Hacking the PSP Blog

HEN and Downgrader for Firmware 3.50 Now Available!

The Noobz team has done it again! Just days after releasing information and a proof of concept of a buffer overflow exploit in Lumines save game files, they've released a ported Homebrew Enabler and downgrader for firmware 3.50. Here's the official word from Fanjita that was posted on Noobz.eu:

This downgrader is for v3.50 firmware, and includes a port of the Homebrew ENabler (HEN) for firmware 3.50. It will automatically detect all known PSP motherboard types, and do the appropriate steps to ensure a safe downgrade.

Before we get started, let's have the obligatory warnings:

Any downgrader carries some risk of permanently damaging your PSP.  We've done everything we can to remove as much danger as possible, but if you choose to use this downgrader, you are accepting all of the risk involved. Nobody else will be held responsible for any damage to your PSP, howsoever caused.

Recent Sony official firmwares (3.30 onwards) have included checks that block upgrade from previously-downgraded PSPs with TA-082 or later motherboards.  If you use this downgrader on such a PSP, you will lock yourself out of official firmware updates - although you will still be able to use new OE firmwares when they are released. We intend to release a tool to allow a return to official firmwares in the future.

This software is provided free of charge, so that you can use legitimate homebrew on your PSP.  You are explicitly prohibited from selling it, or using it to pirate commercial games or applications.  If you want to play a commercial game, do the decent thing and support the developers by buying it.  If you don't, then YOU are contributing to the death of the PSP software industry.

To use this downgrader, you will need the following:

1. A PSP, upgraded to the official Sony v3.50 firmware.  You should also set your language settings to "English".
2. A legal Lumines UMD, either the EU (ULES00043) or US (ULUS10002) version. The original, Platinum, or Greatest Hits versions are all fine.  Support for the Japanese version will come soon.
3. Sufficient intelligence and english language skills to be able to carefully and throroughly read the instructions.
4. It would also help if you've previously run the Illuminati Hello World, so that you're familiar with how to run the Illuminati exploit.

For instructions on how to run the downgrader, see the Downgrader_HOWTO.txt file in the ZIP.

Future plans?  Firstly, we intend to provide a solution for people who are stuck on firmware 3.10 or 3.11, unable to upgrade to 3.50 due to the new Sony checks.  The exact format of that solution is still to be decided.  We also intend to develop an eLoader for v3.50 HEN, so that those who do not want to downgrade will still be able to run some homebrew.

As well as the work from the Noobz team, credit is due to the following people:

1. Everyone who has contributed to the ps2dev.org toolchain, without which none of the Noobz software would ever have been possible
2. Archaemic for his original input into the Illuminati exploit, and JoeK for work on the kernel exploit
3. Dark_AleX and Mathieulh, for their work on custom firmwares, HEN and the downgrader core
4. The various websites who continue to develop and support the homebrew community.  You know who you are, and we're not going to stir up site politics by mentioning any specific sites. Wink

If you don't yet have a copy of Lumines, you can buy it from Amazon using one of the links below. Doing so will help us out, by automatically donating a small percentage of the purchase price to us, at no cost to yourself.

WARNING: Firmware modifications can potentially damage your PSP beyond repair. Use this at your own risk.

Download Downgrader for 3.50 Firmware

Sony follows Apple's lead with in-store support

Sony on Tuesday unveiled Backstage, a new addition to the company's Sony Style retail shops that adds in-store support for the first time. Unofficially taking its cue from the Genius Bars at Apple stores, the service supports both technical help and consultations: owners of VAIO desktops or notebooks can take them in for diagnosis or part replacements, but can also help customers transition to a new PC both before and after money has changed hands. Customers can get help choosing the right system, Sony says, and also have the choice of transfering data from an old PC (up to 100GB), installing RAM upgrades, or performing general system maintenance.

Prices for the services are unknown, though out-of-warranty service will be an option for an extra fee. Backstage is available as of this week at Sony Style outlets in New York City's Manhattan store, as well as New Jersey-based stores in Edison, Garden City, and Paramus; stores in Boston, Providence (Rhode Island), and White Plains (New York) will also receive the treatment by next week. A total of 15 stores should have the option by the end of 2007.

June 26, 2007

Source: Electronista

Lumines at Wal-Mart for...$0.10?

Chances are this won't, or didn't, last very long but looks like some lucky Wal-Mart customer was able to snag a copy of the now exploitable game Lumines from a bargan bin walk out for a mere $0.12 after sales tax. Apparently the bin was labeled at $11.83 but the game scanned for just $0.10, so maybe some will have, or have had, the same luck. Check out the image of the receipt below.




Via DCEmu