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PSP adds podcast support in new firmware (2.6)

After a few rounds of Sony simply updating the PSP firmware to thwart software developers, it’s a nice surprise to see a firmware update with some new functionality. Version 2.6 adds a rootkit RSS Channel feature which allows subscribing to RSS 2.0 feeds with audio enclosures. Interestingly enough, the RSS application does not allow reading RSS feeds (ie., the ‘descriptions’), nor caching the enclosures. However, it can stream podcast audio over the PSP’s wifi connection.

At first glance, adding direct podcast subscriptions is a nice feature; However, it doesn’t really add up for me. Using the wifi connection to fetch the audio payload is certainly unique (meaning that the iPod can’t do that, yet), but it may also be less useful. With an iPod, you can cache the audio and take it with you (ie., it’s portable.) But with the PSP’s approach, you need to be in range of an open wifi network. And if you’re going to limit the functionality by requiring a net connection, why not differentiate from the iPod and support streaming audio as well? Support for Shoutcast streams is actually one of the features I’m looking forward to with the Nokia 770.

For more on the firmware update, see:

• Playstation System Update (Official)
• PSP Update 2.6: Podcasting (RSS) and WMA Music Support! (russellbeattie.com)
• PSP Firmware v2.60 Released (MAKE blog)
• Get RSS on your PSP with new firmware (joystiq)
• PSP Firmware 2.6 supports RSS and WMA (Engadget)