This application by Art, X-Flash Kerrang, could alter as well as create a custom firmware for your PSP. The original Dark_AleX Custom Firmware modification does not work under MPH firmware launcher. Now we all know that all great things come with some form of risk, and this cool tool is no different. As with all flash-related apps, there's a slim chance of ending up with a brick if you don't know what you're doing. So it's best to read a li'l of it's history and the notes included in the readme if you're new to it.

Changelog:

• Additional 'old school' screens added to the credits demo including equalizer style music visualization, media player style music visualization, fireworks effect, vector objects, and spinning circles.. all in ASCII!.
• Home and Start buttons can be used for program controlled exit.
• Select button is a shortcut to the XMB Menu Label Editor.
• Real time checking for activated USB mode. Program will not run if it is launched or resumed from a shell with USB mode activated.
• Startup checking of available RAM. Program will not start if over 2Kb of RAM is tied up by another application.
• New Easter Egg for this version has been given away in the thread.
• New Icon and accompanying AT3 loop.
• Programming optimization.

This early, he already has plans on what to put in Build 6. His to-do list includes:

• Detection of iR Shell module (thanks to AhMan for the method). No possibility of launching X-Flash from within iR Shell.

Editor's Note: We'd like to apologize to the developer for the notes of caution about his app's minimal risk previously included in this article. It was not done to discourage the users from using X-flash along with its great features, but rather an attempt to warn some not-so-careful users who tend to "leap without looking" - an attempt that was admittedly carried out in the wrong way, but made with clean intentions. An honest mistake is still a mistake, and for that we apologize.

Download: [X-Flash Kerrang Build 5]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

Homebrew developer, Art, informed us through our forums that he has released the X-Flash Kerrang Build 4. If you have no idea what in the world X-Flash is, then let us give you a background of the the app. This app, when used with caution and enough knowledge, could alter and create a custom firmware for your PSP. Enough knowledge is always the key to using this one -- using it even if you have no idea what in the world you're doing could result to a bricked PSP. So use it at your own risk and remember: you've been warned.

So going back to the app, the X-Flash program has followed a logical progression, and, according to the dev himself, it now features some firmware tools that he did not consider when he started the program. " At the time of the V9f update, I decided to finish development of this program in favour of beginning work on another. A little over a month later, I updated this program soon after stumbling onto a forum thread discussing a firmware modification to remove the PSP logo from the gameboot screen. X-Flash V10 was the next major update since, and focus is still toward overall development for late releases."

X-Flash Kerrang build 4 (or X-Flash V13) is actually a special release for testing ASCII hand gesture animations. The developer has been focusing toward improving the XMB Menu Label Editor for this X-Flash Kerrang release. With those things stated, let's jump right on to the changelog.

Changelog:

Kerrang Build 4 (29/07/74):

Fixed in program sound effects to come out of both speakers instead of just the left speaker.
Program also displays Mikmod Sound Library version on startup.
Added support for analogue joystick in XMB Menu Editor, Document Reader, and Custom Firmware Configurator.
Improved XMB Label Editor with faster cursor movement, and changed text is highlighted.

Kerrang Build 3 (28/07/06):

Full XMB menu editor allows the user to change most XMB text labels to anything desired.
Input is through video game hi score style text entry method. It also has Read, Reset, and Save features.
Various minor enhancements.

Kerrang Build 2 (23/07/06):

New Easter Egg is a hidden hand gesture.
The Easter egg is not unlocked by performing flash write operations.
Implemented ASCII graphic sliding delay bar for Auto Restore, and
Program Exit functions. This is to prevent accidental use of those two functions.
The file PSP/SYSTEM/config.txt file can be deleted from the configurator screen by
pressing the square button.
Various fixes to ASCII graphic animations.

Kerrang (22/07/06):

New Hand Gesture aSCII animations used for indication.
Test for new interface style.

A little note from Art: "the original Dark_AleX Custom Firmware modification does not work under MPH firmware launcher." And as always, you're constructive criticisms, opinions and other what-nots would be welcome in the comments...so people, think out loud and share 'em to the gaming community!

