silmarilion has released GameMusicGear MX Release Candidate 2.0 and it's got more bugfixes and optimizations. But some of the tweaks would be the added support for 48 khz songs and a visualizer selector in full screen mode. Do check out what's in the full list after the jump.

Download: GameMusicGear MX Release Candidate 2.0
Discuss: PSP Development Forums

Developer Winnydows has recently announced the release of an update for the Xvid4PSP 5.029 final homebrew video converter.

This new build will carry several fixes for bugs that were causing the application to randomly crash. Details on the update and version 5.029 final are in the full article.

Download: Xvid4PSP 5.029 Final update

If your Sony PlayStation Portable's a fashion statement, then it'll probably also be the prime target for imitation. That's the impression we're given when we happened upon the PMP K35 from Chinese technological company, Shenzhen Yijingling Technology Co., Ltd.

The PMP K35 may imitate the PSP in appearance and form, but it certainly plays a different tune in function. And we say tune, because aside from playing games contained in Flash storage, the PMP K35 can play and record audio and features a varied set of abilities.

The PMP K35 from Shenzhen Yijingling doesn't use universal media disc (UMD) technology, so it has to rely on Flash sticks containing pre-formatted games to become a portable game handheld. Of course, this does give rise to a more open platform for homebrew, but in essence, the PMP K35 already has a rich feature set of applications that give it the power to:

• Play music files in MP3/WMA/WAV formats
• Perform as a portable FM radio (only available in units with optional FM tuner)
• Record audio via built-in microphone, line-in function in WAV format
• Manage, read, and browse E-books
• Output its video to other video devices using A/V connection in multiple system formats (TV-NTSC/TV-PAL/LCD)
• Manage and browse through multiple Digicam-formatted images
• Display current time on-screen
• Support multiple languages
• Play MPEG4 ASF formatted movies
• Provide ten thousand (?) calendars

But the PMP K35 can only support up to 1 GB Flash memory and its battery is built-in (probably non-detachable), so it does have its share of disadvantages. Details on pricing haven't been divulged, and we're not even sure if the image is the product is still in its concept form. First a portable PS3, then a Vii, and now a PMP. Whatever will they think of next?

  

Homebrew developer UFox dropped by QJ.NET PSP Development Forum and released a new version of nifty program PSP Content Manager bringing it up to version 1.8. For the uninitiated, take note that this is actually a PC-based application that lets users preview and manage the content of their handheld units.

PSP Content Manager is capable of accessing content that are stored on your PSP's memory stick, as well as those found in the PC hard drive with a same folder structure used on the memory stick. Some of the program's features include file management, item sort, homebrew edit/installation, MP4 title modifying, MP3/WMA/ATRAC tag edit, as well as build-in RSS server.

Here are the following changes and improvements that can be noticed in PSP Content Manager v1.8:

• Build-in RSS Server to Host MP3 Files on PC for PSP RSS Channel
• Start the Build-in RSS server and add build-in channel from RSS Channel List; Or your can do that using PSP internet browser to open PC's IP address.
• RSS Channel List
• Support ms0:/ISO/VIDEO Folder for UMD ISO List
• Convert and Save 1.50 EBOOT to 1.00 EBOOT Format
• Fix CFW Setting Saving Bug
• System Tray Icon

UFox included a very comprehensive Readme.txt file in the download which contains information on how to use the application as well as functions of each feature. Be sure to browse through that first before installing this on your PlayStation Portable units.

Download: PSP Content Manager v1.8
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

If you head over to PSPChina, you'll find a post for eBook reader: eReader v1.59. We have written about eReader v1.4, and that's a good place to start if you want to know how to use this program and navigate through it. Basically, the eReader by Aeolusc is an eBook reader program for your PSP. It lets you read simple text files, but more importantly, it lets you read HTML files, display images, and play MP3s. You can also download fonts in different sizes so you can choose one that's easy to read.

We'll update this as soon as we get more info. Meanwhile, if anybody out there knows more about it, then you can help out the rest of the non-Chinese-reading PSP community by telling us more about it.

Also, we'd like to welcome the PSP newbies who got PSPs for Christmas: Check out the FAQs, Guides, and Tutorials at our forums. You might look at Guides: General PSP for general PSP stuff (like figuring out the version of "firmware" you have in your PSP), and then you can jump into homebrew by reading the threads in the Guides: Hacks, Homebrew and Emulators forum. Recommended reading includes the ULTIMATE Homebrew Guide and the The Ultimate QJ Guide.

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Update: Tom sent in a very helpful translation of the original eReader post and of the readme. He provided info on what the newest features of eReader v1.59 Xmas Version (Ebook and Image Viewer) are, including info on the controls. There's also a very long and extremely important tutorial in this translation.

So for those who want to use this updated app ASAP, click on Full Article.

If the great news with regards to 2.80 kernel dumping wasn't enough for those who were on lower firmwares, Dark_AleX's latest release of 3.02 OE-A will definitely make your day! Don't worry, while the name makes it sound like a totally different hack, it is in essence, just like the earlier SE firmwares. What you get with the latest version is amazing to say the least.

Here's the full list of new features in 3.02 OE-A:

• 3.02 Custom Firmware - 3.02 firmware environment with 1.50 homebrew capability.
  
