Sony has revealed some information about the latest firmware update for the PSP. In a press release, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced that Firmware 3.80 will be available to download on Tuesday, 18th December 2007. According to a translated version of the changelog the update will include a number of new features including Internet Radio. Features will also be added to improve RSS Feeds, Video scene searching, and 1Seg TV.

Here is a (very) rough translation of the features:

• One-segment broadcasting recordings (PSP-2000 only): New PSP (PSP-2000) Series is compatible with the one-segment broadcasting videotaped them. Also, one-segment broadcasting program can be obtained from the table according to the information recorded on reservations. Recordings show the Memory Stick Duo stored in the to play.
• Internet radio to listen to audio content on the Internet to deliver services that it is possible to listen to Internet radio. Pre PSP dedicated to INTANETTORAJIOPUREIYA Memory Stick Duo to register it, can be listened to.
• The PlayStation Spot at "BB Mobile Point", launched: PSP for wallpaper and games such as a free trial version can be downloaded "PlayStation & regSpot" is about 3,500 districts nationwide. "BB Mobile Point" (Source: SOFUTOBANKUTEREKOMU Corporation) to be able to enjoy the service, the PlayStation & regSpot at "BB Mobile Point ", resp. The service access BB Mobile Point area in the [network] "& PlayStation regSpot" icon by simply pressing the SSID / WEP key and ID / password without having easy access. In Dec. 18, 2007 service at the start of the delivery of content is scheduled for the following:
• SARUGETCHU Zarzal blitz (Trial version of the wallpaper)
• Anywhere with – Let’s school! PSP the Best ( Trials, wallpaper, a promotional video)
• LocoRoco (Loco Loco) PSP the Best ( Trial version of the wallpaper)
• SARUGETCHU PIPOSARURESA PSP the Best (Trials)
• Brave habit to actual trendy (Trials)
• Video: Scene by scene in search of a preview to be able to.
• Network:
• RSS channels opml file?RI?MERU so on.Opml file ingest, in opml file that is stored on multiple channels, PSP at once registered.
• Photo (still picture) corresponding to an RSS feed. Channel registered to receive data from a Web page and the image to play.

Screenshots:

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The latest MotorStorm patch is now available to download and includes a number of new features and bug fixes. Among the changes include reversed tracks and 2D vehicle select. The vehicle selections lets you have either the traditional 3D select screen or a 2D grid of the vehicles to choose from, which seems to speed up the selection process somewhat.

The update can be downloaded by booting up the game and accepting the update message. Depending on your download speed, the update could take several minutes to download.

SCEE have announced that the Warhawk expansion pack, Operation Omega Dawn, will be available to purchase from the PlayStation Store on Thursday, 20th December 2007 for £3.99 or $7.99. The expansion pack comes with a new aircraft, a new map and five new layout modifications to the existing maps for the game. You can check out our previous coverage of the expansion pack here and here.

As usual, we post a full list of new items to the PlayStation every week so look out for other new things on the weekly update. We’re still waiting on more information regarding the Warhawk v1.2 patch, so look out for that too.

DK Jr. has just informed us that the latest issue of PSP M4M: Magazine 4 Men is now available to download. Issue 15 contains over 180 pages of christmas related content including funny christmas jokes and other articles. There are also over 100 christmas babe photos. The magazine weight in at 8.80 MB and can be downloaded using the link below.

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[Download PSP M4M i015]

Midway has announced that Stranglehold will be getting new downloadable map packs for both the PS3 and XBox 360 version of the game. However, a release date for the add-on content has not been revealed. The map pack will contain ten new multiplayer maps ranging from the Kowloon Market to Wong s Estate Grounds to the Rooftops of Chicago. Gamers will also get 21 all-new multiplayer character skins to run around in.

The game’s Xbox 360 version will also get ten new achievements worth 250 points. The map pack will be available to purchase from the PlayStation Network and XBox Live once it goes live. Check back for more details soon.

The PlayStation Store update for this week is complete with numerous new items to download. Europe has received a new playable demo and new game add-ons for MotorStorm and Folklore. Europe was also lucky enough to receive 8 new XMB themes to customize the PS3 with. For the US, the TimeShift Multiplayer demo is now available to download, and High Velocity Bowling is now available to purchase. There are also a number of game add-ons, themes and trailers available from the US store. Check out the full list below.

Euro Update:

• Playable Demos:
  • Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
• Game Add-ons
  • MotorStorm Domino & Adventure
  • Folklore: The Origin of Belgae Pack
• Themes:
  • Mesmerise
  • Tori Emaki
  • Heavenly Sword
  • Motorstorm
  • Snakeball
  • Lemmings
  • Killzone 2
  • SingStar
• Trailers:
  • Metal Gear Online (TGS 2007)
  • Metal Gear Solid 4
  • Blazing Angels 2

US Update:

• Playable Demos:
  • Timeshift multiplayer demo
• Full Games:
  • High Velocity Bowling
  • Wild Arms (PS1)
• Game Add-ons:
  • Folklore: Ellen Pack 1
  • Folklore: Keats Pack 1
  • Folklore: Bundle of Pack 1 + 2
  • PAIN: Character Skin – Santa
  • PAIN: Character Skin – Cookie
  • Rock Band: Black Sabbath Pack 1
• Trailers:
  • Battlefield: Bad Company – "Frostbite"
  • Battlefield: Bad Company – "Frostbite" 2
  • GTA IV – Trailer 3 – "Move Up, ladies"
  • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (TGS 2007)
  • Uncharted – "Environments"
• Themes:
  • Ratchet & Clank Future theme
  • Uncharted theme

The Assassin’s Creed patch we repor­ted on last week is now available to download. The download weight in at around 25 megabytes and can be downloaded by launching the game. The patch updates the game to version 1.10. The update hasn’t been deployed in all regions yet, so if you can’t download it yet then check back later on.

Unfortunately, the patch can only be downloaded directly to the PlayStation 3, so if you do not have Internet access on your PS3 then you will have to wait for an alternative solution. Early reports are suggesting that the game still crashes occasionally and there are still glitches in the graphics, and there have also been reports of failed installations. Ubi may have rushed this patch a little. Look out for more information on any new developments.

Developement on the Warhawk patch v1.2 and the add-on pack, Operation: Omega Dawn, is now complete according to Dylan Jobe, Game Director for Warhawk. As previously report, the ad­don pack adds 3 key things to Warhawk: a new map called "Omega Factory", a new aircraft called "KT-424 Combat Dropship", and modifications of the five original layouts. The addon pack is currently going through global testing and is still on schedule for a December release. The patch will be a free download while the addon pack will cost $7.99.

Once the addon pack has gone "gold", a specific release date will be announced. Jobe will provide a FAQ on the addon pack shortly, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out some of the screenshots below.

Sony released Firmware 3.73 for the PlayStation Portable, earlier today. The firmware update is a minor one and simply correct a bug in the system software. The update is only live on the Japanese PlayStation website, but the update can be downloaded directly to the PSP through the Network Update feature. According to a rough Japenese-to-English translation, the "PSP software-only play in the UMD loading screen to stop the symptoms has been confirmed for the UMD drive to improve operating stability."

UPDATE

The US changelog is now available. The update improves the stability of the UMD drive when loading data:

Operation of the UMD drive has bee­n improved to address cases in which
the UMD drive occasionally suspends and fails to reload data. Updating
the system software to version 3.73 will resolve this issue.