Firmware
The PSP's firmware is updatable via Wi-Fi infrastructure connection to a Sony server, by downloading the update application with a PC and transferring to the PSP via USB, or from a UMD disk (allowing games to provide the update so that the player does not need to download anything). While firmware updates can be used with PSPs from any region, Sony recommends only downloading firmware updates released for the corresponding region. The current firmware version is 2.71. Various updates have included WPA-PSK encryption; a built-in web browser; the ability to stream audio using RSS; Location Free player (the PlayStation 3 will have this functionality built in), keyboard input mode for Web input; AVC video playback from memory stick; audio switch function and 4:3 mode for memory stick video; GIF, BMP, PNG, and TIFF image viewing; AAC, ATRAC3plus, WAV and WMA audio playback from memory stick; the ability to set wallpaper; an image sharing feature and higher security for a recently discovered exploit in the Photo menu. Version 2.0 of the firmware was supplied on the demo disk inside the box of European PSPs with version 1.52 preinstalled on the unit. (Some European PSPs had version 2.0 on the demo disc, but came preinstalled with version 1.52)
Current Firmware
On April 25, 2006 Sony Computer Entertainment Japan launched version 2.70 of their PSP's firmware, which includes Macromedia Flash Player 6 among other new features, including the ability to download from RSS Channels [1], previously announced at the PlayStation Briefing conference on March 15, 2006. Future updates are expected to add Video and Voiceover Communication via IP support, using the upcoming PSP EyeToy Camera. Other additions will include GPS and Camera support and additional language fonts.
On June 1, 2006 Sony Computer Entertainment Japan launched firmware 2.71. This allows Game Demos to be downloaded from the Internet Browser and Saved onto the Memory Stick, also Video Output is now Displayed correctly with Location Free Player.
