It seems we're about to give a great sendoff to the kernel that's been a part of the homebrew scene for the longest time: the 1.50 kernel. Over on Dark AleX's website, site admin Alek posted an entry explaining the need for moving forward using the 3.xx kernel. Read more about it after the jump!

Without delay, Dark_Alex has released a bug fix for the PlayStation Portable custom firmware 3.71 M33-4's multi-disc Popsloader. With this, the Popsloader setting will no longer remember which firmware you picked for a multi-disc game. More details at the full article!






Download: CFW 3.71 M33-4 multi-disc Popsloader bug fix
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Homebrew Development Forums

Homebrew coder Marce82, with assistance from marlon_ibz, astaroth, alvyweb, xblade, and moha, just released a new version of pet project Updater Flasher 3.xx UE. The application should be run on your PC (Windows) and not on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) itself. Now on its second version, Updater Flasher has been made compatible with Dark_AleX's custom firmwares 3.10 OE, 3.30 OE and 3.40 OE.

According to the developer, please be sure that no plugin is activated whatsoever as well as the pre-determined configuration of the Recovery. Some of the program's other features have been listed below. Pardon the English though, they were directly translated from Spanish using an online language translator:

• Graphical Aspect of the XMB totally changed (Icons, Sub-Icon, Sources, Bottoms, Sound, Gameboot, Waves, etc.)
• Adapted Icons and English and Spanish Language to the new Functions of the XMB
• Fixed to Failure of mutual incompatibility games PSX when changing the initial sound
• Fixed to Failure Key click of the XMB
• Added new Function in the XMB, Access to the Recovery
• Added new Function in the XMB, Aplicaccion LuaPLayer
• Added new Function in the XMB, Reinitiated Utility of of Console
• Added new Function in the XMB, Utility To extinguish Console
• Added new Function in the XMB, Utility Graphical Chronometer and Reproductive Mp3
• Improved the Speed of Navigation in the XMB
• Recovery Translated in Spanish
• Eliminated Sources in Japanese
• Added Plugins of USB, Capture, CPU speed, etc, etc
• Added Plugins Popstation 3,11, 3,30 and 3.40
• Elimadas the Obligatory Folders of System. (The organized MS this but and clean one)
• Liberation of Space in the Flash0 (3 Mb)

Take note that Updater Flasher works on the PSP's flash so be sure that you very well know what you are doing. We have to say that even us had a hard time understanding the program at the start simply because it is in Spanish. The Read link will take you to Marce82's blog site for more information and installation guide.

Download: Updater Flasher 3.xx UE v2

 

Tired of trying to understand all the hullaballoo of recovery prx files? Want something that'll help you execute the recovery process from the XMB no matter which one of Dark_Alex's open edition firmwares you're using? You're in luck, as becus25 recently released a recovery prx that's compatible with all the OEs.

Now, one thing you might mention is that this isn't really needed. Since Dark_Alex never really changed the position of the recovery prx, earlier recovery prx files work with pretty much all of the different OEs. However, to stop all the confusion, becus25 took the time to make a definitive one that'll end the confusion.

That is, of course, until Dark_Alex changes the route or formatting required to access the recovery process. In any case, enjoy the application.

Download: Recovery EBOOT for all OE Types
Discuss: PSP Development Forums

Yay for custom firmware season! After Dark_Alex's released his latest (archived) bundle of joy unto the gaming world, becus25 has also updated his own custom firmware. So yes, it's PSP love all around right now.

Anyway, becus25 released Custom Firmware 1.62 IE A Update2 a mere week ago, and here he is once again with Custom Firmware 1.62 IE B. Isn't it good to know that the devs have been working really hard? 1.62 IE B still have the same general functions as that of 1.62 IE A, but on top of that, the following fixes and features have also been added:

General functions:

• In software system puts "version 1.62 IE-B". 
• Recovery and the XMF were now fused .  
• Added security and the flasher and you will not break the PSP 
• Bug fix ( when activated autoboot and was not in the route that touched to the PSP crashed; now if it passes that, the PSP returns to the XMB with normality :P . 
• More speed in recovery mode.  

Recovery functions:

• You can activate/deactivate Autoboots (put the autoboot on pspgamebooteboot.pbp ) from recovery without any kept configuration file. 
• Recovery mode, this structured like a menu . 
• Structured section "ADVANCE" like a menu . From this section you can do this : 
• Change the theme of PSP ( in fact in 1.50 not it can but it is hack :P ) 
• You can activate/deactivate autoboots.  
• You can hide or not hide corrupt icons from the XMB. 

Besides the whole range of changes, he also announced that the current version of his custom firmware has been tested on a TA-079 PSP, and it worked. However, he cautions everyone that this has not been tested on PSPs with boards higher thab 079, so those who wish to install this on their PSPs which are not 079s, are asked to take extra precautions. And on that note, we would like to remind everyone to go through the readme, as well as all the other installation instructions and other directions that becus25 has included with his homebrew, before attempting to install this. Better safe than sorry, right?

Thank you to I-Fzero-I for the tip!

