http://www.ps3news.com PS3 NEWS - PlayStation 3 News - PS3News - PS3News.com - PS3 Games - PS3 Hacks - PS3 Homebrew - PS3 Linux Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:48:24 CDT en http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/koller-psp-3000-battery-life-decreased-by-20-30-minutes/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/koller-psp-3000-battery-life-decreased-by-20-30-minutes/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:48:24 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/koller-psp-3000-battery-life-decreased-by-20-30-minutes/
Battery life will decrease by a small amount, it’s about 20 minutes maybe 30 minutes and that’s because there’s a larger power draw with the brighter screen.

Good news is, despite previous reports to the contrary, the PSP extended battery life pack is not being discontinued and will be available to consumers this holiday season, offering 8-10 hours of play time.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/will-the-psp-3000-defeat-homebrew/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/will-the-psp-3000-defeat-homebrew/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:59:27 CDT hunter316 PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/will-the-psp-3000-defeat-homebrew/
By some accounts, developers like Ready at Dawn and Capcom have lost more than 50% of their prospective revenues to software piracy. One estimate has software producers losing more than $4 million per week to piracy. In June, SCEE President David Reeves stated that "There is a piracy problem on the PSP. We know about it, we know how it’s done. It sometimes fuels the growth of hardware sales, but on balance we are not happy about it."

Clearly, defeating piracy is one of the biggest concerns facing designers at Sony. It appears that the company may be planning to take some drastic steps to deter homebrew on the device with the release of the new PSP-3000 model, but like always, the company remains very secretive about its plans.

The first clue that they have something up their sleeve is the fact that the company recently recalled the extended-life battery peripheral from stores, even though there were no signs that it was selling poorly. The reason for the cancellation is likely the fact that hackers had found a way to create a Pandora battery using an ordinary Sony battery like the one sold as an accessory. Pandora batteries allow hackers and pirates complete access to the PSP firmware, allowing them to override official protections against piracy.

While the PSP-3000 is confirmed to make a small number of great changes to the overall design of the handheld, we suspect that some of the biggest changes will be taking place under the hood, to fight homebrew hackers. The device will probably come equipped with a new battery pack and reboot system that renders the previous "Pandora" attack obsolete. It will also likely contain hardware changes intended to further dissuade reverse-engineering of the console. We suspect that when the PSP-3000 rolls out in October, it will come equipped with a brand new firmware (version 5.0?) containing some aggressive anti-piracy measures.

Will these changes be enough to permanently put a stop to piracy? Unfortunately, this is doubtful. Hackers have shown a great deal of enthusiasm for the device, using it to run gray-area code like emulators and chat clients, but also to pirate software. There is a vibrant and extremely skilled community of hackers poised to tear apart whatever hardware protections Sony decides to implement with the new device.

It is almost certainly a matter of time until a hacker like Dark Alex manages to penetrate the secrets of the new PSP-3000. Also, since any new firmware must be backwards-compatible with the PSP Slim and even the PSP-1000, Sony designers are limited in the kinds of protection that they can implement, at least on the software side.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-utopia-what-would-a-hacker-free-psp-be-like/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-utopia-what-would-a-hacker-free-psp-be-like/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:10:15 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-utopia-what-would-a-hacker-free-psp-be-like/
1) Better games
2) Direct PSN access on PSP XMB
3) Flash player upgrade
4) Partnership with Youtube
5) Music download service
6) Ability to purchase all games digitally
7) PSP arcade

To quote: What would a Hacker-Free PSP community be like? Sony has tried for the last 3 years to make the PSP Hack-free, but have failed because of those genius kids. Now there aren’t anymore hackers, Sony has rejoiced and are now looking into making the PSP much better. With hackers being gone Sony announces the following:

o Numerous Games- Socom FTB3, Killzone Liberations 2, Playstation HOME Portable.
o Direct PSN Access on PSP XMB- Sony announces Trophies and Playstation Store PSP.
o Flash Player Upgrade- Sony updates the PSP Flash Player to newest. Videos are not able to stream online.
o Partnership with YouTube.com- Sony and YouTube.com create a partnership where YouTube.com will create PSPYouTube which will be a PSP-exclusive Video and Photo Sharing feature on the PSP XMB via Infrastructure.
o Music Download Service- Sony creates a music download service where you can download numerous artist’s song from different genres for only $.99 for each song.
o All Games can be Digitally purchased, or in Stores- Sony finally announces they will give consumers the option to buy released games either over the PS Store or in Stores.
o PSP Arcade- The PS3 arcade games will all be playable on the PSP and can be downloaded from the Playstation Store via PSP XMB.

PSP Owners cheer and they all decide to use these services. Sony says they announced these services now because they were scared Hackers would hack each of these services and destroy them.

The Direct PSN Access on the PSP XMB introduces Trophies to the PSP and the Playstation store for the PSP. you can now directly download content from the store over infrastructure on your PSP. You are required to use credit card information or the PSN Gift cards.

