Homebrew developer UFox dropped by QJ.NET PSP Development Forum and released a new version of nifty program PSP Content Manager bringing it up to version 1.8. For the uninitiated, take note that this is actually a PC-based application that lets users preview and manage the content of their handheld units.

PSP Content Manager is capable of accessing content that are stored on your PSP's memory stick, as well as those found in the PC hard drive with a same folder structure used on the memory stick. Some of the program's features include file management, item sort, homebrew edit/installation, MP4 title modifying, MP3/WMA/ATRAC tag edit, as well as build-in RSS server.

Here are the following changes and improvements that can be noticed in PSP Content Manager v1.8:

• Build-in RSS Server to Host MP3 Files on PC for PSP RSS Channel
• Start the Build-in RSS server and add build-in channel from RSS Channel List; Or your can do that using PSP internet browser to open PC's IP address.
• RSS Channel List
• Support ms0:/ISO/VIDEO Folder for UMD ISO List
• Convert and Save 1.50 EBOOT to 1.00 EBOOT Format
• Fix CFW Setting Saving Bug
• System Tray Icon

UFox included a very comprehensive Readme.txt file in the download which contains information on how to use the application as well as functions of each feature. Be sure to browse through that first before installing this on your PlayStation Portable units.

Download: PSP Content Manager v1.8
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

 

You all probably know how hard it is to manage all of the PSP's content, especially when you're loading up on homebrew games and applications. Now, UFox's PSP Content Manager v1.6 makes your job a little bit easier as it allows users to preview and manage content stored on memory stick or on PC's hard disk with same folder structure used on the said memory stick.

Also, the program features file management, item sorting, homebrew editing/installation, MP4 title modifications, and MP3/WMA/ATRAC tag editing among others. If you've been using an older version of the program, then there have been quite a few significant changes from the last build. Here they are:

• Support Custom Firmware: CFW name and folder can be set by right-click menu -> "Custom Firmware Setting".
• Support Folder: ms0:MUSIC，ms0:VIDEO，ms0 :PICTURE，ms0:DCIM
• Support Large Size PS Game PBP
• Support More File Extensions
• .avc & .ppa for PMP;
• .umv for UMD video ISO;
• UMD ISO List Enhancement
• Use right-click menu to browse any folder;
• Drag & drop a single UMD ISO file(.iso,.umv,.cso,.rar) onto the list will open preview window for it.
• Other UI Enhancements
• Tab buttons can be showed/hidden by right-click menu or by main menu->"View"->"Tab Page".
• Tab buttons can be resized by drag & drop.
• Fix CSO File Reading Bug on CD/DVD
• PSPContentManager.log Removed

Before trying out PSP Content Manager v1.6, just be sure to go over the Readme file first to prevent any untoward incidents from happening to your PSP and data.

Download: PSP Content Manager v1.6
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forums

In the same E3 interview by Gamasutra where Sony's Peter Dille talks about the Xbox 360 and announces the arrival of a movie download service soon for the PSP, he also speaks in defense of the decision to retain the PlayStation Portable's Universal Media Disc on the PSP Slim's design. Peter Dille is the senior vice president of marketing for the PlayStation.

Gamasutra addressed the concerns from users about loading speed and the lack of availability of movies in the new UMD format. Dille says that the new design of PSP Slim has fixed the loading time of the UMD "to a certain degree." As for his take on the movies, he says that there was a problem communicating the PSP's demographic with Hollywood.

Essentially, the PSP was aiming at males from 18 to 35 years old but the movies released in the UMD format didn't match that demographic. The lack of attention in the right areas invited in a lack of popularity. With the release of the new PSP Slim and its new video output feature, there may be hope yet for the UMD to make a comeback.

Dille's comments echo PSP Senior Marketing Manager John Koller recent comments about the UMD and how Sony will stick to it. To read the whole interview, follow the Read link after the jump.

After making it onto store shelves just recently, Lumines II and Every Extend Extra (or E3) are once again making waves and making a lot of PSP owners happy. And just in case you haven't gone out and bought this happy pair yet, then here's a batch of gameplay videos that might make you think about finally getting these two games.

Costing US$ 29.99 each, these two titles from Buena Vista Games promise to be engrossing and addictive, just as the first Lumines game was. Where E3 is set to be an exhilarating game of music and colors, Lumines II is set to bring old fans back with its solid gameplay, while attracting new ones with its new skins and themes including Beck, Black Eyed Peas, and Gwen Stefani, to name a few.

So, sit back and enjoy these videos, and perhaps you might actually consider updating your UMD collection with these games pretty soon.

