Some of you may know already but if you don’t 3.10 OE-A has been released!! Changes include (from the README):

- Change from 3.03 firmware to 3.10
- 4th level of brightness (aka battery eater) can now be selected also without ac adaptor.
- Changes in hen core:

* Static user elf’s can now be executed in the 3.10 kernel. (this includes snes user version between other programs)

* Tyranid’s patch (added in 3.03 OE-C) consequences was not explained very well in the changelog of 3.03 OE-C:

- For programmers: it allows kernel modules to have user imports, making kernel programming in 3.03/3.10 less strict.
- For users: plugins and applications that worked in 2.71 SE, but not in OE, *may* now work in 3.03OE-C and 3.10 OE-A.

Sounds pretty good to me, I have just updated and it works like a charm. If you have modified your PSP make sure you back up your modified files before beginning or you will have to modify them again. Installation is the same as any other major Dark_Alex update but if you need some instructions read on.
Updating to 3.10 OE-A

1. Now to upgrade to 3.10 OE-A you will have to download this updater/update maker.
2. Once you have the 3.10 OE updater/update maker you will need to download the 1.5 EBOOT and the 3.10 EBOOT.
3. Now extract the 3.10 OE updater, the 1.5 EBOOT, and the 3.10 EBOOT.
4. Once you have that extracted inside the “310oe_a” folder you will find the following folders-

   310oeflasher
   310oeflasher%
   oeupdmaker
   oeupdmaker%
   Leeme
   Readme

   Copy the following folders to the PSP/GAME (or PSP/GAME150 if your at a 2.71 SE, 3.02 OE, or 3.03 OE firmware) folder-

   310oeflasher
   310oeflasher%
   oeupdmaker
   oeupdmaker%

5. Now rename the following EBOOTS to the following-

   1.5 EBOOT.pbp - 150.pbp

   3.10 EBOOT.pbp - 310.pbp

   Copy these to the oeupdmaker folder.

6. Go to your GAME section of your XMB and run the oeupdater NOT the 302oeflasher, wait until it’s done and then restart your PSP.
7. Once the oeupdater is completed copy the DATA.DXAR from the oeupdater folder to the 310oeflasher folder.
8. Make sure your PSP is charged over 75%, and then run the 310oeflasher NOT the oeupdater. Press X to accept the user agreement and wait until the flasher is finished, reboot your PSP.

You should now be at 3.10 OE, if not then your PSP shouldn’t boot at all, and will be considered bricked.

Guide will be updated soon!!

The truth revealed about PSP Blender from a real PSP Blender user. Download PSP games, movies, music and more, all for free! See for yourself exactly how PSP Blender downloads work.

Do you have an interesting PSP Blender website or PSP Blender video. Send it to us and we will post it to be seen my over 10,000 visitors a day.

Another great video from PSPNerd.Net!

The truth revealed about PSP Blender from a real PSP Blender user. Download PSP games, movies, music and more, all for free! See for yourself exactly how PSP Blender downloads work.

Do you have an interesting PSP Blender website or PSP Blender video. Send it to us and we will post it to be seen my over 10,000 visitors a day.

Sony has pulled back the curtain a little bit and revealed some new details about the God of War game coming to the PSP. First, we now know the game’s official title will be God of War: Chains of Olympus and that it will take place between God of War and God of War II.

Sony has also opened a teaser website at us.playstation.com/godofwar_chainsofolympus. The site is mostly bare at this point, but it does include the ability to sign up for a free UMD demo of the game (while supplies last of course).

Finally, a YouTube user comes through again with the game’s first trailer. Who knows why it’s not available on the official site, but behold, the first look at God of War: Chains of Olympus…

One of the great things about the PSP is the awesome ability to use a web browser at any wifi spot you encounter. Well sometimes I want to see Youtube content to a freind but the PSP has a VERY old version of flash and because of this Youtube does not work under normal circumstances.

Now there is a way to view all you favorite Youtube videos on the go. A new site that has launched, and is still in beta actually, is set to make thing alot easier for the PSP user.

