I’m going to start breaking up my posts into different categories, so here goes:
The memory stick for my PSP came by the time I got home this weekend and after a lot of screwing around, I was able to get a shareware program to encode videos so the PSP can play them. It’s really cool. With 8 gig and 45 minute TV shows taking up about 100-200 MB in the PSP format, I can pack the PSP with a ton of MP3s, videos, and movies to keep me occupied when I go back to school. I’ve also got several games for it which I could play if I’ve ever got some downtime somewhere, but that rarely happens anymore.
Looking up all the stuff for the PSP encoding led me to discover something else: PSP homebrew. The first PSP firmware allows the execution of 3rd party programs. There are a ton of third party games and programs out there that seem pretty cool for a handheld system. The only problem is that I don’t have the initial firmware installed, so it appears as though I have to downgrade the firmware I’ve got. Since I haven’t upgraded the firmware in two years since I’ve had the PSP, there are a few “relatively easy” downgrade hacks available.
Some of the stuff about downgrading and altering the firmware seems really complex. There are hardware mods to the battery, memory stick, and even PSP motherboard to get an older firmware version working. There are several save game buffer overflow exploits that have been used to execute third party code to get the older firmware running. I can’t believe how people figure this stuff out. It really goes to show that experience is more valuable than just straight up education. I’ve nearly got a master’s degree in Computer Science at this point and there’s no way I would figure out some of the hacks that these PSP hackers/developers have come up with. I want to screw around with this some more to see if I can get a hacked firmware on my PSP so I can use some of these third party applications. There are even IM clients for the PSP that people have written. I may actually have to scour a local Gamestop for a few older PSP games that have the savegame buffer overflow hack though.
I still think the handheld instustry needs some improvement. There are so many gadgets out there that perform one specific task, but none that do everything. If you want GPS navigation, you have to get a handheld solely for that. If you want a phone, you’ve got to carry a cell phone. If you want games, carry a PSP or DS. If you want Internet, you can get limited functionality on a phone, or better functionality if you are lucky enough to have a Blackberry or iPhone. You can carry around an XM receiver if you want to listen to a good selection of radio stations or an mp3 player if you want to listen to your own music. All of these things could be condensed into one gadget that does everything. The iPhone comes close, but it doesn’t have GPS and it doesn’t allow any third party applications. Maybe Google’s Android idea will allow something big. If the PSP had a touchscreen and cell phone capability (a GPS addon is already available), it would kick some serious butt. The touchscreen would make web browsing much easier than the cursor. I’ve heard rumors of a PSP phone, so things are moving in the right direction.
Once my PhD funding starts this summer I may purchase my own cell phone plan (I’m still leeching off my parents at this point). I’d like to get one with unlimited data and a cool handheld. Maybe by that point there will be an improved iPhone or something that uses Android or even that PSP phone.
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