Quickie Review: Sony PSP 2.0 Firmware
Figure #1
I'd been putting off updating my PlayStation Portable because I do have a lazy interest in homebrew PSP development, but when I saw the news posts regarding a downgrade hack from 2.0, I figured "what the hell, I'll take a look at it." Then much to my surprise, I learned that the 2.0 firmware does indeed have the long-promise web browser included!
So I updated my PSP, and went to check out the web browser. It's actually really nice for a browser in a handheld device, it even includes a "mouse" controlled by the analog stick. Of course, text entry is still incredibly painful, though they did see fit to include various strings like "www." and ".com" as speed keys, I still think there's a better solution to text entry than a "phone-style" keypad.
Figure #2
Also added is support for WPA-PSK encryption, sending images to other users, using an image as a wallpaper, manually selecting a color swatch instead of having it change randomly, and some other small tweaks. It's like SCEA listened to all the wishes of people on the Playstation.com forums and actually paid attention to some of them!
Of course, the "heightened security" is disheartening for folks that want homebrew, but fear not. The fact that you can downgrade using a TIF hack also suggests there'd be a way to spawn homebrew from those same TIF files. It's ugly, but if it works right?
Saving Wallpaper
One of my favourite things about the new PSP firmware is the ability to save wallpaper. To use one of our wallpaper images, just open up your PSP and browse to our website. Click services, then wallpaper, then choose whichever one you want. Find the smallest download link (just to save space on your MemoryStick), and click on it.
Next, press the Triangle button to open up the menu, and click the leftmost icon which should be called "File". Under this menu, you'll find an option to "Save Image". Drop it in your photos folder, and exit the web browser.
Browse to the photos section, and find the wallpaper image you just downloaded (yes, the photo viewer now supports .png). Open it up, and scroll/zoom around until you get a view you're happy with. Press Triangle, and select "Save as Wallpaper", and Voila!
If you haven't got a PSP yet, because you were waiting for an actual use for it, you can stop waiting now.