Trophies will allow for PSP gamers to earn different achievements for their games. Game companies decide to release DLC over the PlayStation Store so the PSP Games have some lasting appeal.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-recovery-flasher-v1-30-update-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-recovery-flasher-v1-30-update-released/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:23:07 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-recovery-flasher-v1-30-update-released/
The most notable addition is the ability to backup flash content, regardless of the firmware installed, and use it for restoration purposes on the same PSP, or another PSP as long as it is the same model (i.e. a flash backup from a PSP Slim cannot be used on a Phat unit).

Download: PSP Recovery Flasher v1.30

Changelog:

* changed the path where the Pandora RFLASH.ELF looks for the original EBOOT. It now looks for the EBOOT as RFLASH.DAT (simply rename it) and when not found it looks for /PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP

* added detection of TimeMachine and disabled backup/restore functions on there, since they don’t work propperly on TM. Complete firmware restore (see below) DOES work fine and is still enabled on TM.

* added "slots" for the backup functions. With those you can have multiple independant sets of backups on your stick and use them directely without needing to rename folders. If you DO rename the seperate backup slot folders, their new names will correctly show up in the Flasher - so you can give them descriptive names that tell you whats in there.

* extended the functionality of the backup/restore options. You can now restore a complete firmware (flash0) regardless of what’s currently installed.

The flash0 files’ signcheck is removed during backup and recreated on restore, so you can even move and flash the backed up firmware on another PSP (as long as it is the same model, i.e. no Fat FW on a Slim and vice versa, model is checked to match before flashing to avoid bricks)!

This might also come in handy for people wanting to flash firmware not nativly supported by Recovery Flasher, like 3.60-M33, which never can be supported since there’s no updater for it to extract it from, but with the right backup you can install it anyway.

Also note that for restoring a complete FW you also need the target FWs official updater to be on the memstick (RECOVERY folder or memstick root) as some updater modules are required for initializing the flash! (for 3.60 use the 3.52 updater.)]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/sony-partners-with-fon-for-free-psp-wifi-access-in-japan-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/sony-partners-with-fon-for-free-psp-wifi-access-in-japan-1/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:03:07 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/sony-partners-with-fon-for-free-psp-wifi-access-in-japan-1/
In addition to free Internet access, users will be able to download PSP content such as game demos, XMB themes and wallpaper images through the service.

In celebration of the announcement, a theme for Square Enix’s PSP brawler Dissidia: Final Fantasy will be available to all FON-connected users.

There’s been no word on if Sony plans to extend the PSPxFON service over to the U.S. and Europe at a later date.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-2001-vs-psp-3000-the-comparison-1/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-2001-vs-psp-3000-the-comparison-1/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:17:05 CDT takavach PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-2001-vs-psp-3000-the-comparison-1/
And that's all we need really, isn't it? The feature list for the new version is a little thin.

The below left photo I believe shows the screens anti-glare ability... Yup, the 3000 is the less glary. On the right is the update that will make sure you take the correct one out with you, the expansion and chroming of the ring on the back.

Finally, under them is the case makeover you were waiting for...]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/gc-08-psp-3000-available-bundled-with-software-in-europe-only/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/gc-08-psp-3000-available-bundled-with-software-in-europe-only/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:46:16 CDT Starlight PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/gc-08-psp-3000-available-bundled-with-software-in-europe-only/
Speaking to SCEE President David Reeves broke the news that those of you looking to pick one up at launch will be forced to buy some software with it.

"We’re going to introduce PSP-3000 in October, and this will be sold initially as part of a bundle, with a piece of software. During this period, PSP-2000 will remain as the base PSP model."

SCEE confirmed that the PSP 3000 will only be available to purchase in Europe in a bundle packaged with either FIFA 09, Buzz! Master Quiz or Harry Potter. Part of us wonders whether the bundle will be used to justify the 30 Euro price-hike over the existing model.

PSP 3000 was announced at GC yesterday sporting an improved screen and in-built microphone. The console goes on sale across Europe on October 15th for 199 Euros.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-announced-official-press-release-provides-many-details/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-announced-official-press-release-provides-many-details/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:53:25 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-announced-official-press-release-provides-many-details/
As expected, the new model is a hardware refresh, adding a built-in microphone, as well as an enhanced LCD screen with significantly less glare and more vibrant colors. Cosmetically, the PSP-3000 sports slightly smoother curves compared to the design of the current Slim & Lite revision.

It’ll ship in eight separate hardware bundle packages in Europe, with each priced at 199€.

For those of us outside of Europe, SCEA has confirmed that the PSP-3000 will be sold initially in North America through the previously announced Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack on October 14, as well as a new 4GB Entertainment Pack due out in November.

Both packs will cost $199.99. A standalone pack with the updated model, still priced at $169.99, will be available "later this year."

