While most gamers were content to spend their first few hours of time with the PSP gaming, one crafty person going by the handle 'roto' figured out a way to unlock the web browser present in Wipeout Pure's downloadable content area.
Info
It was recently reported that Wipeout Pure would take advantage of the PSP's WiFi capabilities to give gamers 1-2 new race tracks and other downloadable content each month. With a bit of packet sniffing and a bit of networking know-how, one keen user figured out a way to load webpages using this downloadable content access area, which it turns out is basically a HTML/JS capable web browser. Roto's account of how he went about it follows:
First-hand account and general method
roto said: "As far as I can figure out, its NOT part of the firmware...But this can be made into a general purpose browser if you create a portal-like site to jumps to links. When you select "Go to home page" it returns you to the portal site (index.html). So thats an easy way out.
Yes you can use input (we googled stuff), when you enter a textbox and press X the PSP pops up the Keyboard API (remember there's alot of API to be taken advantage of with the PSP). After that its as simple as any other input on the PSP.
The way I loaded up my own "page" is by setting up my FreeBSD machine with some DNS entries that point ingame.scea.com and webcluster.scea.com and all NS's for scea.com to my internal LAN machine. So then I changed the PSP's NameServer settings to point to the server on my local LAN (FreeBSD machine). When the Wipeout client accesses link it gets my LOCAL file because of the DNS mapping.
It's all pretty simple after that. I made a static page with a bunch of spring-board (or portal-like I guess) links to access from the PSP.
Browsing is simple enough, up and down to move from link to link. D-Pad only though. Also there is no cursor anywhere, and no title-bars. If there is no link in the nearest vicinity, the PSP just scrolls the page (awesome). Entering links is X, refresh page is []. Again entering text into boxes pops up the API.
JavaScript works (Again API for Alert boxes, NEAT feature), Java is yet to be tested. Frames don't work. Large pictures are to be tested too. Uhm I think thats it for now. Most of HTML works (no H1's and stuff). Background colors and pics etc work fine. I know I'm forgetting something so if you have questions, please ask."
It will be interesting to see how Sony and Wipeout Pure developer, SCEE, respond to this finding. While it's doubtful that this would spur Sony to release the web browser earlier than planned, it certainly brings the reality much closer when someone from the public has managed to figure out a way to do it. If SCEE doesn't close this access off in some way, it's bound to be a matter of time before others are web-browsing on their PSP's.
Photos
Credits
Slashdot on PSP web browser
More self-congrats
Video
This video shows the PSP / Wipeout Pure's web-browser in action. Although heavy on the self-congratulatory introductions and shoddy camera-work, it does actually show the user moving around the page and focusing on links.
Since the other thread was closed off - just a note to captain. The second link I posted was not a copy of this link. It was a link to a person who had done it around the same time, but with _complete_ instructions and what tools to use, as well as being on Windows based rather than FreeBSD (thats what roto used). I firgured that a link with complete instructions might be useful to people? Here it is again, if you want link
To get all that stuff to work you need Apache (or webserver), FreeProxy and a basic knowledge of networking. I know all those things to get it setup but it's easier to just go here link and get that to work for you.
The only problem is that when I click on a link (using the x button) my psp pops up my "which connection do you want to use?" dialog. It works for others so it could be just me. I have two connections so erasing one might fix it.
What I'd like to know is if we can connect to the psp and view it's content using the psp's dynamic IP address. When you connect to a network dynamically for the first time, like connecting you computer to the internet, you get a IP given to your computer (or network card) so that other computers can talk to your computer. If you have instant messanger program on your computer certain messages are sent to it using the IP address and port numbers. So what I would like to find out is if the correct combination of information to connect directly to the psp by simply entering it's IP in the web browser.
This is the realdeal guys, i just tried it out and i must say im pretty impressed, although im sure sony will comeout with something eventually this is good to have in the meanwhile.
all you have to do is set up another connection ( i call mine web browser)
scan for your network.
set it up for manual input of parameters
input your ip, router address. everything the the sames as normal, except for the primary DNS put 67.171.70.72
save.
start up wipeout, go to downloads, and when it prompts you for your connection, choose your newly created connection.
it will automatically go to the portal. and now, you can surf the internet! he even added a new URL address so you can place your own address that you want to surf.
the wipeout music plays the whole time, and it is slow. but it's kinda neat, and shows us what's coming for our PSPs!
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how to bring up the keyboard though??