SOCOM Beta Test

- Want to try out the new SOCOM game for PSP before anyone else? Try and get yourself on the beta test and you can be sneaking and shooting online very soon, to help the developers iron out bugs and test server load.
- Sign up for the PlayStation Underground and register your PSP. Be sure to fill out the other sections of your profile, including the fact that you have a router and the ability to get online. You must also be 18 to get on this beta.
- If that is done, you may receive an email about joining the beta. You cannot join without this.
- To sign up for the beta head to this link. You need to have firmware v2.0 on your PSP so that you have access to the PSP web browser. In a clever move, you have to register through this browser to qualify for the beta test, thus proving you have a PSP with the ability to get online. It may also be enough to tempt some people to upgrade their firmware away from homebrew-allowing versions.
- If you do not have firmware 2.0, you can still try and register using Firefox and a plugin. PSP Updates have some instructions on doing this.
- Others have reported using browsers in games such as WipeOut Pure to register on older version firmwares, but this cannot be confirmed right now.

PSP Device Hook Launcher v0.10 - Launch ISOs Without UMD

- PS2NFO are reporting that Booster, creator of PSP Hook Boot Launcher, has released a new project titled PSP Device Hook Launcher v0.10
- This app allows you to directly launch PSP ISO files from a Memory Stick (on v1.00 and v1.50 PSPs) without needing a UMD in the drive
- They are also running a Device Hook compatibility thread in their forum, starting with the following:

Working:

Metal Gear Acid
Gretsky
Ridge Racers
NFL Street
Ape Academy
Fired Up Demo
Hot Shots
Mercury
Lumines
Dynasty Warriors USA
ATV Off Road
Dead To Rights
Intelligent License JAP
NBA
NFL Street
Star Soldier
Tenchu
Rengoku USA

Not Working:

NBA Street Showdown
Namco Museum Battle Collection USA
Bomberman Panic
Medieval
Spiderman 2
World Tour Soccer
FIFA Soccer
Death Jr
Need For Speed Underground Rivals
SmartBomb

Free PSP Proof

- Gratis/Freepay sent us our Free PSP yesterday so we added some pictures as proof on our Free PSP Conga Page.

- We are really pleased with the results of this. The PSP sent has firmware v1.50, perfect for homebrew coding, has zero dead pixels and took only one day to arrive via DHL!
- Why not earn yourself a free PSP the fast way by signing up to our conga line so each person that joins can get their referrals faster.
- Don't forget our Free XBOX 360 Conga Page too! Get the Premium $400 console pack for launch day in November.

WAB Version Changer v2 - Firmware Version Number Trick

- Yoshihiro from hacking group WAB has released Wab Version Changer v2.
- A nifty little app, it lets you set your PSP to report its firmware version number as something other than what it actually is. That means, games that require v1.52 could work on PSPs with v1.0 or v1.5.
- This app does not actually flash your firmware, or allow you to downgrade. It only works on v1.0 and v1.5 PSPs and makes them pretend to be another version of your choice.
- WAB says:

"This is described as the First Firmware Trick for Games that need Firmware 1.52 to run on your PSP and Cant Run UPDATER 1.52 or 2.0. The System thinks it's a PSP v1.52 ,v1.0 ,v2.0 even if its a v1.5 or 1.0."

Atari 2600 Emulator

- PS2NFO reports that an Atari 2600 emulator has been released for the PSP.
- Aenea is the author and has ported existing emulator, Stella, and called this release v0.1.
- It is easiest to let them speak for themselves:

"This is a port of the Stella Atari 2600 emulator to the PSP. Original code by Bradford W. Mott, Stephen Anthony, Jeff Miller, and many others. This PSP port was made by Alysa Habraken (aka Aenea). It's not very optimized and not all games run or at full speed, but runs at 333mhz at the moment. Some have a little flickering, but this will be resolved in upcoming versions."

USA Firmware v2.0 Finally Released

- Yesterday Sony let firmware v2.0 out the door for USA users. You can get it from their official updates page along with instructions on how to flash your PSP.
- You should be aware that the upgrade will add a web browser to your PSP, but you will lose the ability t run any homebrew software... for now.

HandyPSP Atari Lynx Emulator

- PS2NFO brings word of HandyPSP v0.01 from EXCEED.
- HandyPSP is a port of Handy v0.90, an Atari Lynx emulator for Windows.
- Apparently this release runs quite well, but not quite 100% speed just yet.

US Firmware v2.0 Update

- Sony have updated their post announcing the release of the v2.0 firmware for users in the USA. It now reads:

The PSP Firmware 2.0 Upgrade for the North American market will be available during the week of August 22nd.
...
Message Edited by SCEA on 08-22-2005 03:05 PM

- So the wait continues... for those that don't want the JAP version, but don't mind losing homebrew capability!

Fast Loader v0.7

- PSP-Hacks have got their hands on Humma Kavula's Fast Loader v0.7 with some interesting new features.
- You no longer need to eject and re-insert the UMD, there is an integrated UMD to MS dumper and there is greater compatibility with ISOs.

Access UMD Over FTP

- PSPHacks has posted UMDFTP v1, an app from dbase on their forums.
- It was created from pspkrazy's PSPFTP source and will allow you access the UMD via FTP connection.
- dbase said this:

Not going to update this app, and I will be releasing a HTTPUMD soon. I feel like http will be better until a USBUMD app can be accomplished.