Press Release: Hitting the PAL Market in October 2008

Leipzig Games Convention, August 2008 - Sony Computer Entertainment IEurope. (SCEE) today announced that it would launch a new PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system (PSP-3000) with an advanced LCD screen supporting higher image quality, to become available in stores in Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand from 15th October 2008. PSP-3000 will be available as a bundle, including one software title for a RRP of €199.

SCEE will offer a variety of bundles that take advantage of the new PSP features, including a Go! communications bundle, and a variety of games bundles including our own Buzz!™: Master Quiz, as well as FIFA ‘09 and Harry Potter bundles from our third party partners.

In addition to offering the functionality and ergonomics of Slim & Lite the quality of the screen has been improved to offer crisper colours with more definition when outside in natural light. PSP-3000 also includes a built-in microphone, maximising the communication features of products such as Go! Messenger and Skype™.

PSP is gaining overwhelming support from a wide range of consumers all over the world through its exciting lineup of software titles as well as the introduction of colour variations and network services. Since the launch of the "Slim & Lite" PSP in September 2007, the expansion of the PSP platform has been further accelerated and more than 13.4 million units have been sold in the PAL territories.

SCEE will continue to expand the PSP platform and create a new world of entertainment with the new PSP, together with the strong lineup of forthcoming titles for the peak season.

PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) (PSP-3000) Product Overview

Product name

PSP®(PlayStation®Portable)

External dimensions

Approx. 169.4 x 18.6 x 71.4 mm / 6 ¾ x ¾ x 2 ¾ in (width × height × depth) (excludes largest projection)

Weight

Approx. 189g / 6.7 oz (including battery pack)

CPU

PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1-333MHz)

Main memory

64MB

Display

4.3 inches (16:9) full-transparent type, TFT drive,

480 x 272 pixel, Approximately 16,770,000 colours displayed

Sound

Built-in stereo speakers

Main input/ output

Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b)(Wi-Fi)

High Speed USB (USB2.０) (mini-B)

Memory Stick PRO Duo™

Analog Video Out

Microphone

Main connectors

DC In 5V connector

DC Out connector

video out/headset connector

USB connector

Memory Stick Duo™ slot

Key/ Switches

Directional buttons (up/down/right/left), analog stick,

Action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, square), L/R buttons

START button, SELECT button, PS button

POWER/HOLD switch, WLAN switch

display button, sound button, volume (+/-) buttons

Power sources

Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery pack

AC adaptor

USB power supply

Internal disc drive

Read-only UMD™ drive

Supported profile

PSP® (PlayStation® Portable)　Game

UMD™ Video

Access control

Region code, parental control

Wireless communications

Infrastructure mode

Ad hoc mode (connects up to 16 consoles)

Supplied accessories

AC adaptor

Battery pack (1200mAh)

Supported codec (in Memory Stick)

Video

l Memory Stick Video Format

à MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC LC)

à H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC LC)

l MP4 File Format

à MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC LC)

à H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile- CABAC only - (AAC LC) / Baseline Profile (AAC LC)

l AVI

à Motion JPEG (Linear PCM or μ-Lau)

Music

l Memory Stick Audio Format

à ATRAC3™

à ATRAC3plus™

à MP3

l MP3(MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer3)

l MP4(MPEG-4 AAC)

l WAVE(Linear PCM)

l WMA(Windows Media® Audio 9 Standard only) *4

Photo

l JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21compliant)

l TIFF

l BMP

l GIF

l PNG

*4 WMA Playback feature needs to be enabled.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fading-shadows-for-psp-ships-to-retailers/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fading-shadows-for-psp-ships-to-retailers/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:36:00 CDT Starlight PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fading-shadows-for-psp-ships-to-retailers/
Fading Shadows is a puzzle title where gamers control a rolling orb via a magical beam of light.

Official Release: Agetec, Inc. today announced that its newest PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system game, Fading Shadows, has shipped to retailers in North America. Fading Shadows is an invigorating puzzle game that has players guiding an orb out of the pits of hell and back to the Castle of Heaven.

Fading Shadows takes place in a mystical world consisting of two sides - the joyful side and the dark side. Aira and her brother Erwyn have lived their whole lives on the joyful side of the world. Everything changed when Master Gardal interrupted their peacefulness by capturing Erwyn. The reason behind the brutal capture revolves around an ancient prophecy declaring that if Gardal wants to breach the gates of the Castle of Heaven to overthrow it, he will have to sacrifice a pure and untainted soul - Erwyn’s.

While sitting in the dungeon and awaiting his execution, Aira seals her brother’s soul inside a single teardrop and transforms the teardrop into a protective orb. Now to save her brother, she must safely guide the orb back to the Castle of Heaven using a magical beam of light.

Players in Fading Shadows are tasked with taking control of the magical beam of light that the orb is attracted to and follows. While guiding the orb, players will have to avoid various obstacles and traps laid out by Gardal and his minions.

