Wondering just what sort of features the next official PSP firmware update will bless upon your handheld? Then read on in the full article as we catch wind of updated PSOne controller customization AND improved connectivity with your own Sony PlayStation 3 via this latest firmware update.

*Update*: It seems the new PSP firmware has been released early. We still haven't received official word from Sony about FW 3.95, so be sure to be cautious when you take a peek at this latest firmware.

Have you taken advantage of all the updates for the PlayStation 3's firmware 2.20 update yet? In case you missed anything, here's a new video from Sony's Eric Lempel to show you a demo of some of the new features. Check out the video in the full article.

Don't be too surprised if you happen to find out that your PS3 needs another firmware upgrade the next time you turn it on. In an interview with MTV Multiplayer, director of network operations for Sony Computer Entertainment America Eric Lempel, he talks about what's in store for the firmware updates for both PSP and PS3, and how they spread out the release of future updates in the coming year.

Read more about what he had to say right after the jump!

Eric Lempel, PlayStation Network Operations Director for Sony Computer Entertainment America, was recently interviewed by the MTV Multiplayer blog about the future of the PC-based PlayStation Store in relation to the PlayStation Portable.

Lempel said that the main reason for putting up the PlayStation Store is to deliver releases that are not necessarily in UMD form which includes games from small independent companies. More details after the jump!

Originally posted Sep 12, 2007 at 08:47PM

Well, just as its big brother's firmware update went live, the PSP's update wasn't far behind. Firmware 3.71 has just gone live in all regions so you might want to check it out.

We're still waiting for a changelog as most of you might be very interested as to what Sony has prepared for us. As PSN Operations Eric Lempel said in the PlayStation Blog the last time: "We are adding a new firmware update for PSP (3.71) as well, which adds many features that readers of this blog have requested."

While we scrounge around for those changes, better keep it here for more updates.

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Faster anybody can say, "firmware update", we've got changelog for PSP firmware 3.71. Some of the changes were actually carried over from the previous update so we have the new changes in bold:

• Revisions to strengthen security have been added
• The number of PLAYSTATION Network titles that can be played under [Game] has increased
• A correction has been made to the settings for some regions
• You can now set custom themes in [Theme Settings] under [Settings]
• Support has been added for assigning buttons in [Remote Play]
• A scene search feature has been added under [Video]
• Sequential playback is now supported under [Video]
• Simultaneous playback of content hunder [Music] and [Photo] is now supported
• A correction has been made to the settings for some regions

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*UPDATE* Oh-kay, so we were going about the internet and checking out the changes that came with the PlayStation Portable's latest firmware update, 3.71, and guess what we found? The Japanese changelog wasn't much help. Here's why:

• There is no modification in for the Japanese system software.

The changelog we posted earlier most probably sent a number of eyebrows into orbit. Will firmware 3.71 block out Pandora? We're sure a lot of you are curious about the "revisions to strengthen security" line and are a bit... well, curious. We'll be keeping a close eye on further developments so stay right where you are.

Playstation Network Operations Director Eric Lempel dropped by the official PlayStation Blog and informed all PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners that new firmware updates are coming their way. A part of Lempel's post read:

Taking into account customer feedback and some internal testing, we will be making available in the next few days a firmware update for the PS3 (1.93) that fixes the network disconnect issue that some of you have experienced as a result of downloading Firmware 1.92.

In addition, we are adding a new firmware update for PSP (3.71) as well, which adds many features that readers of this blog have requested.

It was only yesterday when the official FW 3.70 was found lurking over at the official PlayStation site for Japan. There was a changelog for our friends back there but North American users and the rest of the world are wondering what new things have been added to the new firmware.

Eric Lempel touched on the topic as well, and mentioned that the main thing that had been added is the ability to set themes on the handheld. He explained further:

• Once you have downloaded a theme, under settings, go to theme settings, select theme and then custom theme to choose the one you want to display.
• You can also now play music while viewing photos or a slideshow. First begin playing a track saved on your memory stick, press the HOME or SELECT button, then navigate to your photos under the Photo icon and begin viewing.
• We've added several other features including scene search for movies, and you'll be able to read about them in more depth on the usual update page once it goes live.

Check back here at QJ.NET to remain updated with the future firmware developments for the PS3 and PSP.