UPDATE: Going over the Noobz site, we found out that they have released an updated version of piKey v0.2. Apparently, the earlier release contained a bug in the Danzeff plugin which caused it not to work. The bug has now been fixed so go ahead and download the updated version of piKey v0.2 through our download link below. We here at QJ thank rc_square24 for pointing us to the right direction!

Download: piKey v0.2 (updated)

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The homebrew app which lets you use a keyboard on your PSP is back, fresh from the coding labs of the Noobz Team. Fanjita just rolled piKey v0.2 out on their site, and we're serving it up for grabs in QJ-landia. For those who are new to this, piKey (also done with harleyg's help) is a keyboard driver that allows you to input data into your PSP by using a keyboard.

It's been said before that an "IR keyboard is your best option since USB keyboard support will likely be impossible." While this release still doesn't have USB support (if ever there will be), here's the full changelog, complete with new features and additions:

• A new keypress mode, which allows more natural use of the keyboard in action games etc. The default mode is now keypress mode, and the keyboard will switch automatically to text input mode when required.
• Custom key-to-button assignment - so now you can define WASD buttons for FPS game movement, as well as cursor keys for XMB movement, for instance.
• Support for mapping keypresses to analog joystick movements.
• Support for converting keypresses into Danzeff OSK presses - so now you can use your physical keyboard with homebrew that uses the Danzeff virtual keyboard - e.g. AFKIM.
• Installer now fixed to correctly install to flash0, to support GAME150 homebrew.
• Palm UW keyboard ought to at least partially work, but I can't test it myself.
• Optional on-screen status information.
• Various minor bugfixes.

Specifics of the bugfixes can be found in the readme. Here are some known bugs and other developer notes:

• Multilingual support isn't great. Especially, the Sony OSK uses different key layouts for different regions, these are not correctly supported yet.
• The Danzeff plugin occasionally misses keypresses when you type a lot of text at once.
• When putting the PSP in standby, piKey doesn't usually recover properly when power is restored.
• It has only been tested on 3.10 OE firmware. It ought to work on other OE firmwares, but I haven't tested it myself.

We stress the importance of reading the docs folder included in the bundle. All you need to know and more is found there in the user guide. Make sure you do use it. Since this driver involves having to write and install onto flash, make sure you know what you're doing or you might stand the risk of BRICKING YOUR PSP.

Visit: QJ PSP Development Forums

UPDATE: Reading your comments, you sure do have a lot of questions about Fanjita and harleyg's piKey. Anyhow, going over the noobz site, Fanjita posted some clarifications regarding piKey. First off, he mentioned that right now, an IR keyboard is your best option since USB keyboard support will likely be impossible.

He also divulged that the list of supported IR keyboards is limited by Monsti's IR library (which is used by piKey). The following keyboards were the only ones that have been fully tested so far:

• Nova ETS - may have issues with keyrelease events
• Targus Universal Wireless - one of the best options so far according to Fanjita

And here are the IR keyboards that are known to not work properly:

• Belkin IR -needs an updated keymap
• Palm Universal Wireless - has issues with current keymap
• IRWave IR620K PS/2 to IR adapter - needs a new keymap

Aside from that, he mentions that for now, no directly connected serial keyboard is supported and at the moment, serial connection is for terminal-style connections. Fanjita also shared that supporting new keyboard hardware is expensive and time-consuming, so if you want support for a not-fully supported keyboard, you either have to write the driver for it or donate funds so that they can buy the hardware and do the hard work for you.

On a final note, Fanjita said that piKey is definitely not yet finished but it should work, provided that you have one of the supported keyboards.

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Fanjita (you know, the BBC star) and harleyg (of downgrader fame) have just finished piKey, a sophisticated homebrew application for the Sony PSP: it's a keyboard driver that lets you use almost any keyboard (or similar input device) as a natural method of input on your PSP.

For the rest, we turn to the documentation included in the ZIP file.

Imagine being able to use your keyboard to control any PSP game or homebrew, and even the PSP's XMB menu and on-screen keyboard, automatically and without needing any changes to the other software. This is what piKey aims to give you. This is an early release, demonstrating just some of the possibilities. The open, extensible framework allows piKey to be extended with new plugins, to allow support for different types of input hardware, and different input environments on the PSP.

