Homebrew developer IndianCheese has just updated his PSP application known as ControlPanel v340a. This creation was originally intended to be used for flash space only but the developer was able to transform it into a program that can be used when updating to an OE firmware.

One of the many features that comes with ControlPanel v340a is the ability to restore current themes. As we all know, themes get erased whenever we update. This program allows you to backup your themes first, update, then restore the said themes back again after the process.

Aside from the already mentioned, IndianCheese added that ControlPanel can free flash space. This specific feature is really important because users who want it can finally install the LocationFree player. It should be remembered that the feature was removed by DAX before in his projects because of limited flash space.

Like the name implies, this application should be used with custom firmware 3.40 OE-A. IndianCheese mentioned as well that he will continue updating this application to make it compatible with future firmwares.

Download: ControlPanel v340a

Many of you may have noticed the one annoying thing about DevHook: that it freezes when you try to run firmware 2.71 at 333Mhz in the Devhook menu. Although some of you may have already figured this out, IndianCheese has posted a little trick that allows you to run emulated firmware 2.71 using DevHook at 333Mhz without it freezing just by using Ahman's legendary shell application, iR Shell. Here it is:

1. Run iR Shell.
2. Press R+Start repeatedly until the PSP is clocked up to 333mhz (Check the green numbers at the top of the screen).
3. Run Devhook 0.46 through iR Shell.
4. Choose "CPU Speed".
5. Choose 333/166.
6. Choose "Start".
7. The PSP will successfully boot 2.71 firmware clocked at 333mhz.

This workaround is quickest for iR Shell regulars who put their PSP on sleep in iR Shell in order to bypass the PSPs XMB when turning it on, but there is also another workaround. You can just start devhook then hold home and hit select until you get to 333mhz, which also doesn't crash the PSP.

We guess it is because the PSP doesn't like you changing it to 333Mhz when you boot up in 2.71, maybe due to a bit of Sony's security coding during 2.71 startup. Anyhow, either of these 2 methods will enable you to boot up firmware 2.71 in DevHook at 333Mhz without crashing, just use whichever method is quickest for you. Just remember - running your PSP at 333Mhz drains your battery much quicker than at 222Mhz!

IndianCheese has stumbled upon a very interesting find: a way to use the PSP's Game Sharing ability to launch games such as Namco Battle Museum using just one UMD. Utilising Ahman's latest iR Shell version, he made a couple of steps and was able to play a game without the UMD inside his PSP. Here's what he did:

1. Fire up a 1.50 PSP (Cause you need to use Ahman's iR Shell for this).
2. Load your handheld with a UMD supporting Game Sharing and an UPLOAD.DAT file inside (you'll find out later why). He tried using the Namco Battle Museum.
3. Run iR Shell (link below) and access the following directories:

• Open the UMD Folder (press Square twice to get to ms0:/ and then press Cross on "..", then go into disc0:/)
  
• Inside of the UMD folder, go into /PSP_GAME
• Find the /USRDIR folder and open it
• Inside, choose DAT folder
  
• Copy UPLOAD.DAT to your memory stick (L+Square, then Select to copy the file. Navigate to ms0:/ and press L+Select to Paste the file to the root of your memory stick.)
  

5. Rename the pasted file (UPLOAD.DAT) to UPLOAD.BIN (L+Select, then Rename)
6. Once the file is renamed, select it in iR Shell and press X to run it.
7. If everything was done correctly, the game should start minus the UMD.

This is quite a great find, especially when one of you doesn't have the UMD with them. All you have to do is follow the said process and take the game home with you, without having to borrow the UMD copy itself (removing the age-old "Give me back my game, we're not friends anymore" scenario). For now we haven't checked to see what Game Sharing applicable games can be used with this (we wanted to share it with you guys first), and if you find more games applicable to this other than the one mentioned above, please let us know in the comments.

IndianCheese also provided us a video (link below) of him actually accessing/running the said game via Memory Stick. A word of warning though, please avoid sharing any UPLOAD.DAT files anywhere on QJ.net (link form or otherwise). As you can see we won't host any of the UPLOAD.DAT file for any game.

Download: [Ahman's iR Shell 1.6]
Download: [GameSharing Video]