Download: [X-Flash Kerrang Build 4]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

uberOne from our forums (thanks for the tip) has updated his PSP Homepage Customizer to version 1.5 today for all those who use the PSPs integrated firmware browser. This program requires Windows to run, but can create a personalized homepage for your PSP web browser. To use this program, first enter the drive letter of your PSP using the drop down box. Then you enter the site title, followed by the URL. By Clicking "Add Link" the program will add the link to an index.htm. Then all you have to do is set your homepage to file:/home.html and you're all set with a customized homepage.

This program has grown in leaps and bounds since the last release, with the addition of many bug fixes and the ability to add a background color. As with everything, there's a downside to this new and improved version: no Easter egg. Anyway, the addition of colour support is good for those that don't know any from of HTML code to spruce up their homepage a bit. To add a background color, input a color in the form of RGB code or the raw color code into the background color field. A list of RGB colors can be found here, with raw color codes here.

This release may seem like the be-all and end-all of new PSP Homepage Customizer versions with color support and link addition, but uberOne still has plans for this funky little application. Features on uberOne's to do list include:

• Colored text links (most likely in the next version)
• Ability to have a background picture
• Will detect links from last input and not delete them every time program is used

You will need Windows and the .NET framework v2 installed, but other than that you can use this in collaboration with any PSP firmware that has a web browser - even emulated DevHook firmwares!

Download: [PSP Homepage Customizer v1.5]
View: [Forum release thread]

Art from our forums has released an updated version of his excellent X-Flash homebrew firmware modification tool for the PSP. X-Flash can be used (carefully) to alter and create custom firmware for your beloved PSP. You should not use X-Flash, nor any other program that writes to the Flash of the PSP if you do not know exactly what you are doing or are ready to accept complete failure (in the form of a bricked PSP). However, If you brick your PSP with X-flash, there is the possibility of unbricking it with Dark_Alex's Custom Firmware modification in Recovery mode.

Here's whats new for X-Flash v11c:

• Support for Dark_AleX Custom Firmware modification. This version does not yet have the capability to reverse the mod, but this (and more) will be implemented shortly. Flash writing is verified. The video below shows this in practice.
  

Also, the Easter egg has been found by Zoltrix, check page 69 of the forum release thread to find out what it is. Art is currently working on X-Flash v12 for us that will implement support for applying Dark_AleX's latest custom firmware mod and reversal of it, complete with configurator. Even later version of X-Flash will include Freeplay & Fluff's Name Plate picture mod in the PSP's about screen and an arcade game style letter rotator for entering any words to be used as names for Music, Photo, Video, and Game icons.

Download: [X-Flash v11c]

Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

With a last minute update to version 11 (which also came out today), X-Flash V11b becomes the latest stable version of X-Flash currently available. This firmware tweaking tool comes from Art, a member of our forums. X-Flash can be used (carefully) to alter and create custom firmwares, among other things.

You should not use X-Flash, nor any other program that writes to the Flash of the PSP if you do not know exactly what you are doing or are ready to accept complete failure (in the form of a bricked PSP).

The program is useful for homebrew developers working on custom firmware, launchers and such, but it can also satisfy the needs of homebrew enthusiasts that just like to experiment. Gradual updates have brought on new features that allow a more customized experience for users.

The most recent update was done successfully, but last minute, in an effort to maintain support for X-Flash color themes. Overall, this is a release that seems to have good support, it has progressed steadily since its release, and more updates are almost certain to come. Oh and I think I read something about an Easter egg somewhere in the changelog!

• Real time battery/mains checking so you never have to think about the battery condition.
• Agree to disclaimer screen once, and never see it again for that installation.
• Global test mode implemented to perform modifications on memory stick Flash dump.
• Increased allowable size of gameboot.pmf movie to 2500000 bytes.
• Checking resolution of Background wallpaper, rather than file size.
• Added some new menu labels for Photo icon, and Video Icon.
• Added feature to remove or restore trademark symbols from the XMB menu such as: UMD(tm), Memory Stick(tm), and PSP(tm).
• Plain Black gameboot movie is now built into the application.
• User supplied Gameboot Movie files, Font files, and backgrounds are now all checked for size.
• Writing any of them are verified Flash write operations.
• Every Flash write operation performed by X-Flash is now verified.
• Implemented a text reader so that the licence agreement, disclaimer, and full instructions can be read from the PSP at any time.
• Fixed jittery slow motion mode in credits demo.
• More uniformity of button assignments throughout program, and other small fixes.

Download: [X-Flash v11b]