Enjoying the perks of having a new Steam client? If you are, then you are in for a two-fold treat for Audiosurf. An update has been unleashed containing new features and fixes. Also, the Audiosurf FM update has just been released. Details in the full article.

If you're wondering if developer FaT30YCG still has any plans of reviving Adhoc Messenger, the rather useful homebrew instant messenger app for the PlayStation Portable, then don't worry. A new mod designed by aldostools picks off where the previous version left off with the Unofficial Adhoc Messenger 2.6. More details about the new changes in this mod can be found in our full article.

Download: Unofficial Adhoc Messenger 2.6

PSP owners who enjoy using PSP portals will be happy to know that Ultimate Portal v6.0 has now been released. This PSP homebrew was created by biscottealacrevette and sports some pretty nifty functions users may appreciate.

Want to know more about the application? Head on over to the full article for the full details.

Download: Ultimate Portal v6.0

Homebrew developer Dezerith dropped by QJ.NET PSP Development Forum and released the first build of his own PlayStation Portable portal simply known as Yellow. The coder mentioned that the application is still in its early stages. Despite that, Yellow already contains a lot of important and fun stuff.

Currently, Yellow has a total of 43 games, 11 applications, 10 videos, and an Internet browser. We know the amount of its content is relatively smaller compared to other portals and Dezerith mentioned that this was intentional. He reasoned, "I didn't just throw in every flash game that could run on the psp like most other portals do".

Aside from the Internet browser, Yellow also contains a MSN Messenger as well as PSPTunes which we know you guys will particularly find useful. Anyway, Yellow v1.00 comes with  Readme file containing installation guide so browse through that first before loading this program on your PlayStation Portable units.

Download: Yellow v1.00
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

JackQodo over at QJ.NET's PSP Flash Player Discussions & Releases Forums announced the release of the F9 Social portal. This homebrew net portal's Beta release features five categories, although not all of them are fully operational:

• MSN Messenger (official, but not yet working :P)
• digg.com">digg news
• Engadget
• Games (under construction)
• Search (under construction too)

JackQodo commented that this was released specifically for feedback and suggestions on what can be added or deleted in the upcoming updates. If you fancy giving feedback on this portal-under-development for your PSP, check out the download link below, and make sure to drop by JackQodo's thread at the QJ.NET Forums to give your opinion.

Download: F9 Social portal BETA
Visit: QJ's  PSP Flash Player Discussions & Releases Forum

 

Andronix of PlayThree.net, ponders if PlayStation owners should feel green - an Xbox 360 shade of green to be specific - that the Xbox 360 is set to integrate further with Windows via the Xbox LIVE MSN Messenger feature. Andronix notes that Sony might want to look towards Yahoo Messenger, which already has inter-connectivity with MSN Messenger and Xfire.

Anyhow, since July 12, 2006, both Microsoft and Yahoo have allowed limited inter-connectivity between their messaging services. For now it's pure speculation on Andronix's part, but he sees a possible connection between the PS3 and the Xbox 360 via Yahoo. That is, IF Microsoft chooses not to block it and Sony does attempt to use Yahoo, or at least allow Yahoo to work with the PS3.

Xfire by the way, has already been assessed by Sony for use with the PS3. Will they allow Yahoo Messenger too? Hmmm...

Speculation aside, Sony is already working on their own messaging system, that's set to promote their much touted Game 3.0 philosophy.

 

Incoming Easter egg barrage! Major Nelson confirmed that keypad attachment thing that's been bugging everyone since GameSpot pulled their article. (By the way, his provided picture matches Engadget's pictures, so they're clean on this one). So, why the keypad? Let's see, on the first day of Christmas, the Dash Update will send to thee:

• MSN Messenger integration (Windows Live Messenger) which explains that keyboard in the first place
• Redesigned Achievement toasts which tell you the Achievements and its Gamerscore value
• Enhanced family settings features for Xbox Live voice and video chat which enable different default settings for each
• New Xbox Live Marketplace blade - one stop shop (er... blade) for non-stop shop... or free demo downloads
• Xbox Live Arcade update tells you what XBLA games your friends are playing - and jump in. Also compare Leaderboards and Achievements directly with all friends, and expanded Tell-a-Friend capabilities.
• New Auto-Download option for XBLA provides faster access to the entire collection of free trial-version XBLA games
• Progressively-downloaded and watched videos can now be fast-forwarded, rewound, paused, and resumed
  
• One new option for Background Downloading: Auto-Off Console After Downloads Are Complete

Er, nothing about using the keyboard for in-game functionalities, but trust some dev to be coming up with The Game Of A Gazillion Hotkeys just to try... er, forget we said that. Other than that, the only thing we fear now are the IM-hoggers hogging our beloved 360 consoles... just to chat. Come on (insert chat-hogger's name here), I've got Locusts to fry!!!

Thanks to Macca for the heads-up!

  

Qaz released a new messenger portal for people to use. It's called the Pro-Messenger, now on version 1.3, and if it looks like it's got a lot to offer.

It's got 10 games, 12 themes, a User Name Change function, a Display Picture Change function, and a host of useful links. Best of all, it'll allow you to send messages to Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and AIM.

The developer mentions that his app isn't strictly homebrew, so you shouldn't be worried about bricking your PSP with this app, though there's a decided lack of an actual readme with the file. Feel free to visit our forums for directions though, as it seems the developer is willing to answer questions.

One thing we've noticed though is how this application looks similar to the Windows Live PSP Messenger Portal. We did a bit of digging, and found out that while they are similar, this isn't a copy of the said application. As one of Qaz's mates from PspWxp on the PlayStation forums notes:

...yeah, I thought the same thing. Before he made this, I talked to lil_naruto and asked him for permission to include it into pspWxp and the upcoming Encore. We could include it, but Qaz decided to make his own and I don't think he saw lil_naruto's Live Messenger. He coded it himself I believe. It's a bit different, feature wise, but in the end they all do the same thing.

Download: [Pro-Messenger v1.3]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

Finally someone has got round to making a Wii-browser-specified website to allow you to use AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) on your Wii browser. There's already been MessengerFX to allow MSN messenger users to contact friends for free online using their Wii, and some of you may have noticed that AimOnPsp works on the Wii browser too, but of course this has been designed for the PSP and therefore doesn't have the full functionality of a Wii-specified AIM client.

So the guys behind AimOnPsp decided to make WiiAim. For the Wii, by users of the Wii. WiiAim will come with a completely new customized interface designed to work well within the Wii browser. The first fully-compatible Wii browser version of AIM is on the way, and since the teaser site is already up the real thing can't be far away! We'll tell you when it's up.

Here's a new twist for the old online voice chat system of your choice. A company called Audio4fun has just announced the release of AV VoizGame, their new voice changer software.

AV VoizGame is a voice changer software which morphs game players' voice to various voice outputs. It has preset nickvoices: five for male input voice (prudent girl, pleasant girl, balance girl, dear granny, school mistress) and five for female input voice (boy, child, young man, amorous man, cool man).

I know, the input and output voices don't match (a school mistress preset for a male input voice?!?), but that's how it was presented in the press release. According to the press release, users can "modify their real voices to match their characters or create some humorous voices to funnily flirt people." Or stalk someone (using a "dear granny" voice preset, no less!).

Currently, AV VoizGame is compatible with most chat applications such as Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, Ventrillo, TeamSpeak, etc. and Online Role Playing Games like Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft and many more. The software can be used when chatting alone or playing an online game with a voice chat forum.

You can buy AV VoizGame at the Audio4fun website for US$ 23.96 (the original price is US$ 29.95, but apparently they're offering 20% off the list price). Check it out.