The only drawback is that you still need a PC to do this, yeah I know it sucks, but it is a step in the right direction.

Here is how to watch all you favorite YouTube vids on the go.

1. Find a video you want to watch, in this case I will point to a video I made of me playing Outrun 2006 on a dual monitor setup direct feed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTkazvfVtLk (yes I know I suck LOL)
2. Go to http://vixy.net/ and copy and paste the URL (web address) into the provided space
3. Select the mp4 format (iPod/PSP)
4. Hit the convert button and wait for the conversion to take place
5. when it is done you will be taken to a download page, but the PSP can not download these videos with the URLs this site spits out, so we use a trick go to http://lix.in/ and copy and paste the download link into the space provided, you can’t miss it… no I mean it, and hit “Protect Link”
6. you now have a short PSP freindly url you can use on the PSP web browser to download the newly converted video
7. click all links needed to get back to the download page and hit save on the PSP and then make sure you save to the /VIDEO folder of your PSP
8. after a bit of a download your video is now on you PSP memory stick ready to watch anywhere you take you psp to

Enjoy your new ability to take Youtube with you on your PSP

Download in High Def Windows Media HD 720p

What is a good PSP to buy

Review of what PSP’s and Firmwares can run home brew
1.5 - 2.71 can be downgraded or Re-flashed to 1.5 or a custom 3.02
2.80 works with eLoader 0.995 “Kriek” only user-mode apps
2.81 and above are out of luck for now. no homebrew for you
Mother boards: T-82’s with 2.71 can now downgrade to 1.5
T-XX with 2.71 can run home brew with Hen-D and Devhook to emualte 3.02

How to install and Run Devhook 0.52

How to install 3.02 OE-B
Download the Offical OE-A
Get auto installer for your firmware 1.5 or 2.71se

Then run eboot for update to 3.02 OE-B update to 3.02 OE-B

Big, huge, gigantic news! The great Dark_AleX, responsible for all the custom firmwares available for the PSP who claimed to have gone into retirement, is back under the name of M33 releasing a brand new custom firmware for both PSP Fat and Slim! The new firmware is barely out of the gate and is already fully hacked.

3.71 M33 by M33=Dark_AleX

Changes in 3.71 M33:

- Now uses 3.71
- VSH Menu is not longer launched using HOME key, but using SELECT now. This is to not interfere with the XMB function of home, which is now more useful in this firmware.
- Psp Slim: umdcache was allocating memory even when homebrew was launched, wasting memory that homebrew programs may want to use. Now umdcache module is stopped before it can allocate any memory, only in the case homebrew is launched.

Also, memory is unprotected for user memory usage by M33 core (only when homebrew is launched).
Developer, for a sample of how to use the extra memory, see the extra ram sample of the M33 sdk.

- Both version boot now from 3.XX ipl, and are independent of 1.50.

The main installer will not install 1.50 kernel anymore.
A 1.50 kernel addon for 3.71 M33 that will install inside 3.71 M33 will be released in a
few days (for fat only)

Note: due to some changes in kernel nids by Sony, you can expect a lot of kernel plugins not working anymore.
Programmers: refer to the sdk readme for details.

It’s nice to see the PSP hacking community is still alive and well.

You will need the official 3.71 firmware and the M33 installer. To install you will need a PSP Fat with 3.52 M33-3 or 3.52 M33-4 or a PSP Slim with 3.60 M33. Visit the Official M33 website for more details and previous M33 releases if you need them to meet the requirements for 3.71.

The complete PSP glossary.

A

Ad-hoc: The network process of connecting one PSP directly to another

Atrac3 and Atrac3Plus: Sony’s format of music similar to mp3 and wma

AVC: AVC, or Advanced Video Codec is a brilliant codec that allows better quality video to be put into a smaller file
B

Bière d’Alsace: Fanjita’s eLoader 0.9.6 Was a big bugfix over 0.9.5

Booster: The creator of DevHook

Brick: To brick someone’s PSP, key flash modules must be overwritten. If your PSP is bricked, when you turn it on nothing will happen except the little green light will come on.