Download: [Lumines II gameplay videos]
Download: [Every Extend Extra gameplay videos]

If you've got some extra cash lying around and you just can't wait for the next homebrew game you're following to come out, the games below could provide you with much needed entertainment. They're all coming out this week, so you could check your local retailers if they've got them. Here are the PSP game releases:

• Bomberman - The classic goes handheld. It's bound to be oodles of fun. Unless of course, Konami's brand of portable nostalgia isn't your cup of tea.
  
• Bounty Hounds - Colonize other planets, kill up to 40 types of aliens, 500 weapons and armor types, this might be bucket-loads of third person action fun. We've got screens here if you want to see more of Namco Bandai's fun fun game.
  
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - And the LucasArts franchise continues...
  
• NHL '07 - The expected yearly update from Electronic Arts. If you're not into this genre, bad news because it's mostly more of the same, but if you are, then good news, more of the same, but this time it is portable.
  
• Rengoku II: The Stairway to HEAVEN - A.D.A.M. is back, and this time the android and makers Hudson Soft and Konami have got downloadable content for you to enjoy. Content aside, the game also features better stage design, an updated battle system, and up to 4 player wireless play. Android war action.
  

If you're not that much into handheld games but you like to watch a movie every now and then, say, while your teacher or boss is giving a very boring lecture, here are the PSP UMD ISO releases set for this week: The Best of Super Speeders; Gracie Legends in Action, Vol. 1; and Teddybear Crisis.

I'm a Mixed-Martial-Arts fan myself, so I think I'll be churning out some bucks for Gracie Legends. That's it for now. We'll keep you updated on the games listed above whenever we get word or discover something nifty.

UPDATE #2: Wow! 0okm has already released a proof-of-concept application which mounts ISOs to the UMD Drive! Although the emulated games can't be loaded as yet, it's only a matter of time before this feat is accomplished. And no, we will not host the file on our own servers, sorry.

As always, we are reporting this because it is big news, not just for pirates but for the normal public as well. This is one of the first few kernel-mode applications for firmware upwards of 1.5, and we could hope for a lot more 'legal' homebrew in the time to come...

---

UPDATE: I had a talk with 0okm. And yes, this does mean an ISO loader for 2.6, and for the unlucky TA-082 people who can't downgrade. He hasn't revealed the rest of the source code for mounting the ISO, but rest assured that he has it somewhere.

---

Alright folks, we do not condone the use of ISO loaders and everything and we do love great programming and hacking when we see it. And personally, 0okm is one of the must-watch people on my list. He keeps churning out those hardware hacks like there's no tomorrow.

Well, he also creates software...and how! The latest entry in his blog states that he has been able to emulate a UMD on firmware 2.60. Now until I get some more info out of him, I can't be sure exactly of what he meant. But think about Humma Kavula's UMD Emulator and you'll get a hint of what I'm talking about.

Here's his comment:

Success Emulate UMD on FW2.60:
Open and Read ISO file by

SceUID fd = sceIoOpen("disc0:/xxx", PSP_O_RDONLY, 0777);
sceIoRead(fd, buffer, size);
sceIoClose(fd);

TODO:
LoadExec ISO by

sceKernelLoadExec("disc0:/PSP_GAME/SYSDIR/BOOT.BIN", ¶m);

Frankly, I don't care about ISO Loaders; I use my PSP mostly/only for homebrew. But I do know that there is another side to the PSP homebrew scene, and I know most of them will be happy after reading this. We will keep you guys updated on any info 0okm releases. Stay tuned!

Hell, yeah it's good!

That's if this turns out to be true, as there are many hesitant members in our forums (follow the PSP Hacks Forum Thread below) about this Flash replacement for the PSP. But no matter how dubious this "news" seems, we'll still give you the details of this custom flash replacement for the PSP.

The team developing the Epsilon BIOS custom replacement flash is claiming that this program will allow PSP owners to use homebrew software, run UMD ISO games from the memory stick on the latest firmware releases including the 2.71 firmware update, and still enjoy the built-in features to the OS such as WMA support and RSS feeds, among other things.

The Epsilon BIOS team can't release this program yet as they are still fixing some bugs and are still finalizing the modifications they made with the custom replacement flash that's been made to work with Undiluted Platinum (you need this to be installed in your PSP to use the Epsilon BIOS).

Features if this program in development include:

• ability to launch homebrew software from the memory stick;
• kernel mode access for software requiring this app;
• support for 1.0 and 1.5 EBOOTs;
• simple UMD ISO loading; and,
• has own compressed ISO format.

The team developing this program stated that they will be releasing a video of the Epsilon BIOS working in the coming days. The release of this depends on how long it will take them to resolve some problems with the application.

If this isn't just a hoax, we're all in for a treat. So I'm hoping it really isn't.

Follow [PSP Hacks Forum Thread]