We've seen quite a number of Sony PlayStation Portable portals, all of which offer easier access to stuff like homebrew games, webcams stationed all over, videos, and other things (examples of which are M(P)ortal version 1.0 and Ultimate PSP version 1.6). How would you like a cooking portal? PSP homebrew developer jfig111 has just released the beta version of PSP Chef Speech Beta. Those who aren't so skillful in the kitchen will certainly find this portal nifty.

As the name suggests, this homebrew portal will be helping you out around the kitchen. According to jfig111, the PSP homebrew application will be sporting twenty starter recipes, fifteen main courses, twelve desserts, and ten drinks. Of course, the list will be grow when the final version of the portal gets released.

At the moment, the PSP Chef Speech Beta is well, still on beta. We'll keep you posted on further developments so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can discuss the beta version with jfig111 at the forums or you can always leave a comment below.

Download: PSP Chef Speech Beta
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Flash Player Discussions & Releases

PSP homebrew developer eculewatt dropped by the forums earlier to announce the release of a Modded PSP Flash Player. This project by the author is reportedly capable of playing up to Flash Player 7 files. eculewatt further states that using the app is simply a matter loading the .swf file to any part of your PSP's memory stick and browsing in the flash player.

That's the basic rundown for this homebrew app's, though given its absence of a readme, we advice users to drop by eculewatt's release thread over at QJ's PSP Development Forums for further instructions.

Download: Modded PSP Flash Player
Visit: QJ's PSP Development Forum

A few days ago, PSP homebrew developer Petru Toader (aka petru_bounty) dropped us a line about the release of Black and White, a Flash portal for the PSP. The portal included several interesting functions, including 70 Flash Games, applications, and even a Mozilla Firefox browser.

As a follow-up to this previous release, Petru Toader dropped by earlier to inform us and the rest of the PSP community of the release of Black and White version 1.5. This new release carries even more games, and a readme file to help newcomers get started in its use. Here's the full update details:

• 90 Flash Games
• 15 Flash Videos
• PSP Messenger
• Mozilla Firefox
  

In case you've been having difficulties activating Black and White's Firefox browser on your handheld, the author's advising you to enable your PSP's flash player, and start from the index.html. That's all for the moment - we thank Petru Toader for informing of this update.

Download:  Black and White 1.5 PSP Portal

Some of you guys may be familiar with QJ forum member Momochi Zabuza for releasing Al-Quran for PSP that allows our Muslim brothers to bring a good resource on Islam in their pockets. For those who enjoyed this nifty app, it might do you good to know that version 1.1 is out.
 
Taken from the Readme file, the cache has improved this time around. There's still a minor problem that would freeze everything, but that only happens after 30-40 pages of browsing. A page search function was also added for everyone's convenience.

To make Al-Quran run, here are the instructions from the Readme:

1. Don't change any filename or folder name
2. Enable PSP Adobe Flash Player
3. Use internet browser in the PSP to run the application
4. Copy all the files to the memory stick's root folder. For those with Al-Quran v1.0, you have to replace the holdaya.swf with the new one inside the update and delete the old qpsp1.swf.
5. Enter file:/psp-alquran/qpsp.swf on the address bar

As for the controls, use the analog stick as mouse and cross/circle button as mouse button. For more info, just check out the Readme file. Existing Al-Quran users can update to v1.1 by downloading the update file. Otherwise, get the full version.

Download: Al-Quran v1.1 Full Version
Download: Al-Quran v1.1 Update

 

PSP homebrew developer Shilo has just come up with a new Flash game for the community's enjoyment, titled Ghostbusters. As the author explains, "This is a Flash game based on Ghostbusters for the NES. You drive the Ectomobile (the 1959 Cadillac Miller-meteor from the movie) through the streets of New York, running over ghosts, and dodging cars."

One important detail to note is that due to the PSP's flash player limitations, only two of the game's three sounds - SFX, Ecto-1's siren, music - can be heard at any given time. Shilo further notes that Ghostbusters is playable on PSPs with firmware 2.71, and Dark AleX's custom fw series. DAX's FWs are recommended, given that users can set the CPU speed in the XMB to 333mhz to ensure the game speed does not slow to a crawl. Installation, controls, and other details should be available in the file bundle.

As per Shilo's instructions in the readme, we'll be directing users to the ZionMax site for the download link - that'd be the source link below. Enjoy the game, and make sure to drop by the author's forum release thread here at the QJ.Net Forums.

