Dark AleX and M33 release 5.00 CFW

DAX and the M33 team have released 5.00M33 CFW. Click through to go to Dark AleX's forum and get all the details. Two days to release this cfw, DAX must be slipping (just kidding). Thanks for all the hard (and quick) work guys.

Official Firmware 5.00 info

From the Sony blog:

"Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP - meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier!

The current PlayStation Store on the PC will be down in the interim as we take some time to revamp. Don’t worry, it will re-launch soon after we’ve made some tweaks. Please keep in mind, if you already have a PlayStation Network account, simply sign in on your PSP using your existing information. The same account and wallet can be used on PS3 and PSP. You will be able to check out the PlayStation Store on the PSP soon, as we’ll have a video demo featuring Grace Chen posted soon on the Blog.

Update v5.00 adds a sleep timer option that can be used while you are playing music on your PSP. In addition, we’ve added a full screen keyboard option for text entry and have redesigned the background of the XMB. You’ll be able to find all of the information on Firmware v5.00 here once it goes live."

Sounds like a few nice (small) improvements in addition to PSN.

PSPoste beta 7 released: full featured PSP email app

Want to send/receive email via your PSP? PSPoste is best way to achieve this. From PSPoste.org: "It supports the SMTP and POP3 protocols (possible future IMAP support), and provides a skinnable user interface allowing the user to retrieve, compose and display messages from multiple email servers. Several input methods are included with PSPoste, choose the one best suited for you.

Here's a list of what's changed in Beta 7:

• Support more IR keyboards by using the pspirkeyb library, see PSPoste/Data/pspirkeyb/ for configuration of your keyboard.
• Better random number generation for TLS based connections, acknowledgements to Zx81 for his work on PSPSSH and Theodore Tso for the original RNG work.
• On first start, users will be prompted to press buttons randomly to generate the random seed file.
• Use the extra RAM of the PSP Slim.
• Fix a crash when opening the settings window when no network connections are defined.
• Fix another crash opening the settings window that would occur randomly.
• Fix a bug in the logging mechanism that meant errors and output weren't properly being written out to the log files.
• Fix a problem connecting using a manually configured WPA connection.
• Make the cursor visible at all times while typing (as opposed to blinking throughout).
• Explicitly load the IrDA module so IR Keyboards work on firmwares > 3.03OE.
• Adjust heap and thread stack sizes.
• Fix some memory leaks and uninitialzed variables.
• Set the timezone to whatever the PSP has configured."

PSPoste has only been fully tested on the 1.5 firmware but there is some support for recent cfw's (see bottom of news page on PSPost.org). PSPoste is well worth giving a try if you have a serious need for a homebrew email app.

Download via Sourceforge.

Squarez now available for 3.xx and 4.xx cfw

Akadewboy has done a little modification to allow the classic Squarez game to play on the most recent cfw's. Here is my review and download for 1.5 firmware but now thanks to akadewboy everyone can play this great homebrew game. Well done.

PSP and Xbox 360 chatpad can work together

Check out this video and this forum post from LordNico at the AcidMod's forums.



This odd combination is possible on 4.01 M33-2, using a special version of piKey, and a custom flash on the chatpad. Jean at ps2dev.org made this possible with the Open Keyboard Project. Well done.

I have an IR keyboard that works very well with piKey. The problem is that the PSP slim doesn't have an IR port so this would allow all current PSP's a better text input experience.

Phoenix Game Engine (LUA) 0.01 Released

This has to be one of the most comprehensive and impressive engines I seen. InsertWittyName and MK2k (among others) have really put in a lot of work on PGE. It looks to be a LUA coder's best friend. Here is their homepage for PGE and here is a video demoing all of its many features:



Check out their site for documentation, tutorials, FAQs, and downloads.

I have been working for some time on a homebrew game (only so many hours in the day) and I'm only about half done. I am seriously considering rewriting it to take advantage of PGE.

PSP 3000 officially announced; Who gives a sh....?

Sony officially announced the PSP 3000 at Leipzig. The only changes I've heard of are a better LCD and a built in microphone. Are they kidding with this crap? How about a new model every time they change the color of the PSP. This is a nearly worthless upgrade.

Where is the internal hard drive that was rumored? How about upgrading the wifi card so that surfing the internet or checking email doesn't take an eternity. The internal speakers in the PSP are screaming (although not very loudly) to be upgraded. The GPS unit or camera would be a nice addition for those of us in the U.S. This is a stretch, but touchscreen would be nice. A physical keyboard, either integrated or as an add-on, is another item that I think is sorely missed.

Sony has to start innovating or the PSP will not live the ten year life cycle that they have planned. I am so glad I have the homebrew community because if I were to rely only on Sony I would probably sell my PSP and get a Pandora. I have a feeling this will another (failed) attempt to prevent homebrew and piracy by changing the hardware/mobo.

