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The PSP Unit

The Playstation Portable is what many refer to as the PSP. The PSP has the greatest graphics of any current handheld. The graphics are comparable to the PS2. Although it is not as powerful (graphics-wise) as the PS2, it yields better graphics than the PSOne, partly due to the smaller screen size. The PSP offers less buttons than the first Playstation Dual Shock Controller (Missing buttons include: L2, R2, and the Right Analog stick), but it does offer many more features than the PSOne had to offer. The PSP is slightly larger than the Nintendo DS and other handhelds in thickness, but the screen makes up for this. With a screen of 480x272 pixels, this screen is the largest handheld screen to date. The US price for the Sony PSP is retailed at 250$.

Firmware

The most important part of the PSP is its firmware. Many owners refer to the firmware as the PSP’s OS (operating system) or BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The firmware of the PSP is located in the PSP itself and not on your memory stick. The firmware on the PSP is replaceable/ upgradeable. Sony issues updates to the firmware every few months and adds new features. With these new features usually come security updates. These security improvements fix up holes in the firmware that may be accessible to the user. Sony does not like homebrew due to the piracy of UMD games on the memory stick and would stop it at almost any cost (Piracy/Isos/Loaders are discussed in a few sections below).
The Updates are downloadable on Sony's PSP website (Playstation.com) and only allows you to download the latest update. Once you have the update downloaded, move it to your PSP/Game/UPDATE folder (the eboot file) and it shall update your PSP. Once installed (the update) you can delete it from your memory stick


1.0 Firmware:

The first firmware version that was installed on a PSP is firmware version 1.0 (Japanese PSP’s only). This firmware version was pre-installed on the first PSP’s released. The 1.0 firmware is unable to be downloaded since it was never released as an update. You can find various dumps of the firmware, but these dumps are not complete. (Dumps are basically files from the 1.0 firmware that were dumped onto the memory stick). The 1.0 firmware allowed for unsigned code to be ran on the PSP, and all that was required was an eboot.pbp compiled file. This file was run straight from the PSP/Game folder located on the memory stick. (Homebrew code is described in the section: Memory Stick located under Games on the PSP)
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1.5 Firmware:

This firmware was the first update to the Sony PSP in Japan. This version was also pre-installed on the US PSP release. This update changes from 1.0 JP to 1.5 JP include: Support for German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Russian language options on the PSP menu (it will not affect in-game menus), a setting to retain the screen mode on videos, and a quick-resume function to resume playback of audio and video after coming out of the PSP's sleep mode (it won't automatically keep playing the media file, but you can jump right into the track or movie exactly where you left off before sleeping.) Download the 1.5 update here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ONKEYNHE (13.2mb). This update, however, did not allow for the execution of eboot.pbp files from the memory stick like the 1.0 firmware did

After a few months of the US PSP release there were rumors of people finding a way to run homebrew on this new 1.5 firmware. Many did not believe this at first, but a few days later, on June 15th, they had to. Two days after this hack of the 1.5 firmware, a safer exploit was produced. The previous exploit required two memory sticks that you switched once the PSP booted the split eboot (The file is split using the KXploit program that PSP-Dev created.). The new method does not require this and only requires the original MS1 folder contain a % at the end and the second folder to remain the same name. This was a major accomplishment.

To find out how to install these 1.5 homebrew, please read below for further instructions.
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1.51 Firmware

The second update for Japanese PSP’s (first for the US) was the 1.51 update. Update changes: The new Firmware update fixes various security issues in the PSP's v1.0 firmware which effectively fills holes to stop unsigned code from being executed.

As stated above, this new firmware does not allow for unassigned code to be run on the PSP (same as 1.5 but with heightened security). At the current time homebrew code is unable to be ran on this firmware; read the section on 2.0.
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1.52 Firmware

The third update for JP PSP’s (2nd for US) was the 1.52 update. Update changes include: UMD Music to be run from the main menu and higher security.
Once again, homebrew can not be run on this firmware version; read the section on 2.0.
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2.0 Firmware

This is Sony’s first major update to their Sony Playstation Portable. There have been numerous changes in this version and all are very significant.

