After updating the PS3 Firmware, Sony has also decided to update the PSP Firmware bringing it to version 3.52. The firmware update for the PSP isn’t as feature-rich as the PS3 one, bringing only better PSOne compatibility and possibly an increase in security.

The regional websites have not been updated with the download yet, so you will only be able to download the update via the Network Update feature for the time being. We will bring you a complete changelog once the regional websites have been updated.

The M33 team has rolled out another update for their Custom Firmware (CFW) 3.51 M33 which adds quite a few new features and also fixed a couple of bugs. The “NOUMD” driver has been patched to allow better compatibility. Games such as ATV Offroad Fury Pro, Steel Horizons, Tony Hawk’s Project 8 now work on the firmware. A full change log is included below.

• Improvements in M33 NO-UMD driver. The improvements:
  • Fixed a bug that caused incompatibility with ATV Offroad Fury Pro, Steel Horizons,
    Tony Hawk’s Project 8 and probably more games.
  • Speed loading has improved.
• Automatic display fix for TA-082+ with brightness problems in 1.50 kernel.
  • M33 will autodetect TA-082+ with brightness problems, and will correct brightness properly.
• WLAN fix is now done differently, patch is done in 3.51 kernel before going to 1.50 one.
  • For those that don’t read the readmes: we never would include in our files a sony prx!
    The fix was and is done simply with code. The 3.40 mention was to notice that the problem
    was not a M33 bug, but a problem caused by Sony.
• 4th level of brighrness enabled on 1.5 kernel too now.
• An option has been added to recovery, “Hard Reset on 1.50 homebrew”. Use this, only if the Wi-Fi
  fix doesn’t work with your PSP still. It makes homebrew boot a bit slower.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.51 M33-7]

Team M33 has once again updated their Custom Firmware, making it their sixth update. This update isn’t major and simply adds a new “noumd” mode to the Recovery Menu. 3.51 M33-6 now allows you to make use of the Sony NP9660 ISO loader to run ISO images. The team state that it should improve ISO compatibility, however, the exact compatibility information is not know.

Instructions on how to update are included in the ZIP package. Please make sure you have 3.51 M33-5 already installed before attempting to update.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.51 M33-6]

Team M33 has been working hard to improve their custom firmware. This time, the team have incoperated the Wi-Fi and noumd bug fixes to create Custom Version 3.51 M33-4. In addition, several other bugs and new additions have been included (see below). After releasing M33-4, the team futher fixed a few more bugs to create version 5 which improved ISO compatibility.

Changes in 3.51 M33-4:

• Bugfix for the previous “noumd” Fix. This should fix the exit to the XMB with error 80020001 that happened to some people, or reduce its appearance.
• Added plugins options for homebrew that use 1.50 kernel. The file to be used for it, is ms0:/seplugins/game150.txt.

Changes in 3.51 M33-5:

• Bugfix for two important bugs in the noumd mode. The bugs affected Socom 2, Virtual Tennis 3 and probably many more games.

[Download Custom Firmware 3.51 M33-4]
[Download Custom Firmware 3.51 M33-5]

Team M33’s Custom Firmware has been updated once again. In this update, the “use noumd” option has now been changed to “UMD Mode” and allows you to select one of three modes, “Normal, “OE isofs Legacy” and “M33 Driver”. Instructions on how to update are included in the readme file included.

[Download 3.52 M33 No-UMD Update]

Sony has announced that they are planning to release the 1Seg Tuner for the PSP, allowing you to watch digital TV using your PSP. The device will attach on to the PSP’s USB port like the Go! Cam and the GPS transceiver. The only drawback is that the tuner will be exclusive to the new slim PSP model (PSP-2000). The 1Seg tuner is expected to launch in Japan on September 20th for JPY 6,980 (approx USD 57, GBP 28).

• Model Number: PSP-S310
• Desired retail price: JP 6,980 (US 57)
• Hardware specifications
  • External size: Approximately 55 x 31.8 x 14.2mm
  • Mass: Approximately 17g
  • Accessory: Private case
  • Interface: USB
  • Broadcast system: ISDB-T
  • Corresponding area: Japan
• Software specifications
  
  • Program viewing
  • Subtitle indication
  • Channel setting
  • Program schedule indication and the like

Most of us have already seen the new slimline PSP during E3 last week, however, today was the first time it was unveiled to the Japanese audience, at PlayStation Premiew. The new unit will be released in Japan on September 20th 2007. In addition to the Ceramic White, Piano Black and Ice Silver colors shown at E3, Japan will get 3 extra colors, Rose Pink, Lavender Purple and Felicia Blue.

Furthermore, Japanese gamers can get the slim PSP a week early if they decide to buy the Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII: 10th Anniversary Limited bundle which comes with a special silver PSP slim unit (with translucent buttons), game software (with a variant cover) and strap with Cloud’s signature Buster Sword. Only 77,777 units are produced so importers better keep an eye on this item.

Another Custom Firmwarem 3,51 XR, is in development by pj1115. pj1115 states that the new firmware will be “based loosely on [Dark_AleX’s] OE” and promises that this version will be better than the recent 3.51 M33 Custom Firmware. The firmware is still in development and the developer claims that it is currently undergoing beta testing. We have included a proposed feature list below.

• Fixed compatibility issues with modules and resources. M33 has them.
• Bug fixes.
• Added XR recovery menu.
• Increased theme compatibility.
• Replaced network update with my custom firmware updater.
• Load modules and resources from memory stick.
• Config file on the MS for other configuration (spoof version number, recovery theming, etc.)
• Ability to have all 12 BG images as full-res.

pj1115 is also planning to include:

• Play MP3/WAV/OGG on boot instead of opening sound. No length restriction.
• Boot password protection and integrate an adapted HideMedia.
• Ability to edit config file on MS from recovery and add MAC spoofing (only affects XMB – iDstorage is untouched).
• Add super features such as dump/write NAND image, dump/write iDstorage to recovery.
• Increase no-UMD compatibility.

A team of 10 developers, who wish to remain anonymous, are planning to create a new custom firmware using Sony’s 3.51 firmware. The team plan to reverse engineer Dark_AleX’s Custom Firmwares in order to build a similar version. The team claims that, once finished, their custom firmware will surpass Dark_AleX’s custom firmware versions.

At this point no other information is available, but we will bring you an update on this story as soon as more information is available.

For those of you who have installed the new custom firmware 3.51 M33 may have noticed that homebrew applications that use Wi-Fi were not working correctly. As a result, the M33 Team have made a patch to fix the problems. Apparently, the problem was caused by Sony’s 3.51 wlan.prx code and not by M33 code.

The 3.51 wlan.prx reportedly affected the 1.50 wlan.prx, stopping WLAN-based homebrew from working. As proof of this, they pointed out that the 3.40 wlan.prx did not have the same problem.

[Download 3.51 M33 Wi-Fi Fix]