New Version of Polygunwars

Ahrimanes has released version 0.6 of Polygunwars (Geometry Wars clone) for the Neoflash Summer Coding Competition. The new version has many changes/updates (from Neoflash entry page):

*PSP dialogs integrated(message,net,save/load dialogs)
*save load game based on profile, gamertag as 360 one
*upload highscores/profile suport
*view highscores leader boards from psp suport
*language suport. there is a folder polygunwars/res/lng and there are some files.lng that any body can edit on a simple text editor and translate it.. the game will take the language from the sistem configuration so, if sistem is set to english it will use text from english.lng if sistem is spanish it will use text from spanish.lng
by now just english and spanish are translated, for all other languaje they have to be translated and here is where i need your help. if you wish to translate it do so and please PM me or email me with your translated file.
*now you have to be more carefull with the black holes as they will suck you too.
*new enemy has arrive.. say welcome to the snakes..
*alot of fixes in game time.. seems that i finaly fix the lags and the crash issues.
*now it includes some credits and spesial thanks under options..
*hint how to play under options. //need to fix that \n not working..
*you can check online highscores from your pc at:
http://www.ahrimanescore.luaplayer.org/
*archivements can be suported now.

I'll be giving this one a try real soon. I suggest you do the same. Previous releases of Polygunwars have been impressive and I expect no less from this one. Check out my previous coverage of this homebrew game here.

PSP Homebrew Touchscreen Project

Jube808 is on a mission: bring touchscreen, longer battery life, and a better control pad to PSP homebrew. The touchscreen mod and software is nearly complete as you can see from these videos:








I am very impressed. I've seen other touchscreen hacks before but none have looked this clean or performed this well. I am no hardware modder but if Jube gets this completed and released to the mainstream homebrew community I will definitely try it out.

Here is Jube's official site on DCEmu: Pspzproject. I don't know which touchscreen hardware Jube is using but here is a touchscreen add-on that I found at Sparkfun.com for ONLY $24. Keep up the hard work Jube I would love to see this go mainstream. I can only imagine the homebrew games and apps that could be created for a touchscreen PSP.

Despertar del Cementerio V6 released

Dark AleX has released a new DC for our unbricking pleasure.

Some of the new features are:

• New GUI
• Installs CFW 4.01 M33-2
• Boots 4.01 from the memory stick without installing (for testing purposes)

DC will allow you to install other CFW in conjunction with a pandora battery. You can unbrick any PSP with the exception of TA-88s.

Thanks DAX. Well done.

Geoff Smith's Ones and Os video

This isn't PSP related but I think Geoff Smith makes some excellent music and thought some of you might like to see his new music video:


Ones and 0s by Geoff Smith from Cali Lewis on Vimeo.


Here are some of Geoff's other music videos:

Download No Gravity Homebrew from PS Store?

Ok, so No Gravity may not still be called a "homebrew" game but it started out as one. It looks even better than it did and there is a lot more game to be had now too: 32 missions in 6 worlds. Well done, Realtech VR. Check out #14 on my best homebrew list.

QJ PSPUpdates Summer Homebrew Contest starts

PSPUpdates has started it's summer homebrew contest so get to coding. I wish I had time to finish mine but I still have way too much to do. Good luck to all that enter. I will try to download and review/comment on the apps and games entered.

I'll start posting again sometime soon

I had to take some time away from the homebrew scene. I was working on a homebrew game of my own, which is very time consuming, but I also had some computer issues. I turned my tower into a htpc and that was a black hole where time could not escape. Getting everything to work properly, display correctly, and have a usable desktop on a 57" tv is a chore.

Another reason I haven't posted is due to the fact that this site fell of the face of the planet (namely Google). For some reason Google quit indexing the site. I have no idea why but numerous searches and hours of research led nowhere so I got a little discouraged since I was only getting one or two visitors a day. Now jackalbytes is back on Google (I don't know what has changed) and you can probably find a hundred posts indexed.

I have put my homebrew on the back burner for now. With my htpc working like a champ, for the time being (fingers crossed), I think I'll try to start posting again. Maybe not two or three times a day like I was before but more than I have in the last couple of months.

Now that the site can be found on Google again I welcome all of you who haven't been here before. I hope you find jackalbytes useful. For those who are returning, welcome back.

I'll be back eventually

It's been a while since I posted. This is due to the countless hours I've spent on my own homebrew game. I hope that it will be done soon but there is a lot of work left. I will be reviewing/posting again as soon as I get close to completing my game.

On an unrelated note, I have noticed that my site has virtually dropped off the face of Google. I did an error check of my site at W3.org and found almost 300 errors so I decided to go with a plain jane template from Blogger. I was thinking that maybe there were too many errors for the Google's spider to deal with but I haven't seen any improvement in search results. If you have any ideas why Google is ignoring jackalbytes please comment below.