Update: 2.0 PSP's can now run homebrew This is done by updating to the 2.0 firmware and then using Fanjita's eLoader or downgrading to 1.5 via the MPH downgrading method.

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2.01 Firmware

This is Sony's response to the overflow exploit found in 2.0. Aside from this "security patch," nothing else was added to this firmware package.

Update: 2.01 PSP's can now run homebrew using Fanjita's eLoader.
Update: 2.01 PSP's can now be downgraded using the noobz downgrader.

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2.50 Firmware

This firmware version was released only a few days after the 2.01 firmware patch was released. This contains a new major addition (Location Free Technology) and other small changes.

Update: 2.50 PSP's can now run homebrew using Fanjita's eLoader.
UPDATE July 1 2006 At this point in time, you can downgrade on a 2.50 PSP!

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* LocationFree* Player has been added as a feature under Network.
* Auto-Select and Unicode (UTF- have been added as options to Encoding under View in the Internet Browser menu bar.
* Settings for Text Size and Display Mode in Internet Browser can now be saved.
* The input history of online forms accessed through Internet Browser can now be saved.

* Copyright-protected video can now be played under Video.
o (This applies to video saved on Memory Stick Duo* media).
o For details, contact the video content provider.
o Note that fees may be charged to obtain or use copyright-protected video.
o Downloadable copyright-protected video may not be available in all countries
and regions.

* Set via Internet has been added as an option to Date and Time in Date & Time Settings under Settings.
* WPA-PSK (AES) has been added as a security method under Network Settings.

* Korean input mode has been added to the on-screen keyboard.

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2.60 Firmware

This firmware version was released on November 29th, 2005.

Update: 2.60 PSP's can now run homebrew using Fanjita's eLoader.
UPDATE July 1 2006 At this point in time, you can downgrade on a 2.60 PSP!

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* RSS Channel has been added as a feature under Network.
* Simplified Chinese (GB18030) and Tradition Chinese (Big5) have been added as options to Encoding under View in the Internet Browser menu bar. (Characters may be indistinct in some cases when these encoding options are selected.)
* Volume Adjustment has been added as a feature to LocationFree Player
* You can now download video data that supports copyright protection using the Internet Browser.
* WMA has been added as a codec that can be played under Music. (This applies to music data saved on your Memory Stick.) Note: You must adjust a system setting to enable playback of WMA format music data. A connection to the internet is required to adjust the setting.

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2.70 Firmware

This firmware version was released on April 25th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 2.70 PSP! read the section on 2.71.

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Internet Browser now supports Macromedia Flash contents playback.
* You need to enable the Flash contents playback in the System Settings.
* The version of the flash player is Macromedia Flash Player 6 (a part of the functions is not supported).
* The settings of the Internet Browser is added into Settings -> Connection Settings
* The audio contents from channels in the RSS Channel section now can be saved into your memory stick.
* Auto option added to Rate Change in Location Free Player.
* Music Added file extension to playable AAC format.
* Added Enable Flash Player in System Settings. To change this option, you need to connect to the internet.
* "Simplified Chinese" and "Traditional Chinese" added to System Settings -> System Language.
* Added RSS Channel Settings.
* Added UMD Video L & R Button into Video Settings.
* Fixed some issues when using a memory stick with more than 2GB free space. This problem has not happened among the memory sticks sold in Japan until April 24.

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2.71 Firmware

This firmware version was released on June 01st, 2006.

Update:you can downgrade, or play homebrew (Homebrew Enabler or eLoader) on a 2.71 PSP!

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Internet Browser can now be used to download demo version of games to memory stick.
* LocationFree Player now displays correct image when selecting the external tuner.
o This affects users using LocationFree base station model LF-B1 (North America/Taiwan/Korea model) and LF-X11 (North America model). To know your hardware model number, just check you user manual.
o LocationFree base station models for Japan/Europe are not affected.
* The icon "Goto Network Service" has been added into the "Network" column.

