psp-3000
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PSP-3000 proving to be difficult for hackers to crack
The PSP has proven to be quite the popular system among hackers and modders of all sorts, but it looks like Sony has turned the tables a bit with its latest PSP-3000 model (otherwise known as the PSP Brite), which has so far put up a stiff resistance against folks' attempts to put it to some decidedly unofficial uses. Among other things, the PSP-3000 has apparently completely shut shutting down the popular Pandora battery hack, and it's even managed to stifle new attempts by heavyweight modders like Dark Alex to crack it open. One modder, known only as Royginald, even went so far as to swap the PSP-3000's CPU out in favor of one from a PSP-2000, only to discover far too late that the 3000's new interlaced video made the entire setup quite useless. Maybe that's one of the "features" Sony was talking about?[Via PSP Fanboy]
Microscopic look at PSP-3000 reveals reasons behind interlacing
Logic Sunrise took a microscope to both the PSP-2000 and 3000 to see why the 3000 has interlacing issues. At 40X magnification, it's clear that the two screens have very different pixels. Can you see what some of the major differences are?The 3000 series has pixels aligned horizontally, not vertically. In addition, the blues of the 3000 are much darker. These two in tandem may be behind the interlacing "feature" of the 3000 screen.[Via Gizmodo]
PSP Brite is impervious to hackers
Sony's latest hardware revision, the PSP-3000 aka PSP Brite, is doing well in standing up against pirates, hackers and their tools. According to PSP World, previous exploits which allow access to kernel memory and firmware are now patched up -- no way getting in there now. Infamous hackers like Dark Alex have yet to find a way through the PSP Brite's new specs. Other hackers are getting frustrated; take Royginald from the Philippines who has swapped in the PSP Slim's CPU into a PSP Brite while keeping the screen and case intact. All that to run custom firmware and homebrew which doesn't even run properly because of signal output differences. We wonder if Sony has finally found a solution to its custom firmware woes.
4GB Piano Black PSP Brite bundle nixed, sticking with Ratchet & Clank pack
Already have Echochrome on PSP, Ratchet & Clank Size Matters on UMD, as well as the DVD and Blu-ray release of National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets? Yeah, us too (except for the National Treasure 2 part ... seriously, what's your problem?), which is why we're drinking early this morning. Sony's John Koller reports, via the PlayStation blog, that Sony has decided to nix the so-called PSP-3000 Core pack in favor of just one option: the already available Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack.The Core Pack was to be released in November with a 4GB Memory Stick (a boost from the R&C pack's 1GB stick), an Everday Shooter PlayStation Network voucher and, of course, a PSP Brite in sleek "Piano Black" instead of "Mystic Silver," all for the same $199.99 asking price. If you're really just waiting for a black PSP Brite, Koller says the Ratchet & Clank pack will be back in black (as well as silver) starting in December. Upshot: you can totally regift the stuff you don't want!%Gallery-30061%[Thanks, Gordon]
4GB PSP Entertainment Pack will no longer see release
When the PSP Brite was introduced, SCEA had plans for two bundles. The first, which is available in stores now, is the Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack, which includes a silver PSP-3000, 1GB Memory Stick, a copy of Ratchet & Clank and echochrome download for $199. The other option, which was originally supposed to be available in November was the 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack, which included a black PSP-3000, 4GB Memory Stick and a download of Everyday Shooter for $199.According to the PlayStation.blog, the 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack has been canceled before release. "SCEA has seen significant interest in the Ratchet & Clank Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack in North America, which includes the updated PSP-3000. As a result, we will be streamlining our PSP hardware lineup and will no longer be offering the previously announced 4GB Memory PSP Entertainment Pack."Sounds like a bad PR spin to us, but we'll manage. The Ratchet bundle looks like a good deal -- and as the post notes, a 4GB Memory Stick can be found on the cheap at many retailers.
Sony simplifies PSP-3000 lineup, only offering one SKU
Hope all you would-be PSP buyers out there are into that PSP-3000 Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack that just went on sale a couple weeks ago, because it's going to be the only bundle available from here on out. That's the word straight from Sony, which says that "ongoing discussions" with retailers have led it to kill the previously-announced $169 4GB Memory PSP-3000 bundle in favor of offering a single SKU -- although the company helpfully points out that you can still score a 4GB PSP Memory Stick PRO Duo for an additional $45. Yeah, thanks for the tip, guys. The current Mystic Silver bundle will be joined by a Piano Black version sometime in December, so you're not totally limited option-wise, but we're not exactly pumped about throwing extra money at a game we don't necessarily want -- we'd happily drop the extra cash on a non-interlaced screen, however.