Bock: Fanjita’s eLoader 0.9.7, the most current release. Supports wifi

Brown Ale: Fanjita’s eLoader 0.9.5 The first eLoader not called eBOOT Loader, can load many EBOOTS for 2.01-2.60

Buffer Overflow: A Buffer overflow is where the PSP is told that somewhere there is 2 byte’s of information to read. If more information is forced then it will also be read without checks. Hopefully at least, this can lead to a loader making use of that overflow.

C

C/C++: C and C++ are two commonly used languages for the PSP, C++ is the most powerful, but C is easier. They are used in conjuction with the toolchain.

Cache: Where webpages are stored in temporary memory. Helps speed up page loading.

Cheatdevice: The first thing to utilize the GTA exploit by Edison Carter. This allows you to change many aspects of GTA:LCS

Coding: Coding is the act of making programs for the PSP. They may be make in a number of languages.

Coldboot: The short video that plays when you turn on your PSP

Custom Firmware: A custom firmware is a firmware mod made by a developer. These are most likely flashed to the PSP. These add funtionality to your PSP e.g Wlan switch down at boot, go straight to DevHook

D

Dark_Alex: The man dehind the 2.6-1.5 Downgrader, 1.5-1.0 Downgrader and custom firmwares

Decrypt: If you decrypt something then you remove all protection on it and can edit it freely

DevHook: Device Hook, or DevHook for short is a revolutionary piece of homebrew that allows you to emulat any firmware without actually installing it. I guide to getting DevHook working can be found here.

Digital Signature: See: Encryption Key

Directory: A directory is just the correct name for a folder.

Ditlew: Worked with Fanjita on the eLoader, the other half of the team

Downgrading: Downgrading is the process of going down a firmware or two. This may be done because the lower firmware has more homebrew games that work on it. Currently only firmwares 2.00, 2.50 & 2.60 can downgrade. If your PSP is a TA-082 downgrading won’t work.

E

EBOOT: EBOOT.PBP is what an application/game must be called to run on the PSP.

eLoader: The eLoader is a device that allows you to use downloaded games on firmware 2.00 and above. It does not work on 2.70+ You can download it from this link: http://dl.qj.net/Alternative-eLoader…5999/catid/114

Emulator: An emulator is something that effectively turn your PSP console into something else. It may allow you to play (illegal) ROM’s for an N64 or SNES or any other console.

Encrypt: The process of encoding information so it can’t be changed then used

Encryption Key: This is Sony’s personal 128 Bit Key. It is virtually uncrackable, however Sony use this to sign EBOOTS and make them run on any firmware.

Exploit: An exploit is a bug in Sony’s code that may hopefully lead to a buffer overflow or underflow which could lead to homebrew on that firmware.

F

Fanjita: The other half of the eLoader team

FAT: FAT, or FAT16, is the format used in the PSP’s memory sticks by default. Sadly it round any file less than 4kb up to 4kb, which isn’t very space conservative. FAT32 however doesn’t do this.

Firmware: Your PSP’s firmware is almost like OS, its upgrading every time. However Sony also put more effort in to stop homebrew every time.

Flash0: Stores highly important system stuff. Cannot restore itself

Flash1: Stores system settings and stuff such as your background. Can restore itself it you currupt something

Flash: (N) The Flash memory of your PSP, where important system settings and files are kept. (V) To flash a PSP means to add, delete or change content on the PSP

Flash Dump: An exact copy of a part or all of the PSP’s flash

Flash Player: PSP’s version 2.70 and above come with a version of Macromedia Flash Player 6

G

Gameboot: The short movie that plays between when you click a game and when it actually begins

Gigabyte: 1024 megabytes, which is 1024 kilobytes which is 1024 bytes

GTA Exploit: An exploit in GTA that allows it to run unsigned code. Unpatched versions ONLY!

GUI: Graphical User Interface

H

Hello World: The simple program thats used for testing exploits and whenever a programming/scripting language is created, Nem created the 1st PSP one (I think)

Hex Editor: A hex editor is basically used to take apart, well, anything. From editing menu names to changing your font loaction, a hex editor will do it.

