Dishing off lots of firmware to protect the Sony PlayStation Portable may be taking its toll for Sony engineers. Now, Sony Computer Entertainment wants to know through a survey why you're hacking your PSP in the first place. More details after the jump.

PSP Homebrew developer Chris Swindle has announced the latest release of Furikup, the app that allows you to use your unit as a phone using VoIP technology. Furikup v0.1.12 fixes some bugs from the previous version, and now also features a network selection menu. Check out the changelog in the full article.

Thanks to WaKaRu for the tip!

Download: Furikup v01.12

Fanjita and Noobz have given us stuff that make us go nuts time and again, and this time, we're witnessing the birth of another breakthrough: An alternative to Sony's PlayStation Portable Skype features set to come out soon. The star homebrew devs noticed that there are flaws in Sony's Skype system to come, and decided to make their own software. They're sharing it with everyone, as usual, so go ahead and test it. The full article has tons more details ahead.



Download: Furikup v0.1 PSP SIP Phone

Here's a quick heads-up for those wondering what TyRaNiD's been up to lately. The developer was spotted over at the recently concluded 24th Chaos Communication Congress, where he gave a lecture on the matter of PSP Exploits. The video's available for viewing in the full article.

The PlayStation Portable homebrew scene has always been very active but the year 2007 was really something special for the community. Several milestones were achieved, a lot of walls were broken down so to speak, and a lot of interesting releases were made.

Having said that, we here at QJ.NET can't really end the year without paying homage and respect to the movers and shakers of the year that was. The full article after the jump!

 Wondering what may or may not run on Sony's recently released PSP firmware version 3.80? According to P1R473_H4X0R's note in YouTube, one essential tool that works with the update is Noobz and C+D's Pandora unbricker. Those interested in seeing the demo video will want to visit the full article.

QJ.NET reader SeanPaul223 sent us an email about a new application that updates the function of homebrew developer Roomain's Pandora downgrader for CFW 3.72 HX-1 to FW 1.5. According to Gueux-Forum, some users reported that there's a bug in the mentioned program.

The new program, based from the source code of Noobz and Dark AleX's Update Flasher, was coded by Fred38. The installation instructions and other details can be found via the "read more" link below.


Download: Downgrader for CFW 3.72 HX-1 to FW 1.5 (Fred38)

Hey! Dark AleX is back! Well, for now at least. He's updated he (supposedly) last two releases: the CFW 3.71 M33 and 1.50 Kernel Add-On. Both of them have been upgraded to a version two, with various bug fixes, additional features, and other modifications.

Here's the changelog for M33-2:

• There was a bug that caused corruption when writing files of more than 32256 bytes using usb flash. The bug has been corrected, and now the implementation is as reliable as it was when it was based on 1.50 kernel. (tested with a full restauration of a dump)
• Psp Slim: a functionality to let the charge of battery when connecting a usb cable has been added. This feature is based on Noobz plugin code. By default is not enabled, you can enable it in recovery. Note that the charge of battery may be delayed some seconds since the moment you plug the cable.
• After installing this update, program at /PSP/GAME/UPDATE will always be executed on 3.71 kernel, despite configuration.
• VSHMenu: vshmenu will not be executed when onscreen keyboard is active, to avoid the lost of the select button function in the keyboard. An option to reset the psp has been added.
• VSH plugins are not longer executed anymore in recovery mode, that was the cause of pseudo-bricks.

The 1.50 Kernel Add-on has only one thing in its changelog: "When returning from sleep mode, 3.71 ipl was executed causing an immediate crash. Fixed."

Please take a look at the readme documents in the separate download below to check out more details. Installation instructions and noted bugs have been included as well in the readme.

Thanks to everyone who sent in the tip!

Download: CFW 3.71 M33-2
Download: 1.50 Kernel Add-on v2

Noobz has released a PSP Slim USB charger plug-in which, as the name implies, allows users to charge their PSP Slim and Lite via a USB cable or charger by just plugging the unit into the computer and switching it on. This new homebrew works for both 3.60 and 3.71 M33 CFW so users should have no problems with firmware compatibility.

Some would be asking why the team would come out with this application considering it is a built-in feature of the handheld. Well, the developers said that Sony's version of the USB charge feature didn't work as well as they (and some members of the PSP community) would have hoped, so they decided to step in and provide the community with their own solution to the problem.

A word of warning though, they pointed out that using a USB charger could possibly damage the system. It is unlikely, but there may be chargers not within the USB Spec. They also noted that this application is not to be used with the original PSP since it has not been tested and could potentially break your handheld. As always, be sure to read the short but informative documentation they included to avoid any problems.

Download:  PSP Slim and Lite USB plug-in

There are some homebrew applications out there that allow users to tinker with their PSP's WiFi MAC address. However, some find it a bit bothersome to return the address to the correct value. It's a good thing now that the N00bz had released a utility for that purpose known as MacFixer.

Technically, you can replace back the correct value manually. However, N00bz noted that some are too lazy to do so and that's why they came up with the utility. MacFixer is for users who changed WiFi boards in the PlayStation Portable and for those who changed the MAC address manually.

MacFixer was designed to run on M33 and OE custom firmwares and is not compatible with PSP firmware 1.5. It comes with a Readme.txt file containing information on installation and usage.

Download: MacFixer