Homebrew developer Jack has updated PSPvista to version 0.6. This version of the application adds some nifty changes and features including new graphics for the program and the ability for users to create their own bios. For more information about this latest release, head on over to the full article.

Download: PSPvista v0.6

Homebrew developer notaz has ported PicoDrive to the PSP. Based on Dave's (fdave, finalburn) PicoDrive 0.30 for Pocket PC and Stephane Dallongeville's Gens,  this application is an emulator for Sega Genesis/ Megadrive and Sega CD/ Mega CD games.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article for details on PicoDrive for the PSP.

Especially tailored for the new custom firmware by M33 (a.k.a. Dark AleX), Custom Firmware Extender at version 1.6 is almost at the point of full functionality. Almost. Homebrew developer Cpasjuste took the time to make the plugin set work "almost normally" for M33's 3.71 CFW and it may exhibit some limitations in connectivity.

Like Custom Firmware Extender version 1.5, version 1.6 will allow you to stream ISOs via USB from your computer's secondary storage (usbhostfs), but only through Linux. Those without the space to spare for an extra Linux partition would do better to create a Live disk instead and set their computer's BIOS boot hierarchy to jump-start the optical drive first.

The UMD mode in contrast works well in both Windows and flavors of Linux, though your PlayStation Portable should be running in Normal UMD mode. You can reset this at the Recovery of CFW 3.71 M33, and usage instructions, along with installation instructions, are included in the detailed documentation bundled with the archive.

Download: Custom Firmware Extender v1.6
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forum

A stream of kudos goes to x1 - Jerry for pointing us toward Cpasjuste's way.

To ease the pain of having to install different emulators one by one, you might want to try out Emulators Easy Installer by PSP homebrew coder Mahfood1990. What it does, as one would expect, is install multiple emulators at once.

Instructions are easy to follow, and this convenient application allows you to specify which firmware you've got so it can place the emulators in the right folders. To include BIOS files necessary for certain emulators during installation (BIOS files are not included in this release, users will have to get those themselves), just leave them in the same directory where this app's installer is located. Just make sure to tag them with these file names:

• GBA BIOS named "gba_bios.bin"
• NEO GEO BIOS named "neogeo.zip"
• NEO GEO CD BIOS named "NeoCD.bin"

The download is already loaded with various emulators, but again, BIOS files are not in the package. To find the installation instructions and more pertinent info about Emulators Easy Installer from Mahfood1990, check out the actual release thread by heading over the Visit link below.

Download: Emulators Easy Installer
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forums

We're already driving into the weekend, expecting to hit the usual slowdown on updates, however, recent developments in the QJ forums (thanks for the tip, Glynnder!) have made us think that this is probably one of the homebrew community's most intense weeks in a long time. The OE source code, Team Wildcard's 3.40 LE CFW, Dark AleX actively talking to Sony, and now... a Nintendo DS Emulator on the PSP.

For all intents and purposes though, and right off the bat, we'd have to say that we can't host the download. One of the main reasons is that the emulator taps into the BIOS - thus leading to its illegality - and the second reason being its infantile stage. We hear the emulator isn't working all that perfect; running games ends up in lock ups and glitches.

So right now, we'd just have to report about its existence, and for the sake of discussion, talk about the implications. One of the biggest hurdles here, of course, is that, how would a DS emulator work without the DS' biggest features: the touchscreen? The experience of getting to play the real Nintendo DS will be watered down in an emulated Nintendo DS on the PSP, but see, isn't that what emulators are defined as?

We know you have a lot of questions, proclamations, and out bursts of joy. So we'll leave you with two options: 1) you may comment below, or 2) proceed to the forum thread for an in-depth discussion. However. Please bear in mind that we will not tolerate any links, information, or other details on where or how to get ROMs and illegal files.

Many thanks to Glynnder for sending in the tip!

Visit: PSP Development Forums

The team behind the much-talked about modchip PSP-Devolution said it best, "it's taken longer than expected". Those who have been following the development of this one know fully well that the said chip has had several tentative release dates before.

Anyway, PSP-Devolution is yet again promising a new release date for the modchip: June 13 to be exact. The good thing about this one, if it turns out to be true, is that the chip can downgrade any PlayStation Portable unit regardless of its firmware type. More accurately described as a "USB-JTAG Programmer for a lot of NAND FLASH ICs", some if its abilities include:

• Flash your PSP using the internal USB Port
• No additional USB Port required
• Latest ACTEL ProASIC 3 technology
• NO power consumption
• Doesn't touch the battery power in any way, powered by USB for the time being used to flash the PSP
• Pre-assembled hi-tech flex PCB for easiest possible connection to the psp mainboard
• Works on all available PSP versions incl. the new TA-082 and TA-086
• Custom BIOS with a lot of cool additional features (tba)

Pre-orders for PSP-Devolution modchip are currently priced for US$ 75.95. If you are interested, the Read link below should take you to Mod-Chip's product page for the said chip.

