ZX-81 continuing his mission to revive the classics with PSPCAP32, an update to the CPC emulator. PSPCAP32 is ported to the PSP from Caprice32, originally developed by Ulrich Doewich. It emulates the CPC home computer series — supporting CPC464, CPC664, and CPC6128 models.

v1.1.3 changes:

• Emulator menus reorganization (new menu for settings)
• New feature to save and load a distinct setting file for each games
• Delete files option (in the file selector)
• Add speed limiter option
• Screenshots are now saved in PNG format instead of BMP
• Multiple keyboard mappings feature developed by Pou-chan in PSPMSX: You can now toggle between 3 different keyboard mapping using LTrigger and RTrigger keys
• Add help menu!

Download: PSPCAP32 v1.1.3
(includes two binary versions — 2.5/2.6 & 1.5 FW, and source)

- source: ZX-81’s web site

joek2100’s mp3 module allowing in-game mp3 playback under FW 2.71 SE-B” has been updated to v0.3b — and the change log says…

• Added an independent volume button
• Should make startup faster
• Made the on screen display stay on when Note + Square is pressed
• Added volume and filename to the on screen display

Copy Install and PSP folders to the root of your memory stick.
Then run UMFR2 For GAME mode and/or UMFR2 For VSH(XMB) mode depending on where you want the module to be loaded.

Finally, the controls:
(The Note button is to the left of select)

• Note + Left Trigger = pause/resume playback
• Note + Right Trigger = switch playback mode between random and sequential
• Note + D-Pad Left = previous song (only in sequential mode)
• Note + D-Pad Right = next song
• Note + D-Pad Up = Volume up (for the mp3)
• Note + D-Pad Down = Volume Down (for the mp3)
• Note + Triangle = Change CPU speed
• Note + Square = Toggle On Screen Display (default off)
• Note + Circle = Reload list of mp3 files (needed if you change the files in the music folder using usb)
• Note + Cross = Change brightness level (from current up to maximum)

When READY is displayed in the bottom left hand corner, press Note+Left Trigger to start playback.

Enjoy!

Download: 2.71 SE-B” MP3 Module v0.3b

- source: joek2100

Update: Well that wasn’t long; Sony has quickly released FW 3.01, nothing new — just a security patch. You can fetch it now via Network Update.

Update: It’s out! Firmware 3.0 can now be downloaded via Network Update, or directly below.

Download: System Update 3.00

Sony has posted the PSP 3.00 firmware manual on their site. As detailed on qj, there are indeed a few hot topics, 2 of which are quite tempting; for some it may even be worth the upgrade — finally!

Remote Play - Remote play is a new feature in Firmware 3.00 that allows you to remotely control your PlayStation 3 from your PSP. This also includes the display of PS3 content on the PSP. “You can display a PLAYSTATION®3 system screen on a PSP™ system and play content that is on the PS3™ system. To use this feature, you must adjust the necessary settings on the PSP™ system and the PS3™ system.” Using this new mode of playback, one can control the Photo, Music, Video, and Internet Browser features of the PlayStation 3 from a remote location via their Playstation Portable.

Video Compatibility - In this updated version of the Playstation Portable firmware, you are also able to play a few new video formats. The Motion JPEG format (M-JPEG), is an “informal name for multimedia formats where each video frame or interlaced field of a digital video sequence is separately compressed as a JPEG image” (Wikipedia). The PlayStation Portable plays both the Linear PCM and the μ-Law versions of the Motion JPEG video format. In addition, you will now be able to access the Camera (functionality) from the photo option menus, for quicker easier access when taking photos or video. Another nifty function is the ability to finally turn off Auto Play for inserted UMD Discs via UMD Auto Boot. (Thanks zerojay)

PlayStation Games - Here’s the big tip you’ve been waiting for. Finally, Sony is going to drop their highly anticipated PlayStation One emulator onto the PSP. From the manual however, there seems to be a unavoidable catch. If you don’t have a PS3, your not going to be enjoying PlayStation One games emulating on Sony’s PlayStation One emulator for PSP anytime soon. From the manual it states that you must connect to the Playstation Online store with your PSP connected to the PlayStation 3 in order to download and play the games. In addition, they mention that you can in fact share the games, but you must activate the other system in the Friends menu as a PS3 Network Account.

3.00 Firmware Manual

- source: qj

A new version of PSPHost is available from danny_kay1710. v1.9 includes [experimental] 64-bit Windows support and is bundled with the appropriate drivers. Also you will notice some bugs have been ironed out.

If you’re a newcomer, you may want to check out previous PSPHost coverage to see what it’s all about — it’s quite the nifty application… Read here.

Download: PSPHost v1.9

- source: psp2k

Controversial developer, Yoshihiro, has released PSX-P Alpha 2, the Sony Playstation (PS1) emulator. It remains unplayable; yet some tremendous progress has been made with advancements to graphic rendering. The downfall — it’s still very slow and lacks sound. Nevertheless, a great improvement thus far.

