PSPgo: New firmware, new connections

By Richard Leadbetter Published 13 August, 2009

You can bin your old cables, it seems.

Sony's PSPgo is set to launch with a firmware upgrade featuring new options and tweakables. Expect a full video reveal in a forthcoming Eurogamer TV show, along with fuller hands-on, but in the meantime, check out this complete technical readout of the new, fully armed and operational PlayStation Portable.

The pre-release sample of the new hardware arrived with an unreleased firmware revision: 5.70. This may or may not be the system software that ships with the retail unit coming on 1st October, but either way it seems certain new firmware is part of the launch. Regardless, 5.70 does feature a number of changes over the current 5.51 operating system, albeit somewhat slight.

Not surprisingly, it's the Settings area of the XMB that gets the lion's share of the changes:

  • Network Update is now listed as System Update, but, curiously, has the same options.
  • Video Settings obviously doesn't have the first four UMD-related toggles.
  • System Settings now has a "Your Birth Date" option (second from top), and a "Display Panel Close Option" toggle, which allows you to set it to either "Standard" (goes to a clock graphic) or "Enter Sleep Mode". Also "Battery Information" seems to be gone, as do UMD-related options, but there's a "Format System Storage" option in addition to the usual Memory Stick format option.
  • Power Save Settings loses the "Backlight Auto-Adjust" option for some reason.
  • There's a new "Bluetooth Device Settings" entry, which consists of a toggle for switching Bluetooth on and off and a "Manage Bluetooth Devices" entry.

All other elements of the XMB are identical to the current 5.51 firmware, aside from a new "System Storage" folder similar to the "Memory Stick" one, which, as you might imagine, allows access to the PSPgo's internal flash storage. Hooking up the PSPgo to a Mac via USB, we find that the total available storage available to the user is 14.74GB, formatted in the FAT32 configuration (hence introducing a 4GB file-size limit - unlikely to be a concern to any PSP user). All this gives the PSPgo a marginal memory edge over a 16GB iPod Touch (mine comes in at 14.64GB total capacity).

We also measured file transfer times via USB, to the internal flash memory and also to the M2 memory card, using a 699MB file (715,647KB). The M2 transfer came in at 93 seconds, while the copy to the internal flash drive took 95 seconds, so effectively there's next to nothing in it.

What is intriguing is that Sony has opted out of using a conventional USB cable format on the new handheld. The PSPgo itself uses a wider, thinner connector for the console, terminating in the standard USB connector. So, similar to the iPhone and iPod Touch, it's proprietary cable time. It also appears as though Sony has moved away from the old AV port that debuted on the PSP-2000 - there's a common-or-garden 3.5mm stereo jack connection for headphones only, not the more traditional extended interface with its support for external remotes and the like.

Since the video output settings are still on the XMB, our guess is that Sony is indeed following Apple's lead by consolidating all connections into that new wider, thinner interface, which we strongly suspect will form the basis for an iPod-style dock. All very nice, but it once again emphasises that this is something of a clean break from the old PSP hardware - not only will your UMDs not work, but your component cables are now obsolete in the new order, as are your Memory Sticks: PSPgo uses the newer, smaller, M2 format as found in a number of the Sony Ericsson mobile phones.

In terms of other interesting information we picked up... well, we're going to assume that the final production PSPgo hardware won't allow you to flash the firmware with a system update designed for the older handhelds. Bizarrely, the sample apparently does, which resulted in a rather snazzy-looking brick once the PSPgo's previous trustees (who shall remain nameless) had finished with it - a side effect of which is that the rather intriguing-looking Gran Turismo demo included on the flash drive didn't work by the time the unit arrived in our possession, which - as you can imagine - we were really happy about...

On the plus side, the hard disk was loaded with a number of other demos, including office favourites WipEout Pulse and Ridge Racer 2, and we'll be commenting on how those feel on the new hardware, and doing our usual tour around and impressions of its exterior and how it works, in next week's hands-on and EGTV Show.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Theobald #1 3 years ago

    Is it the "new" micro-USB-connector? If so, those cables will be as common as the mini-USB of today in a short time. Most cellphone-manufacturers have decided on micro-USB as a standard for charging and transfering to please the EU, so that format has actually been decided by someone, not just shown up as a standard randomly like the mini-USB before it.

    Being Sony though... They do like their proprietary standards...

  • Avaloner #2 3 years ago

    This consolidates the idea that the new PSP is not meant for people who currently have a UMD enabled PSP but rather for a new audience who for some reason or another shied away from joining the PSP bandwagon up till now. How this will change their minds, I do not know.

  • reelbigkris #3 3 years ago

    Is anyone actually excited about the psp go? It seems like Sony are going out of their way to upset as many people as they can. If they remove the standard usb leads for more expensive and exclusive leads, chances are people are going to lose them and a replacement may well cost about £10 - £15. While i understand that Sony are upset with piracy plaguing their psp, spending money developing a psp that battles this is fine, but i feel that this is a big waste of time.

    If its all digital distribution, why would video game stores choose to sell these machines? once the console has been sold, the game shop will no longer see that customer. If anything, this will increase second hand sales of the other models, and Sony will end up getting hardly any money at all!