Visit: QJ's PSP Flash Player Discussions and Releases Forums

DAB-Hacker has informed us of something that he's been working on for quite some time now. The inspiration for his work came from a Flash player he saw over the internet though exactly whic player he failed to mention in the letter he sent us here over at QJ. What he didn't fail to mention however, was that the nameless player didn't quite work as well as he thought it would, so he took matters into his own hands. He took the thing apart changed the size and coding a little and shared it with us. Over here at QJ Labs, we think that we must give credit where credit is due, so to the nameless Flash player and author, that was the spark that fired up this whole thing, we tip our hats to you.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. DAB-Hacker says that he already resized it and was looking rather nice on his PSP. But, when the QJ crew tested it, using the Internet Browser, it was a wee bit off center. We suggest to make like a mini version of it, that would fit flush right smack in the center of the screen.

One more thing that we'd like to see in your next release (hopefully) is a How-to on the application. Not only to guide new users, but to familiarize veterans as well.

Looking forward to more updates!

Download: [F.M.P (Flash Media Player) 2.70+]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

   

Here is something that could bring PSP and Xbox Fan Boys together. Mark Fennel has developed a homebrew app he calls PSP Client Beta. PSP Client Beta is a front end to the Xbox Media Center that allows the control and selection of music from the PSP. This application has been optimised to work on the PSP and interaction is limited to the directional input keys and a select key.

PSP Client Beta is built in flash and requires FW 2.6 or higher. It should also run on the homebrew flash player as well as any device with a flash player (v6 and above) and arrow keys.  To install the app copy the files pspconfig.xml and psp.swf into the Web directory of your XBMC install.

Next, edit the pspconfig.xml file using to the following parameters:

• ip: eg. http://192.168.0.10 The web address of your Xbox Media Center (Make sure the webserver option is enabled)
• musicpath: eg. F:/tunes - The path where your music files are stored (see File Structure Note below)
• musicfiles: .wma|.mp3 - Music file types. This IS case sensitive, separate with a |
• polltime: 3000 - Keep alive time in milliseconds - sends a little keep alive PING to the server
• stripsuffix: 1 to display filename suffix (eg .mp3) 0 to hide
• striptrack: 1 to hide a track numbers. 0 to do nothing. If your files are named as 01 Track Name.mp3 this removes the leading numbers
• trigger: (32 = Space, Enter = 13) the ASCII keycode of the key you want to use as a select key if using as a flash player on a non-psp environment

PSP Client is designed for music stored only in the following directory format (it wont work for other formats):

Artist
      > Albums
            > Tracks

Button/Key Functions:

• Arrow keys: Move the selection
• X button:  Select
• Left/Right: Jump to the next page (unless on the first row where they cycle through the controls)
• Up/Down: Scroll up and down by a single element.
• Stop: Clear playlist

Additional notes from the developer:
When you click to play a track, the album is added to a playlist so that songs will play one after the other. Use the stop button to clear the playlist.  The .swf file is bookmarked as his homepage on the PSP. Refresh the page every time PSP is turned on. If it doesn't work click the X button once to 'activate' the flash controls. This is a Beta version so expect some bugs.

Download: [Xbox Media Center PSP Client Beta Version Released]

Before you get too excited and/or have a heart attack, this is not actual homebrew on firmware 2.7. This is a flash menu created by HellsPlumber that imitates the PSP's XMB and allows you to 'launch' flash games from this, as if you are on firmware 1.5.

Here's what HellsPlumber has said about this release:

Many PSP owners enjoyed homebrew games and applications on their PSP's.But many users were either tempted into updating to play Flash or forced to update to play the latest games. I updated my PSP and after 1 week wished I hadn't.

The Flash player was a really old version so a lot of available Flash can't play, the PSP can only handle about 2mb of Flash before displaying a "not enough memory" message and because the PSP has no keyboard,most Flash games cannot be played.

This is why I made the 2.7+ Homebrew Menu.

Many flash games and applications are included with this menu, ranging from Paint to Blackjack to an alarm clock . If you want to launch flash games from a PSP XMB-like interface, then this is for you!

Hellsplumber plans to add the ability to switch between themes (Cool Blue and Dark), an Internet Toolbar so your homepage can access the Homebrew Menu, and PSP Flash Radio - an Internet radio player like PSPRadio for the next release. Keep up the good work, HellsPlumbers!

Download:[Homebrew Menu v1.0 for Firmware 2.7]