Here's a bit of a progress report for PlayStation 3 owners out there. Another dev team has found a way to downgrade your Sony PS3's firmware to an earlier version. You'll be needing a console with an Infectus modchip - and you don't need previous dumps. Check out the full article for more info.

The Sony PlayStation Portable homebrew scene has always evolved through leaps and bounds, and Roomain's newly-released Pandora Creator for 3.72 HX-1 is no exception. Giving PSP owners the ability to make a Pandora Battery on the 3.72 HX-1 firmware, this is yet another step towards unlocking the Sony PlayStation Portable's potential to its fullest. Awesome as awesome can be, yes?

Check out the full article for more details and the download link.

A few days back, we found out that Fanjita and the rest of Noobz don't forget their promises when they released the HEN/Downgrader for firmware 3.11. Today, Noobz released another promised homebrew application, eLoader version 1.000.

Before you go "but we already have Pandora to downgrade", this version of the eLoader is actually aimed at running those "tricky EBOOTs" on PSPs that already can and the PSP Slim & Lite. Chris Swindle explains:

As a lot of people are finding out the PSP Lite is unable to run 1.50 kernel, this means that old homebrew games are not able to run on the PSP Lite custom firmware, however eLoader makes it possible to run some of these older games without needing to recompile them. So I hope all you new PSP Lite owners enjoy getting to see some of the old homebrew games running on the new device.

Groundwork for this project was laid out by Saotome, through the first EBOOT loader. This is basically for the homebrew that HEN and CFWs can't load (read: old homebrew). The major feature for this release of the eLoader would be "support for launching via HEN and custom firmwares, including the PSP Lite" (from the readme). Another plus in this eLoader is that homebrew devs who don't own a PSP Lite can use this to check out if their creations are compatible with the PSP Lite.

Though amidst the pros come the limitations. Here are the known limitations as listed on the readme:

• Can't run most kernel-mode applications.
• That means anything that emulates ISOs/UMDs.
• Some minor system calls are still unsupported.

Anyway, we'd advise you guys to go through the readme file as it details important stuff about the application like the installation instructions, troubleshooting, and navigation controls, among others. You know the drill, download's below. Enjoy!

Thanks much to magick2401 for the tip!

Download: eLoader v1.000

With Fanjita's promise fulfilled, PSP owners who don't want to walk the FW 3.50 path to salvation can take the direct approach now. Owners with messed up IDStorages will also have the opportunity to patch theirs up. But of course, with all things great comes certain issues: Not everyone is blessed with the ability to master delicate procedures from the get-go. So enter Adiuvo and his comprehensive guide to downgrading your FW 3.11 PSP.

All you will need are the essentials: a PlayStation Portable stuck on firmware 3.11 (no matter what board it's packing), a standard issue USB cable for connectivity, a memory stick with a minimum capacity of 128 MB, plus a U.S. or European version of Lumines. Files are already provided via the download links below, with inclusion of the 3.11 firmware for those who have yet to update to FW 3.11.

Get ready for a self-satisfying downgrade session at the full article!

Download: PSP Firmware 3.11
Download: PSP Firmware 1.50 File (EBOOT) North America
Download: HEN/Downgrader for FW 3.11
Visit: [GUIDE] 3.11 Downgrader

Fanjita (yes, Fanjita; we'll explain in a bit) and Noobz have just released a Homebrew Enabler (HEN) and downgrader for PSP FW 3.11. This will allow you to run homebrew and downgraders on FW 3.11 by using the US or European version of Lumines. Of course, this is if you're still trapped by FW v3.11.

Anyways, the team thanks Dark AleX because this certain release is based off of the source code for his HEN 2.71. Instructions and other relevant notes about running homebrew are found in the README. Additional notes:

This release consists of HEN for v3.11, plus a v3.11 downgrader, and an idstorage key fixer for v3.11. This allows you the choice of either:

1. staying on v3.11 to run homebrew
2. downgrading to v1.50 to run homebrew or install custom firmwares, or
3. upgrading to official Sony firmwares v3.30 or beyond.

Now, what's probably in all your minds right now is: "Isn't Fanjita supposed to be 'retired'?" Well, we were personally able to ask him that exact same question. Here was his reply:

Yeah. [I'm just] tidying up loose ends. This was promised ages ago.

So there you have it. Fanjita is retired, ok? He's just being kind to fulfill promises that he's made before. Glad to know! Never make a promise you can't keep, right? We're not sure though if this is the last of his "tidying up loose ends" releases. Maybe it's the first of a couple more "last minutes" before he finally assumes his fatherly role. If anything, this release might not be anything major, however, this is a friendly sign of Fanjita's continued commitment right down to the very end.

Download: HEN/Downgrader for FW 3.11

*Article originally posted on September 09, 2007 at 3:32 PM.

Homebrew developer Downgrader">Bob Joe has rolled out a new build for PSP Upgrader/Downgrader v1.11. Note that this software makes it easier for people to install firmware on their PlayStation Portable units.

