DailyTech - PSP 3.93 Firmware Released, Skype Headset Coming in April

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Gadgets PSP 3.93 Firmware Released, Skype Headset Coming in April
Marcus Yam (Blog) - March 19, 2008 9:22 AM

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14 comment(s) - last by aos007.. on Mar 19 at 5:01 PM

PSP gets more features that make it more than just a gaming device

Now available to PSP owners is new firmware version 3.93, which most comes alongside 20 new Internet radio players.

According to Sony’s PlayStation blog, the new players are organized into more specific styles of music so that PSP users can easily find what they are looking for and listen to their favorite genres. Sony said that more than half of all PSP owners use the music-playback feature of their handhelds.

Internet Radio functionality was first introduced into the PSP late 2007 in firmware version 3.80. Users with up-to-date firmware can enable the Internet Radio player under the Network section of the Xross Media Bar. After the Internet Radio feature has been installed onto a Memory Stick Duo, a new icon will appear enabling music streaming.

Another new PSP firmware addition, brought in with version 3.90, will soon be spawning a new hardware accessory. Skype calling, possible on all PSP-2000 slim models, will be made even easier after the introduction of the official Skype headset.

Already listed on Amazon for pre-order, the PSP Headset Kit is set to release in mid-April for $19.99.

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By Master Kenobi

(blog) on 3/19/2008 9:28:51 AM , Rating: 2

Isn't the PSP still 802.11B? Or did they finally update the hardware to 802.11G?

RE: B

By whistler on 3/19/2008 9:41:26 AM , Rating: 5

But isn't 802.11B still faster than most internet connections anyway?

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RE: B

By StevoLincolnite on 3/19/2008 9:53:27 AM , Rating: 2

Does it matter? Most online Internet Radio Stations are only 128kbps anyway.

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RE: B

By seraphim1982 on 3/19/2008 10:22:29 AM , Rating: 3

Range...
What's the point of a portable device with wireless... if your more restricted on how far you walk away from transmitting wireless device.

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RE: B

By AlphaVirus on 3/19/2008 10:45:59 AM , Rating: 4

quote:
What's the point of a portable device with wireless...

You must be stuck in the 1990's, here in the 2000's people wear bluetooth headsets to talk on their PORTABLE cell phones.

Unless I misread what you meant, having wireless transmission for portable devices is not a dumb idea. You are not always going to be holding the device in your hand or pocket and most of the time you can walk pretty far away while still using it with the wireless connection.

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RE: B

By jbzx86 on 3/19/2008 12:31:22 PM , Rating: 2

I think the previous poster is mis-informed. 802.11b and 802.11g are essentially the same, only differing in through-put. 802.11g is faster by 4.5x as much.

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RE: B

By mmntech on 3/19/2008 1:20:35 PM , Rating: 2

Just to expand on that...
802.11b is 11mbits/second peak, 4.3mbits/second typical
802.11g is 54mbits/second peak, 19mbits/second typical
Both have identical range of 38 meters indoor and 140 meters outdoor. That's omni directional. Both operate on the 2.4ghz band.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.11g

There aren't many PMPs with 802.11g yet. The iPod Touch is one. The PSP really doesn't need a faster connection though for what it does. You could stream CD quality audio to the PSP if you wanted to without clipping.

Nothing really exciting about this particular update. Sony has just been releasing what basically amounts to minor patches lately. Skype doesn't concern me since I have a PSP Fat.

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RE: B

By walk2k on 3/19/2008 1:24:50 PM , Rating: 1

A) Bluetooth isn't Wi-Fi.

B) the PSP doesn't support Bluetooth anyway.

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Fugly

By AlphaVirus on 3/19/2008 10:37:55 AM , Rating: 2

That is one ugly headset. I have never used skype but would it not be possible to just use a wireless headset of some sort? Create a bluetooth/wifi dongle and have a wireless headset transmission for it.

I still think its cool to have the Skype feature, I would like to get a PSP for this feature and use as a cell phone while in wifi distance. The only problem I dont like with this, is when I travel I would have little to no connection.

RE: Fugly

By daftrok on 3/19/2008 10:40:57 AM , Rating: 2

But its so much cheaper to have a wired headset. I'm sure some 3rd party developer will make a bluetooth dongle you can stick in the headset output on the PSP.

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Best handheld just keep getting better.

By bsd230 on 3/19/2008 1:28:36 PM , Rating: 2

I have owned the PSP since its launch, I love it. I never travel without it. I really like it more for movies than games.

RE: Best handheld just keep getting better.

By aos007 on 3/19/2008 5:01:36 PM , Rating: 2

Absolutely. A long plane ride is far more enjoyable with a memory stick full of videos to watch.

My DS on the other hand was a waste of money. For every game I played on DS, I played 4-5 on the PSP.

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By tubalcain on 3/19/2008 2:05:26 PM , Rating: 1

I've had my PSP since day one and Kaz said they will take us out of the gaming ghetto or some shit like that. Now it just collects dust, I've spent more time playing emulators,using homebrew apps than playing PS2 rehashes. I still can't believe that they release UMD movies for $20. Skype, Gps and Camera are OK but whatever happened to all the good games?

RE: Eh

By killerroach on 3/19/2008 2:17:50 PM , Rating: 2

Good games? I would point you in the direction of God of War: Chains of Olympus, Wipeout Pulse, Patapon, Ridge Racer (a PSP launch title, but still fantastic), Gunpey, Lumines II, and Guilty Gear Judgment, amongst others... there are some absolutely fantastic titles available on the system.

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