Fading Shadows is now available at the MSRP of $29.99.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-despertar-del-cementerio-v7-idstorage-regeneration-out/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-despertar-del-cementerio-v7-idstorage-regeneration-out/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:15:40 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-despertar-del-cementerio-v7-idstorage-regeneration-out/
Apart from this major addition in functionality, a format flash function has been added to the DC7 menu. As with previous releases, the unbricker can be used in conjunction with a Pandora battery to restore and install custom firmware 4.01 M33-2 on the PSP. Note that newer PSP models housing a TA-088 v3 motherboard are still unsupported.

Download: PSP Despertar del Cementerio v7

If you already have a previous version of DC installed on your memory stick it is only necessary to copy the DC7 folder to PSP/GAME and launch the application from within the Game menu.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/sony-making-umd-psp-movies-cheaper/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/sony-making-umd-psp-movies-cheaper/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:25:49 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/sony-making-umd-psp-movies-cheaper/
This will see many new releases hit the market for a maximum of $15.

To quote: "We want to provide a legal offering from the studios, ... and it’s an easier conversation to have with them now," said John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

"There’s a lot of positive momentum with the PSP."

To make sure consumers buy UMDs this go around, Sony is shaving new release list prices to $9.99 to $14.99. That is $10 to $25 less than UMD initial pricing a few years ago.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fuse-psp-sinclair-spectrum-emulator-v0-9-0-26-out-now/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fuse-psp-sinclair-spectrum-emulator-v0-9-0-26-out-now/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:22:23 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fuse-psp-sinclair-spectrum-emulator-v0-9-0-26-out-now/
For those not aware, the Sinclair Spectrum was released in the UK in 1982 and become one of the most popular computer systems at the time. It's an 8-bit computer that runs on Sinclair BASIC which was a deviation of the BASIC programming language. As always, the changelog is detailed below.

Download: FUSE PSP Sinclair Spectrum Emulator v0.9.0.26

Version 0.9.0.26 Changelog:

- A Spectrum joystick button/keyboard key can now be assigned to multiple PSP buttons
- Sticky key status will now be correctly reset when the virtual keyboard is toggled on/off]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-confirmed-legitimate-fcc-filing-surfaces/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-confirmed-legitimate-fcc-filing-surfaces/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:26:16 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-3000-confirmed-legitimate-fcc-filing-surfaces/
The new PSP-3001 model (03g PSP) has been submitted to the FCC (linked above) for testing, which means the new PSP-300x model is likely to hit retail shelves soon. Though there have been plenty of clues thus far, from unused NIDs referencing new hardware devices, a reference to a "03g" model in the IPL, that "3000″ graphic on the official Sony site, and most recently, the alleged pics of a prototype.

Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the official announcement and the official list of changes. Hopefully some of the rumors that have been floating around turn out to be true (the hard disk drive comes to mind).

With the new PSP-2000 TA-088v3 model that is out now that is completely Pandora-proof, you can bet the PSP-3000 will also be completely Pandora-proof... time will tell for sure!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/recovery-flasher-v1-20-for-psp-out-now/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/recovery-flasher-v1-20-for-psp-out-now/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:51:56 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/recovery-flasher-v1-20-for-psp-out-now/
Download: Recovery Flasher v1.20 for PSP

Version 1.20 is a fairly minor release, adding a low battery indicator and a simple file browser that allows users to boot homebrew applications located in PSP/GAME from within the recovery menu. Additionally, when re-installing M33 firmware, the version string contained in the update EBOOT used is now checked for safety precautions.

Changelog:

* can now install 4.01-M33-2 as well
* installs 3.71-M33-4 now instead of plain 3.71-M33
* comes now with an additional .ELF binary to be used from a Pandora stick (up to DDCv5, on v6 you can use the EBOOT version)
* added a simlple filebrowser like thing for launching additional apps from /PSP/GAME
* added option to override "battery low" warning
* added version check of the updater .PBP used for FW extraction]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/pandora-installer-for-psp-3-x4-x-kernel-revision-4a-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/pandora-installer-for-psp-3-x4-x-kernel-revision-4a-released/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:51:44 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/pandora-installer-for-psp-3-x4-x-kernel-revision-4a-released/
Download: Pandora Installer for PSP 3.x/4.x Kernel Revision 4a

Featuring all the enhancements present in the previous release, revision 4a adds support for installing Despertar Del Cementerio v6, the latest release of Dark_AleX’s "Universal Unbricker" application, in a one-click fashion.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-2-plug-in-for-psp-custom-firmware-out/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-2-plug-in-for-psp-custom-firmware-out/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:51:27 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-2-plug-in-for-psp-custom-firmware-out/
Download: Cross Extended v1.2 Plug-In for PSP Custom Firmware

Version 1.2 features a reboot and shutdown function, as well as a slightly revamped user interface and configurable shortcut keys that can be modified by editing the included ce_config text file.

