Some people just want to go retro. And even though it's possible to map certain PSOne buttons onto the PSP's controller scheme, there's still something sentimental with actually having the L2 and R2 shoulder buttons physically there on top. Check out this new mod from Electro: mini L2 and R2 shoulder buttons on a PSP Phat.

Instead of using your PlayStation Portable's USB slot to charge your handheld, why not try and plugging your toaster into it and see if it will work. This rather offbeat concept may soon be possible with the advent of a new mod developed by Osole from the PSP-Generation forums. The USB Gadgets Connector mod allows you to connect just about any USB gadget into a modded adaptor added on the top of your handheld. Check out the details of this nifty mod in our full article.

N3M3515 came up with an interesting PSP mod that enables users to use wireless voice chat on games like the SOCOM FTB franchise. The setup will also work on the PS2 and, interestingly enough, the PS3. Details are available in the full article.

AcidMods' member F00 f00, the same dude responsible for bringing the PlayStation Portable community with various cool modifications to the Sony handheld, has done another one lately that should be the cause of your latest envy.

To further whet your appetites, take note that this particular mod has added the following features and changes to the PSP: USB charging, custom engraved faceplate, and custom jewel dual nub among others. Check out the video clip after the jump!

Tony Hoang (also known as PvP) tipped off QJ.NET that he has gone to work on a revision to the FPS PSP mod. Version 3.0 spins in a similar direction to version 2.0, although this time it swaps the analog control position in placement of the PSP's original four button interface - one for the PlayStation controls and the other for the D-Pad.

It's an improvement over the previous version, which had the analog sticks situated below the Sony PSP's original control layout (see left). Images and more details at the full article.

Modder edhel is announcing that he's working on a project involving the Sony PSP, and the Nintendo Wii console's classic controller attachment for its Wiimote. The mod involves hot-wiring the Wii controller to function as an external controller for the PSP, which edhel demonstrates through a short play-through of WipEout Pure. Here's edhel's uploaded video to give the readers a better idea of how this work in progress is looking for far:

edhel added this detail regarding this Wii classic controller mod:

At the moment it isn't finished completely as i have yet to wire up the d pad - but withe the current releases of joysens i dont think there is much point in doing so (although i may if i have time between other mods im doin). I am rubbish at the game in the vid and the turning in wipeout pure is really hard but i assure you that all the buttons shown ARE WORKING.

As the modder said, this is an early video, so expect to see this project get smoothed out in the days to come. Fellow modders who think they've got the technical skills to pull this off can try reading PvP's tutorial over at the AcidMods forums (through the via link) where this mod was originally announced.

While the PSP's Chotto Shotto (aka the Go!Cam) camera boasts a handy set of functions, one issue some peopel have with it is that it sits prominently on top of the frame, and really messes up the PSP's otherwise streamlined exterior. Rex over at the AcidMods forums apparently had the same issues, given this new modding project that's just been finished.

This mod has the camera installed directly inside the PSP Phat, in place of where the UMD drive used to be. Here's Rex's video demonstration to give you a better idea of how it works:

Rex further noted that future projects include plans to build the Chotto Shotto into the PSP Slim. What makes this attempt interesting is that it won't involve removing the UMD drive. That's it for the moment, although you guys may also want to keep on the lookout for a tutorial - the modder plans to release one soon.

Kudos goes to F00 f00 for tipping us off regarding this mod!

PlayStation Portable modder Duelord came up with a very interesting modification to the handheld's backlight that should give the good ol' PSP Fat an extra hour's worth of battery juice.

According to Duelord, the backlight of the PSP works with 20v even though the battery's capacity is just 3.6v. Take note that when you do this mod, it will be quite hard to play official games on the PSP.

However, Duelord added that this still allows him to run homebrew, listen to music, and view pictures. Aside from that, he's using this modded PSP Fat to downgrade the PSP slim & Lite as well as fix bricked PSP units.

If you are interested, these materials will be needed as provided by Duelord himself: screwdriver, resistors, soldering iron, lead, smd led, aluminium, sticky stuff and at least two hours time. Once you've acquired all of those, perform the following procedures:

1. Open up your PSP Fat.
2. Wire up the leds, the wires go in two little holes near the battery.
3. Use aluminium to reflect the led, place the resistor behind the metal part.
4. LCD popped back on it.
5. I used some tape to scotch everything together and it works, apart from the analog stick.

If you want to know more about this mod, click on the Read link below.

We'd like to thank JaXeRiR for the tip!

sim over at the Acidmods site dropped us a line earlier about a project one of their members, aka kypes, just finished. It's a time-lapse video of all the mods the author pulled off on a PSP about a month ago. See if you can spot some of these familiar customizations:

• UMD Door Mod
• LED swap
• WiFI switch insulating
• Prepare Musik Modchip (Im386)
• LED Install
• UMD LED install
  

As a follow-up to the time-lapse vid, kypes also recorded a video demonstrating what all these combined mods do on the handheld. Both clips are available below, although the readers can also drop by the Acidmods forums via the source link to send in their feedback to the modder. Happy viewing!

kype's PSP Mod presentation video is available in the Full Article

Remember the FPS PSP mod that Tony Hoang (aka PvP) released last month? The modder dropped us a line earlier to announce that he's decided to redo the project, adding even more tweaks and features to further personalize the FPS PSP. Here's a short list of what's new:

• external analog sticks (relocated)
• speaker grill in UMD drive to protect speaker
• speaker (smaller than grill) in UMD drive to provide a ring of nothing around the speaker
• LEDs in UMD drive
• trigger LEDs
• rumble mod that is hooked up to the hold button (push power button to hold if u want rumble and if u don't want rumble don't do anything after powering it on)
• built-in microphone
• all black design
  

On a related note, PvP mentions that the current build's LEDs burned out - they're going to be replaced soon. PvP also sent in a video to demonstrate how the PSP handles. Enjoy the video. Click on the source link below to read up on this mod's full details.