Sony Releases Version 3 Firmware for PSP

Sony's version 3.0 firmware for the PlayStation Portable enables Remote play of media stored on a PS3, adds PS3-mediated download support for original PlayStation games,and improves

Sony has released version 3.0 firmware for its PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld gaming systems, adding support for Remote Play in conjunction with Sony’s just-introduced PlayStation 3 game console, setting the groundwork for downloading original PlayStation games for the PSP, and adding a timer option for RSS feeds.

The update enables games developed for the original PlayStation console to be downloaded from Sony’s online store to PlayStation 3 consoles; once downloaded, they can be transferred wirelessly and played on PSP handheld units. Sony is currently offering nine original PlayStation titles for sale in Japan for about $4 apiece, but additional games and international availability are expected to come soon.

The new firmware enables folks who have both a PSP and PlayStation 3 to wirelessly stream media files stored on the PS3’s hard drive to PSP handheld units, enabling PSP users to watch movies or listen to music stored on the PS3.

The update also adds a timer to the PSP’s support for RSS feeds, so users have more control over when the PSP looks for updates on blogs, news feeds, podcasts, and other RSS-enabled streams. The update also enables users to prevent the PSP from loading a game automatically on startup if a disc is inserted in the system’s drive.

PSP owners should be able to get the update for their devices via the Network Update item in the Settings menu.