The year end brings no greater pleasure than the opportunity to thank all readers and members alike for your continued support. From the ATRACLife crew, warmest holiday wishes and the best of everything in the year ahead from us to you.
Sony Computer Entertainment released today a new PSP firmware version 3.03. The new firmware appears to be one of those incremental updates we have witness these past few week and it is especially useful for those with a PS3. Accordingly new improvement from this firmware includes: “The number of PLAYSTATION®Network titles that can be played under [Game] has increased.” As usual the new firmware update will be available for all other region shortly; via network update and manual download.
UPDATE NOW AVAILABLE:
PSP Firmware 3.03: Japanese | US | European | Chinese
Sony’s UMD movie format may have failed but that is not stopping Sony from launching a new video download service to bolster its PSP as a leading handheld entertainment device. According to Garrahan of Financial Times, Sony, which has sold more than 20m PSPs worldwide, expects to launch the new PSP video download service in the first quarter of 2007 after tying up deals with Amazon.com and online video providers (such as Movielink and CinemaNow).
Naturally, downloaded videos (via PC) will be transferred onto the PSP’s Memory Stick Pro Duo for video playback – a 4GB MS PRO Duo is capable of storing 10 feature films. In addition, the upcoming service will not require the launch of a new version of the PSP.
*full article after jump
The PSP™ Content Pack for the month of December is now available for download at SCEA. (click here) The pack includes:
PSP® Content
★ ATV Offroad Fury® Pro - Music Tracks (ESRB: E)
★ Battlezone - Wallpapers (ESRB: E10)
★ Dave Mirra BMX Challenge - Trailer (ESRB: E)
★ LocoRoco™ Christmas Demo (system software 3.02 or later is required)
★ LocoRoco™ Holiday - Music Track (ESRB: E)
★ NBA 07 - Music Tracks (ESRB: E)
★ PSP® TV Spot - Find Me Part 1
★ PSP® TV Spot - Find Me Part 2
★ SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 - Theme Music (ESRB: T)
★ SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 - Trailer (ESRB: T)
★ SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 - TV Spot (ESRB: T)
★ SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 - Wallpapers (ESRB: T)
★ Star Wars Lethal Alliance - Trailer (ESRB: T)
PlayStation®2 Content
★ SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault - Trailer (ESRB: T)
★ SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault - TV Spots (ESRB: T)
The PSP™ Content Pack is a free download that features preselected content, optimized for your PSP system. We will provide the Content for you each month. All you need to do is connect your PSP to your PC, download the pack, then just sit back and relax while everything is transferred to your PSP system. Once the process is complete, your PSP system will be stocked full of the latest in PSP system optimized video clips and trailers, wallpapers, screenshots, audio clips, and game content, all for your viewing pleasure. Check back here each month for the newest edition of the PSP™ Content Pack.
Christmas is just around the corner and we are pleased to announce that a Christmas themed LocoRoco Demo (Japanese version for now) has been released for your gaming pleasure. As usual, the demo can be acquired accordingly within our download section of the forum. Note: A simple free forum registration is required to download the file - Register for free to participate in the #1 discussion board for ATRAC based device.
Instructions: Create a new folder - [NPJG90001] - within PSP>GAME and copy the LocoRoco Christmas Demo file (EBOOT.PBP, 7.71 MB) into the newly created folder accordingly. Note: The official demo will require the new PSP firmware version 3.02.
It has come to our attention that Sony and SanDisk will be collaborating once again in furthering the development of high capacity Memory Stick. Set to debut in 2007, the new generation Memory Stick will be known as the “Memory Stick PRO-HG” and will have a maximum capacity of 32GB!
“Memory Stick PRO-HG” media offers high performance to meet the stringent demands of end users. This new media format uses an enhanced, 8-bit parallel interface in addition to a conventional serial and 4-bit parallel interface. The interface clock frequency also increases to 60MHz from 40MHz. This means that maximum data transfer speed increases up to 480Mbps, or 60MB/s (theoretical value), three times as fast as that of “Memory Stick PRO” media. The minimum write speed at 8-bit parallel transfer is 120 Mbps, or 15MB/s (*in the case of optimized compliant host devices). These enhancements allow large data amounts of up to several gigabytes to be quickly transferred, as well as the real-time recording of high-resolution video and still images.
Since “Memory Stick PRO-HG” is an extended format of the “Memory Stick PRO” format, “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices support the conventional “Memory Stick PRO” media as well as “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media. In addition, the “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media can be used with conventional “Memory Stick PRO” compliant host devices as well as “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices (*when using “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media with “Memory Stick PRO” compliant host devices, “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media functions as “Memory Stick PRO”).
According to Sony Corporation’s press release, licensing for the development of “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices is scheduled to commence in January 2007 and actual Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media will be made available in 2007.
Major Specifications of Memory Stick PRO-HG
Dimensions: Duo size (31 × 20 × 1.6) mm
Connector Pin: 14-pin
Capacity: 32GB (format maximum) (*This data does not guarantee that Memory Stick PRO-HG 32 GB media will be introduced to the market. Memory Stick PRO-HG product lineup is not yet fixed. Memory Stick PRO-HG recording capacity, transfer speed etc. will depend on specifications of compliant host devices)
Max. Data Transfer Rate: 480 Mbps (theoretical)
Min. Write Speed
★ 120 Mbps (*in the case of optimized compliant host devices; as of 8-bit parallel transfer)
★ 40 Mbps (*in the case of optimized compliant host devices; as of 4-bit parallel transfer)
Operating Voltage: 2.7 to 3.6 V
Interface: 8-bit / 4-bit parallel I/F and Serial I/F
Max. Clock frequency: 60MHz (*8-bit parallel transfer specification)
Copyright Protection Technology: MagicGate
While the political debate continues over global warming, we would like to bring to your attention: Greenpeace’s Green Electronics Guide – which ranks the 14 top manufacturers mobile and PC manufacturers on their global policies and practice on eliminating harmful chemicals and on taking responsibility for their products once they are discarded by consumers.
News Source: Greenpeace’s “Electronics companies race to be greener.” (Special thanks to forum member, Stuge for bringing this piece of news to our attention.)
The public ranking has been successful in spurring many companies to improve, and the second edition, released today, shows good overall industry progress and some major individual improvements in rank.
“We are witnessing a global shift towards greener PCs, with Acer and Lenovo, two major producers, committing to eliminate the use of the most hazardous chemicals from their products range,” said Iza Kruszewska, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner, “Most companies now score above average points on the ranking guide, with only five companies failing to score even the average of five points.”
The ranking is important because the amounts of toxic e-waste is growing every day. It often ends up dumped in the developing world. Reducing the toxic chemicals in products reduces pollution from old products and makes recycling safer, easier and cheaper. Companies with good recycling schemes help ensure that their products don’t end up in the e-waste yards of Africa and Asia.
According to the guide, Sony pulled in 4.7 points on a scale of 10. Note: The guide is updated every 3 months. The current version was published on the 6 December 2006. To download: click here
Sony’s Ranking Explained
Despite having some models without the worst chemicals, Sony has yet to provide timelines for substituting toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) for key applications. Sony’s website makes no reference to the precautionary principle. Although Sony is part of the European Recycling Platform which supports Individual Producer Responsibility, Sony’s website provides no explicit support for worldwide Individual Producer Responsibility.
