Are you having problems with the infrared features of your 3.80 CFW-powered Sony PSPs when using homebrews such as PSPWrite or AFKIM? Worry no more as homebrew developer Angelo of the unofficial piKey team has released IrDA (infrared) Patcher to solve these issues. More details over at the full article.

Download: IrDA (infrared) Patcher

An update to Danzel's AFKIM Instant Messenger for the Sony PSP is now released, thanks to homebrew developer zx-81. This version addresses several bugs, including the "resolving" loop message that seemed to crop up in the application's version 3.3.3. Check out the rest of the changelog in the full article.

Download:  AFKIM: Instant Messenger for PSP v3.3.4
Visit: Zx-81's Homebrew Releases in QJ's PSP Forums

Still having trouble connecting with Danzel's universal IM client for the Sony PlayStation Portable, AFKIM? Then have no fear, as homebrew developer Zx-81 has just rolled out yet another version that should hopefully fix whatever bugs are still getting in the way of your Instant Messaging experience. Check out all the details in the full article.

Download: AFKIM v3.3.3
Visit: Zx-81's Homebrew Releases at the QJ.NET Forums

Want to keep in touch with your friends everywhere you go? Either get a cellphone, or get Danzel's AFKIM, the Sony PlayStation Portable homebrew that lets you send and receive instant messages from clients such as Yahoo Messenger, GTalk, ICQ and more. And in this update from Zx-81, we get wind of a very nasty bug that's been promptly squashed with this new version. All the details in the full article.

Download: AFKIM v3.3.2
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development Forums

Since homebrew developer zx-81 mentioned before that he'll stop working on Danzel's AFKIM, we're quite delighted to find out that a new version of the nifty PSP instant messenger app surfaced. AFKIM version 3.3.0 brings new updates for everyone who love their IM services on the go.

For those still scratching their heads in wonder, AFKIM (or Away From the Keyboard Instant Messenger) is a universal messenger client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, GTalk, and Yahoo!, among others. To get the most out of this convenient chat program, don't forget muse over the Readme files that come with the download.

Aside from new design and other functions, here are some new features in this release (from the readme):

• Add iso 8859-1 font/characters compatibility (useful for French, Spanish, German etc ... )
• Add modified version of Danzeff Keyboard with iso 8859-1 characters
• Code cleaning

Download: AFKIM v3.3.0
Visit: ZX-81's Homebrew Releases forum

  

If you've ever wanted to chat on popular messaging clients with your PSP but haven't found the right software, this is for you. The PSPcc v1.0 by Johnny Rainbow is a chat client written in LUA which supports MSN, AIM, ICQ, Yahoo!, and Gtalk.

This PSP homebrew application has quite a plethora of features that users will definitely appreciate such as being able to add multiple accounts on different networks and be simultaneously logged into all of them and listening to your MP3s while chatting. Here's a short list of the features of the program.

Key Features:

• Simultaneous use of multiple accounts on different networks
• Ridiculously skinnable interface
• Mp3 playback, remote support
• Audio alerts for new message, sign-ins, etc.
• Chat-logging (can be disabled, like most features)
• Three original skins included + AFKIM skin
• Uses the faster "danzeff" typing system (custom)

Sounds too good to be true doesn't it? Why don't you download the program below and try it out? Be sure to go over the readme file before doing anything. It should noted though that if the homebrew isn't working with your wireless network, you can try using the Patched WLAN version of the program.

Download: PSPcc v1.0 unpatched
Download: PSPcc v1.0 patched WLAN

  

Homebrew application AFKIM has really gone through a lot of changes. For those of you who are hearing about this for the first time, the application originally belongs to Denzel and its purpose is to let users send instant messages using the PSP. Speaking of changes, the last version came from Zx-81 with an improved IR keyboard handler.

Today, homebrew developer cubiCPixel dropped by QJ.NET PSP Development forum and released his own take on AFKIM v3.2.1. According to the developer, nothing really was changed except for the redesigned graphics to match MSN Live's look and the addition of a new Eboot.

Aside from the already mentioned, cubiCPixel also added a seplugins folder containing the plugin "irsmp3.prx". This one adds the following functionalities:

• Works perfect with 3.40oe in AFKIM (and other homebrew for that matter);
• Targus keyboard still compatible;
• You get to lower the CPU speed with it and listen to music while chatting;
• Runs smoothly at 110 MHz, saves lots of battery;
• Internet connection is stable, psp gets less hot;
• On screen display of music fits ok in the menus.