If you’re really looking forward to PS1 emulation on the PSP, and you’re not too concerned about homebrew, I suggest waiting to see what Sony has in store for us come the release of FW 3.0.

In the meantime…

Download:
PSX-P Alpha 2
PSX-P Alpha 2 Source Code

- source: pspgen.com

4GB memory stick owners will be happy to know that ADePSP’s Screen\Video Capture Module is now supported with the new release of v0.4! Aside from that, ADePSP has noted he does not and will not support the version of SVCapture obtained from the Spanish website that was reported on QJ and elsewhere. Supported releases can be found on the official SVCapture Website. Furthermore, an official [and working] 2.71 SE version is currently in development and should be available in the near future.

If you find yourself asking, “what is this again?” Here’s the overview:

This is a module for Devhook that extends the functionality of the existing screenshot module. Taking and modifying the code for the Video Recorder from the LCS CheatDevice by Edison Carter I have adapted it into a prx module so it can be used with DevHook.

You are no longer limited to taking animated GIF clips in Liberty City Stories. It can now be done in any game you like. You can even capture out of game clips such as game menus, loading animations and even the XMB.

You can record video in normal mode (half the screen size) or advanced mode (full or quarter screen size) and video files will be saved to the PSP/PHOTO/SVCPlayer folder where as bmp screenshots will be saved to the PSP/PHOTO folder. It is recommended you use normal mode or advanced mode in QUARTER_SIZE for videos as advanced mode in FULL_SIZE slows the game down a lot and makes it difficult to play.

There is a homebrew player for these uncompressed animated gifs now included called the SVC Player. You can find it in the MemoryStick option on the PSP XMB menus. The player can playback all the file sizes supported by the Screen\Video Capture Module but the files MUST be uncompressed. If you edit any of the files or even just save them with another program then they will no longer be playable with the SVC Player.

Download: Screen\Video Capture Module v0.4

Update: ZX-81… in and out… v1.0.1 final is here!

• Add Sound support!
• Add Render modes (Normal, x1.25, x1.5)
• Add a second joystick
• Clean Virtual Keyboard
• Code cleaning

Do you remember the Thomson TO7-70 home computer? I sure as hell don’t, but ZX-81 does, and he’s bringing it back! Ported from the original developments of Sylvain Huet and Eric Botcazou is PSPThom.

Thom is one of the best emulator of the Thomson home computer running on MacOS, Windows and Unix. The emulator faithfully imitates the TO7-70 model (see here)

PSPTHOM is a port on PSP of the version 1.5.5 of Thom.

Complete usage details are in README.txt. As well if you’re on the hunt for TO7-70 roms, check here.

Download: PSPTHOM v1.0.1

- source: ZX-81’s web site

takka has ported the latest KAI release of gpSP to firmware 2.80. Simply load with eLoader v0.995 and you’re good to go! This version is identical to the previous KAI 2.4 release — including all the bug fixes. gpSP will automatically set the clock speed to 300MHz for optimal performance.

Download:
gameplaySP 0.8 KAI 2.4 (for FW 2.80)
eLoader “Kriek” v0.995

- source: takka’s wiki

Birdman1 has released an update to his popular Font Pack. And great news, with the use of the latest eLoader “Kriek” and Skylark’s registry hacks, 2.80 owners can now flash custom fonts with ease!

Pack 11 includes:

• 135 fonts.
• Corresponding images for each font.
• X-flash 16 for 1.5/2.71 SE.
• Fonthacker TIFF program for 2.0-2.8.
• Installation method for Devhook.
• Registries for firmwares 2.0-2.8.

Download:
Reg. Hacks
eLoader v0.995 “Kriek”
Birdman1’s Custom Font Pack

Birdman, he’s fly in any weather.

- source: psp3d

Update: My bad, this only works with FW 1.50.

Sorry for the lack of updates; I’ve been playing PS3 for the last several hours and quite frankly there hasn’t been much released anyway. But this sparked my interest, and will serve a useful purpose for those who wish to prevent unauthorized access to their PSP — Boot Protector! This PRX comes from developer “Access_Denied” and when enabled/flashed you will be prompted to enter a password each time your PSP boots. It only works with firmware 1.50 — do not flash with any other FW!

This is a password program that locks your PSP when booting from a coldboot.
It uses Dark_Alex’s Custom firmware to run.
Everything else was coded by me.
*WARNING* This program writes to the flash of your PSP and has the potention to render it useless. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! The Folders “Custom Firmware Flasher” and “Password Program Flasher” can be deleted after installing once. However, you might want to keep the Config Flasher to flash the config file in the future. The new config.txt must be in the memory stick root.
-Access_Denied

The default password is noted in Readme.txt.

Download: Boot Protector

P.S. I challenge anyone to a game of Call of Duty 3 (for the PS3) — add me, GregCube. And you should check out ps3-hacks.com.

- source: Access_Denied & qj