Thanks for your patience.
jackal

NeoFlash Competition Results

Here is the outcome of the NeoFlash Spring Coding Competition for 2008:

The PSP APP division of NEO SPRING COMPO 2008

1 [PSP APP] Dow! 0.2 - Develop on the go bumuckl
2 [PSP APP] LightMP3 Version 2.0.0 BETA 1 sakya
3 [PSP APP] CTorrentPSP - Torrent client for PSP danzel
4 [PSP APP] Academic Aid Scholastic Suite 6 R769 - Education Mr305
5 [PSP APP] PSP-Maps royale

The PSP GAME division of NEO SPRING COMPO 2008

1 [PSP GAME] Bugz InsertWittyName
2 [PSP GAME] POLYGUNWARS v0.5 ahrimanes
3 [PSP GAME] BlowUp! - 1.0 RELEASED! gambiting
4 [PSP GAME] Orbid V2 Slasher
5 [PSP GAME] Dororo's Adventure b0rk
6 [PSP GAME] Tetriabetes 1.43 dragula96
7 [PSP GAME] Kitten Cannon sg57
8 [PSP GAME] Scogger 0.2 scognito
9 [PSP GAME] Sushi Rubik version 1.2 teamsushi
10 [PSP GAME] Motion Pong 0.2 bumuckl

I am a little surprised with the Apps results but the Games results are right on.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed versions for all consoles including PSP

Here is a video showing all the different versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The video is approximately 7 minutes and you'll find the PSP version shown at about 4 minutes in. Looks like it might be good.

Orbid v2 Review

Orbid is yet another entry into the NeoFlash Competition. Orbid, developed by Slasher, is similar to flOw. Fly your orb around eating orange orbs and avoid being eaten by other types of orbs/enemies. There are 5 game modes to choose from: normal, survival, time, mine, and dodge. There is a multiplayer option but it requires you to set up a server.

Orbid has a very pixelated look to it. It doesn't look bad just different. The controls are hard to get used to. Your orb maneuvers like a 18 wheeler: starts slow and turns slow. Turning sharp cuts your speed considerably. The A.I. for the orange orbs is o.k. but they are easily caught. The A.I. for some of the enemies is better and they can be somewhat difficult to avoid. I enjoyed the game for little while. It becomes monotonous after extended periods of time. The speed of your orb is the biggest problem. You are always wanting to go faster and turn sharper.

I think that Orbid is a game that everyone should try but expect a slow, laid-back, leisurely type of game play.

DAX releases 3.90 M33-3 and Despertar del Cementerio v5

Dark AleX and M33 have updated the 3.90 custom firmware to be more compatible with the NO-UMD driver. Also, version 5 of Despertar del Cementerio has been released. It now installs 3.90 M33 and is compatible with TimeMachine. Thanks DAX and M33 for all your hard work.

PSP Maps v0.6 Review

Here is another entry into the NeoFlash Competition: PSP Maps v0.6 by royale. Think of PSP Maps as a hybrid of Yahoo maps and Google maps that you can use on your PSP. You will start off by connecting to your preferred wireless access point. Then enter an address and PSP Maps will find it and zoom in or just use the analog or directional pad to move around and shoulder buttons to zoom in and out. The complete list of controls are:

• Digital pad: move the map.
• Analog pad: move the map smoothly.
• R button: zoom in.
• L button: zoom out.
• X button: next view type.
• [] button: previous view type.
• /\ button: enter an address.
• O button: show/hide crosshairs.
• Start: menu.

PSP Maps allows you to adjust the size of your cache so that you can store a large area of maps. This allows you to use it when you are away from your wifi. It also allows you to save your favorite location so that you don't have to enter the address every time.

There are 8 "view types" available that I have found. They are:

• Google Maps/Maps
• Google Maps/Satellite
• Google Maps/Terrain
• Virtual Earth/Road
• Virtual Earth/Aerial
• Virtual Earth/Hybrid
• Yahoo Maps/Map
• Yahoo Maps/Satellite

(Version 0.7, just released, adds Hybrid view to Google and Yahoo, and Hill view to Virtual Earth; also added is a Window's version)

PSP Maps has the "Wow" factor. When you start using this app it will blow you away. The map images are stunning and navigation is easy and intuitive. With almost every new move you make to the map the app has to load new images. This is only a slight annoyance because the load times are very short. I was able to move from Columbus, Ohio to Antarctica to Hawaii in a very short amount of time. A nice feature is the adjustable cache, allowing for offline use. I tried it out and found that it works surprisingly well. The size of the maps saved would be a very useful alternative to having a GPS unit in your car, assuming you aren't planning any cross-country road trips. If I were judging the NeoFlash contest (which I'm not), this would be my hands down favorite app. PSP Maps should be on your memory stick. I am adding this to my Best Homebrew list. Amazing work, royale.