Sony JP warns non-Japanese PSP's to not update

[Christopher]

According to the PSP Japan firmware update site,

CAUTION: This update is only for customers who obtained PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) for Japan which model number is PSP-1000 or PSP-1000 K. Upon completion of preparing, we will announce update information for the other countries/areas customers via SCE Group Web Site or other channels . For these customers who obtained PSP® in the other countries/areas, please DO NOT update PSP® through this web site. There are no guarantee of proper operation of the other PSP®.

According to the third-party enthusiast site PSP-Vault, they say,

..after analysation of the past firmware update files (EBOOT.PBP) from all regions, and what did they come up with? The files are byte-for-byte IDENTICAL. The 1.51 firmware upgrade released in Japan is the EXACT same file as the one released in North America and South Korea. Same deal for 1.52.

Absolutely no incompatibility issues have been reported with North American users employing Japanese firmware v2. Do we take Sony with a grain of salt?

[Leon]

Hmm, the thing is, if anyone knows about products straying outside their intended territory, it's Sony. People like me in taiwan (for example) constantly pick Japanese models over ones officially brought in by Sony because there's a huge saving, and/or more variety. Sony knows this is going to happen. Whether they insist on their territorial definition for added profit, or if they get less headaches in support, I don't kow.

[number9]

Hmmm...that's a little scary.

I've had NO problems w/ the 2.0 update on a US bought PSP. Quite happy w/ the web browser.

Edit: From one of the above links:

consider that the entire firmware has a spotless English translation, including English licensing terms, which surely took a non-insignificant amount of time to come up with

I noticed this when I updated mine, as it even mentioned about not exporting outside the US...

I love my PSP, but man...sometimes Sony can be such a brat.

Edited July 29, 2005 by number9

[Christopher]

I love my PSP, but man...sometimes Sony can be such a brat.

←

I agree.

People like me in taiwan (for example) constantly pick Japanese models over ones officially brought in by Sony because there's a huge saving, and/or more variety.

←

Have you been able to access those artsy HD5's?

[D-EJ915]

Well kurisu, if you update it and it screws up Sony will probably charge you to fix it based on the fact that they told us not to update.

[Christopher]

I've had firmware v2 running most of the afternoon/night with no problems whatsoever. If this means that I must stick to Japanese firmware only (that's the only theory I haven't seen tackled yet), then so be it..if it's as easy to install as this one, then I don't really mind.

[number9]

Well kurisu, if you update it and it screws up Sony will probably charge you to fix it based on the fact that they told us not to update.

←

I'm had it since Wednesday, and it runs great! In rare cases w/ certain web pages w/ a lot of data, I get the "Out of memory" error, but it's not a crash (the page just stops loading), and reloading the page seems to fix it.

All of the menus during the install and post-install are in English. There's nothing to second guess...

[Christopher]

Looks like there is some differing reports as to exactly when the v2 firmware will hit North America. I'm going to put my coins on August 12th, as reported here:

http://www.extremenano.com/article/Sony+PS...2/157135_1.aspx

and here:

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/nid/1196/

..but oddly, this site notes that the update will go live on August 8th:

http://www.sony-psp-review.com/news/352

So, in conclusion, it's happening within that four day period.

UPDATE: Looks like it is indeed August 12th: http://psp.ign.com/articles/638/638147p1.html

[Ishiyoshi]

From my experience with Sony products, you can employ its firmware upgrade regardless regional designation. I am quite confident that you can patch your US PSP with North American firmware 2.0 over the Japanese equivalent this August 12.