In case you've forgotten, we would like to remind you that PSP-Devolution's USB-JTAG Programmer for a lot of NAND FLASH ICs (aka modchip) is finally available. Actually, sales started last April 16 and will end on April 20. The delay was caused by an important improvement involving a 4-layer technology that makes the chip even smaller.

Also, the team behind this creation mentioned that the chip has actually two versions. The first one is a 3.3V version that works for PlayStation Portable (PSP) motherboards TA-079 to TA-081. The other one is a 1.8V version that is compatible to TA-082+ boards. That means TA-086 users are covered too.

We've already posted the PSP-Devolution modchip features before but for the benefit of those who missed it, we listed them down again below.

• Flash your PSP using the internal USB Port
• No additional USB Port required
• Latest ACTEL ProASIC 3 technology
• NO power consumption
• Doesn't touch the battery power in any way, powered by USB for the time being used to flash the PSP
• Pre-assembled hi-tech flex pcb for easiest possible connection to the psp main board
• Works on all available PSP versions incl. the new TA-082 and TA-086
• Custom BIOS with a lot of cool additional features

It's taken longer than expected, but the team behind PSP-Devolution, a new modchip for the Sony PSP handheld system, have finally announced a release date. According to PSP-Devolution.com, sales of the PSP-Devolution modchip should commence on April 16.

The delays are apparently due to "some important improvements" that needed to be done in order to ensure top performance from the modchip. The developers of the modchip also say that they have made the PSP-Devolution modchip smaller by using 4 layer technology.

All resellers who have expressed interest in the PSP-Devolution modchip will be informed of the release details via email. New inquiries are also welcome. If you missed our previous post regarding the PSP-Devolution modchip, here's a list of its features:

• Flash your PSP using the internal USB Port
• No additional USB Port required
• Latest ACTEL ProASIC 3 technology
• Low power consumption
• Works on all available PSP versions incl. TA-082 and TA-086
• Custom BIOS with a lot of cool additional features
• Easy to install
• Just a bit of soldering skills required, no hardcore installation

Thanks to Rok for the tip!

The whole Takka-Exophase fiasco has gone too far, and we need to clear up the details before the whole matter gets muddled up by more misunderstanding. First of all, QJ did not intend to cause a ruckus by taking down Takka's gpSP v0.8 kai 2.9 article and by saying that Exophase did not give Takka his permission to use the code to the gpSP app, implying that it was at Exophase's request that we removed the post.

Exophase did not request to have the post and the file taken down. We decided to take down the article on Takka's version of the GBA emulator because of an overwhelming outcry from a lot of users who thought that having the post removed would be best, based on Exophase's expression of displeasure over the said app. And although we understand their sentiment to protect Exophase and his creation, most of these people thought that having the article taken down was what Exophase wanted. In fact, it wasn't what the dev wanted.

Exophase's gpSP was released under GPL, so the use of the code would be "permitted", legal. What Exophase wanted was not to have the file and post taken down. He only wanted Takka to consult with him or inform him about what direction he (Takka) would be taking Exophase's code before grabbing the code and releasing his own version of the app.

We admit that we, too, are at fault. By posting this article, we stated that Takka used Exophase's gpSP code without permission, and we implied that Takka "stole" the code. (Like we just said here, the code to gpSP was released under GPL for common use.) Our statement and our action have now caused a lot of people to take sides.

We are sorry if our actions - based also on the users' reactions - have caused this little misunderstanding between Exophase and Takka to be exaggerated. Again, we're sorry.

In order to avoid a repeat of this incident, we encourage devs who might have issues with their apps or games posted in QJ to contact us.

We've provided links to the file and the source code we previously removed from the site. The complete changelog can be found at "Full Article".

Download: [gpSP v0.8 kai 2.9]
Download: [gpSP v0.8 kai 2.9 Source Code]

QJ Admin: This post has been removed due to increasing reports of the information being inaccurate. The general consensus is that PSX-P does not write to flash memory or perform any other "hidden actions". Our sincerest apologies to Yoshihiro and any other people/projects that were related to the information that was in the article.

Please note that this post was made at MyQJ - a section of QJ.NET that is open for anyone to write their own articles. When these articles reach a certain number of Jumps, they are automatically transferred here to PSP Updates. This article was not written by QJ.NET staff and did not reflect the opinions of this site.

Please be patient as we try to fine tune our system to allow MyQJ'ers freedom to discuss topics of their choice, but at the same time retain the integrity and accuracy that you expect from PSP Updates and QJ.NET