Some information about the upcoming PlayStation firmware update has emerged on the Internet. However, since the information is unconfirmed by Sony, this article falls under the rumors category. A blog entry over at The Video Game Report reveals a number of features the PS3 Firmware 2.00 is likely to have. The information on firmware 2.00 has been collected from a number of message boards and not from an official Sony source.

1. Firmware 2.00 will have updated version of the built-in internet browser, including updated flash player functionality
2. Firmware 2.00 will be available in 2 different packages – one containing Home, and one without it. This results in the Home software having it’s own section in the XMB. Current Beta version are downloaded from the store and are booted from the game section of the XMB.
3. No in-game XMB access will be included yet.
4. Icons for movies/games can now move while other media types are currently being accessed.
5. Security is being worked on. You can password protect individual files on your HDD including movies, photos and pictures by pressing triangle to access the options menu.

The above list does seem a little strange, especially point (2) regarding separate packages. Until the list is confirmed by Sony, it is likely that the list is just a prediction. We will post more information on Firmware 2.00 when we get it.

A few photos of the upcoming PSP Digital TV Tuner have emerged. The 1Seg Tuner is a device that allows the PSP to view digital television and attaches to the USB port like the Go!Cam and GPS device. The TV Tuner is to go on sale on September 20th 2007 in Japan and will only work with the slim PSP (PSP-2000). Check out the photos below.

When using Wi-Fi, the PSP reverts to its old CPU clock speed of 222 MHz, despite the recent firmware update that unlocks the full speed of the PSP. David Karraker, Sony’s Senior Director of Corporate Communications, confirmed the news that the 222 MHz speed cap is in effect when Wi-Fi is turned on. What does all this mean? Slower loading times when playing ad-hoc and infrastructure multiplayer games.

“The article is correct that increased CPU speed cannot be used with the PSP’s wireless feature,” said Karraker, referring to the report. “SCEA [Sony Computer Entertainment America] is working closely with the development community to take full advantage of this new functionality where appropriate for their titles.”

Edios Interactive has announced that the first set of downloadable content for Ninja Gaiden Sigma will be available via the PlayStation Store from September 13th 2007. The downloadable content pack, known collectively as “Survival Mode” comprise of three different add-on packs, all with the basic premise of engaging an endless stream of enemies until you can no longer fight. The three downloads will provide different sorts of themed battles, with a World Ranking available for each theme.

The first of the three batches of downloadable content, “Weapon Master” is scheduled for release on September 13th 2007. This content includes five survival modes where you can use only a limited array of weaponry. The player’s objective is to master the feature of each weapon and wipe out as many enemies as you can.

“Speed Master” is the second download and the aim of this is to beat your enemies as accurately and quickly as possible. This features another five survival modes in which the time and power gauge are limited. In order to become the ultimate speed master you must master both your skills and acrobatics to survive.

In the third and final download, “Rachel Master”, you play as the new female character Rachel, in five survival modes in the quest to become the “World’s No. 1 Fiend Hunter”.

Team Wildcard has again updated their Custom Firmware. This new patch now brings Custom Firmware 3.40 LE to version 3. The patch fixes a glitch that kept power saving options from working, but apart from that, nothing else has changed. The patch can only be run from 3.40 LE or 3.40 v2. The patch contains all the bug fixes from version 2 so if you are still on 3.40 LE (version 1), you can update straight to 3.40 v3 without updating to version 2 first.

Changes in version 2 include:

• Removed non-functional File Manager option in the Recovery menu
• In recovery, detects ms0:/PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP and only launches it if it exists
• Fixed problems that kept UMDs from loading properly
• Added support for %__SCE__/__SCE__ homebrew naming style
• Re-enabled the use of GAME150 and GAME340, though you *DO NOT* need them.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.40 LE v3]

Its that time of the week when the PlayStation Store gets updated. Unfortunately, there are no new playable demos this time, instead, this week’s update focuses mainly on trailers and videos. There are two new Heavenly Sword videos: "making of" and "Legend of the Sword", as well as new Gran Turismo trailers and Blu-Ray movie trailers. Check out the list below.

