8w ago - Following up on the previous updates, today STLcardsWS has shared a preview of RetroXMB which allows users to boot RetroArch ROMs from the PS3 XMB alongside some videos of it in action from UnknownArchive below.

To quote: This hack is very interesting, as it will allow for direct booting of RetroArch playable ROMs from the XMB. Personally I like when i can access more things via the XMB. That's why it's there! So this developer who wishes to be nameless at this time has created a hack/mod from the awesome RetroArch.

This works much like the recently released PS1ToPS3 GUI (for PSOne games XMB direct booting) that was recently released. You will have a PC app that will create the PKG that will also add all required files in order to run. So it is not even required to have the official RetroArch installed However this is not for someone who wants to put a full ROMset on the XMB.

I did however manage to get over 250 roms PKGs installed with no slow down or issues. To see this process of direct booting of a Retro Rom please take a look at the videos below...

42w ago - Following up on his previous work, today PlayStation 3 developer glevand has made available a Linux Cold Boot 3.55 Custom Firmware (CFW) OtherOS++ for PS3 Slim users via Gitbrew that loads into Petitboot with a single button press.

Download: PS3 Linux OtherOS++ Cold Boot Custom Firmware (CFW) / PS3 MFW Patch LV1 OtherOS++ Cold Boot Fix to Patch_LV1.tcl

To quote: Hmm, it would be really nice to cold boot Linux on SLIM. The problem is this. On SLIM we patch GameOS loader and add the OtherOS++ support.

The OtherOS++ loader reads Petitboot from VFLASH and loads it in case the OtherOS flag is set. But at cold boot we cannot access VFLASH immediately, that doesn't work, i tried even to implement retries with sleep calls, no chance.

And today i took a look at GuestOS loader in LPAR1 process 9 (LV1 3.15) and noticed the following interesting thing. It doesn't matter on old OtherOS if we want to cold boot OtherOS...

64w ago - Following up on their previous announcement of officially supporting PS3 dual-booting, today the E3DIY Team has made available a pin-out schematic and manual for fast dual-booting with their E3 Flasher device with PlayStation 3 CFW (Custom Firmware).

Download: E3 CFW 3.55 Checkoff Downgrade to 3.41 OFW Manual (PDF) / PS3 Fast Dual-Boot E3 Flasher Pin-Out Schematic

To quote from their site, roughly translated: 2012-02-26

1: New mainboard Fast dual boot successfully with E3 FLASHER. Click here (e3-tech.net/images/E3%20FLASHER%20PIC/new-mainboard-fast-dual-boo.jpg) to download manual.

2: E3 flasher Fast dual boot and downgrade OFW4.11 to 3.55 successfully, it's same way as downgrade 3.73 to 3.55. We suggest user upgrade to OFW4.11 and then downgrade to 3.55 from now on. And don't forget backup your OFW4.11 bios well.

3: Downgrade to OFW3.41 from CFW3.55CHECKOFF successfully, tested by E3TEAM. Now you can enjoy any 3.55FW by this way (downgrade to OFW3.41 and then upgrade to 3.55, include JB2CFW3.55, OFW3.55...

67w ago - I want to give everyone the heads-up on my Dual Boot PS3 (2 NOR Flashes with Switch for Brick Recovery) project and try and get some feedback...

For the last few days I've been busy unbricking/downgrading etc. The spare time I've had has gone into designing my own Dual NOR expansion board for the PS3

Basics are this: It allows you to install 2 firmwares - one on either NOR which can be easily enabled/disabled via switch on the mod board. Initially the NOR expansion will need flashing (Dump NOR 1 & flash NOR 2 with the image)

Could be used as a "Brick Backup" if for any reason you brick your onboard NOR, you have a second image on the expansion.
Primary use is of course to Dual Boot firmware without needing to use your programmer all the time - initial program would be a one-off.

Can be quite useful, hence the reason for designing it. I am quite aware of the fact there are other products available which function the same. This is my own design which is a fair bit cheaper than the current Dual setups.

Once final thing, please bear in mind this is a VERY early prototype atm and still in testing. More than likely there will be a few changes along the way, but updates will be regular (finally got my head round Cadsoft)

I've attached a 3D sample picture......

87w ago - Following news of Sony's new PS3 Firmware 3.72, today the E3 Team have made available a demo video of the PS3 E3 Flasher with PS3 Firmware 3.72 and 3.55 Firmware running in dual-boot mode on a PlayStation 3 console.

To quote: BIG NEWS FROM E3 TEAM

E3 FLASHER , downgrade 3.72 to 3.55 successfully! Dual-boot v3.72 and v3.55 successfully! With E3 FLASHER, all is so easy, just switch and works!

And another BIG news is E3 will provide NOR FLASH CLIP free in our 3K limited version! So all Slim models now supported and versions of FAT consoles with NOR and no need to solder anything for downgrading, or dual-boot!

NAND FLASH CLIP also fininshed, will be available in the new up-coming E3 FLASHER NAND version.

E3 Flasher shipping date will be with little delay because of adding extra NOR clip. We will inform shipping date in next few days, sorry to bring inconvenience for our E3 pre-orders.