We talk about PSP-3000 in Play Magazine
Did you read Play issue #171? If you did, you would've noticed a certain someone from a certain PSP fan blog talking about the recently released PSP-3000 (aka PSP Brite). The blogger in question talks about whether or not Sony upgraded the PSP system too quickly, and why the lack of a second analog stick is no big deal. "A lot of people [said] that Sony should 'fix' the PSP by adding a second analogue stick," says Yoon. "But that would fundamentally change the system, and potentially lock out owners of older models from upcoming games. As it stands, PSP owners, from the 1000 to the 3000 series, are all able to play upcoming games."To download the featured article, click here (requires Acrobat Reader).
How would you change Sony's PSP-3000?
We first caught wind of a slightly revamped PSP months ago, and the long-awaited handheld -- complete with a new, fancier and in some cases more dreadful display -- finally hit US shelves this month. For those that picked one of these up and have spent some quality time digging into the latest firmware, how are you liking things? Particularly for those that upgraded, are you pleased with the new build? Are you being plagued with those mysterious screen problems features? Could you stand to see a few more things tweaked for the PSP-4000? We suspect there will be quite a few mixed messages flying in this one, so let's get those comments rolling.
PSP Brite sells over 140K in Japanese launch
Scanlines be damned, Sony's latest iteration of the PSP -- known as PSP-3000 or PSP Brite -- has sold 141,270 units in its first four days of launch in Japan (October 16-19), reports Famitsu. Though a marked improvement over the handheld's current sales trend in the region (approximately 25K each week), PSPHyper notes that the the last update (PSP-2000, a.k.a. Slim) sold 130,000 in its first day of launch, and 250,702 for its first 3 days. According to the report, 14,450 units of the earlier PSP models were also sold between October 13 and 19 for a total of 155,720 for this week's Japanese hardware sales.[Via PSP Fanboy]
Sony: PSP Brite's scanlines caused by hardware, no plans to fix [update]
Though SCEA is still "looking into the problem," Sony's Japanese headquarters (SCEI) has released a statement describing the PSP-3000 (a.k.a. PSP Brite) scanline issues as being part and parcel of the new hardware. "PSP-3000 has a new LCD device with vastly improved picture quality, achieving a more natural and vivid picture than older models," said the statement (via Engadget Japan). "By improving LCD response time to reduce ghosting, the horizontal-line phenomenon becomes more visible."Turns out, phenomenon means "no fix in sight." According to Sony, "Since this phenomenon is caused by hardware characteristics, there is no plan to fix it with system software update." We'll be interested to see if Sony of America (SCEA) has anything different to say.Update: SCEA has finally received the corporate memo, feeding us the same official statement from SCEI. (Posted in full after the break.)[Via PSP Fanboy]
PSP-3000 scanlines a hardware feature; no fix planned
Sony Japan has responded to criticisms about visible scanlines on the new PSP-3000 systems. While Sony America is looking into the situation, Japan's statement doesn't bode too well. It seems that the scanline problem is a feature of the new LCD screens. SCEI says that the "PSP-3000 has a new LCD device with vastly improved picture quality, achieving a more natural and vivid picture than older models. By improving LCD response time to reduce ghosting, the horizontal-line phenomenon becomes more visible."The worst news is that there's no fix. "Since this is caused by hardware characteristics, there is no plan to fix it with system software update." Looks like it's here to stay. We're still waiting on a statement from SCEA but, from the looks of it, they won't have much new to add.Update: SCEA response, after the break.
Sony "looking into" PSP-3000 screen interlacing problems
Ruh roh. Seems that swanky new LCD on Sony's PSP-3000 could be garnering more complaints than anything else. If you'll recall, the aforesaid system was touted as having a brighter, better screen than the PSP-2000, but now the PlayStation forums are filling up with irate PSP-3000 buyers who are experiencing unexplained scanlines and totally peculiar interlacing problems. As you can see above, the 3000's screen looks noticeably worse than that of the 2000, and while we always hope that these issues are contained, we have at least one Engadget staffer and a Joystiq comrade who can attest to this being real. SCEA has been contacted and is currently "looking into" the matter -- we won't dare say that r-word just yet, but this doesn't look particularly good on the surface. We'll keep you posted.[Via Joystiq]Update: A Japanese Sony Computer Entertainment representative has informed us that the interlacing-like lines are just "features" of the new LCD, and currently, there are no plans to fix it with a future software update since it is in the hardware.
