One of the nice things about having a public license is that people can add onto your work to bring new functionality to the applications you've created. Such is the case with suloku, who has modified Archaemic and Kip's PSPComic v0.9.8 beta 2 and added the ability to use PSPComic as a plugin for Ahman's iRShell.

In this case, PSPComic users can keep on using the application as a standalone program or turn it into an iRShell plugin, which would presumably allow you to take pictures of the comic panels you're viewing, among other things.

There is one known issue with this iRShell plugin version, however. According to the information in the readme, bookmarks and configuration files for the iRShell and standalone versions of the application are stored in separate places, which means that if you want to keep identical bookmarks and config files for both, you'll have to create them for each version of the app. Currently though, suloku is looking to talk to the author/s of the original app for a way to get past the minor issue.

You can find out how to install PSPComic 0.9.8 beta 2p - iRShell plugin version by checking the "readme_irShell" file. For questions about installing the standalone version, you can find them in the "readme" file. Feel free to give it a try and tell us how you find it. Enjoy the app!

Download: PSPComic 0.9.8 Beta 2p - iRShell plugin version
Visit: PSP Development Forum

A couple of days ago, homebrew developer Archaemic released a new build of comic-reader application PSPComic over at QJ.NET PSP Development Forum bringing it up to version 0.9.8. However, that version had problems with loading the bookmark upon loading the book and some issues with pre-caching.

The owner of the application quickly noticed the problem and came up with PSPComic v0.9.8 Beta 2. Here's the complete changelog for this version:

• [Feature] Pre-caching works better and was thus added to the menu
• [Bugfix] The menu no longer lingers in the background after closing the menu for a small image
• [Bugfix] Loading bookmark upon loading the comic book now actually works
• [Bugfix] Huge memory leak in pre-caching patched

Given all those big fixes, we expect all users of this app to update immediately. Take note that Archaemic included a Readme file in the download package so don't forget to browse through that one first before installing the program on your PlayStation Portable units.

Download: PSPComic v0.9.8 Beta 2
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

 

Archaemic dropped by our forums recently to inform us of the release of PSPComic v0.9.8, the latest version of Archaemic's comic-reader application for the PSP. This version adds a lot of new features, as well as some fixes, to the program.

Here's the changelog for PSPComic v0.9.8

• [Feature] Menu now shows name and current page of opened comic book
• [Feature] When zooming, the image is centered on the same place, instead of resetting to one of the corners
• [Feature] Added full view mode
• [Feature] Added option to load bookmark upon loading comic book
• [Feature] Alpha-transparent PNGs now display properly
• [Feature] The comics folder is now created if it is not initially present
• [Feature] Jump to page menu now shows the names of the pages
• [Feature] Really glitchy precaching. Use at your own risk! It must be enabled manually by editing the config.xml file
• [Feature] Zoom box. Hold Triangle to activate a box that shows a zoomed in region of the page. Very slow currently
• [Feature] Holding a button for several seconds now cancels the action before it is taken
• [Feature] Battery meter now refreshes every couple dozen seconds instead of just when a different option is selected
• [Bugfix] Fixed several bugs relating to zooming
• Sped up resampling
• The menu no longer shows the open comic book in the background. This is to save memory.
• Scrolling menus no longer flicker
• Some other stuff I forgot
• And many more minor changes...

As always, make sure you check out the readme to learn how to install the app and read comics with it, alright? Enjoy your comic reader!

Download: PSPComic v0.9.8
Visit: PSP Development Forums

 

Just a few days after announcing that they managed to sniff out the Illuminati exploit for PSP firmware 3.50, the Noobz team is letting the community know they've hit pay dirt - the firmware 3.50 firmware downgrader is here! Now we can all have a slice of homebrew-heaven as this'll allow all commercial Sony firmwares to be downgradable back to firmware 1.50 - the gateway to Dark Alex's Custom Firmwares.