Changelog:

* Motherboard identification up to TA-088v1 Slim.
* Added TA-079v1 1g (Tachyon = 0×00140000, Baryon = 0×00020600).
* Added reboot & shutdown function.
* Configurable global buttons from "ce_config.txt".
* Revised user-interface.
* Revised control callback function (for control input issue in TA-079 & TA-088 ).]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/man-inexplicably-brings-touchscreen-to-the-psp/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/man-inexplicably-brings-touchscreen-to-the-psp/ Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:23:25 CDT takavach PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/man-inexplicably-brings-touchscreen-to-the-psp/
Think what you will of his aims, he certainly seems to have some hardware chops, as he's got a touchscreen up and running on the handheld.

So far he's just got a proof of concept keyboard, which works with a finger or a stylus, but the hope is to provide full touchscreen support for homebrew gaming.

eXNpe7NWaZw]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-1-custom-firmware-plug-in-for-psp-out/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-1-custom-firmware-plug-in-for-psp-out/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:42:50 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-1-custom-firmware-plug-in-for-psp-out/
In addition to a bug fix regarding Memory Stick cards with more than 4GB capacity, version 1.1 fixes a control issue that caused an incompatibility with certain homebrew applications - notably LightMP3 and PSPFiler.

Download: Cross Extended v1.1 Custom Firmware Plug-In for PSP

Changelog 1.1:

* Fixed strange control bug when used with other homebrew (notably PSPFiler, LightMP3)
making it completely available in games.

* Fixed the limitation for Memory Stick greater than 4Gb.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/universal-unbricker-despertar-del-cementerio-v6-for-psp-out/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/universal-unbricker-despertar-del-cementerio-v6-for-psp-out/ Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:19:38 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/universal-unbricker-despertar-del-cementerio-v6-for-psp-out/
As with previous releases, the unbricker can be used in conjunction with a Pandora battery to restore and install Custom Firmware on any PSP unit regardless of model or motherboard, excluding new TA-88 units.

Download: Universal Unbricker (Despertar del Cementerio) v6 for PSP

Featuring a fully redesigned graphical interface that mimics that of the XMB, version 6 installs Custom Firmware 4.01 M33-2.

Additionally, for testing purposes, users now have the option of booting the Firmware directly from memory stick.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-0-custom-firmware-plug-in-for-psp-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-0-custom-firmware-plug-in-for-psp-released/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:19:00 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/cross-extended-v1-0-custom-firmware-plug-in-for-psp-released/
As shown in the screen capture below, information covered includes the motherboard type, battery voltage, and installed plug-in modules.

Once installed, the plugin can be accessed while running a game or in the XMB. Additionally, it is possible to take a screenshot of the system information screen by pressing Note + R.

Download: Cross Extended v1.0 Custom Firmware Plug-In for PSP

Further details and installation instructions can be found in the included readme file.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fusa-custom-firmware-plug-in-build-47-for-psp-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fusa-custom-firmware-plug-in-build-47-for-psp-released/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:15:20 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fusa-custom-firmware-plug-in-build-47-for-psp-released/
Build 47 features configurable hotkeys, "SpeeDBooster" support for emulated PSone titles, and the ability to alter screen position. Additionally, a detailed readme file in PDF format has been included in this release.

Download: FuSa Custom Firmware Plug-In Build 47 for PSP

Changelog:

* New SpeeDBooster now compatible with all PSOne games
* New hotkey (DisableEnable plug-in)
* Configuration file
* Adjustable hotkeys
* Adjustable screen position
* No more "grab vram" option (use FuSa ScreenShot! instead of it)
* New docs (PDF)]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fullspeed-dreamcast-emulation-on-psp-possible-no-promises/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fullspeed-dreamcast-emulation-on-psp-possible-no-promises/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:38:13 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fullspeed-dreamcast-emulation-on-psp-possible-no-promises/
First off, he notes that due to RAM constraints, the PSP port of NullDC will be compatible with Slim units, which house 64MB RAM compared to 32MB on the previous hardware revision.

Furthermore, the author explicitly mentions that he is not making any promises concerning the speed of the emulator, only that he will attempt to get it running as fast as possible.

Certainly, we’re excited over the prospect of Dreamcast emulation on PSP, but as with the PSP version of StrmnNrmn’s N64 emulator Daedalus, don’t expect games to run at a playable speed any time soon.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/basilisk-ii-psp-v1-1-1-68k-macintosh-emulator-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/basilisk-ii-psp-v1-1-1-68k-macintosh-emulator-released/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:47:34 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/basilisk-ii-psp-v1-1-1-68k-macintosh-emulator-released/
Now at version 1.1.1, Basilisk II features a new and optimized underlying code-base, giving a six percent increase in emulation speed.

Additionally, 4.01 M33 compatible IR keyboard drivers are now pre-included and two new 16:9 video output modes have been added for LCD/HDTV owners.

