179w ago - Here is a little piece of news we skipped over when our PS3 Reference Tool arrived.

One of our resident PS3 DEV's CouRieR extracted the flash of a PS3 Slim (CECH-2000) European console with Firmware 2.75 a few months back by removing the chip, and dumping it with an external reader along the lines of the BeeProg.

The chip, a Samsung K8Q2815UQB, is a 128 Megabit flash chip. The dump, which weighs in at 16.0 MB (16,777,728 bytes), is quite similiar to that of a later model PS3 with the smaller flash.

Earlier generation Fat PS3's, those that sported dual 1 Gigabit flashes, had two copies of the PS3 firmware along with a full AES filesystem (for /dev_flash) on the flash.

The PS3 Slims, like later generation Fat's, have the AES filesystem (/dev_flash) on the Hard Disk Drive, and mounted virtually (like a loopback) with only one copy of the firmware.

Both the Fat and Slim PS3 systems feature everything that one would expect: a bootloader, corresponding core operating system LV1/LV2 SELF's, along...

196w ago - Today Sony Computer Entertainment has announced at their press conference the new PlayStation 3 Slim system... complete with PS3 Slim screens now available.

From the Press Release: Enjoy a new slimmer and lighter PlayStation 3, due to hit stores in September 2009 with a lower price and extensive software line-up in time for the holiday season.

At gamescom in Cologne, Germany, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. unveiled the new PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, featuring a streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD). The new PS3 will be available in stores from September 1, 2009, in the UK at a very attractive recommended retail price (RRP) of £249.99.

With the introduction of the new PS3 system, SCEI will also reduce the price of the current PS3 with 80GB HDD to a RRP of £249.99 from August 19. By launching a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles for PS3 this holiday season and offering customers a line-up of hardware models and pricing to match their preference, SCEI will build on the momentum...

211w ago - Well here we go again; less than a week after a boy received a Nintendo DS box with rocks in it, a similar incident has happened to someone buying a MacBook Pro at Best Buy.

This time however, instead of finding rocks, the buyer received a nice red brick. As delighted as he was, I think he would have rather got his $2000 MacBook Pro.

So far no one has taken responsibility for the problem, and it doesn't look like anybody will; Best Buy says the box was factory sealed when sold, and Apple hasn't said anything yet.

Not promising for the guy and his brick if you ask me!

214w ago - Following his previous release for the PSP-1000, today MaTiAz has released a new PSP Firmware 5.03 TIFF Hello World Exploit version which adds PSP-2000 Slim support. A PSP-3000 version is not available yet, but is expected to follow.

Download: PSP Firmware 5.03 TIFF Hello World Exploit for Slim PSP-2000 / PSP Firmware 5.03 TIFF Hello World Exploit for Slim PSP-2000 [Mirror]

To quote from the included readme file:

• Just copy the files to the memory stick root, disconnect USB and go to photo menu.
• Don't dismiss the exploit even if it doesn't work on the first time, it's *very* unstable.
• You might get it working on the first time, but you might as well have to try it 20 times!

The h.bin is loaded to 0x08800000, and the text address of paf.prx is passed in $a0 to the binary code. You can then trick out function imports, like for example sceDisplayWaitVblankStart:

sceDisplayWaitVblankStart = (void*)(paf_addr+0x15F068);

Instructions:

1. Copy either slim.tiff or phat.tiff to /PSP/PHOTO/ folder on the memory stick, depending on your PSP model. Do NOT copy both!

2. Copy h.bin to the root...

240w ago - Sony have issued an Official PS3 (v2.50) / PSP (v5.00) software update press release today. It reveals that the PSP-2000's video-out feature will be able to display PlayStation format software (classics titles) at the full-screen size of the TV that the PSP is connected to (the feature will also support interlace displays). Both system software updates will be released on October 15, 2008.

Press Release: London, October 14, 2008 - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced details of the next PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) and PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) system software updates, adding new features to both platforms to benefit consumers.

The PS3 firmware update (v. 2.50) will include the implementation of advanced voice chat features for the PS3 official wireless headset, the ability to capture screenshots in-game with supporting titles in the future, and Trophy enhancements, among other new features. The PSP firmware update (v. 5.00) will add direct access to PlayStation®Store on PSP, enabling consumers to browse the store and download games whenever they're at a Wi-Fi hotspot. Both system software updates will be released on 15th October.

PLAYSTATION®3 Firmware 2.50 Update
Building upon the foundation set by previous firmware upgrades, the 2.50 system software update...