Hacking the PSP Blog

A Simple Memory stick PRO Duo Mod

In the mood for a memory stick pro duo mod? We were informed by Henry Eng (thanks for that!) about a memory stick PRO Duo mod that will allow you to use the Memory Stick PRO Duo on card readers that requires an adapter. This will be helpful if you lost your adapter or don't have or can't afford one. But before we go down to the nitty-gritty of things, you should know that you will take full responsibility if anything happens to your Memory Stick. So with that aptly stated, off we go to the procedures.

1. Cut off about 5 inches of scotch tape.
2. Tape one end, about half an inch, of the scotch tape on to the end of the Memory Stick PRO Duo.
3. Place the paperclip end to end with the Memory Stick PRO Duo on the tape.
4. Bring the remaining tape around the clip and tape it on the other side of the memory stick PRO Duo.
5. Take about 1 inch of tape and secure around the memory stick PRO Duo and the paperclip.
6. Use the paperclip and push the memory stick in, make sure it is align with the slot.

Just a few reminders:

• It might get stuck if you don't tape it right.
• It might crack and break your memory card, a slim chance but there is the risk.
• It will not work with cameras or any other device that requires a Memory Stick PRO.

Source: PSPUpdates & Wikihow

Flash Coding Contest from FITC and Silver Platter

A contest being ran by FITC and the indie UMD label Silver platter sees you - the ordinary flash coder - coding something amazing to utilize a PSP Keyboard which is coming to the PSP in Spring next year. Yes, a PSP Keyboard is finally on its way! FITC and Silver Platter have teamed up for a contest dubbed as 'Type This' to find the coolest Flash applications in order to give away an amazing stash of prizes.

The winning Flash application will be bundled with the keyboard and PSP on UMD, or downloaded using the PSP's WiFi connection. There are no limits to the amount of times you enter, as long as your Flash application is designed to fit on the PSP's screen and would utilize a PSP keyboard. Here's the list of prizes you could be in with a chance of winning:

1st Place winner

• Your Flash piece will be bundled with the new keyboard released for the PSP in spring 2007!
• The Action Pack, only from Silver Platter which includes:

            One (1) PSP and Three (3) UMDs

• One years Supply of new UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear Amp Speakers, PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case (Customized with your APP!)
• Two full tickets to FITC Hollywood 2006 (or two tickets to FITC Toronto 2007)

2nd Place Winner

• One (1) year Supply of new UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case

3rd Place Winner

• Five UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case

This is a very unique opportunity to win yourself some great prizes, let alone the priceless prize of your application being bundled with a new PSP keyboard set for release next year. We've been waiting for one for so long so roll on the PSP Keyboard!

Source: PSPUpdates

EA swapping out bugged NCAA UMDs

A bug where the ball had been taken back to the spot of initial contact when you run past the defense in NCAA football 07 for the PSP has been angering gamers recently. As a result, worldwide publisher Electronic Arts are replacing the bugged NCAA UMDs for free. The new replacements are guaranteed to be bug-free and you can get your hands on one by sending the defective UMD to:


EA Customer Warranty
Attn: NCAA PSP
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, CA 94065

You also have to include your name, Address, E-mail address and Phone number somewhere in the package. It does take around 10 business days to receive the replacement disk, but in compensation EA are including coupons worth $15 off your next purchase at the EA Store as well as free shipping on that order for anyone affected. Obviously, EA's beta testing was a bit flawed for the game to get to the mass-production phase before this bug was noticed. We guess it could have been worse, at least the disk contained NCAA and not an adult movie.

Source: PSPUpdates & EA

0okm Releases More Info About the TA-082 Downgrader!

From PSPUpdates:

As D-Day for TA-082ers comes closer and closer, we're getting more info about how the whole process will work. 0okm has given answers for a small list of questions. I'll quote him first:

Will I be able to update to 2.0 and then down to 1.5 again to get a clean firmware? (whats the difference between clean and unclean 1.5 anyway?)
No, just like PSP-1007 can't run FW1.50 Update EBOOT.PBP, TA-082 can't run FW1.50 - FW2.50 Update EBOOT.PBP. And I don't want to release the "clean FW1.50 image file"(that is illegal !!). So i need time to make a "Write software" that can generate "clean FW1.50" :P

Will I be able to upgrade to 3.0 when PS1 emulator comes out?
Yes, TA-082 can run FW2.60/FW2.70/FW2.71/FW2.80 and above Update EBOOT.PBP files.

How do you intend to manually downgrade hundreds of PSPs if it takes 45 minutes to do each one?
I think each day I can help up to 5 TA-082 users to softdown :P

Alright, so the method is a bit cumbersome, and will take a bit of time. But you know what? At least all of you guys will get custom-made firmware images from  one of the best, erm, developers in the scene; you can't go wrong with them. Secondly,  one day, the image creator and clean firmware image might even leak onto the web. *hint*

First Glimpse of the PSP Camera, GPS Unit

Many of you thought you'd have to wait until next month to set your eyes on the GPS module for the PSP. Well wait no longer. It seems as though some pictures of the upcoming accessories have leaked onto the web. Pictured below is a pink PSP pictured with the camera and a black PSP with the GPS module.



Source: Gizmodo