Download: Basilisk II PSP v1.1.1

Changelog:

- newer code base
- IR keyboard files made relative and included
- IR keyboard verified working with 4.01 M33-2
- Program is slightly faster (about six percent)
- Added two 16: 9 video modes to the Mac side]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp2600-atari-2600-emulator-for-psp-v1-1-4-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp2600-atari-2600-emulator-for-psp-v1-1-4-released/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:13:02 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp2600-atari-2600-emulator-for-psp-v1-1-4-released/
Download: PSP2600 v1.1.4 for Custom Firmware / PSP2600 v1.1.4 for Firmware 1.5

Changelog:

* A thumbnail image is now displayed in the file requester
while selecting any file with the same name of a previously
saved game.
* In the emulator menu you can go directly to keyboard and settings
menu using the L-Trigger key.
* Fix IR keyboard issue with firmware >= 3.80 for Fat PSP]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/videos-psp-touch-screen-support-dreamcast-emulator-for-psp/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/videos-psp-touch-screen-support-dreamcast-emulator-for-psp/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:53:17 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/videos-psp-touch-screen-support-dreamcast-emulator-for-psp/
In related PSP homebrew news, drkIIRaziel has unveiled a new DreamCast Emulator for PSP in the works.

However don't go expecting too many miracles of emulation perfection from this he states... both videos are available below via YouTube.

Enjoy!

1s4X61PYMKU

EvloAQbRZZk]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fusa-screenshot-plug-in-released-for-psp/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fusa-screenshot-plug-in-released-for-psp/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:26:51 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/fusa-screenshot-plug-in-released-for-psp/
Download: FuSa Screenshot Plug-In for PSP

To quote: As you know there will be no more option "grab vram" in b47 and futher updates.

This PRX will be useful if you wanna take a screenshot of "real screen".

So you can use it with FuSa instead of grabvram+RVV.

UPDATED:

-You can also assign your own button or buttons combo with help of ConfiguratoR (Win32 version included in this package)
-Picture will be saved in the "PICTURE" folder]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp7800-atari-7800-emulator-for-psp-v1-1-3-out-now/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp7800-atari-7800-emulator-for-psp-v1-1-3-out-now/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:50:59 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp7800-atari-7800-emulator-for-psp-v1-1-3-out-now/
Version 1.1.3 features a number of tweaks and bug fixes, including improved audio processing and support for displaying thumbnails of ROM images in the file browser.

Download: PSP7800 v1.1.3 for Custom Firmware / PSP7800 v1.1.3 for Firmware 1.5

What’s new in version 1.1.3:

* Sound improvement, new prosystem.dat file & NTSC Palette fix by Carpy (aka Danno)
* A thumbnail image is now displayed in the file requester
while selecting any file with the same name of a previously
saved game.
It might be very helpful to recognize that game later if you
have thousand different games in your rom folder !
* Auto-fire uses now the key mapped as Cross button instead of FIRE1
(games such as Xevious use FIRE2 for fire so it is better this way)
* In the emulator menu you can go directly to keyboard and settings
menu using the L-Trigger key.
* Fix IR keyboard issue with fw >= 3.80 for FAT PSP
* Fix random black screen issue
* Bug fix in the low battery watchdog]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-filer-v5-4-update-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-filer-v5-4-update-released/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:47:12 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-filer-v5-4-update-released/
In addition to numerous bug fixes, version 5.4 adds the ability to jump to the edge of any picture through the built-in photo viewer by pressing START along with any button on the d-pad.

Download: PSP Filer v5.4 [Right-click, Save As]

Changelog:

picture viewer:
* fixed a bug that Filer was crashed when reading picture in background at low memory.
* made scroll speed faster whie reading picture in background.
* added a feature to jump to the edge of the picture by pressing START with left, right, up and down.
* enabled to move next/previous picture while reading picture in foreground.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/rumor-psp-3000-in-production-first-alleged-photos-surface/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/rumor-psp-3000-in-production-first-alleged-photos-surface/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:56:46 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/rumor-psp-3000-in-production-first-alleged-photos-surface/ PSPChina, the long-rumored PSP-3000 in is production and will include a built-in mic, along with minor cosmetic changes.

To substantiate their claims, one of the forum goers supplied a photo of the unit, which depicts a new button with the PS brand logo next to the two volume push buttons, in replace of the HOME button found on the PSP-1000 and 2000 series. To the right of the volume buttons is the microphone.

Keep in mind these photos are not confirmed to be the real deal and that they should be considered rumor for now. We'll be following up with Sony to learn more about its PSP plans and get comment on the authenticity of the photos.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/basilisk-ii-mac-os-emulator-v1-1-0-for-psp-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/basilisk-ii-mac-os-emulator-v1-1-0-for-psp-released/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:14:28 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/basilisk-ii-mac-os-emulator-v1-1-0-for-psp-released/
In addition to 44kHz audio support, this version of Basilisk for PSP supports on-the-fly change of desktop colors and resolution, as well as support for mounting the PSP’s memory stick as a media device. Other features include support for the extra RAM on slim units and the ability to use TV-out.

