Hacking the PSP Blog

$100 XBox 360 on Amazon this Thursday?

Amazon is holding a vote on the best holiday tech gifts... vote between now and Wednesday... Apparently the XBox 360 could be selling for $100 come Thursday morning...

Vote on the product here...

Get a bit more info here...

Source: Josh

Some xLoader clarifications by the Noobz crew

It seems that many people were having problems with xLoader, the newly-released eLoader's sidekick. Not to worry though, the Noobz crew has given instructions to address most problems which plagued those who didn't check the readme (bad!). Here's all the clarifications directly from the official page.

Step-by-step instructions:

• Install xLoader, using either the auto-installer, or by following the instructions in the readme.txt file in the ZIP package.
• Install some homebrew - perhaps by using the Installotron, which you can run from eLoader (it doesn't work well in xLoader).
• Use the PatchSFO tool to ensure that your homebrew is ready for xLoader (see below for instructions).
• Now browse to your PSP's photo menu, and open the folder 'xLoader 280'. If everything has worked, you will see 2 file icons, one a round blue circle, the other a 'corrupt data' icon. So long as your PSP hasn't crashed at this point, then xLoader is now running.
• Alternatively, highlight the 'xLoader 280' folder and press START, to attempt a slideshow of the images in the folder. The PSP will complain that there are no pictures to show - this is OK, so long as the PSP hasn't crashed, then xLoader is now running.
• Browse to the homebrew you want to load, in the PSP's 'GAME - Memory Stick' folder, and press X or O (depending on your PSP region) to start it.
• The screen should go white, and then some text about eLoader appears briefly, followed by the homebrew starting. If your PSP crashes, then the homebrew you're trying to run is either not installed correctly, or it's not compatible with xLoader.

Some general info:

• There's plenty of useful and important information in the README file - click here to read it again (because of course you read it when you installed Kriek, right?).
• If you haven't downloaded it already, you should grab the PatchSFO utility (see below). You can also install it via Installotron. If you run PatchSFO, then you'll be able to at least attempt to run all your homebrew via xLoader. Without PatchSFO, the XMB won't even try to start most homebrew.
• Sometimes you'll find that the eLoader and xLoader TIFFs stop working. If that happens:
• Try running a disk checking tool on your memory stick. For Windows, you can use 'chkdsk', or the 'Properties - Tools - Error Checking' option that comes up if you right-click the memory-stick drive icon. On a Mac, you can try the 'First Aid' option of the Mac Disc Utility. This seems to fix about 95% of problems.
• Try reinstalling eLoader.
• Try starting with a different method - if you normally start with slideshow (using the START button, then try just opening the folder (with the X or O button) - and vice versa.
• eLoader will usually crash if you try to run it when xLoader is active. Just hold the power switch on your PSP for 5 seconds to reset it, then turn it back on again. This removes xLoader from memory.

Another thing to take notice in case you don't know, Installatron is only able to use the first access point configuration. So if you're not able to use Installatron properly, it would be wise to delete the rest of the access point configurations. We're hoping that Fanjita can fix that so that there's an access point selector, like in AFKIM or Links2. Until then though, you'll have to make do with the workaround.

Source: PSPUpdates & Noobz

PSP UMD door Mod: See your PSP's insides

Sometimes, it's the simple things that rock. The Swiss-made Sig-550 assault rifle for example swapped out standard issue tin rifle mags for a clear-plastic set, which not only made the gun lighter and more reliable (plastic doesn't dent like tin, hence less jams), but also allowed the trooper using it to just take a glance at the mag to see how much ammo he had left without having to rack the bolt and yank out the mag, as with what Solid had to do in his trailer (You know you want one, Snake).

As far-fetched as it sounds, we were thinking that when we picked up this short video clip cannae45 posted over at youtube. Nothing fancy here - he just remade his PSP UMD door with a viewing port, which allowed the user to get an eyeful of the UMD's metal cradle, and the title of whatever game he pops into the console. Sure, it ain't as pimpin' as a light-up door, or even a PSP port of the PS2 analog stick, but like we said, there's an elegance to subtle but practical mods like these we love. Enjoy the vid.