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2.80 Firmware

This firmware version was released on July 27th, 2006.

UPDATE NOV 15 2006: 2.80 PSP's can now run usermode homebrew using the latest eLoader.
UPDATE DEC 23 2006: 2.80 PSP's with TA-079 to TA-081 motherboards can now be downgraded.
UPDATE JAN 03 2007: FW2.80 DownDate to FW2.71 for TA-082~086 PSP.


Updated parts of the firmware include:

* RSS Channel You can now download video and image content.
* Location Free Player You can now register devices via a wireless LAN access point.
* Music You can now play AAC files with the .3gp file extension.
* Settings Automatic has been added as an option under Network Settings > Infrastructure Mode. Select this option when using an access point that supports automatic setup.

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2.81 Firmware

This firmware version was released on September 7th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 2.81 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Security Patch A patch has been added to address a security vulnerability in the system software. Namely, to block the libtiff exploit.
* Memory Stick The ability for the PSP to correctly recognize high-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo* with more than 4 GB of free (recordable) memory space.
* Other Support for the playback of content stored in MUSIC, PICTURE and VIDEO folders at the root level of Memory Stick Duo* media has been added.

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2.82 Firmware

This firmware version was released on October 26th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 2.82 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Security Patch Added security strengthening revisions. Details unknown.

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3.00 Firmware

This firmware version was released on November 20th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.00 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Network Remote Play Remote play is a new feature in Firmware 3.00 that allows you to remotely control your PlayStation 3 from your PSP. This also includes the display of PS3 content on the PSP. "You can display a PLAYSTATION®3 system screen on a PSP* system and play content that is on the PS3* system. To use this feature, you must adjust the necessary settings on the PSP* system and the PS3* system." Using this new mode of playback, one can control the Photo, Music, Video, and Internet Browser features of the PlayStation 3 from a remote location via their Playstation Portable.
* Video Compatibility In this updated version of the Playstation Portable firmware, you are also able to play a few new video formats. The Motion JPEG format (M-JPEG), is an "informal name for multimedia formats where each video frame or interlaced field of a digital video sequence is separately compressed as a JPEG image" (Wikipedia). The PlayStation Portable plays both the Linear PCM and the ?-Law versions of the Motion JPEG video format. In addition, you will now be able to access the Camera (functionality) from the photo option menus, for quicker easier access when taking photos or video. Another nifty function is the ability to finally turn off Auto Play for inserted UMD Discs via UMD Auto Boot.
* PS1Games Here's the big tip you've been waiting for. Finally, Sony is going to drop their highly anticipated PlayStation One emulator onto the PSP. From the manual however, there seems to be a unavoidable catch. If you don't have a PS3, your not going to be enjoying PlayStation One games emulating on Sony's PlayStation One emulator for PSP anytime soon. From the manual it states that you must connect to the Playstation Online store with your PSP connected to the PlayStation 3 in order to download and play the games. In addition, they mention that you can in fact share the games, but you must activate the other system in the Friends menu as a PS3 Network Account.

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3.01 Firmware

This firmware version was released on November 21th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.01 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Bug/Issue correction Fixed an issue found within the title: Jeanne d'Arc.
* Security Patch Added security strengthening revisions. Details unknown.

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3.02 Firmware

This firmware version was released on December 5th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.02 PSP! (UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Security Patch Added security strengthening revisions. Details unknown.

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3.03 Firmware

This firmware version was released on December 19th, 2006.

UPDATE As of January 28th, 2007 3.03 Firmware can be downgraded using the GTA exploit.
UPDATE As of January 28th, 2007, Homebrew Enabler is now supported using the GTA exploit to run homebrew on 3.03.

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* The PLAYSTATION Network Titles which can be played from the PSN have been increased.