Download: Basilisk II MAC OS Emulator v1.1.0 for PSP / Basilisk II MAC OS Emulator v1.1.0 for PSP (with Guide)

Changelog:

* Emulates a Mac II series machine running OS 7.0.1 through 8.1, depending on the ROM used.
* Uses UAE CPU emulation, with new SoftFloat FPU emulation for better compatibility.
* The PSP memstick can be mounted on the Mac desktop (requires File Manager 1.2).
* Supports on-the-fly change of colors and resolution (requires Display Manager).
* Has stereo, 16-bit, 44kHz audio (requires Sound Manager 3.0).
* Supports emulated floppy and CDROM with removable media (no CD audio yet).
* Supports up to four hardfiles for use as fixed drives.
* UDP tunnel for AppleTalk networking across WIFI (no general networking yet).
* Emulates a Mac Extended ADB keyboard and mouse. Buttons can be remapped on-the-fly, and popular IR keyboards are supported on the Phat PSP.
* Supports extra memory and TV out on the Slim PSP.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/picodrive-v1-51-genesis-sega-cd-emulator-for-psp-out/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/picodrive-v1-51-genesis-sega-cd-emulator-for-psp-out/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:29:40 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/picodrive-v1-51-genesis-sega-cd-emulator-for-psp-out/
In addition to several minor tweaks and fixes, version 1.51 adds the ability to configure ABC turbo actions. The full changelog can be found below.

Download: PicoDrive v1.51 for Custom Firmware / PicoDrive v1.51 for Firmware 1.50

Changelog:

* Improved bin_to_cso_mp3 tool, it should no longer complain about missing lame.exe even if it’s in working dir.
* Fixed a regression from 1.50, which caused slowdowns in Final Fight.
* Fixed some regressions from 1.50 related to sprite limit and palette handling (caused graphical glitches in some games).
* Added ABC turbo actions to key config.
* Some other minor adjustments.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/tretton-sony-considering-psp-with-hard-drive/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/tretton-sony-considering-psp-with-hard-drive/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:39:54 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/tretton-sony-considering-psp-with-hard-drive/
To quote: Sony has thought about and continues to play around with the idea of building a PlayStation Portable with a built in hard drive or internal memory, Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, said this morning at a gather of game writers.

"I think we definitely thought about it," he said. "I think that's the trend moving forward."

With the recently announced ability to purchase movies on a PlayStation 3 and move them over to a PlayStation Portable, and as the cost of memory continues to drop, the chance that a new PlayStation Portable would include some sort of internal storage option is becoming increasingly likely, Tretton said.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/autostart-prx-v4-plug-in-for-m33-cfw-for-psp-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/autostart-prx-v4-plug-in-for-m33-cfw-for-psp-released/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:19:22 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/autostart-prx-v4-plug-in-for-m33-cfw-for-psp-released/
Now at version 4, users can bypass the autoboot system by leaving WLAN switch on while booting. Other notable changes include support for autoexecuting PSone games at startup and a redesigned configuration interface. As always, the full changelog is available below.

Download: AutoStart PRX v4 Plug-In for M33 CFW for PSP

Changelog:

* You can now bypass the autoboot by putting the WLAN switch up.
* You can launch PSX games now too.
* Rewrote the configurator and the configuration file parser. Configurator looks better and is more user friendly. (Thanks to Mc Cabe for * the background)
PRX size decreased thanks to recoding and psp-packer.
* No need to enable the prx for game.txt now.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/usb-version-fake-m33-cfw-plug-in-for-psp-released/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/usb-version-fake-m33-cfw-plug-in-for-psp-released/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:58:48 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/usb-version-fake-m33-cfw-plug-in-for-psp-released/
Compatible with 4.01 M33, the plug-in allows users to fake or "spoof" their PSP’s version number for PlayStation 3 connectivity.

Rather useful since the PS3 often times checks to make sure you are running the latest official PSP Firmware, which of course can be a problem if you’re running custom Firmware.

Download: USB Version Fake M33 CFW Plug-In for PSP]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-filer-update-v5-3-now-available/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-filer-update-v5-3-now-available/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:28:57 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-filer-update-v5-3-now-available/
Version 5.3 features a number of enhancements made to the built-in photo viewer, as well as the ability to use a separate background image in BMP, JPG, or PNG format for each specific mode. As usual, the full changelog can be viewed below.

Download: PSP Filer v5.3

Changelog:

General:
* putting filer/text/binary [.bmp/.jpg/.png] in the same folder of Filer, Filer changes background as mode changes.

Picture viewer:
* image loading will be done in a separated thread.
* reduced a bug that audio playback was stopped while reading a piture.
* added a feature to read next picture in background. (maximum 7 pictures)]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-firmware-update-v4-05-is-now-available/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-firmware-update-v4-05-is-now-available/ Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:45:28 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-firmware-update-v4-05-is-now-available/ expected, PSP Firmware Update v4.05 is now available for download via Network Update or linked below.