Homebrew: Homebrew is any game or application not made by a company to make profit. Homebrew is generally free of charge.

I

IDE: Interactive Development Environment, one program that group things such as a tool chain, an editor etc…

Infrastructure Mods: Like Ad-hoc, but rather than connecting directly to another PSP this goes via an access point

IRdA: The PSPs infrared system. Used in remote control programs

ISO’s: ISO’s are against this site’s policy. They are games that have been directly ripped from the UMD and put on the internet for anyone to download. They are VERY illegal

ISO Loader: A program the lets you load iso’s

J

K

Kernel: Kernel is a specific part of the memory in any device, you PC will have kernel RAM also.
It controls access to more major system functions, but also if we use kernel RAM in an app we will have more RAM to work with.

KXploit: KXploit is the trick used to get homebrew to work on 1.5. I was initially done by swapping the memory sticks, but now it is done by adding a percent (%) sign to the end of a homebrew’s name.

L

LocationFree: A Sony device that lets you stream all of your media content, TV, Radio etc… to your PSP. Works only with version 2.50 and above (emulated or flashed)

Lua: Lua pronounced Loo-ah is a simple scripting language designed for entry level games and applications. You can download luaplayer v0.17DK2 (most compatible) here and v0.20 (most features) here. Note, I suggest v0.17DK2.

M

Makefile: Makefile must be used to actually turn your surce code into an EBOOT, this is used with the PSP Toolchain.

Memory Stick: The memory stick (or ms0) is the little card you insert into your PSP. This stores information such as songs etc…

Mips: A type of processor

Modchip: The modchip (most famously Undiluted Platinum) allows you to unbrick your PSP, dual-boot your PSP, upgrade/downgrade at will and has a very nice recovery mode. You can’t brick a modchip.

MP3: The most commonly used audio codec

MP4: The format the PSP uses as standard for a/v

MPH: The creator of the MPH 2.00 -> 1.50 Downgrader

N

NAND: The Flash Memory that the PSP uses is called NAND Flash

Nub: The Nub or Analog nub is just a fancy name for the Analog Stick
O

P

PAK: Almmost like zip, a collection of files needed to make a game run

Param.Sfo: This file contains information on the thing it is attached to (region etc.)

.PBP: The PSP’s form of .EXE

PMF: Sony’s game video format, it can only be encoded using the leaked Sony UMD composer Tools

PMP: A homebrew media format that can stream brilliant quality content to the PSP in full resoulution using PiMP Streamer

POC: POC, or Proof Of Concept it used by developers to show something works, generally created after an exploit

Port: The act of porting a game invoves making it run on a different console to what it what coded for, for example, you may port a PS2 game to work on the PSP

Portal: A shell that runs through the PSP’s web browser

Prx: A file that contains important system functions.

PSP:PlaystationPortable

Python: Python, like Lua, is an interpreted language that needs an interpretation EBOOT to run. You can download the interpreter here

Q

R

Resolution: The number of pixels on something’s screen. The PSP had 480 horizontally and 272 vertically, thats 130,560 altogether.

Ripkit: A program that takes unnecessary files out of an iso to make it smaller

Ripped: If something was ripped from a UMD it doesn’t mean it was torn, it means simply that an exact copy was made and saved to a computer.

ROM:1 A ROM is like an ISO, although it is not from a PSP game, you may have ROM’s for a GameBoy game etc… ROM’s are illegal.

ROM:2 ROM or Read Only Memory is the PSP’s memory stick, or your PC’s hard drive, where information is kept.

Root: The root of your memory stick is not a folder. It is just the memory stick’s contents before you have entered a folder.