• Use with Dark_Alex custom firmware. piKey runs best as a plugin for Dark_AleX's custom firmwares.
• Use as a standalone by homebrew. piKey can also be run standalone by homebrew that needs to use keyboard input.

That's basically it. Now, for the usual PSP homebrew warning. WARNING: piKey comes with an "installer." The installer will ask you if you wish to copy the pikey prx to flash0 and if you want it to auto run in 1.50 game mode. Writing to flash0 will seriously damage or brick your PSP if you don't know what you're doing. BE SURE TO READ THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE user_guide.html LOCATED IN THE docs FOLDER IN THE ZIP FILE if you don't like bricked PSPs.

More details about piKey after the jump!

Download:piKey keyboard driver for PSP

MaTiAz either has a lot of time in his hands or he sure is one fast coder. After releasing VSH Rebooter PRX v0.1 just two days ago, he's back with a bumped up version of his homebrew app, a plug-in for PRX devs.

The updates for this version may not be a lot but they're stiill definitely helpful, especially now that v0.2 comes with an installer (he added this because a lot of you guys were asking how-to's). So anyhoo, whaddya say we get this show on the road and bring you the all-important...

Changelog:

• Included an easy installer, which can install the PRX to Network Update or Location Free TV (or both if you like). Read the notes about the installer though.
• The Reboot PRX can now shut down the PSP too, hold L while selecting Network Update -> shutdown
  

As mentioned, this comes with an installer so installation should be a breeze. However, make sure you check out the installation notes just in case you're relatively new at this and not really sure about what you're doing. To install, just follow these steps:

1. Copy the rbprxinst folder to /psp/game/ like you would with any other homebrew (GAME, not GAME150 or GAME302)
2. Launch the Reboot PRX Installer
3. If you don't know what to do after these steps, you should NOT be using this or trying to install this.
   

As for warnings, precautions, and whatnots, let's get 'em straight from MaTiAz himself:

this program comes with NO WARRANTY AT ALL, so follow the instructions so you're safe. I'm not responsible for bricks, and I doubt there will be any, except for because of user stupidity (which I doubt will happen either).

Well, there ya have it. But before you go fiddling around your PSPs, know that the readme file was put there for a reason so go use it, okay? MaTiAz would like to give a shout out to "TUW, Mathieulh, kando, harleyg, Coldbird, Dark_AleX and lots of other people I've forgotten at lan.st and other places".

Download: [VSH Rebooter PRX v0.2]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

After the thunderous success of Dark_AleX, Mathieulh, and Harleyg's TA-082 downgrader (which is pretty much the Holy Grail of the homebrew community">homebrew community at the moment), DAX has now decided to release the source code for the said downgrader under the General Public License or GPL. According to DAX,

I don't want to keep the ta-082 downgrade as a secret, i think this information has to be public, for future use in higher firmwares.

As it is released under the gpl, any modification to the code will have to include the source code.

So there you have it folks, here's the code. Use it well.

Download: [TA-082 Downgrader Source Code]

We all thought we've heard the last from NJ and his CPS1PSP, having already released its final version. Then again there are guys like davex who just refuse to let a good project die down. How? Well he just released the modified version of the already brilliant Capcom PS1 emulator, with an added "rewind" feature.

This feature will be similar to what some of you may have tried with on other emulators like ZSNES or nesDS. To use rewind, just press simultaneously the R-button and Start. However, davex says this particular release has been tested only on a PSP 1.5 with Harleyg's custom firmware and option "nokxploit = true". So, he can't really be too sure if this mod will be able to run with other firmware versions, devicehooks, etc.

Anyway, you guys can download it right here. Thanks, davex!

Download: [CPS1PSP rewind mod]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

Need to keep your parents away from your PSP? Want your pesky sibling to stop hogging your Sony handheld? Hoping that your roommate won't find out about those photos that you took while he was asleep which you stored in your PSP? Then lock it down with a password, and unless your parents or your sibling happens to be a LUA coder, your  secrets should be safe enough.