• Can run homebrew using 3.02 kernel
• UMD Video region free
• PSP kernel region selector
• O/X button selector
• WMA enabling option
• Flash player enabling option
• Pops (SCE PSONE emulator) - DRM protection hacked (Which means that you can now your game on more than one psp, and share them over the internet)

The installation is just like the previous custom firmwares by Dark_AleX. Nonetheless, here's a guide:

Generating the DATA.DXAR:

1. Copy oeupdmaker and oeupdmaker% to /PSP/GAME/ if you are using 1.50 firmware and to X:/PSP/GAME150 if you are using whatever version of 2.71 Se.
2. Get the 1.50 and 3.02 Update eboots in the oeupdmaker folder with the names "150.PBP" and "302.PBP".
3. Run oeupdmaker. This program will create a file called DATA.DXAR in the same directory (oeupdmaker).
4. The program will verify that the SHA-1 of the generated file is correct.
5. Once that you have done this, you can save the DATA.DXAR file to skip this step in the future.

Flashing DATA.DXAR:

1. Copy the directories oeflasher and oeflasher% to /PSP/GAME (or /PSP/GAME150 if you are on 2.71 SE)
2. Copy the generated DATA.DXAR from oeupdmaker to oeflasher directory.
3. Run the flasher. If your battery is less than 75%, the program will show the error saying so and will return you to the XMB. This check can be by passed at your own risk by executing the program with triangle and L pressed.
4. The program will continue showing an agreement. Press X to accept and flash the custom firmware, or R to cancel and exit to the XMB.
5. If you accept, the program will flash the custom firmware. Don't shutdown the PSP and don't remove the memory stick.
6. Once finished, shutdown the psp and restart manually to 3.02 OE :)

Again, the latest release is nothing more than revolutionary, the key features being 3.02 VSH and the PSONE emulation hacks. Unfortunately, this release is not aimed at TA-082 users, so all the TA-082ers will have to keep wishing and praying for some magic. For the rest who're on their 2.71 SE firmwares, this represents the next golden firmware...Enjoy!

(A last minute note - occasionally this program will result in a blue screen error, but this is not harmful. Just restart and try again.)

Download Link: [3.02 OE-A by Dark_AleX]

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe just announced that they're releasing the new PSP Media Manager content organizer for Europe's use. The Media Manager allows PSP owners to organize non-game files in their PSP such as videos, music, images and documents, and to transfer them from PSP to PC and vice-versa via a simple drag-and-drop system.

Features include the ability to move around multi-file bundles, and a media previewer so you'll always know what you're  transferring. The Media Manager also automatically converts files to specific formats needed for viewing, allowing for a more user-friendly way of accessing your files. Specifics files types it can handle will be discussed in a little while.

Organizing aside, it also allows you to transfer Internet Explorer favorites from your PC to your PSP, and allows you to back up your Memory S tick game data to your PC.

Currently priced at €9.99, (USD $12.73), the Media Manager is available for download this November 3, and will be available in stores purchase by November 8, at €19.99 (USD $24.50). As for the files types it can handle, here's the info:

Audio: mp3; ATRAC; wma; wav; pca; ogg; m1a; mpa; m2a; m4a; m4b; aac; mp4; Video; mp4; avi; wmv; mov; qt; dv; mpg; mpeg; mpeg1; mpeg2; mmv; m1p; mp1; mp2; m2t; 3gp; and m4v.

Image: jpg;jpeg; jpe; jfif; pnp; gif; bmp; dib; tiff; and tif.

Documents: .txt; .rtf; .doc; .wri; .wpd; .wps; .xls; .html; .mht; and .htm.

Ufox is back with a better version of his homebrew app PSP Content Manager. PSP Content Manager is an easy-to-use PSP content management application based on framework of PSP Homebrew Icon Sort Tool also by Ufox.

This app allows you to preview and manage PSP content stored on a memory stick or on PC's hard disk with same folder structure used on memory stick. It also features file management, item sort, homebrew edit/installation, MP4 title modifying,
MP3/WMA/ATRAC tag edit and a few more.

PSP Content Manager v1.4 changelog includes:

• Transfer to PSP
• Changed MP4 thumbnail image
• Supports iTunes AAC music file
• Enhanced MP4 title edit feature
• Supports editing of 2.XX FW compatible PBP file
• Checks TIFF exploited file
• Fixed MP3 picture writing bug
• Fixed a ISO Reading Bug

More details are in the readmefile, and reading it should always be the first step you take when installing new programs.

Download: [PSP Content Manager v1.4]
View: [Release Forum 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]

Aeolusc from PSPChina has made another update on his eReader for the PSP. The name of the application is already a give away. It is an eBook reader program for your PSP. It offers support for reading simple text files, as well as HTML files. It also has the ability to display images and play MP3s. So while you're reading, you can enjoy your favorite tunes as well.

If you're worried that it's written in Chinese, Kyle M. swears that it is rather easy to navigate. Just remember to use the circle button to make a selection instead of the X button. It can display English text files perfectly by the way.

You can also download additional fonts in varying sizes so you can choose which one is the most suitable for you. The translation is rather crude but here's what it says - More than 16 dot matrix fonts not included in the above download compressed packets, a separate provision requires people to download codecs, the two documents added fonts.zip and then menu option will be more than the corresponding size of the font choice.

Changelog:

• Support WMA broadcast (not support fast into fast retreat, broadcast, accounting for more resources to a certain extent, affect the operation, using)
• Support website, "which will not pre> labels" in the text allows removed pre>
• Amendment to delete the prohibition, the document directing the operation menu
• Code optimization

Download: [eReader 16bit v1.4]
                  [eReader 32bit v1.4]
                  [eReader v1.4 Fonts]