Based on a tip we picked up from Thomas k., it looks like the PSP Slim's hot-selling 1seg TV tuner attachment has been hacked to work on the PSP Phat. According to Thomas, he uncovered this possibility by way of a video demonstration and of a tutorial found on the web. We'll be posting the video first to give you an idea of how the hack looks:

Thomas was also kind enough to explain part of the tutorial, which was originally written in Japanese:

The tutorial says that we have to get the mentioned files from a dump of the firmware update (since in the phat PSP they are not installed) and throw in the flash0 memory. And the last file vshmain.prx should be hex edited to hack the "Network Update" icon on the XMB to activate the 1seg tunner.

While Thomas was unable to fully confirm the hack for himself (No tuner or air signals in Brazil), he stated that a fellow Brazilian living in Japan reports that the hack works, although the Phat has poorer reception than the Slim.

Our tipster further noted that he has also translated the Japanese 1seg hack tutorial into Brazilian Portuguese and posted it at the Brazilian Orkut community site. Those interested in checking out Thomas' full tutorial instructions can visit the site via the Read link provided below.

With the help of Crisis Core's immense success, Sony's PSP-2000 (or PSP Slim) enjoyed an astounding 130,000 sales count on its first day in Japan. This is aside from the purchased 65,000 units of Square Enix's limited edition Crisis Core PSPs, which were released a week before the PSP-2000's actual launch.

30 percent of those who bought the PSP-2000 also picked up the 1Seg tuner, which allows Japanese users to access the programs broadcasted through the 1Seg service.

Those living in the US and wishing to take advantage of the TV Tuner shouldn't keep their hopes up, and Sony's Phil Harrison explains why: because the service isn't supported in most parts of the US... yet. It's certainly a sunny day for Sony. More updates as they come!

In SCEE's press conference in Leipzig, new services for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable were announced: the Go!Video Download Service which will allow users to watch videos on their PSP and the PS3 will receive PlayTV, which would allow users to record TV programs. However, a follow up announcement from SCEA reveals that neither will be available in the U.S. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Executive VP Phil Harrison explains why.

Harrison explains that the services aren't available because the tech that makes the services possible for other areas aren't available in the U.S. yet. Terrestrial Television, which makes it possible for Japan's 1seg tuner to pick up TV signals on the PSP, is currently only available in San Diego which isn't enough for Sony to make a nationwide effort. This scratches off PlayTV for the PS3 in the U.S.

As for the Go!Video download service, there's no nationwide service in the U.S. that supports video downloads by subscription so there's no vehicle of delivery for Sony to offer the download service. PSP owners will have to stick with UMD movies while they wait for the service to become possible.

Although these aren't available for now though, Harrison explains that once the tech that supports the services are available in the U.S., Sony will be on it. As SCEA commented in its announcement: "We understand and respect the consumer interest in this type of service, and we will continue to explore downloadable content options for our territory."

The 1Seg TV Tuner for the PSP, voted as one of the features the Japanese wanted most for the PSP, is expected to launch on September 20 along with the PSP Slim.

The device, officially dubbed PSP-S310 and should allow PSP owners in Japan to hook their devices into the 1Seg TV broadcasts, will be available for about JPY 6,700 (US$ 57).  The 1Seg service is currently only available in Japan so the device was specifically made for the Japanese market.

A TV Tuner for the DS and Gameboy systems was also released for Japan last year using the same 1Seg tech.

New photos of the PSP's 1Seg Tuner have graced the Internet. The 1Seg Tuner is a device that can allow the PSP to view digital television broadcasts. It is attached through the USB port like the Go!Cam.

So from what can be discerned, the 1Seg Tuner will have its very own icon in the PSP XrossMediaBar and on entering the program, a menu displaying all the available channels will appear on the right. The full screen option is available, and (if it's safe for us to assume) can be brought up by the R button.

The Tuner will only work on the PSP Slim (or PSP 2000, but Slim sounds more familiar) and will launch in Japan late next month. More updates on this as they get fed into our own QJ tuners.

PSP users have really fallen in love with the Sony handheld's versatility. Since its launch, frequent system software updates have given the PSP an internet browser, Macromedia Flash capabilities, and even RSS support, not to mention the steadily growing PSP homebrew community.

What does the future have in store for the PSP? At the March PlayStation Business Briefing, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Ken Kutaragi announced plans for a camera attachment and GPS receiver, scheduled for release in Japan in September and October, respectively.

But get this: In a recent poll, Japanese Web site ITmedia asked its readers to vote on the new PSP features, both announced and otherwise, that they want the most. The least popular features, gaining 3 percent of the total votes each, were the camera attachment and support for electronic money. Another 14 percent of the votes went to the GPS receiver, which will enable the PSP to act as a portable navigation system and could be put to novel use in games as well.

What the respondents really wanted was 1seg support. 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video and data broadcasting service in Japan, so called because it uses one of the 13 segments allotted to terrestrial digital television broadcasting. The service officially began in April of this year.

It's easy to imagine why the respondents wanted 1seg. Right now, only a few cellphones in Japan have 1seg support, and since those things have small screens, it's not that easy to enjoy watching TV when you have to squint just so you can see what's going on. The PSP, on the other hand, has a 4.3" screen. Do the math.

Then again, if this feature were to be implemented, there's always the subscription costs to think about. For that, we'll have to wait and see how the 1seg tuner for the Nintendo DS fares. One is already in the works, and was announced alongside the Opera Web browser in February.

Let's hear your comments and opinions, people. What do YOU guys want for the PSP?