Our PSP "scene" has been lucky enough to have some real legendary characters. First, we had groups like PSP-Dev, later on, MPH. We can't forget Fanjita and Ditlew, and now, joining their ranks at a blistering pace is none other than Dark_Alex. It seems the guy jumps from one big bombshell to the next.

Dark_Alex has just announced that he was busy making a 2.71 XMB homebrew launcher. Now you guys might be wondering how this might be different from Noobz' eLoader. Well, this is another bombshell guys! Dark_Alex has succeeded in being able to launch homebrew from the Game Menu in the PSP's XMB, or the Main menu as some might call it. Big news, huh? Well, it doesn't stop there! If Dark_Alex has his way, this will probably pave the way for kernel mode homebrew launching from the XMB itself!

But for now, the method is limited and can't load "standard" homebrew as we know it (static ELF files) and in order to make use of this XMB Loader, games will have to be ported or created in PRX form:

"Current homebrews are not supported. Since current homebrews are in static elf format, they won't run (they are rejected by the 2.71 kernel). Homebrews for 2.71 have to be in prx format. As mentioned before, homebrew has to be in prx format, at least atm. Furthermore, the main prx, the one in the pbp, has to be an user prx. However this user prx can load unsigned kernel modules from the memory stick, allowing kernel mode apps."

The great thing from the programmers' perspective is the fact that you can load unsigned kernel modules from the Memory Stick. This means that they will get all the freedom which 1.5 has offered until now. For developers who are interested in creating or porting existing programs to be "PRX compatible", you can find information and details in the readme, so we hope to see a flurry of compatible homebrew in the next few days!

You should be warned, this program does write to flash, so as with any flash memory-related programs, be very careful and use at your own risk even if the chances of bricking is extremely remote.

"This program enables homebrew to be run in 2.71 through the XMB. It makes a patch that remains
permanent until hardware reset. Sleep mode won't remove the patch.

Note: this program writes some small files in the flash, ONLY the first time is executed.
IT does NOT rewrite any existing file in the system, it writes new files, so the probabilities of
bricking are practically null."

But, there is a ray of hope. Dark_Alex has said that in future versions, he may patch the kernel to accept static ELFs. That would mean that 2.71 will be able to run all the homebrew which 1.5 is known for! Let's just hope that in the near future, 2.71 can dethrone 1.5 as the "golden firmware". Hey! It doesn't sound all that improbable now. With the great work of people like Dark_Alex and his friends, Fanjita and crew, we're well on our way to making firmware 2.71 the primary homebrew firmware!

Here's the proof-of-concept, directly from Dark_Alex's site. Again, you should be careful before running this since it writes to the flash. Please check out the readme before doing anything else, there's a lot of important information in there. Oh, and the champagne? That's for Dark_Alex and his friends ;)

Download: [Dark_Alex's 2.71 XMB Homebrew Launcher Proof-of-Concept (Revision A)]

[Digg This!]

The PSP scene has been around and thriving for more than a year now, we have all been there to witness its dark genesis to our shores (PSP debuted to US with the then-dubbed "invincible firmware 1.50"), to its phoenix-like rebirth (when a group called PSP-DEV first come up with the swaploit and paved the way for the now "golden firmware 1.50"). After a few dark days of the dreaded updates, causing the scene to become somewhat a bit slow, the PSP is once again alive and kicking thanks to  the series of breakthroughs (discovery of kernel access, creation of downgraders, and firmware emulation) we've all been lovin'.

With these newer developments, the PSP's life is quickly revitalizing. That's why we've been noticing more and more newbie beginner questions, which are actually a good thing because it shows the interest is growing. It is then not surprising to see T3, considered as every gadgeteer's bible, featuring the perks of having a PSP in its July 2006 ish'. They even covered a full-feature story that serves as a walkthrough for those who are new with PSP homebrew.

The T3 story, all graced with blurbs like "There are hundreds of homebrews (non-commercial home-made applications) out there for the PSP" and "The homebrew scene has created everything from universal remote controls, Wi-Fi signal sniffers, PDA applications and, of course, emulators" runs a step-by-step process on how to install emulators on a PSP.

DrNicket tipped us that there was an article in the latest T3 magazine with PSPUpdates in it, so we went to buy a copy and check it out for ourselves. Let me tell ya, we were all smiles, not because PSPUpdates was in it, but because homebrew is finally getting more exposure -- a sign that the technology we all love is getting the recognition it deserves from the public.

The appreciation just doesn't just go out to the developers who worked so hard to bring us all these homebrew games, applications, emulators, and expolits, to the sites that spread the word about every development, but instead to the whole community as well. Yep, that includes you, my friend. PSP homebrew being publicized to a bigger population means more opportunities and possibilities for everyone. It informs more people, and with more people the broader our horizons will be.

Those currently developing could add creating programs for PSP to their resume (hey, if more people starts to recognize it, it'll get more respect), prompting more outside coders to take interest providing us with fresh ideas and creations. It'll also attract more interest from even those who are beginners to all of this, giving us more opportunities to rear future Fanjita, Edison Carter, Ditlew, Nem, Booster, Dark_Alex's etc. Add all of that up, and what do the rest of us get? A whole lotta load of more homebrew!

We here at QJ.Net definitely welcome this trend, as much as we welcome those who are new to the world of PSP and its currently limitless ever expanding possibilities. We are ecstatic that the media are spreading the word about what was once considered taboo, meanwhile we have to ask what your thoughts on this subject are. Let us know in the comments!

A lot of you may have forgotten, but today is a very important one for the homebrew community. Exactly a year ago, a Spanish group carrying the name PSP-DEV provided a light to the many who were blinded in the dark; paved the way for those who were lost; and guided them to find the light.

I may be getting a little too dramatic, but let's just say that it's a carryover of the joy I, and I'm sure all of you, had when CybBlade, Pawstick and Killer-X brought to us the very first exploit for FW 1.50 - Swaploit. June 15, 2005 marked the date when the said method first serve American PSP users the very good taste of homebrew for their PSP.

It must be taken into note that right after the Hello World exploit for FW 1.0, before PSPs were launched outside of Japan, Sony released their FW update thus blocking homebrew for gamers around the world who just bought theis handhelds. Swaploit, a method that may be considered medieval in terms of modern technology, answered the prayers of many to have emulators and homebrew for their newly blocked PSPs.

Crude yet very effective, Swaploit worked by swapping Memory Sticks while starting the application. It may not have basked long in terms of popularity among homebrew users (a week later the same guys released KXploit), but it still holds a very special place in most PSPanatics' hearts because it was the very first tool that gave us the power to go up against the updates, giving us the power to use our PSP the way we want.

It has given us the hope that if an exploit could have been made in the very first update, it'll only take time before other FWs are hacked as well. That very same achievement is the very thing that makes other users hold on to the dream of having another tool to use against the latest update. We already have the Devhook, and pretty soon we'll have the modchip, things are indeed very looking bright for us - no small thanks to Swaploit.

Whenever I think of this, I always remember the line "The darkest hour of the night is right before the Sun comes out". Indeed the days before Swaploit were very sad and dark, right now, I'd like to think we're all basking under the heat of midday sun.

Amidst reminiscing those good old days, I sincerely ask for everyone to offer a few seconds of silence for CybBlade whom we lost to cancer last year...