Once again, to quote Eric Lempel via PlayStation Blog:

"I wanted to give a quick heads up to everyone that a new PSP firmware update, v4.05, will be released soon. We know that more and more of you are listening to music on your PSP, and this update will add new visualizers for music playback, among other features. Enjoy!"

Download: PSP Firmware Update 4.05 (US) / PSP Firmware Update 4.05 (EU)]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-official-firmware-v4-05-update-is-coming-soon/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-official-firmware-v4-05-update-is-coming-soon/ Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:31:57 CDT wicked insanity PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-official-firmware-v4-05-update-is-coming-soon/
"I wanted to give a quick heads up to everyone that a new PSP firmware update, v4.05, will be released soon. We know that more and more of you are listening to music on your PSP, and this update will add new visualizers for music playback, among other features. Enjoy!"

These music player visualisations sound like good fun, not too sure what he means by 'among other features' though perhaps some more PS3 PSP connectivity or access to the Playstation Store, or just the usual routine extra security/stability issues.

Hopefully the guys at M33 will be able to work their magic soon with this latest firmware update upon its release.]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/picodrive-v1-50-genesis-sega-cd-emulator-for-psp-out/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/picodrive-v1-50-genesis-sega-cd-emulator-for-psp-out/ Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:14:05 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/picodrive-v1-50-genesis-sega-cd-emulator-for-psp-out/
In addition to the usual round of bug fixes, version 1.50 features several enhancements, including support for Sega Pico titles, as well as improved sprite rendering and optimized load times on the Sega CD end.

Download: PicoDrive v1.50 for PSP Custom Firmware / PicoDrive v1.50 for PSP Firmware 1.50

Changelog:

* Added some basic support for Sega Pico, a MegaDrive-based toy.
* Added proper support for cue/bin images, including cdda playback.
.cue sheets with iso/cso/mp3/wav files listed in them are now supported too (but 44kHz restriction still applies).
* Added bin_to_cso_mp3 tool, based on Exophase’s bin_to_iso_ogg. The tool can convert .cue/.bin Sega CD images to .cso/.mp3.
* Greatly improved Sega CD load times.
* Changed how scheduling between 68k and z80 is handled. Improves performance for some games. Credits to Lordus for the idea.
* YM2612 state was not 100% saved, this should be better now.
* Improved renderer performance for shadow/hilight mode.
* Added a hack for YM2612 frequency overflow issue (bleep noises in Shaq Fu, Spider-Man - The Animated Series (intro music), etc.). Credits to Nemesis @ spritesmind forum. Works only if sound rate is set to 44kHz.
* Implemented some sprite rendering improvements, as suggested by Exophase. Games with lots of sprites now perform better.
* Added better idle loop detection, based on Lordus’ idea again.
* "accurate timing" option removed, as disabling it no longer improves performance.
* "accurate sprites" was removed too, the new sprite code can properly handle sprite priorities in all cases.
* Timers adjusted again.
* Improved .smd detection code.
* Minor general optimizations and menu improvements.
* Fixed a bug in Sega CD savestate loader, where the game would sometimes crash after load.
* Fixed a crash of games using eeprom (introduced in 1.40b).
* Fixed suspend/resume (hopefully for real).]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-owners-sandisk-4gb-memory-stick-pro-duo-for-30/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-owners-sandisk-4gb-memory-stick-pro-duo-for-30/ Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:18:23 CDT PS3 News PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-owners-sandisk-4gb-memory-stick-pro-duo-for-30/
Complete with free shipping, online retailer Buy.com (linked above) is currently offering the stick at a very attractive price of $30 dollars, $50 off the standard list price.

There are no strings attached, aside from the fact that this offer is not an International one, as Buy.com only ships to addresses located within the continental United States.

We have seen Lexar branded cards for cheaper, but those often have issues with loading plug-ins with PSP Custom Firmware. That being said, those interested may want to grab one while they're still available!]]> http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-phone-specifications-unveiled/ http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-phone-specifications-unveiled/ Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:01:44 CDT Starlight PlayStation Portable http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStationPortable/psp-phone-specifications-unveiled/
Among the specifications listed include:

- 4.3" 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD display at 480 x 272 pixels and 16.77 million colors
- 2 megapixel camera
- Built-in web browser
- Built-in podcasting
- Flight mode
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Memory Stick Micro/microSD memory card slot
- Streaming audio/video
- Video calling
- Speakerphone
- Alarm clock, calculator, calendar, other PIM functions

It would be interesting to see whether such a device will be able to live up to the 5 hour game time claim. This could be possible if it doesn't use UMDs, but should Sony decide to make it backwards compatible with the media, game time will be severely shortened if you happen to turn on the cell phone functionality simultaneously.

How much are you willing to fork out for such a dream device?]]>