Dark_AleX has released his latest project: Despertar Cementerio, a universal unbricker for both the PSP-1000 and PSP-2000. The application returns your PSP back to firmware 3.71. To use the application, you will need Official Firmwares 1.50, 3.40 and 3.71. Dark_AleX also mentions that only firmware dumps from your own PSP should be used to unbrick, or it could lead to idstorage corruption.

Installation instructions are included in the zip package.

[Download Despertar Cementerio]

Sony have released an official theme maker for the PSP in Japan. So, if you are bored with the pre-made themes from Sony, why not create your own. The details about the application are still sketchy (since it?s in Japanese) but hopefully a similar application will make it to the US and Europe.

Some of the features include custom icon editor, theme converter among others. If you understand Japanese, why not download a copy from the Official Japanese PlayStation Website.

Team M33 have released their new custom firmware, based on Sony’s official
2.71 firmware. The team have made a number of changes to the firmware,
including the use of firmware 3.71. According to the team, this will be their
“last but one release”. The team also plan to release a PSP slim and fat
unbricker, and a 1.5 kernel patch. Check out the change log below.

Changelog:

• Now uses 3.71
• VSH Menu is not longer launched using HOME key, but using SELECT now. This
  is to not interfere with the XMB
  function of home, which is now more useful in this firmware.
• Psp Slim: umdcache was allocating memory even when homebrew was
  launched, wasting memory that homebrew programs may want to use. Now
  umdcache module is stopped before it can allocate any memory, only in
  the case homebrew is launched.
• Also, memory is unprotected for user memory usage by M33 core (only
  when homebrew is launched).
• Developer, for a sample of how to use the extra memory, see the
  extra ram sample of the M33 SDK
• Both version boot now from 3.XX ipl, and are independent of 1.50.

Important to note would be the following:
The main installer will not install 1.50 kernel anymore.

• A 1.50 kernel addon for 3.71 M33 that will install inside 3.71 M33 will
  be released in a few days (for fat PSP only)
• due to some changes in kernel nids by Sony
  you can expect a lot of kernel plugins not working anymore.
• Programmers: refer to the sdk readme for details.

As for the installation procedures, a step by step guided is
provided:
First method for both psp, the preferred when possible:

• Requeriments: a fat psp slim with 3.52 M33-3 or 3.52 M33-4. Previous
  versions of M33 won’t work, due to a bug that affects them and OE; or a psp
  slim with 3.60 M33.
• Copy the UPDATE directory into /PSP/GAME/UPDATE and copy the EBOOT.PBP of
  the 3.71 Sony updater there but with name “371.PBP”. Note: the program
  will not even show if you copy it to a different folder than that.
• If you are in the fat psp, make sure you have configured the psp to run
  the game folder in the 3.XX kernel.
• Press X, and the Sony updater will begin. Sit and enjoy while Sony
  code installs 3.71 M33
• When finished, the updater will ask you to reboot (pressing X or O).
  DO IT. Do not skip this step as shutting down the psp by yourself
  will end with a brick.
• You should be now in 3.71 M33

[Download
Custom Firmware 3.71 M33]

Firmware 3.70 came out only a few days ago and already a new version is out. As promised by Eric Lampel, Director of PSN Operations, the new PSP firmware is now available to download. Although the regional websites have not been updated yet, the firmware can be downloaded using the [Network Update] feature. The new firmware update increases PlayStation One title compatibility and also strengthen the security of the software.

Another point to note is that the update has no affect on Japanese PSPs. We are still waiting for a official changelog and will update this article shortly.

Firmware 3.70 is now available to download for your PSP. The latest update has a number of new additions including the ability to install custom themes. The update can be installed on any PSP model (PSP-1000 or PSP-2000). In addition to custom themes, the new firmware also allows scene search under Video, multi-tasking capabilities and a few other features. Check out the changelog below.

Changelog:

• Settings
  • You can now set a custom theme under [Theme Settings]. The Home Menu colour background or icon design can be changed, based on the theme that is selected.
• Network
  • [Assign Buttons] has been added to the [Remote Play] menu.
• Video
  • Sequential playback of videos that are saved on the Memory Stick Duo media is now supported.
  • You can now search for a scene when playing a movie that is saved on a Memory Stick Duo media.
• Other
  • Simultaneous playback of content under Music and Photo is now supported.

Team M33 have released a new version of their Custom Firmware, however, this time it for the new slim PSP (PSP-2000). Since Firmwar 3.60 is not publicly availabe, this custom firmware can only be installed on the new PSP model using Pandora’s Battery. The custom firmware includes all the features of Firmware 3.52 however the 1.50 Kernel has not been included due to incompatibilities with the new configuration.

Instructions on how to install the firmware are included in the ZIP package. Please note that Pandora’s Battery is required to install this firmware. If you do not have a properly configured battery then a PSP capable of running homebrew will be needed to create Pandora’s Battery.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.60 M33]

Team M33 has released a universal popsloader that is compatible with all of M33 Custom Firmware versions. If you enjoy playing PSOne titleson your PSP, then this good news for you. You can now use savadata files fron any version of pops – the plugin will convert the files for you. Check out the features below.

• Added the remaining pops: 3.00-3.03
• These pops require the following modules: kd/meaudio.prx, kd/popsman.prx, kd/pops.prx and vsh/module/pafmini.prx. As always, they go in seplugins/popsloader directory with the naming meaudio3xx.prx, popsman3xx.prx etc.
• Added compatibility between savedata <= 3.30 and those of 3.40 and higher.
• The thing works like this: If you have been playing in for example 3.52 pops, and then you select a pops from 3.00-3.30, popsloader will automatically convert the savedata into the old format.
• The reverse operation, from old format to new format, will be done by Sony code with a confirmation dialog.
• Popsloader plugin work in 3.51 M33, 3.52 M33 and….. 3.60 M33 for PSP slim. Coming soon.

[Download Universal popsloader]

The new firmware found on the PSP-2000 a.k.a. PSP Slim has already been dumped, with the help from Dark_AleX. Homebrew coder Mathieulh has succeed in dumping the files directly from the flash0 directory on the PSP, with the assistance of Dark_AleX.What makes this news so interesting is that it could now be possible to hack the firmware or even developer a custom firmware.

Dark_AleX left the PSP scene a few months back but could be returing to the homebrew scene. It is unclear exactly how the firmware was dumped from the PSP. Since the firmware is not available to download online, this does indeed seem legit.