The team further notes that the downgrader is for firmware 3.50 - which means those wanting to downgrade must upgrade to the said firmware first. Fanjita's downgrader includes a port of Homebrew ENabler (HEN) for firmware 3.50 which will automatically detect existing PSP motherboards, and will take the proper steps for the downgrade. As a recap, the Noobz team advises users to have the following ready:

1. A PSP, upgraded to the official Sony v3.50 firmware. You should also set your language settings to "English".
2. A legal Lumines UMD, either the EU (ULES00043) or US (ULUS10002) version. The original, Platinum, or Greatest Hits versions are all fine. Support for the Japanese version will come soon.
3. Sufficient intelligence and english language skills to be able to carefully and thoroughly read the instructions.
4. It would also help if you've previously run the Illuminati Hello World, so that you're familiar with how to run the Illuminati exploit.
   

Of course, considering it's still in its early stage of development, risks can't be avoided. So Fanjita and his Noobz team issue these warnings:

• Any downgrader carries some risk of permanently damaging your PSP. We've done everything we can to remove as much danger as possible, but if you choose to use this downgrader, you are accepting all of the risk involved. Nobody else will be held responsible for any damage to your PSP, howsoever caused.
• Recent Sony official firmwares (3.30 onwards) have included checks that block upgrade from previously-downgraded PSPs with TA-082 or later motherboards. If you use this downgrader on such a PSP, you will lock yourself out of official firmware updates - although you will still be able to use new OE firmwares when they are released. We intend to release a tool to allow a return to official firmwares in the future.
• This software is provided free of charge, so that you can use legitimate homebrew on your PSP. You are explicitly prohibited from selling it, or using it to pirate commercial games or applications. If you want to play a commercial game, do the decent thing and support the developers by buying it. If you don't, then YOU are contributing to the death of the PSP software industry.
  

Full installation and usage instructions should be available in the bundle Downgrader_HOWTO.txt file - we strongly advise users to read that very carefully before doing anything else. Another thing to note is that this exploit is a "secret" kernel mode that, according to Fanjita, they've been hanging on to.

Also, this groundbreaking exploit was made possible thru the aid of many figures in the PSP homebrew scene. Fanjita wishes to give credit to the following:

• Everyone who has contributed to the ps2dev.org toolchain, without which none of the Noobz software would ever have been possible
• Archaemic for his original input into the Illuminati exploit
• Dark_AleX and Mathieulh, for their work on custom firmwares, HEN and the downgrader core
• The various websites who continue to develop and support the homebrew community. You know who you are, and we're not going to stir up site politics by mentioning any specific sites.
  

That's it for the moment, although the Noobz team's other future projects include a fix for guys stuck on PSP fw 3.10 or 3.11, and an eLoader for v3.50 HEN.

Download: PSP 3.50 Downgrader (package)
Discuss: QJ.NET PSP Development Forums
Donate: Noobz Team's PayPal Page

  

QJ.Net Forum member Archaemic dropped by today and released a new version of his pet homebrew application, PSPComic. As always, it was created with the help of coder Kip. In a nut shell, this program allows users to read various magazines and comics on their PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Take note that to be able to access your files, they should be in .CBZ and/or .CBR format. PSPComic should be run using FW 1.5, any custom firmware, or any other firmware that is capable of emulating FW 1.5 through DevHook. Currently in version 0.9.7, the changes and improvements to PSPComic are:

• [Feature] Configuration file is now XML
• [Feature] New manga mode, which makes comics start from the right instead of from the left
• [Feature] Menu now shows current state of toggable items
• [Feature] New battery meter shows remaining battery percentage in the menu. If the text is red, the battery is low. If it is yellow, the power is plugged in.
• [Feature] The clock frequency menu now allows any value between 20 MHz and 333 MHz to be selected
• [Feature] Bookmarks have been added. For more information, please see the menu options section
• [Feature] 8-bit images now support re-sampling
• [Bugfix] Fixed scrolling bug, which made the program stop scrolling after some time with the D-Pad
• [Bugfix] Removing an open RAR or CBR file while the program is using that file will no longer cause a crash when the page is changed.
• Sped up re-sampling
• And many more minor changes

To those of you who are wondering about the zoom box and pre-caching, Archaemic mentioned that they should be included in the next release, as the two features need a lot of work (large internal reimplementation for the zoom box and advanced threading for pre-caching).