S

Sdk: Software development kit, See Toolchain

Shell: An alternative OS for the PSP to replace the xmb

Sircs: Sony’s iR protocol, used in most Sony TV’s, the PS2 and the PSP

Sleep Mode: A form of the Windows ‘Hibernate’ for the PSP

T

TA-082: A motherboard version identifiable by writing on the top left hand side of the inside of the UMD Drive. These PSP’s are not downgradeable

Tiff Exploit: An exploit present only in 2.0 that allows unsigned code to run through a buffer overflow in the TIFF image loading code

Toolchain: The PSP Toolchain is run in cygwin and it automates the process of compiling EBOOTs

U

UMD: A UMD, or Universal Media Disk, it the disk in the plastic casing the the PSP uses. Currently only large games companies can write to these. A UMD Holds 1.8 gigabytes of stuff

Unsigned: If an EBOOT is unsigned then it doesn’t have Sony’s encryption key built into it. Unsigned EBOOT’s can only be run via exploits on firmwares above 1.0

Updating: Updating is the process of taking you PSP up a firmware. However above firmware 2.60 there is no homebrew and you cannot downgrade. 2.80 is the most recent firmware

USB: Universal Serial Bus, the most common way of connecting a portable device to a computer, the PSP has a USB mini-B port, for which you’ll need a USB mini-B cable

User Mode: User mode it often unlocked a long time before kernal mode. This allows you to run homebrew games and write to the flash but not to use kernal features. *

V

VRAM: Video RAM, RAM designated to graphics. Mainly found in computers

VSH: VSH is an abbreviation of Visual Shell

VSH Mode: The Mode that the XMB runs in, halfway between Kernal Mode and User Mode, gives flash access etc…

W

WAB: The creators of the WAB Version changer, one of the first kernal mode Eboots

WAD: See PAK

WEP: A bad network encryption format

Wifi: Wifi is the PSP’s wireless feature, it comes in two versions, ad-hoc and infrastructure

WLAN: A WLAN, or Wireless Loacal Area Network is a home or business network that runs from a wirless access point (router)

WMA: Windows Media Audio, the default windows format for audio. Can be used only on 2.6+ after enabling via the settings menu. Will not work below 2.6 (unless you are in DevHook)

WPA: Also known as TKIP, a network encryption protocol, safer than WEP

X
XMB: The XMB, or Cross media Bar is simply the PSP’s menu UI

Y
YoYoFR: The creator of the current most popular emulator Snes9x TYL
Z

ZX-81: The guy that has made loads of the emulators you probably use, including the calculator one and PSP-VBA

*It is a common misconception that User mode blocks flash0 writing, however that is what Sony did by making it read-only. It is however writable in kernel mode as we then change the permissions to writable.

It’s been a while since I’ve played with my PSP. Recently I got my hands on the Sony Location Free Base station and decided to try out the LF Player on the PSP. To do this I needed to upgrade my PSP’s firmware, but I did not want to lose my homebrew, otherwise all of my LUA apps, and other software would stop working. I’ve decided to figure out how to use DevHook to emulate a new firmware, and while I was expecting a long and complicated process, it was actually really simple to do on my PSP.

This is due to the hard work of a lot of developers, and I applaud their efforts for making it to this point. A user on PSPUpdates has posted a simple tutorial detailing the process. What it does is pretty slick… You need to download 3 things. The normal PSP Update PBP, DevHook, and a script that will extract the update file and make it usable in DevHook. In less than 5 minutes I was running an emulated PSP Firmware 3.01.

I was able to get the locationfree base station streaming to the PSP after manually linking the two using Sony’s Setup mode button. When the base station is streaming to the PSP, the LF LCDTV just goes black. No message is displayed to let you know what’s happening and why the video signal has been lost. Apparently you can only stream to one device at a time. Pretty Lame.

The video quality to the PSP wasn’t great, watchable, but not for a long period of time. The sound wasn’t very good, but I think that was because the sound on my cable box was too low. I cranked the PSP to it’s max volume and it was not loud and sounded very tinny.

Bottom line, the LCDTV + Sony base station works great, but the PSP player is not very useful, and the 1 stream limit needs to be increased, I’m not sure if slingbox has the same limitations, but I think I’m going to give that a shot next.

Also, you may want to take a look at PMP, which will allow you to stream media from your PC to your PSP. It works quite well, and the video quality is not bad. They have just released version 1.02 which includes even more GUI improvements and lots more. This is a much better streaming solution for your media.

Download PMP - the PSP Media Streamer/Player Solution here