Check out the video here...

Source: PSPUpdates

PSX-P (PS1) Emulator v2 Released!

Yoshihiro, as promised, has released the second version of his PS1 emulator, PSX-P. The first release brought a lot of controversy as it "resembled" PacManFan's PSX emulator (beta) that was released previous to the first PSX-P release. Amidst all the previous controversy, Yoshihiro has agreed to release the source of this new version with the release. However, this one is not without its own controversy. An hour before it was supposed to be released (officially), it seems to have been "leaked" and many have downloaded it. However, no one is certain if this was the official version and our current reports show that it is not.

The first noticeable change is the increase in speed. The exact increase (percentage-wise) is unknown, but many have reported an increase of several frames over the previous release. This version also includes your basic frameskip option, and has increased compatibility from the initial testing reports.

Download HERE

Source: PSPUpdates

Gmax2PSP v5: now with C/C++ export powers

We missed Alatnet and his uber-useful 3D modeling application Gmax2PSP. He recently came back into the fray with version 4 of his program and less than 48 hours later, he's come up with Gmax2PSP v5.

For those who haven't heard of it, homebrewers can use this to make custom content for their games, so long as they're gmax-enabled. The big addition to version 5, as a result of popular demand, is the ability to export models from C/C++. Yes, homebrewers, it's the programming addition you've been waiting for, and it's ready for you to pick up and use at will.

Now, some words of advice.  You'll want to check out the version 4 forum thread for instructions on installing and using the program. It's always a good idea to know what you're getting into, else you could run the risk of harming your PSP. That being said, if you want to give him props for version 5, visit the v5 discussion thread, and if you want to report bugs and other errors that need addressing, visit the v4 discussion thread. Enjoy!

New Features:

• New layout.
• Export 3D models to CC++ code format:
• Export options include:
• Export models by world pos instead of by object pos.
• Export models that have textures.
• Export Target Cameras.
• Export models that have use Standard Materials or Multi-Materials.
• Export the code to a file (3ds max only!) or to the listener.
• Export models with helpful or detailed information such as:
• How many Vertexes, Edges, and Faces the model has.
• Labels where the materials are.
• Labels when the code of the model starts and ends.
• Labels the vertex of the model code.

Features To Come (hopefully):

• Export 3D models to PSPGL code format.
• Export Spotlight to Lua, CC++, or PSPGL code format.
• Export grouped 3D objects (whether model, camera, or spotlight).
• Export Animated Scenes.
• And possibly some more stuff.

Download HERE

Source: PSPUpdates

Firmware 2.80 - Flash0 Writing Confirmed!

In the wake of the recent PSX-P emulator release, Kando has been running around like a chicken in an IRC channel, uncovering (and confirming) some new information. This new information comes a few days after Fanjita's new eLoader (v0.995) and xLoader, and you guessed it, it uses the new eLoader to accomplish its feat! This feat is none other than the writing to Flash0 on your PSP. As of right now, custom gameboots have been flashed to a 2.80 PSP using xLoader (custom gameboots are illegally made, so please do not distribute them here).

Kando used a certain program (which we will not reveal for the safety of our readers, bricking is highly possible) to read and write files to the Flash0 on his PSP! With flash0 access, the first thing that was tested was the gameboots, and it succeeded without any hiccups! You can watch a video of the custom gameboot below -

So, now that we have this acccess, what can we do? With flash0 access, a user can create, and use custom gameboots, fonts, backgrounds and remove the signature wavy-thing on the PSP's XMB. As I am writing this article, several users (Freeplay, Jordan, Kando, NOPx86, vb_master, etc) are all discussing this new discovery and what they can potentially accomplish.

Check out the video...

Source: PSPUpdates