick you can now import or delete PSone game data. Also you can adjust the screen mode, black level, volume, and disc load speed. Just start the game, hit the home button and then choose Memory Card Utility or Other Settings.
They almost always put something in there that they don't post like that Globe/Earth music visualization. It wasn't posted but it was a nice surprise.
DMeisterJ @ Jun 16th 2008 4:28PM
Wow.
Every year, the .00 updates get worse and worse.
The only good one was 2.00.
3 and 4 are going to suck. Hell, Skype was the best update in a minute.
Yan @ Jun 16th 2008 5:58PM
i guess its not necessary to update to this
Smokey @ Jun 16th 2008 6:14PM
This has been in development for this long... THIS!?!?
It's official, I'm just gonna grab a phat psp from somewhere and custom firmware it up, this is ridiculous from sony.
Mr.U2 @ Jun 16th 2008 6:03PM
Wow. I'm sad to say this, but Sony is losing my patience and interest. They do a superb job at giving their loyal PSP fans absolutely nothing. I mean, seriously. "Google in your XMB". Big whoop. Just set Google to your homepage. Goodness..
redbrick @ Jun 16th 2008 7:02PM
This is pathetic.....where's WPA2-AES? How about updating the browser so we can auto-update on plugins? Multi-tasking? In game XMB? The list goes on.....
Hope this preps the PSP's ability to play future PS3 interactions...games, movies, etc.. I seriously hope there's more to this update. All the new features mentioned...we can sorta do already w/o CFW.
Frastoglegnia @ Jun 16th 2008 7:03PM
Suddenly, I hate my PSP. You see, I've been reading posts on PSPFanboy about the new firmware not adding enough features to distract me from what the PSP does well enough already.
I mean, if I'd wanted a device to play movies, music and PS-style games, I'd have bought a . . . wait. Perhaps I don't hate my PSP.
Odd, that people feel the PSP's feature set will be its downfall, considering the smaller feature set of the DS.
Ant @ Jun 16th 2008 7:22PM
I'm telling ya, Sony Computer Entertainment is losing my godish appeal to them. Seriously, like 2 months and we get another lame-ass PS title expansion, and now Google. Really. I already got it on my bookmarks. I'll tell ya what I'm looking for:
- Update to Flash 9
- Expand codecs for 'music', 'photo', and 'video'
- Expand XMB colors (orange xmb, anyone?)
- Improved web page displays (like the web displays on the iPhone?)
-Increase internal storage/memory?
-Improved image quality in 'video'
Please, at least one or two of those, SCE??? :(
mljachko @ Jun 16th 2008 7:46PM
multiplayer psx on psp would be cool .
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 16th 2008 8:35PM
I really would love for the PSP to play other video and audio formats easily without custom firmware. : /
I'd also like to be able to view the battery life in percentage in a game when pressing the home buttion, not the bars.
Ed @ Jun 16th 2008 11:27PM
Great. So now I can more easily find lots of web pages that will run out of memory after trying to load for 5 minutes.
bryansurvive @ Jun 20th 2008 3:49PM
fo realz on that. i hate when its states not enough memory. i turn off the images and still gives me the same response.
flux252 @ Jun 17th 2008 12:59AM
yay...sony's done it again!!!...i'm gonna get myself a psp to enjoy the benefits of this great firmware 4.00 that's gonna beat all expectations...(with a tinge of sarcasm)
Virtuous @ Jun 17th 2008 1:35AM
Sony had better make some really big PSP announcements during E3 this year. Lately it seems like Sony is willing to allow the PSP to die a slow death. Sony could start by announcing a firm release date for Gran Turismo Mobile.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 17th 2008 3:04AM
Wow...it's been so long that I've totally forgotten about GT Mobile.
Anyways, Polyphony said that they'd wait to finish GT Mobile after completing GT5...so it'll be a while.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 17th 2008 3:33AM
i havent forgotten.....
launch title my a$$. that was the only reason i bought my PSP at launch.
Wayne @ Jun 17th 2008 3:53AM
I don't think I would buy it anyways. It would need to tightly integrate with GT5 for me to pick it up.
Necro_Deadite @ Jun 17th 2008 2:18AM
please put something else together sony please, this is looking very downhill from here, with lack luster releases and prices in the store, and even more lacking in upcoming games, this new firmware could of been big. Google, come on, thats the last thing i want on my xmb. really, im tryin to be legit as possible and another let down might force me to reconsider OFW.
Jacksons @ Jun 17th 2008 4:14AM
Unless they mean fast forward and reverse with sound, those features already exist. Oh well, I can't complain too much about free stuff.
LM2007 @ Jun 17th 2008 5:40AM
If that is one of the "improvements", it does not really ring a bell to me. I use Google to search anything that pop to my mind in want moment and use the browser easily(have google bookmarked).
LM2007 @ Jun 17th 2008 5:40AM
..But i have one question, why we must update the FW's to be "able" to play the games? the new one i think. Everygame UMD disc comes with an update. Why is this required if the updates are a flop? can someone enlight me.