• Game Trailers/Videos
  • Gran Turismo PlayStation Premiere Trailer
  • Heavenly Sword "Making Of" Video
  • Heavenly Sword "Legend of the Sword" Video
• Blu-Ray Movie Trailers
  • Ghost Rider
  • The Covenant

Issue 13 of PSP M4M: Magazine 4 Men is now available to download. DK Jr. has informed us that this issue is dedicated entirely to the Red Bull Air Race and contains over 170 pages of great content, which includes over 140 babe photos. Also included in the issue are some cool babe wallpapers for your PSP.

[Download PSP M4M Issue 13]

Team Wildcard has released a update to their Custom Firmware 3.40 LE. The update is a patch that fixes some issues with the initial release of their firmare, including support for __SCE__/%__SCE__ homebrew naming style. See below for a full list of fixes and changes.. The patch needs to be run from 3.40 LE in order to work so do not attempt to install the patch on any other firmware version.

Changelog:

• Removed non-functional File Manager option in the Recovery menu
• In recovery, detects ms0:/PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP and only launches it if it exists
• Fixed problems that kept UMDs from loading properly
• Added support for __SCE__/__SCE__ homebrew naming style
• Re-enabled the use of GAME150 and GAME340, though you DO NOT need them.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.40 LE v2]

Team Wildcard has released their own custom firmware, based on Dark_AleX’s OE custom firmware. The team reverse engineered Dark_AleX’s custom firmware and then added a few new features to bring you a new custom firmware. Custom Firmware 3.40 LE (Leaked Edition) has all the features of Dark_AleX’s Custom Firmware 3.40 OE, but also included a few extra features such a improved recovery menu. Check out the full list of features below.

Custom Firmware 3.40 LE includes:

• Everything you know and love from 3.40 OE-A
• A sexy new SCEP-style recovery menu
• In-XMB configuration menu
• Auto-detection of the kernel needed for homebrew – no need for GAME150 and GAME340; just put it all in GAME

Instruction on how to install the custom firmware are included in the zip package, but we have also included it below.

3.40 LE – Installation Guide

1. Look inside the ZIP file for the folder that corresponds to your current firmware – either Custom Firmware or Firmware 1.50. To install 3.40 , you have to be on one of these. If you’re not already on one of them, what are you waiting for? Downgrade!
2. Copy the CONTENTS of the MS_ROOT folder onto the ROOT of your memory stick. This means the place where the ‘PSP’ folder is. It’ll probably tell you that it has to overwrite the PSP folder. This is OK; just click Yes.
3. Download the 1.50 and 3.40 firmware EBOOTs. ( included below )
4. Rename the 1.50 EBOOT to 150.PBP.
5. Rename the 3.40 EBOOT to 340.PBP
6. Put both of them in the folder “X:\PSP\GAME\Wildcard All-in-one Flasher”, alongside the EBOOT.PBP file. (X: is your PSP’s Windows drive letter.)
7. Go into the PSP’s Game menu, under Memory Stick, and run “3.40 All-In-One Updater”. The installer will build the 3.40 DATA.DXAR file, then launch the flasher to install it. Follow the instructions on the screen TO THE LETTER and you’ll be safe.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.40 LE]

Sony currently incurs an estimated $200 loss on every PlayStation 3 sold, but an exec from the firm said that loss could be eliminated this fiscal year.
During a conference call, Sony executive VP Nobuyuki Oneda said the firm may be able to break even on PS3 hardware this fiscal year, which ends in March 2008. Though Oneda still couldn’t specify exactly when this break-even point may happen.

“The removal of the negative margin will be when all of these factors have come out. Maybe, marginally, we could achieve this during this year,” Oneda told a Citigroup Securities analyst during a Q&A session.

“For the negative margin to go away, the big trigger would be the cost-down in the Cell and RSX semiconductors. They are the key, and also optical pick-up is another factor, significantly,” he said.

Oneda confirmed that Sony is working on transitioning the PS3’s chips from 90nm to 65nm, which would reduce costs significantly. He said the Cell would be the first PS3 chip to make the migration, followed by the RSX chip.
Game console makers typically sell hardware at a loss, and make up for this through software sales. Nintendo, however, has made it a point to sell its hardware at a profit.

[Via: CVG]