Download: Custom Firmware 1.62 IE-B Update1
Visit: PSP Development Forum

Now, right after PSP aficionados had a field day, thanks to Dark_AleX's latest custom firmware release, homebrew devs are up and about once again with various useful add-ons and applications for the PSP. One such application is something from chachakoala, who revised UFOX's original PSP Content Manager v1.5 so that it can run more smoothly on the latest OE firmwares.

For those who may not be familiar with PSP Content Manager, this app allows one to easily manage and transfer the content of their PSPs so that everything is more organized. On top of that, it also helps to recover homebrews, and even edit your homebrew icons and backgrounds.

As for what prompted the edits, according to chachakoala,

I hex-edited psp content manager 1.5 so it works even more correctly with 3.03&310 OE firmwares (original PSP Content manager used to work fine anyway). I did this because i classified my PSX games in GAME, my 1.5 hb in Game150 and my 3.10 hb (PSPFTPD) in Game310 just to keep things clear.

Meanwhile, he notes the two revisions that he made for PSP Content Manager:

• The homebrews in Game303/Game310 are now listed in a correctly named tab.
• The status messages have also been edited to match the OE version.
  

It should also be noted that UFOX himself later helped chachakoala in revising PCM, so rest assured that this app was made with the original creator's blessing (see? It pays to be nice).

So, if you're ready to start using this application, then just download it via the link provided below. The pack will contain versions of PCM for firmwares 3.02, 3.03, 3.10, 3.30, and 3.40 OE. As always, remember to check the readme file right after you finish downloading, and right before you start installing.

A big thank you to "whoelse" for the tip!

Download: PSP Content Manager 1.5 for OE firmwares

Weltall recently released another quick update for CWCheat. As you can probably guess, he's updated it to add support for the latest custom firmwares from Dark_Alex, namely 3.40 OE-A and older firmwares.

There don't seem to be any actual changes other than that, as his changelog doesn't expressly state anything new for CWCheat. He does mention in the title of the original download link that MC Support has been fixed, so you should be able to use all of the functions previously found in CWCheat v0.1.7 Revision B with this one.

Still, if you have any doubts, you can drop him a line at his website or ask him a question at our forums, which we've linked below. Enjoy!

Download: cwcheatpops for 3.40 OE-A and older
Visit: PSP Development Forums
Visit: CWCheat Installation Thread

Thanks to Wolf for the tip!

Within the past few days, PSP owners were kept on the edge of their seats by reports of FW 3.40 in South Korea and in Japan. Well, soon enough, the latest firmware version for the Sony handheld reached North American shores, and without fail, coders and homebrew devs set to work on it immediately. And who else would keep the ball rolling but Dark_AleX?

Well, now that the whole community is in motion again, the great DAX is leading the pack and has just produced a couple of more updates. The first is the release of custom firmware 3.40 OE-A, and for this update, he notes the following improvements that were made from 3.30 OE-A to 3.40 OE-A:

• Updated from 3.30 firmware to 3.40
• Security patch: Fixed a bug that has been in all 3.XX OE, that caused random data to be written to a location in lcdc.prx or (in worst case) emc_sm.prx ram space.
• Autboot that is missing since 3.03 OE-C has been reimplemented.
• Improvements in the flasher. It will now generate also the flash1 directories, and it will check that the dxar is the correct for this update, so no more bricks by accidentally using other DATA.DXAR.
  

Meanwhile, he has also updated 3.30 OE-A to 3.30 OE-A', and in THAT update, the following fixes were implemented:

• Security patch: Fixed a bug that has been in all 3.XX OE, that caused random data to be written to a location in lcdc.prx or (in worst case) emc_sm.prx ram space.
• Autboot that is missing since 3.03 OE-C has been reimplemented.
  

Now isn't that a lot to be happy about? In any case, as usual, ALWAYS READ THE README FIRST before you try to install any of these, as DAX has included some important installation instructions for both updates. Remember, you want to prolong the life of your PSP, and not shorten it, okay?

Thanks to everyone who sent us tips about this!

Download: 3.40 OE-A by Dark_AleX
Download: 3.30 OE-A ' by Dark_AleX

Time for more homebrew. QJ reader psphackman tipped us off to a 3.30 OE-a recovery prx in EBOOT mode that Negi released on our PSP Development forums. According to Negi, he didn't write any code for this release. This is just the result of hex editing the 3.30 OE-A recovery prx into an EBOOT.

This would be useful for those who don't want to turn off their PSPs completely to run recovery. Negi's also still looking for someone who can help him make the recovery prx run directly from the PSP flash so it works with all future versions of Dark_AleX's custom firmware. If you've got a suggestion, click on the visit link below.

As always, check the readme file included in the download first before installing this on your PSP.

Download: 3.30 OE-A Recovery EBOOT
Visit: PSP Development forums

The last time we featured a video of Dark_Alex's 3.30 OE-A in action, you were less than impressed, and that was somewhat understandable. There was a noticeable cut halfway through the video that made the skeptics come en masse to the site.

Well, NilzXX decided to take some time to make an installation video of his own, minus the glaring cut in the middle. It shows most of the installation procedures needed to get 3.30 OE-A up and running, and there's even some sweet background music for people to listen to while watching it.

In any case, we'd like to thank NilzXX for the video. We're proud to have you as one of our faithful readers. To everyone else, enjoy the video, alright?