  • jonthepymm #4 3 years ago

    I am excited about the PSP-go. I am not intending to lose the cables.

    Why so keen? Having several games on the in-built drive is attractive, rather than carrying around several UMDs. The possibility of portable FFVII (plus all the other PS1 games currently in the PlayStation store - fairly cheap too) is extremely appealing. My biggest concern is battery life... shame that's not higher.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #5 3 years ago

    Theobald: It's not micro USB. It's the same thickness as the iPhone connector and about three quarters the width. Is there another USB connector?

  • JohnnyWashnGo #6 3 years ago

    Jeez, if there is one thing I really hate, it is proprietary connectors. What a pain.
    Plus there is no word on how I play my existing UMD games. What a pain.
    And they have changed the memory stick format, so I have to buy new bloody memory for this machine. What a pain.

    All in all, the PSPGo is very, very painful.

    Still buy one probably, when the inevitable firmware exploit is found and I can run emulators on it like my old PSP 1000 with a broken nub :(

  • Zomoniac #7 3 years ago

    @JonThePymm

    My PSP-1000 has loads of games on it without me having to carry around any UMDs, plus the whole of FFVII (and FFVIII, and MGS), and has a very good battery life. And you can have the same for less than £80, and be able to resell games when you're done with them, and not be forced into paying inflated PSN prices (I guarantee the majority of games will be at least a tenner more than Play are doing them for). And none of it is pirated.
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/09 @ 11:12

  • Goffee #8 3 years ago

    love the look of it but atill happy with my PSP-1000l, might get it when that finally dies but if that's a few years down the road - they will finally be a PSP 2 or a Nintendo Wii Portable or an XboxHandLiveHeld to choose from.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #9 3 years ago

    avaloner "This consolidates the idea that the new PSP is not meant for people who currently have a UMD enabled PSP but rather for a new audience who for some reason or another shied away from joining the PSP bandwagon up till now. How this will change their minds, I do not know. "

    spot on. it really irks me when current psp and ds owners and in this case eurogamer, have digs about the new models of existing platforms either not offering them enough or causing pain in doing so, as if being some kind of 'given' upgrade path.
    sony are clearly keeping up with the times for new owners to jump on board. obviously many will exchange old for new, for various reasons

  • light&shadow #10 3 years ago

    Day one purchase for me. The reasons? It's smaller (by the look of it fits easily into a pocket) and lighter (than my 1000 anyway) and I only play psn games these days. I always found umds a pain when playing on the go. Need transport case, collecting dust, slow and noisy. Plus you know, mechanical parts in a portable console, I've never been too confortable with the idea.
    However, I understand some 'home' players still prefer umds for various reasons, but there's still the 3000 then.
    So my conclusion is, sony will probably get a small share of psp users like me upgrading their models (mainly 1000), and for the rest like Avaloner said, it is certainly aimed at a new audience.
    edit:
    As for the cables, I don't see many people having an av cable. Those from the 1000 era like me don't have one anyway. Having to buy a custom usb cable is a pain, unless they provide a cable or adapter with the console.
    I'm curious to know what the new blutooth is about exactly but I would bet on the ability to use a sixaxis/dualshock3 in combination with AV cable to make it a mini home console, which is nice. Bluetooh headset support for multiplayer would be nice too.
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/09 @ 12:08

  • Chufty #11 3 years ago

    Proprietary cables are a pain, but I disagree with the first comment that Sony like their proprietary connectors. Standard USB, headphones and power cables work in the PSP. Standard USB cables are used for PS3 peripherals, and it takes a standard internal hard drive interface.

    Are you sure you aren't thinking of Nintendo?

    It is suprising that Sony have taken this decision but it is possible that they want more connectivity than can be provided by mini-USB. Unless it's just a bit of poor reporting by EG, and it is in fact a micro-USB connection (about half as thin as mini-USB, but the same width).

  • TopKatt #12 3 years ago

    I love what I've seen of the PSPgo but won't be getting one until it drops to around the £150 mark.

    And is it just me or would it make more sense to call it a PSgo rather thana PSPgo?

  • chessboxer #13 3 years ago

    @ TopKatt

    No because PSP stands for PlayStation Portable and this is still a portable device (not a home console), so PSPgo is correct.

  • Toothball #14 3 years ago

    Little disappointed with the proprietary plug, as I've been trying to make sure my portable electronics only need the one wire. I did have a PSP to TV cable, but that got stolen with a few other things a week or so back. Don't think I'll bother getting a new one.

  • TopKatt #15 3 years ago

    @Chessboxer

    Yeah, I take your point. It just seems that the "Go" could replace the "Portable" and still get across the idea that this is a PlayStation that you can take out and about with you. "Portable Go" seems to be overegging the point somewhat. Not that I'm actually bothered you understand, just saying. :)

  • peterfll #16 3 years ago

    Disappointed there's still no news of how UMD will be supported by the new Go... :-\

  • SYS64738 #17 3 years ago

    "I hear that the basic ergonomics are terrible. "

    Have people that actually played on the PSPGo ever stated that actually?

