On June 30th, the final version of the Fourth Blue Wave has been released as v5.08 on the main download sites for everyone to download. As late as July 3nd, v5.08 was marked as beta on the download sites.  This was apparently a mistake and 5.08 is now marked as an official non-beta release suitable for even the most timid of upgraders.

Grab it now!

Firmware 20080701171217203_YP-P2_Ver_5.08.zip (size : 15.6 MB 16,448,651 bytes)

According to http://www.yepp.co.kr/, the fourth BlueWave v5.05 is now in beta.  Since it is beta, there are no official links (unless you can read enough Korean to create an account on their website.)

I will track down alternate links and post them here shortly.

Is a succcessor to the YP-P2 already in planning?  The rumours have started on what is currently being called the YP-P3.

The third bluewave is out of beta and is now available for download on all the normal download sites. No longer will you have to use a beta firmware downloaded from disreputable third party - pop over to your normal download site and grab the official version 4.13, and while you are at it, grab v1.0 of the GUI update (it has extra skins!)

Firmware 20080423170520078_YP-P2_080418_V413.zip (size : 15951 KB)

GUI Update 20080423170520078_P2_GUI_080418.zip (size : 13830 KB)

Niallgadget has some of the best P2 reviews, and his review for the 3rd bluewave is no exception:

Ok, so plans have been laid out for the 4th bluewave.  It will apparently have the following features:

1. 2 new games you can play head to head using bluetooth
2. Subway maps for 24 cities
3. "Create and share UCI through SMS"
4. Custom DNSe presets
5. Voice Recording (FINALLY!!!)
6. Password protection of some sort

 I'm hoping that we can create our own subway maps for other cities.  Point 3 appears to mean that we will be able to create and share custom user interfaces through SMS (Samsung Media Studio - the software that Samsung provides, which sadly comes with DRM). 

Ok, a day after the beta for the 3rd Bluewave, originally described as "beyond imagination", has come out, I have developed a few opinions.

First what is new:  several new skins, a fullscreen music playback mode, a calculator, brightness and speed controls for video playback.

Apparently what they meant in the original release was "we can't imagine what we'll do for 3 yet...".  Nothing revolutionary here, it was definitely over sold and under delivered - somewhat frustrating.  If you ignore the fact that this release isn't a revolutionary change, it is definitely a SOLID progressive update. 

Ok, so I check my US & Canadian sites - no sign.  Hmm, they are so good, that just can't be. Time to check the Korean site. Ah, third blue wave - BETA.

Ok, great, a beta meets the delivery date - I can live with that. Except the site needs you to create an account and most of the content is graphical so you can't translate it (aaaarrg).

Details and screenshots : http://www.dapreview.net/news.php?item.4266.2

Check this article out for links: http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28046

Check this article out for rumours about the 4th bluewave : http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28042

I'll see what else I can track down!

Engadget reports that BestBuy Canada is now offering the 16gb YP-P2.

Something might be a little wonky tho, because if you scroll down the details list memory as 4gb not 16.  The price is right tho, so if this is legitimate, I have to think the third wave can't be far behind (but then, the end of March is almost here too)

I've been noticing a lot of 3rd blue wave related search traffic - everyone wants to know when.  Frankly, no one can answer that.  Samsung has been very good at keeping a cap on things, rumours are that even people inside the company are left in the dark.

However, we can look at Samsung's past behaviour.  They said they would release an update, and it was released on time - just barely - as in right down to the wire.  Since the third Blue Wave was announced for March, I am going to guess that we will not see anything until the very last day of the month (possibly not until the last hour in the time zone for Korea in fact!)

I think everyone is getting anxious just because we have no idea what is coming in this update (again, Samsung seems to be very good keeping its secrets).  Until then however, I will be checking for updates on a daily basis.