It's been a long while since AhMan released a public version of iR Shell, but it looks like the wait could finally be over soon.

iR Shell beta tester F34R sent us a tip that AhMan is currently readying the latest version of iR Shell for public release. While a definite release date has yet to be announced, it will reportedly be shortly after the new M33 firmware update hits.

The new iR Shell will also be compatible with Team M33's custom firmware. It will also have the features shown in the leaked iR Shell video. Here's a list of features added since iR Shell's last public release posted by iR Shell beta tester StoneCut:

• Added support Team M33's newest custom firmware. If you don't want to update to M33, you will still be able to use this new release with older OE firmwares
• Launch and multi-task with PS1 games from within iR Shell (works also via USBhostFS and NetHostFS)
• Backup ISO plugins now integrated into iR Shell 1.5 EBOOT and 3.5x EBOOT (also supports USBhostFS and NetHostFS)
• Backup UMD Video ISO support (some additional 1.5 firmware files required)
• Direct switching between 1.5 EBOOT and 3.5x EBOOT via new shortcut combo
• System-wide "Quick Exit" function to quickly shutdown games, homebrew etc and return to iR Shell
• Improved Autoboot plugin
• New Comic Reader plugin based on PSPComic for CBZ and CBR files by suloku
• Added the ability to flash/blink the menu highlighting cursor
• Added support for adhoc PC nethostfs connection under 3.51 EBOOT (some additional firmware files required)
• Added a new config item in configurator to turn on/off the Music button for screen capture
• Other bugfixes and tiny improvements

 

One of the nice things about having a public license is that people can add onto your work to bring new functionality to the applications you've created. Such is the case with suloku, who has modified Archaemic and Kip's PSPComic v0.9.8 beta 2 and added the ability to use PSPComic as a plugin for Ahman's iRShell.

In this case, PSPComic users can keep on using the application as a standalone program or turn it into an iRShell plugin, which would presumably allow you to take pictures of the comic panels you're viewing, among other things.

There is one known issue with this iRShell plugin version, however. According to the information in the readme, bookmarks and configuration files for the iRShell and standalone versions of the application are stored in separate places, which means that if you want to keep identical bookmarks and config files for both, you'll have to create them for each version of the app. Currently though, suloku is looking to talk to the author/s of the original app for a way to get past the minor issue.

You can find out how to install PSPComic 0.9.8 beta 2p - iRShell plugin version by checking the "readme_irShell" file. For questions about installing the standalone version, you can find them in the "readme" file. Feel free to give it a try and tell us how you find it. Enjoy the app!

Download: PSPComic 0.9.8 Beta 2p - iRShell plugin version
Visit: PSP Development Forum

New year isn't complete without all the fireworks and flashing lights - bells, whistles, trumpets, confetti, and Times Square parties. And even though he's still "in retirement," Ahman is welcoming the new year with his own kind of fireworks: homebrew ports of his apps to work on 3.02 kernel. So, what's in his big banging package? His biggest homebrew projects are all lined up for 3.02 OE-B glory. The ports in the package are:

• PSP VNC Player
• PMf Player
• Atract3 Player
• PMP Mod AVC

These players will allow you to open media files on your PSP when running Dark_AleX's 3.02 OE-B. The PMf and Atract3 players allow you to access the said file formats, while the PMP Mod is a plugin that allows you to watch full resolution videos on your PSP. Aside from the players, the PSP VNC is a remote access app that allows you to control stuff on your PC.

Right now though, we can't seem to access the PMP AVC Mod download link which suloku posted on our forums. We've been getting a 404 on that one. We'll post the other downloads below, and as for the PMP Mod, just keep tabs on this space. We'll update the post as soon as we've gotten access to the archive file. For now, you can head to our forums below and maybe try out for yourself if suloku's link works for you.

Download: [PSP VNC Player for 3.02 OE-B]
Download: [PMf Player for 3.02 OE-B]
Download: [Atract3 Player for 3.02 OE-B]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

And so the 2.71 SE-C mania continues. After Dark Alex released his wonderful work, there's been a surge of more releases that continue to work on making the most of the custom firmware. An example of this is suloku's 2.71 Kernel AUTOBOOT Plugin for 2.71 SE-C which we brought you guys just a few days ago.

Some of the comments we got when we posted v0.1 of the Kernel AUTOBOOT Plugin were asking what this app is for, what it does, and various how-to's.

So for clarification purposes for those who are still a bit baffled, here's what suloku has to say about his release: "It allows to autoboot into an aplication under 2.71 kernel when powering on the psp or exiting a hombrew. For example, you can use a devhook launcher with autoboot and you can start your psp with your devhook and 271F setting activated."

The features, installation instructions, and more info about the autoboot plugin are included in the readme so make sure you check it out alright?

Changelog:

• Added ability to go to the XMB with holding L at boot.
• Added ability to go boot inserted UMD with holding / (triangle) at boot.
• Added checking for inserted umd when holding / (triangle) at boot.If not present, it will go to the XMB
• Added checking for file existence. If the file to be launched doesn't exist, it will go to the XMB.
• Added 1.5 kernel booting when WLAN switch is OFF to launch an aplication under 1.5 kernel.
• 2.71 kernel aplication will be launched when WLAN switch is ON.
  

To do:

• Add a ini file for custom file paths.

Download: [2.71 Kernel AUTOBOOT Plugin for 2.71SE-C v0.2]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

The windfall from Dark_Alex's 2.71 SE-C continues. Over at our forums, suloku has released his 2.71 Kernel AUTOBOOT Plugin for 2.71 SE-C. Here's what he has to say about it (which is short and sweet):

Here's a plugin, made with the fantastic Dark_Alex's SDK, that allows us to autoboot into a 271 kernel application, instead of a 1.5 kernel one. Great for IR Shell.

How to use:

-extract to ms0:/seplugins

-add he prx to vhs.txt

-enable the prx from the recovery menu. It will load the eboot at ms0:/seplugins/EBOOT.PBP

note: XMB can be launched from irshell with no problem.

As it says, this allows the PSP to autoboot into a 2.71 kernel application. As suloku clarifies in a later post, "271SE autoboot only allows 1.5 kernel". An example, also used by suloku: "Irshell 3.0 will be released during this week, so we can now boot into it's 271 version, with he benefits that are implicit."

Download: [2.71 Kernel AUTOBOOT Plugin for 2.71 SE-C]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]