This latest version adds support for Team Wildcard">Team Wildcard's recently release, 3.40 LE PSP Custom Firmware. In addition to that, the program now has an automatic update check in the options menu. The new additions are very convenient and perhaps a good reason to upgrade your older version.

So far, Bob Joe has only come out with a lite version of his update, so its a pretty small download and well worth the time if you're upgrading or downgrading your PSP.

Whether this is the first time you're using this program or not, remember to go over all the documentation and Readme.txt file before doing anything to avoid any unwanted mishaps with your PSP.

Download: PSP Upgrader/Downgrader v1.11 Lite

Homebrew coder Bob Joe has developed an application called PSP Upgrader/Downgrader that should make upgrading, downgrading, and installing a custom firmwares much easier.

The program is very easy to use and will copy all the files for you, not to mention give you step by step instructions. The developer gave word that this is the first release, so there might be a few bugs.

If you're interested in the development cycle of the program, Bob Joe also gave some details on the improvements implemented since he made version 1.0:

• 1.02
• Added M33 Update 2
• 1.01
• Added M33 as a current firmware
• Added ability to uninstall a custom firmware
• 1.00
• Initial Release

There are two versions of PSP Upgrader/Downgrader: a full version having more features and a lite version. Be sure to go over the Readme file and follow the instructions to the letter when using this program.

Download: PSP Upgrader/Downgrader v1.02 (Full version)
Download: PSP Upgrader/Downgrader v1.02 (Lite)

It was just yesterday when we heard the latest update on the FW 3.50 downgrader, directly from Fanjita and the Noobz team. It was mentioned that they already have a Korean Lumines UMD and are currently working to make the program compatible to it.

They said that the release was soon but little did we know that it's going to be today. Yup, they've done it again and those who have the Korean version of the puzzler can now join the rest of the homebrew community.

We don't know how many among you have this version but this is quite important. You see, this makes the downgrader compatible with all unpatched version of Lumines on all regions of PSP and all current PSP hardware on FW 3.50.

Take note that aside from the compatibility update, no other changes or developments were implemented into this version. Noobz mentioned that there is no way to downgrade to 3.50 as of now for those who've upgraded to FW 3.51.

Thanks to QJ.NET reader wakaru for the tip!

Download:  Universal 3.50 HEN/Downgrader

Fanjita came up with a list of reminders over at Noobz Team's official site regarding their FW 3.50 downgrader that involves puzzle video game Lumines. It should be remembered that when Sony learned about this, the title was patched immediately for it to be compatible with FW 3.51.

Anyway, we'd like to give you Fanjita's words, verbatim, and we'll let you read the interesting developments yourselves. Enjoy!

• We've got a Korean Lumines UMD now, and are actively working on creating a Korean downgrader. We can't give a release date, but it will be soon.
• We won't be creating a v3.51 downgrader, not for a long time. If you upgraded to v3.51 you're either stupid or unlucky. Sorry for that.
• You can't run the downgrader from a downloaded copy of Lumines.  If you read the documentation, you'd know that.  If you didn't read the documentation, just how did you think that would work?
• We won't be creating a downgrader for another game, not for a long time.  It's just not that easy.  If getting hold of Lumines in your country is expensive, blame the profiteering pricks that are hoarding their copies and selling them at inflated prices. When the exploit was first released, you could get Lumines for less than $20 in most places.
• It looks like Sony are introducing patched copies of Lumines into the market.  We advise you to buy either an old version (i.e. not Greatest Hits, Platinum or The Best), or check very carefully before buying a new copy. If you buy via Amazon, it may be better to buy from the 3rd party sellers, even though they are more expensive.
• We are working on the solution to enable you to go back to official firmwares if you need to - this includes helping people stuck on v3.30 or v3.40 v3.10 or v3.11 firmware.  It will take some time though, and we're all very busy right now.
• We're also still working on eLoader for HEN, and a flash management solution for people with semi-bricked v1.50 PSPs.  Those will also still take some time.
• The downgrader only works on Lumines, also known as Lumines Puzzle Fusion.  It doesn't work for Lumines Plus, or Lumines 2.  We've said that before, but for some reason people didn't read it.

And the homebrew greats have done it again: Noobz team released an updated PSP FW 3.50 downgrader using the Japanese version of the video game Lumines while 0okm in conjunction with HellDrive came up with his own Homebrew Enabler.

While the Noobz team has promised before to come up with this one, we didn't know that 0okm was working on it as well. Fanjita wrote that he looked into 0okm's work and found out that it's also working perfectly fine.

Anyway, the HEN and downgrader for Japanese Lumines from Noobz team works for both ULJS00005 (the original Lumines) and ULJS19005 ('The Best' version).

Furthermore, the new package comes with full support for the U.S., European, and Japanese versions so you shouldn't encounter problems if you missed our previous report. Both files come with their own Readme file so after deciding which one to use, please be sure to browse through its respective manuals and installation guidelines.

Thanks to Anonymous for the the tip!

Download: PSP FW 3.50 downgrader (from Noobz team)
Download: PSP FW 3.50 Homebrew Enabler (from 0okm and HellDrive)