PSP-3000 sold over 140K in first four days
PSP Brite is now out worldwide, so how's it doing everywhere else? In Japan (where the PSP is the sacred deity of 4-player co-op), it seems that not too many are catching on to the new hardware; only 141,270 units were sold in the first four days of sale (Oct. 16-19). As PSPHyper points out, these numbers are not that impressive when compared to the PSP Slim's initial sales numbers which were 250,702 for the first week with 130K of that from the first day alone. With relatively slow sales figures and seemingly disastrous performance issues, it looks like the PSP Brite is getting off to a very rough start. [Via PSPHyper]
Users report screen issues with PSP Brite, Sony investigating
The newly released PSP-3000 series should have a better screen than the old 2000 model. Not only does it have an expanded color depth, it's supposed to get rid of the ghosting that plagued every PSP since. While it succeeds, it appears that a new problem has emerged: scan lines, which make things look worse than they did in the 2000 model. A well-populated thread on the PlayStation forum shows the cries of dozens that are reporting the same problem.Our test unit (which arrived today) also features the same problem. In fact, we're not digging the 3000 model at all. While the colors look nice, we're disappointed by its performance in sunlight. Even worse, the plastic on the new model feels cheaper than ever before.Sony told Joystiq that they're currently "looking into this." Hopefully, it'll only take a firmware update to fix -- otherwise, many may opt to buy the 2000 series instead.
Sony investigating PSP Brite screen issues
Over on the official PlayStation forums, owners of Sony's revamped PSP Brite are in a tizzy over what many have reported as prominent screen interlacing during video playback and gameplay. The PSP-3000 uses a new high-contrast, low-latency screen that eliminates the ghosting/smearing associated with older PSP revisions, but appears to introduce a new issue of visible scanlines and notably jagged edges on moving objects. One poster provided comparison photos that illustrate the problem.We unboxed our PSP Brite to test some games and see if we encountered the same problem. Sure enough, in both FMV and gameplay, there is a noticable offset between the two video fields comprising the on-screen image. The included Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters looks significantly more "pixelated" on the PSP-3000 versus on our PSP-2000, as did other games we tested, including God of War: Chains of Olympus and WipEout Pulse. Additionally, scanlines are visible simply when navigating the unit's XMB.The problem is slightly less noticable when the new Wide Color Space option is turned off. We contacted SCEA for comment on this apparent hardware issue and were told that the company is "looking into this" and will get back to us as soon as possible. We'll update this post when we hear more. In the meantime, let us know in comments if you're experiencing similar issues with the PSP Brite. [Thanks, AtomicCandy]
Engadget unboxes PSP-3000
So you've probably already seen the dismantled Japanese PSP Brite and took a look at what's underneath that shiny exterior. Now, how about watching the North American bundle get unboxed? While the Engadget crew has opted out of tearing their precious handheld apart, we do get to have a comprehensive look at all the goods inside the retail box. If you're planning on getting a PSP Brite for yourself, then check out the pics here and see what awaits.
PSP-3000 unboxing and hands-on
We know they're hitting the streets, and we've already seen some unboxing pics and a nasty gutting, but we felt we needed to give Sony's new PSP-3000 the proper Engadget treatment. As you can tell by the photos, there's not much new here, though as you should know, the guts are where it's all going down (new screen, built-in microphone). Still it never hurts to take a close look at a shiny new toy... so enjoy yourselves in the gallery.%Gallery-34893%
PSP Brite unboxed, dissected, photographed
Sony's re-tooled PSP-3000 (a.k.a. the "PSP Brite") is on the loose, and that means two things: 1) you can buy one of your very own and 2) someone's bought one, busted it open, and taken pictures. This post is about the latter (as if the image didn't give it away).The folks at PC Watch Impress have snapped gobs of photos showing the unboxing and ultimate disassembling of the new PSP model. It all looks fairly similar to the guts of a PSP-2000, although as one PSP Fanboy commenter pointed out, those hoping to pop a nicer, more contrast-ier 3000 screen into their 2000 unit will be foiled by a re-sized ribbon connector. (And really ... buy a PSP Brite just to gut it for your PSP Lite?)[Via PSP Fanboy]
PSP-3000 ripped to shreds for your enjoyment
Now that the PSP-3000 (or PSP Brite, as our Joystiq friends like to call it) has hit the streets, it was only natural for its innards to be splayed for all the world to see -- it's all part of the circle of life, or some similarly cliche lyric. We wouldn't really know where to begin running through these parts and figuring out what's new, but Impress Watch says it's pretty much the LCD getting all the love here, and that otherwise they're seeing way fewer internal changes than they saw when Sony released the PSP-2000. Sounds about right to us, but we're really just in it for the senseless violence of it all.[Via PSP Fanboy]
Go inside the PSP-3000, literally
If for some reason you wanted to rip open a PSP Brite system and see its innards -- well, PC Watch will let you satiate your fantasy vicariously. There's no need to waste hundreds of dollars to buy a new system simply to open it and see what's inside. Let these guys do it for you instead.To check out the comprehensive gallery, click here.
