PlayStation Portable Gets an Update

Sony will begin offering a software update for the PlayStation Portable on Wednesday that allows it to interoperate with the recently launched PlayStation 3.

The update, which will take the PSP's system software to version 3.0, includes Sony's Remote Play function. This allows media files on the PS3's hard disk drive, such as movies, to be streamed across a wireless LAN for viewing on the PSP.

The new firmware also allows games for the original PlayStation to be downloaded from Sony's online store to the PlayStation 3 and then transferred to the PSP. Sony will begin offering nine titles in Japan from Wednesday for download to the PSP all priced at about $4.

RSS Features Added

Other enhancements include a timer setting in the RSS channel menu that will make the PSP look for updates on blogs and download them, and the ability to stop the PSP from automatically loading a game on boot-up if a disc is inserted in the handheld's drive.

Sony didn't say when the update would be available outside of Japan but the company typically releases such updates at about the same time worldwide.

PSP owners can update their devices by choosing the Network Update item in the Settings menu.