Take note that to be able to use this one, you will be needing the FW 3.XX build of AFKIM v3.2.1. Also, cubiCPixel's creation comes with an extensive Readme file so don't forget to browse through that one first before installing this on your PlayStation Portable unit.

Download: AFKIM v3.2.1 Live Skin with MP3 support
Download: AFKIM v3.2.1 (FW 3.xx)
Visit: QJ PSP Development forum

Zx-81 has once again released a new version of Danzel's AFKIM Instant Messenger for the Sony PSP. It's now at version 3.2.1 and now has an improved IR keyboard handler. IR keyboard support was first added in version 3.2.

For those of you who have just gotten into the PSP homebrew scene, AFKIM, as the name suggests, lets you send instant messages using your PSP. To make typing your messages easier, AFKIM now supports IR keyboards, with testing done on a Targus IR Wireless keyboard.

This will apparently be zx-81's last contribution to AFKIM. Before you install this on your PSP, please read the readme file included in the download. Also, take please note of the following announcement from zx-81:

Previous versions of AFKIM (v3.1 and earlier) works fine with the Pikey driver (IR keyboard driver from Fanjita), so if you have Pikey already installed on your PSP, this version is may be useless (more stable ?).

If you want to use AFKIM v3.2.1 and you have Pikey installed you should disable it while launching this version.

Download: AFKIM v3.2.1 for FW 1.5
Download: AFKIM v3.2.1 for FW 3.x
Download: AFKIM v3.2.1 source code
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forum thread

From the looks of, PSP homebrew developer zx-81 is taking a break from his own crop of applications to provide contributions for other apps. For the guys using AFKIM application, this means you're getting treated to a special upgrade to v3.2

This latest version of Danzel's instant messaging service app now support for an IR-keyboard, and has been successfully tested on the Targus Universal IR Wireless (keyboard).

As a last note, zx-81 warns users that the new keyboard support only works inside the messenger window - guys interested in discussing this and other matters are invited to visit zx-81's thread here at our QJ.Net forums. Usage instructions and installation details should be available in the readme.

Download: AFKIM 3.2 with IR keyboard support
Visit: zx-81's Homebrew Releases at the QJ.Net Forums

UPDATE: Going over the Noobz site, we found out that they have released an updated version of piKey v0.2. Apparently, the earlier release contained a bug in the Danzeff plugin which caused it not to work. The bug has now been fixed so go ahead and download the updated version of piKey v0.2 through our download link below. We here at QJ thank rc_square24 for pointing us to the right direction!

Download: piKey v0.2 (updated)

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The homebrew app which lets you use a keyboard on your PSP is back, fresh from the coding labs of the Noobz Team. Fanjita just rolled piKey v0.2 out on their site, and we're serving it up for grabs in QJ-landia. For those who are new to this, piKey (also done with harleyg's help) is a keyboard driver that allows you to input data into your PSP by using a keyboard.

It's been said before that an "IR keyboard is your best option since USB keyboard support will likely be impossible." While this release still doesn't have USB support (if ever there will be), here's the full changelog, complete with new features and additions:

• A new keypress mode, which allows more natural use of the keyboard in action games etc. The default mode is now keypress mode, and the keyboard will switch automatically to text input mode when required.
• Custom key-to-button assignment - so now you can define WASD buttons for FPS game movement, as well as cursor keys for XMB movement, for instance.
• Support for mapping keypresses to analog joystick movements.
• Support for converting keypresses into Danzeff OSK presses - so now you can use your physical keyboard with homebrew that uses the Danzeff virtual keyboard - e.g. AFKIM.
• Installer now fixed to correctly install to flash0, to support GAME150 homebrew.
• Palm UW keyboard ought to at least partially work, but I can't test it myself.
• Optional on-screen status information.
• Various minor bugfixes.

Specifics of the bugfixes can be found in the readme. Here are some known bugs and other developer notes:

• Multilingual support isn't great. Especially, the Sony OSK uses different key layouts for different regions, these are not correctly supported yet.
• The Danzeff plugin occasionally misses keypresses when you type a lot of text at once.
• When putting the PSP in standby, piKey doesn't usually recover properly when power is restored.
• It has only been tested on 3.10 OE firmware. It ought to work on other OE firmwares, but I haven't tested it myself.

We stress the importance of reading the docs folder included in the bundle. All you need to know and more is found there in the user guide. Make sure you do use it. Since this driver involves having to write and install onto flash, make sure you know what you're doing or you might stand the risk of BRICKING YOUR PSP.

Visit: QJ PSP Development Forums