Sony sent out a media alert letting us know that the PSP will see firmware update v4.00 this week. I’m guessing today or tomorrow. What’s new in this firmware? You get a Google search bar in the XMB. Hells yeah!

Wait, what? That’s enough for you? How about the ability to speed up or slow down movies that you play from the memory stick? Totally awesome!

Seriously, Sony, wtf? You drop a milestone version number and just add a quick search bar and the ability to slow down movies? I honestly expected a lot more. Why not just call this v3.97? In software development, moving to a new major version (ie. from 3 to 4) indicates some major changes, but we don’t really see anything here. With version 4.00, I was expecting maybe integrated PSN friends lists and maybe even a PlayStation Store directly on the PSP. But no, we get to search for stuff with one less step. Hooray!

Here’s the full media alert:

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the next system software update for PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) will be available this week. PSP system will be upgraded to firmware 4.00, which adds the Google™ search engine directly to the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) user interface, making Web searches easier and more convenient on PSP.

The Google search engine will be accessible under the XMB’s “Network” category through a new “Internet Search” icon. The new feature will deliver the same Google search results as when searching on www.google.com. The functionality also has an input history recall of up to 20 items for more efficient browsing. Working with Google to offer its superior search technology demonstrates SCEA’s commitment to further enhance the mobile entertainment experience on PSP system.

How it works

·         Download and install the 4.00 firmware upgrade to the PSP system.

·         While on the XMB, click on Network, then Internet Search and input keywords; or while in the PSP Internet Browser, press the HOME button and begin a New Search. PSP system needs to be connected to the Internet (through a wireless access point or Wi-Fi hotspot)*.

Additional updates in the 4.00 system software update include the ability to change viewing speed during playback of videos stored on a Memory Stick PRO Duo™; this allows you to watch a video quickly, or slow it down to listen carefully to dialogue.

Further details and instructions on how to update the PSP system software are available at http://www.us.playstation.com/PSP/About/SystemUpdate. Please let me know if you have any questions.