PSP custom firmware 3.03 OE-A released

Posted by multippt

Dark_Alex has put his magic to work once more, this time releasing his custom firmware 3.03 OE-A (”OE” stands for “open edition”). This custom firmware has the features of the PSP official firmware 3.03, except with the ability to run homebrew applications.

The installation of this custom firmware should be quite easy if you have installed the previous versions of the custom firmwares (especially the 3.02 OEs). In case you haven’t installed it yet, let us enlighten you with the steps:

1)Download the files
2)Copy the oeupdatemaker folders (”oeupdatemaker” and “oeupdatemaker%”) to the appropriate game folder in the PSP (”PSP/GAME” in 1.50, “PSP/GAME150″ in any other custom firmware)
3)Execute it via the PSP through the Game Menu in the PSP
4)There should be a file (named as DATA.PSAR) created under the “oeupdatemaker” folder
5)Check the integrity (or condition) of the file (DATA.PSAR) (via MD5 or SHA1 [MD5:03186D46D2F1B0ACD923098BEBC87281, SHA:3C80833A970EEA16A94D74DAFF6220889A9CEE4A])
===Now for the flashing part===
6)Copy the 303oeflasher folders (”303oeflasher” and “303oeflasher%”) to the appropriate game folder in the PSP
7)Move/Copy the generated file “DATA.PSAR” to the “303oeflasher” folder
8)Run the programme in the PSP. Be sure NOT to turn off the PSP (even if the progress appears to be stagnant) until it tells you to.
9)After rebooting, your PSP would be in 3.03 OE-A.
10)If you see a “blue screen” stating an error in many langauges, this is quite okay. Press the appropriate button to continue.

The changes are as followed:
-The changes from 3.02 to 3.03 in the official update
-Support for compression in PRX iso
-Fixes for a bug that prevented the region-free feature to work in 3.02 OE-B
-More bug fixes

Via Dark_Alex (himself) (alternatively, you can download the needed files from QJ.net)

Yet another PSP downgrader for firmware 2.80 (works on all PSPs)

Posted by multippt

Ookm has done yet another great job… this time creating the more stable downgrader for any PSP (includes TA-82 [can be checked using a special method] and TA-86 PSPs [Pink, blue, silver PSPs usually have this]). This downgrader downgrades the PSP’s firmware (from 2.80 ONLY) to a 2.71. This downgrader can be runned the xloader from noobz (the creators of the eloaders and xloaders). Note that this is not an official PSP application, and that it has a possibility that it would damage your PSP if used incorrectly (since the downgrader does write to the flash memory of the PSP).

Via QJ

Not to mention, there are several TA-82 PSP problems overcomed, and thus has allowed it to run firmware 1.50, and any other custom firmware (like 3.02 OE-B). (Of course, please do not try to downgrade your TA-82 PSP to firmware 1.50 [since a TA-82 PSP normally runs firmware 2.60 and above], or upgrade to a custom firmware, since it is very risky [especially the custom firmware part].)

Yet another Gmail vulnerability squished by Google

Posted by multippt

Google has patched up a vulnerability (due to a CSRF [cross site request forgery]) (within hours after it was reported) that would allow a malicious JavaScript (!) script to display the visitor (of the site with the malicious script) his or her Gmail contacts if he or she were still logged into their accounts. It is a little worrying that this bug existed since day 1, and it is even more worrying if you had confidential information within the contact list.

Google sure deserves credit for patching this vulnerability quickly on New Year’s day.

“New Year’s” Email worm on the loose

Posted by multippt

When you check your email inbox, be sure to check whether if the “new year”’s greeting in the form of an attachment is harmless. This worm is on the loose at the moment and still remains undetected as of the 28th of December, 2006 (this means that your anti-virus software can’t help you at the moment).

The worm comes in the form as an email attachment with the extension *.exe or *.zip (the file is usually called “postcard.exe” or “postcard.zip”). This worm is then installed when one opens the attachment, and the worm would then use the computer to spam other potential victims.

Via CNET

Gmail glitch causes mass email deletion

Posted by multippt

Google comfirmed on Friday that there were some users of Gmail (Google Mail) who had their email accounts cleaned out (in that all or some Email messages received before the 18th of December were deleted) by a glitch. It is likely that the wipeout is done deliberately. However, it is also possible that the email deletion may have been caused by an accident.

Fortunately, this problem affected a small percentage of Gmail users (0.0003%). In addition, Google is known for its security and reliability in its technologies (like Google search and Google Mail). Google has not released any other information behind the incident.

PSP users now can emulate firmware 3.03

Posted by multippt

Yay, booster (the creator of Devhook, the PSP firmware emulation application for the PSP) has released the latest version of his marvelous application. This new version (at version 0.52) is able to emulate firmware 3.03. The benefit is that the emulated firmware will allow us to play any 3.03-only PSP games (which aren’t out yet). However, the emulated firmware 3.03 has some limitations such as some PlayStation 1 emulator issues from prior firmwares.

To install the firmware (3.03) for emulation on the PSP, you would need a special PSAR dumper from team C+D.

This application isn’t an official product of Sony (in that it is homebrew software).

Via QJ.net

PSP custom firmware 3.02 OE-B released

Posted by multippt

Dark Alex recently released his custom firmware for the PSP, 3.02 OE-B. This custom firmware can only be upgraded from 3.02 OE-A, an earlier custom firmware made by him.

The change from 3.02 OE-A is as followed:
-Ability to play one’s own PlayStation 1 titles*

*Without the need for a PS3, waiting for a particular game to come out in the PLAYSTATION Store (accessed from the PS3), nor re-paying for the games you own. The emulator is still at the moment unable to play some games (and the problem can only be fixed by Sony).

Note that the PlayStation 1 game needs to be converted to a suitable format/file (from *.iso/*.img to POPS format) before it can be played on the PSP. Note that the resulting file tend to be alot larger than the ones from the PLAYSTATION Store (from the PS3).

Via QJ.net