There's now a small and useful LUA application made by azy_xbox123 called the Boot Protector. With this, anyone who wishes to use your PSP will be asked to provide a five-digit password upon start-up. This should possibly deter any nosy person who may want to start snooping on what you've been up to with your PSP.

In the meantime, azy_xbox123 includes the following notes about his creation:

D-PAD = Navigate/Change Password Number
SELECT = Screenshot

To install:

1.50 w/ Harleyg's Custom Firmware: ms0:/PSP/SYSTEM/DEVBOOT.PBP
ms0:/PSP/SYSTEM/Applications/
ms0:/PSP/SYSTEM/System/
5x ms0:/PSP/SYSTEM/*****.prx

This is activated by leaving you WLAN switch down, this hasn't been tested!

2.71SE: ms0:/PSP/GAME/BOOT/EBOOT.PBP
ms0:/PSP/GAME/BOOT/Applications/
ms0:/PSP/GAME/BOOT/System/
5x ms0:/PSP/GAME/*****.prx

This is activated via the configuration menu, although I have gotten this to work on 2.71SE, it crashes when exiting to XMB once the correct password is input!

Although this gets the job done, it doesn't disable the use of the HOME button. I am waiting on a custom build to be built.

So, as we said, unless your parents, little brother, or roommate are all developers themselves, this app should do a pretty good job of keeping them out of your hair. Otherwise, we advice you to start hiding the USB cables in your house, but be warned that this doesn't prevent other members of the household from hiding the PSP unit itself.

Download: [Boot Protector]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

Thanks to PSPJunkie for the word on this bit of news.

Developer harleyg has decided to stop working on the 0x89 project because of the recent release of 2.71SE-B by Dark_Alex and (in his opinion) the lack of interest int he 0x89 project. Don't fret though, the project will still continue thanks to  Zettablade and some other volunteers.

Here's harleyg's pertinent post in the 0x89 Development forums:

In light of recent events, such as Alex's custom firmware etc, I have come to the conclusion that my interest in this project has waned, I have next to no input into the actual coding these days and I have been busy in real-life, therefore I would like to move onto other projects etc. Most of the stuff we were aiming for in 0x89 has been done in 2.71 SE, apart from the GUI change etc... If the rest of the team decide to carry on I am cool with that, I will keep domain and forum going etc. If any of you need a hand etc. Just let me know.

I can not seem to refund paypal donations to me for 0x89 as it deducts x amount every donation and therefore I haven't enough to refund.

PSPTouchME will carry on as planned I guess... we will work at our own pace.

Sorry guys... was fun working with you and i wish you success in 0x89 and other future projects.

Well harleyg, we here at QJ respect your decision. Real-life does have a certain weight to it, when it comes to priorities and such. Just be sure to clear up all those paypal donations issues, as people (haters/flamers/trolls most especially) will be curious about that. More power to you, and good luck on your future endeavors!

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UPDATE: The dude got flamed for all the PayPal issues but he's not gonna sit around and take those comments sitting down - he's actually gonna do something about it; in fact, he already did. harleyg posts in the QJ forums that he has just refunded all the donations he has received. And he clarifies that he never asked for donations. He ends the forum post with, "Now, can I get on without being called a scammer?" I don't know about you, but we here at QJ thinks he does deserve to be granted that request... Check out harleyg's statement over at the QJ forums.

Discuss: [Forum Thread]

It's 115 pages of gaming goodness folks, and that's nothing to scoff at. PSP X Mag came out with issue 9 recently, and in addition to tons of pictures, they've also got the big D-O-double G in the house. That's right: PaRappa the Rapper!

If you remember the cute little gangsta dog with his rapping and his onion-headed martial arts teacher, then PSP X Mag is the perfect thing to read on your PSP. They've put up an update on Sony's PSP port of the cute, yet hardcore, rapping game.

Of course, there's a ton of other stuff to talk about in this issue. On the mod side, they've got a review of the 3GP Converter, a multi-format freeware conversion app and an interview with Harleyg, the developer of the PSPTouchMe device. Of course, they haven't forgotten games, as this issue carries previews of Gurumin, Moto GP and Ford Street Racing, among many other articles and screenshot bonanzas.

