Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today that the next system software update for PSP – Firmware version 4.00 – which will be available later this week, will add the Google search engine directly to the XrossMediaBar (XMB) user interface. This will make it considerably easier for PSP users to search the Web from their PSP.

The Google search engine will be accessible from the XMB's Network category, through a new Internet Search icon. It's just like searching from www.google.com while using the PSP, except that the Internet Search function will include an input history recall of up to 20 search items, making browsing more efficient (at least if you're searching for the same things quite often).

To get the Google search engine for PSP, all you need to do is update to Firmware version 4.00. Once the update is complete, you'll be able to access the Internet Search function from the XMB's Network category. Just remember that your PSP will actually need to be connected to the Internet for you to surf. Additional updates included with Firmware version 4.00 include the ability to change the viewing speed of videos stored on a Memory Stick PRO Duo card.

We recently received some new Fable 2 screenshots from Microsoft. Enjoy!