  • Widge #18 3 years ago

    I hear that it can turn bees into wine

  • Avaloner #19 3 years ago

    I hear things

  • Golgo #20 3 years ago

    Sounds like everythings 'new' apart from the price.

  • Hexagon #21 3 years ago

    With regards to the people asking about how the UMD format will be supported by the PSP Go, isn't this the answer? In addition to that, here's the Eurogamer article for those that wish to comment.

  • Widge #22 3 years ago

    Then again, I saw a preview from a game site that absolutely slated it when the previews got leaked, in a similar "how on earth can that be comfortable to use" fashion. They got invited to have a go and then reported back with "oh thats actually pretty nice".

    We'll only get to know from going hands on I guess.

  • jonbwfc #23 3 years ago

    @Hexagon

    No, it's not the answer. Until they give out the details of how you're going to be able to do it, it's no answer at all. In fact it looks very much like a Sony exec being asked the question and thinking 'oh christ if we just say tough luck we'll get lynched so I'll just say something vague and hope they go away'. All the statements I've seen by Sony execs give no suggestion they'd even considered it until the PSPGo was officially launched.

    Jon
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/09 @ 15:45

  • zedzee #24 3 years ago

    Never mind the hardware being stripped down, with things taken out and cables being proprietary. More important is what GAMES will be released with it and will these be simultaneously supported on UMD?

  • mingster #25 3 years ago

    I don't think people understand who this is marketed at.
    They don't care about existing PSP UMD owners.
    You already have a PSP and your UMD's.
    This is not for you.
    If you want one then its for games you download from PSN.
    They don't have to convert your existing UMD's to work with it.
    And any new releases won't come on UMD you just download them on your old PSP's from PSN.
    Thats it UMD is dead.
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/09 @ 16:30

  • SYS64738 #26 3 years ago

    @ Lord

    my question wasn't suggesting you were trolling - really was just wondering.

    As others have said already, there's only one way to find out how it handles. In October.

  • Bigglesworth #27 3 years ago

    I hear that the basic ergonomics are terrible.
    I'd say they're no better and no worse than the existing PSP.

  • beroscoe #28 3 years ago

    Having seen the pictures available of the PSP-Go on the net, there only looks like the 1 slot, and the problem with the proprietary connector for me will be that of charging... The existing PSP allows charging via the existing USB socket as well as the power input . This is great for connecting my PSP to wired main, the PS3 (through my dualshock USB cable), and when i sync and download stuff from my PC (music/movies), and its also great when i'm out and about (in work for example) and can find mini-USB cables no problem off other products. If they ship the new PSP-Go with just 1 proprietery charging cable, then im not going going to be able to charge on the GO!

  • TopKatt #29 3 years ago

    @Widge.

    One of the writers over at Destructoid had a similar experience. He was tearing it to bits from the pictures then loved it after getting to try it at E3.

    [link url=http://www.destructoid.com/e3-09-hands-on- with-the-psp-go-134707.phtml
    ]http://ww w.destructoid.com/e3-09-hands-o...[/link]

  • SlackMaster #30 3 years ago

    I don't mind the odd cheap purchase on XBL or PSN but I refuse to get a console that only runs games from a digital download service.

    I don't see the value in paying money for something that you do not physically own especially when games are priced similar to their physical copies.

  • Fodder #31 3 years ago

    "I don't see the value in paying money for something that you do not physically own especially when games are priced similar to their physical copies."

    Are they similar in price? Generally, from the games I've checked, they're far more expensive on PSN than buying the UMD. They're generally full retail price, whereas you can normally get the UMD for much less. I can't imagine why anybody would be willing to lock themselves to a single, overpriced retailer for their games.

  • TopKatt #32 3 years ago

    The above is my single biggest concern with digital downloads. I notice however that Amazon has started selling MP3 downloads to give iTunes some much needed competition, what are the chnaces of something similar happening with games? Could companies like Sony and Microsoft be forced to allow other outlets to offer digital downloads in the spirit of competition in the future?

  • Ryze #33 3 years ago

    '...the hard disk was loaded with...'

    o_0

    Regarding the PSN games - I believe that all retailers should be able to stock PSN game download codes. That way Play.com could offer games at their usual discounts, and could also make the codes availble instantly upon purchase.

    High street retailers should also be able to offer such codes in a similar fashion to mobile top-up cards, except with album artwork, screenshots and a blurb.

    @light&shadow

    The bluetooth should allow the functionality you stated, plus should also allow access to the PSN and Intranet via a mobile phone if they know what's good for them.

    What's missing now, is the ability to stay logged into PSN on the PSP, and recieve messages and game invites, as well as using voice and video chat on the move...
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/09 @ 22:16

  • skript #34 3 years ago

    ya and now that this new psp is coming out
    the old psp will drop price
    and im gana go out n buy like 3 and customize em how i want hah

  • Chufty #35 3 years ago

    I think it's almost certain that other retailers will be able to 'sell' PSN games at some point in the future. Sony aren't stupid, believe it or not; without the cheap games you can pick up from retailers, a hell of a lot less people are going to be interested in the console.

    I also think the EU will frown upon such a monopoly, so their hand may be forced sooner rather than later.