If you're into your PSP as much as we are here, you're probably already using it to browse the web with the Japanese firmware update that was released last week. But just in case you missed that, the official North American release will be live August 12th. A statement released by Sony recommends that North American consumers download the version "that has been fully tested and authorized for use with North American PSPs."
I couldn't get a comment from Sony about exactly how different the two updates are. However, downloading the Japanese firmware update will void your warranty, so it's probably best to wait until August 12 (or at least re-update then). We've tested out the Japanese update and it seems to perform very well; it doesn't support Flash, which is a bummer since that means the 1UP front page doesn't load, but it's fairly easy to use and it does have some cool features, like customizable wallpapers.
The updates can be downloaded through any WiFi 802.11b connection by using the "Network Update" function; alternatively you can use your PC and a USB 2.0 connection and grab it from http://us.playstation.com/psp. Some upcoming fall release titles will also bundle the web browser, but no word yet on which games.