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3.10 Firmware

This firmware version was released on January 30th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.10 PSP! (UPDATE: see 3.50 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* The PLAYSTATION Network Network tie frames and the function for was strengthened.
* LOCATION FREEFunction to record MPEG-4 AVC from LocationFree Player. Model LF-PK20 (Japan) or LF-B20 and LF-B10 (United States) LocationFree base stations are required for this.
* SETTINGS Memory economy function added to Web Browser settings. When using the Web Browser, it uses less memory. However, picture quality decreases.
* SETTINGS Dynamic normalizer function added in Sound settings.
* DYNAMIC VOLUMIZER The volume level for playing music is regulated.

Undocumented updates to PSone/PS1 emulator settings:

* Added Assign Controller Ports
* Added A "Zoom" Screen Mode
* Added Black Level Adjustment
* Added Volume Adjustment
* Added Support For PAL Games

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3.11 Firmware

This firmware version was released on February 7th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.11 PSP! (UPDATE: see 3.50 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* The PLAYSTATION Network This update fixes the freezing bug found in the downloadable-for-PSP title R-Type.

Undocumented updates to PSone/PS1 emulator settings:

* Reset Game feature

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3.30 Firmware

This firmware version was released on March 28th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.30 PSP! (UPDATE: see 3.50 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* The PLAYSTATION Network Expanded support for PlayStation Network-downloaded PSOne games.
* RSS Channel Support for thumbnail images of items has been added under.
* Video Support for thumbnail images of videos that are stored in the "VIDEO" folder of Memory Stick Duo* media has been added.
* Video Added Playback of MPEG-4/H.264 AVC Main Profile (AVC CABAC) video files of the following sizes: 720 X 480, 352 X 480, or 480 X 272
* Network SettingsUse Wireless Hotspot has been added as a feature under

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3.40 Firmware

This firmware version was released on April 16th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play Homebrew on a 3.40 PSP! (UPDATE: see 3.50 section below)

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* [The PLAYSTATION Network] Network titles has been expanded.
* The method of managing certificates under Game has been changed.

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3.50 Firmware

This firmware version was released on May 30th, 2007.

[UPDATE] As of June 26th, 2007 3.50 Firmware can be downgraded using the Lumines/Illuminati exploit .

Updated parts of the firmware include:

* The PLAYSTATION Network Network titles has been expanded.
* NetworkRemote Play Can access the internet.
* Network Communication setting was added to the menu of remote play
* RSSThe RSS channel guide was added to the RSS channel

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3.51 Firmware

This firmware version was released on June 24th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play Homebrew on a 3.51 PSP unless you have a Pandora Battery


Updated parts of the firmware include:

* [Security] Security has been strengthened

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3.52 Firmware

This firmware version was released on July 11th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play Homebrew on a 3.52 PSP unless you have a Pandora Battery


Updated parts of the firmware include:

* The PLAYSTATION Network Network titles has been expanded.

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3.70 Firmware

This firmware version was released on Sept 11th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play Homebrew on a 3.70 PSP unless you have a Pandora Battery For more info:


Updated parts of the firmware include:

* You can now set custom themes in Theme Settings under Settings
* Support has been added for assigning buttons in Remote Play
* A scene search feature has been added under Video
* Sequential playback is now supported under Video
* Simultaneous playback of content under Music and Photo is now supported

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3.71 Firmware

This firmware version was released on Sept 13th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play Homebrew on a 3.71 PSP unless you have a Pandora Battery For more info:


Updated parts of the firmware include:

* You can now set a theme under Theme Settings
* You can now search for a scene when playing a movie that is saved on Memory Stick Duo™ media
* Viewing a slideshow while listening to music is know possible
* Assign Buttons has been added to the Remote Play menu
* Simultaneous playback of content under Music and Photo is now supported
* Video Sequential playback of videos saved on Memory Stick Duo™ media is now supported

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3.72 Firmware


This firmware version was released on Oct 30th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play Homebrew on a 3.72 PSP unless you have a Pandora Battery For more info:


Updated parts of the firmware include:

* Support for PLAYSTATION®Network titles has been expanded

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3.73 Firmware