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Update: Homebrew developer Archaemic recently updated his PSPComic version 0.9.7 Beta, but this version only provides a minor bugfix to his previous release. The dev states that he has fixed the bug that deletes all bookmarks when users add a new one. So continue enjoying PSPComic by downloading the latest version below.

Download: PSPComic v0.9.7 Beta (bugfix release)
View: QJ PSP Development Forum

 

QJ forum member Kip released a new version of PSPComic on our PSP development forums today. If you're wondering what it is, PSPComic is a homebrew application from Kip and Archaemic that lets PSP owners read comics and magazines in .CBZ and .CBR format on their PSPs. Here's the changelog for version 0.9.6:

• [Feature] L and R now scroll more than one item at a time in the menu
• [Bugfix] Crash when comics folder is absent has been fixed
• [Bugfix] When going to a higher menu from a menu that has been scrolled through, the menu should now appear correctly

A PSP with firmware 1.50, 2.71 SE, 3.02 OE, 3.03 OE, 3.10 OE, 3.30 OE, 3.40 OE or any other firmware capable of emulating FW 1.50 through DevHook is recommended for running PSPComic. For installation and usage instructions, refer to the readme file included in the download below.

Download: PSPComic v0.9.6
Visit: QJ's PSP Development forums

The Internet abounds with comics, manga, and even magazines which the PlayStation Portable (PSP) community digs. So with the addition of application PSPComic to our homebrew arsenal, the problem now lies with finding the reading materials. But you know you guys are resourceful enough, so that really isn't much of a problem, right?

Anyway, the duo Kip and Archaemic just came up with a new version of the comic reader application. Now in v0.9.5, PSPComic offers more features than ever. Just take a look at the changelog yourselves:

• [Feature] Subdirectory support added
• [Feature] Added optional zoom level or rotation persistence between pages
• [Feature] Adjustable pan rate
• [Feature] Select button now switches between fit to width and full size.
• Ability to save/load configuration
• [Bugfix] Resample algorithms now work as selected, and no more garbling for 8-bit images.
• [Bugfix] Next/previous comic book menu option now works even if comics on the memory stick are changed while menu is open.
• [Bugfix] Fixed crash bug when resizing a full-sized page to fit to width.
• And many more minor changes.

PSPComic is capable of reading .CBZ and .CBR files directly from your handheld's memory stick. The authors of this application suggest using firmwares 1.50, 2.71 SE, 3.02 OE, 3.03 OE, 3.10 OE, 3.30 OE, and 3.40 OE or any other firmware capable of emulating FW 1.50 through DevHook.

Download: PSPComic v0.9.5
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

Given that a very, very large demographic of the PSP community love their comics/manga/magazines as much as their games (and homebrew), we imagine somebody out there will take a liking to Archaemic and Kip's PSPComic application. This homebrew is a comic book reader built to read cbzs and cbrs directly from the PSP's memory stick.

As Archaemic states, the app may slow down when resizing large images, although the program allows user to overclock their PSP to 333MHz to remedy this problem. As for the rough on this first release's controls:

• D-Pad: Pan
• Triangle: Zoom in
• Cross: Zoom out
• Circle: Rotate clockwise
• Square: Rotate counterclockwise
• Select: Zoom to fit width
• Start: Open menu
• Left shoulder: Previous page
• Right shoulder: Next page                
  

Full installation and usage instructions (Menu controls) are available in the file README. Users are also advised that this app will run on firmwares 1.50, 2.71 SE, 3.02 OE, 3.03 OE, 3.10 OE, and 3.30 OE. Lastly, the bundle also carries PSPComic v0.9 Beta's source codes - users planning to use these for future works will be reminded these codes are mostly under GPL.

Guys looking for other important details can also visit Archaemic over at PSPComic's release thread in the QJ.Net Forums. We thank the pair for the effort, and hope the guys here will enjoy the download. Keep posted for future updates.

Download: PSPComic v0.9 Beta
Visit: QJ's PSP Development Forum