Go ahead and download a copy now. We've got a manual install and auto install version of PSP X Mag for you, so you got no reason to say "but I don't know how to install it!" Just remember that the auto-installer is looking for the letter of your PSP's memory stick, and you'll be fine. Enjoy!

Thanks to Vahid of PSP Crazy for the heads-up!

Download: [PSP X Mag Issue 9 (Manual Install)]
Download: [PSP X Mag Issue 9 (Auto-Installer)]

Today at the 0x89 development forums, Harleyg have posted some cool concept images of what the PSPTouchME touch screen might look like. He also confirmed that it will use the USB port instead of the serial port. If the touch screen were to use the serial port, an audio jack would have to be present because the serial port wont be active if not.

This would lead to it having no sound, so now the touch screen will use the USB. Don't worry about the occupation of your USB, as seen on the images and written by harleyg himself, there will be a USB plug on the top of the screen (not actually on the screen it self, but you know what I mean, just look at the picture).

The touch screen may become compatible with the new 0x89 XMB Replacement Harleyg and his mighty team is creating. How cool is that?! And homebrew in the future may also become compatible! If not there would be no use.

The full article awaits after the jump!

While we bloggers can differentiate a good site from a bad one, we generally aren't vocal about it. Normal users can rant all day, but when we make a statement, it is counted as an official stand of the parent website. While this is normal, we do feel restricted in a way... We can't warn the people against other "bad" sites because of the sole reason that it would cause nothing but in-fighting in the scene.

But it gets different when some sites start to rip-off other people's great work and modifying it for their own glory. A few hours ago, I got a humble request from Mathieulh, Dark_Alex and harleyg. It was about the fact that a certain site, PS2NFO, was editing the readme files of homebrew releases to remove their names from the credits section. It seems that they even went to the lengths of hex-editing the applications to remove the names of Fanjita, Skylark, psp250 and Mathieulh, all of whom have been hugely responsible to get the PSP homebrew scene where it is today.

That's still not all. We also noticed the fact that the PS2NFO admin started impersonating Dark_Alex in their forums to get more glory. Mathieulh, Dark_Alex and harleyg wanted us to put this statement up on our site. Here's the official statement:

"Dark_AleX never goes to PS2NFO and never will. PS2NFO go as low as impersonating developers to make themselves seem exclusive. They lie to everyone and steal credits. They impersonated Dark_AleX several times despite our warning on Maxconsole. When people post that Dark_AleX is a fake on their forums, they just delete the post and continue to make it look like he is the real one.

Because we fear for the sake of the entire scene due to such behaviour, we have no choice but to warn as many people as possible. They also remove credits from the people they banned such as Mathieulh. When the libtiff helloworld was released, they hex edited the tiff to remove all credits apart from NOPx86. Fanjita, Skylark and psp250's name was removed. We hope they won't repeat such lame acts again and they will leave the PSP scene alone"

Now in case they think of editing their posts after seeing this, we have proof of them doing these malicious acts:

Now while this might be surprising to most of you people, we were not surprised. In fact, Fanjita had this to say in one of his posts in our forums:

"Bleh, standard practise from that site. Low pirate scum, the lot of 'em."

Here's what PS2NFO had to say after news spread that they were impersonating Dark_Alex:

"After it ran it's course for a day, we received unconfirmed reports that it wasn't the real Dark_AleX who actually posted the thread. As a result, we posted the IPs logged from the account and an offer to Contact Us for the real Dark_AleX to (re)claim his account here. Until he chooses to, we have now seized the account and I will personally use it in his absence on our boards. Not much more we can do at this"

Now while I cannot give an official statement regarding this, you guys should realise how we at QJ feel about PS2NFO. Our advice to everyone here: Stop going to that site and make sure to get untampered homebrew from any of the rest of the sites, especially from http://dl.qj.net. And make sure to spread the message to your friends!

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The article above was created by a user on MyQJ and received enough Jumps to be automatically posted to PSP Updates. As such, it may not be accurate and does not reflect the opinions of QJ.NET or its staff.