Now this is what I like to hear :yipi: :yipi: :yipi: :yipi: :yipi: :yipi: :yipi: :yipi: :yipi:

QJ Wrote:PSP-Generation claims Dark_Alex's planning to push 3.30 OE custom firmware out the receiving door within "48-72 hours". Given the timings between the news on April 1 (it's just a calendar date, after all), and the 3.30 decrypter, this claim is quite credible on the best analysis.

The devil is in the details, though. PSP-Gen explains that Dark_Alex found 3.30 using up quite a lot of the PSP's flash memory, which is complicating efforts to add bonus functions. Hence, the 48-72 hour thing: he's trying to make up his mind between releasing 3.30 OE as is, and add bonus functions through patches later, or release it later with the bonus functions built in.

Well, so far as current PSP games aren't demanding 3.30, maybe it can wait, but with the improvements to movie playback...

Via-- http://pspupdates.qj.net/Countdown-3-30-.../aid/88359

I think it would be better if he release it later with the bonus functions built in. But still, good to have proof that he's working on a new OE :) :P

QJ Wrote:This program was originally created by Tommydanger to help those who are rather afraid of installing new firmwares to DevHook. And anyone who has used this before will agree that it is quite noob-friendly and it takes away all your homebrew fears. That doesn't mean though that you will not take precautions.

Anyway, Sleepy566 said that as of the moment, there are no known issues for DevHook Firmware Installer v0.6h. Everything is ready to run, as the coder included the customized Devhook 0.52010000. And as such, it should run on all known firmwares. Below is the complete changelog for this version. Please make it a point to browse through the Readme file before using this.

Version 0.6h

    * Bug fixes corresponding to previous version's additions
    * Added newest Devhook and folders for all the firmwares you could decrypt (though unsupported)

Version 0.6g

    * Added full support for 3.30 (didn't forget anything this time)

Download- http://dl.qj.net/DevHook-Firmware-Instal.../catid/151

;P

I finally managed to download the 3.30 update so I could have a little look at some RCOs...

visualizer_plugin.rco
Firstly, I say, there's nothing to be excited about this one.  All the RCO contains is 14 images (I checked by searching for the signature; the header indicates that no more than 15 images are in there though).  Also contains what appears to be a "blank" (unused/useless) page resource.

As for the purpose of the images, I don't know.  I guess it's possible that the some of them are used in the visualizations, but making your own effects won't be possible by editing the RCO.

topmenu_plugin.rco
The 1 or 2 extra page resources present in the 3.10 topmenu (which was what caused the problems) aren't present in the 3.30 topmenu, and the 3.30 topmenu's header is only 668 bytes longer than the 3.0x one (both unpacked), so yes, 3.30 OE will almost certainly be customizable :)
Interestingly, though, the icons in the 3.30 topmenu take up less space than the 3.0x topmenu
Since topmenu's a large RCO, I'm too lazy to do any further investigation, but I can say that custom icons will most likely work on 3.30 :D

Quote

It seems like every month a new gadget goes up in flames. This month it's an iPod nano that was caught exploding while being charged via a PC. The owner says that the force sent his iPod flying to the ground, where it started smoking and sparking until it was unplugged. Unfortunately, the iPod was out of warranty, so the owner wasn't able to get an immediate replacement. I've had my iPod Nano for a long time now and never has it heated up, so wee have to take this one with a grain of salt, but you can never be too wary when charging your gadgets.

- Source: [Gizmodo]

[frame]

Quote

It isn’t even a new exploit, as researchers with eEye discovered in January 2005. At that time, Microsoft acknowledged it affected versions of the operating system from the first edition of Windows 98 through to early releases of Windows XP, though it stated at the time XP SP1 was unaffected.

But apparently after researching field reports of limited attacks, Avert Labs discovered an apparently similar exploit using .ANI files impacts XP SP2 and Vista, as well as Windows 2000 SP4 and versions of Windows Server 2003 from the initial release through to SP1. Avert Labs stated XP SP1 and versions since were unaffected, though Microsoft warned the exploit does affect XP SP2.

If both firms’ accounts are correct, Microsoft may have fixed the problem with XP SP1 in 2005, and inadvertently un-fixed it sometime afterward.

Avert Labs’ video of the incident, posted to YouTube, shows a Vista system wherein the test file apparently trying to load the custom animated cursor. When the operating system detects a crash, it first tries to save vital data prior to a restart sequence - one of Vista’s newer features. It then informs the user that Windows Explorer has crashed.

But in trying to restart Explorer, the restarting crashes itself, sending Vista into a tailspin from which the only escape appears to be the off button.

The mouse input routines in Windows are designed with the intention of being relatively failsafe. That’s why when the system appears to hang, you can often still move your mouse pointer. As I’ve personally witnessed on many occasions with Windows XP, it’s possible for a smaller OEM’s mouse driver - often an unsigned one - to trigger a similar tailspin loop that crashes Windows Explorer repeatedly. In Windows, a lot depends on the mouse pointer’s very existence.

So if a customization feature can impact the mouse pointer’s ability to function, the integrity of the entire system can be jeopardized. With my own systems, drivers and services that are unfriendly to one another - such as Stardock’s CursorXP animation program trying to co-exist with a Synaptics Pointing Device driver on a notebook with ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 graphics - can trigger an Explorer tailspin.

What I’m calling the “tailspin

Quote

XMB Emulator ALPHA 1">superskull85 released his new program called the XMB Emulator. The title says it all but in case you still don't get it, this app would let you preview or "emulate" your PSP's XMB in your PC. So if you're still caught up with making your own XMB icons or XMB themes, then you just found your new best friend.

The readme that comes with the download contains everything you need to know to use this program, so you better read up if this app has caught your fancy. Notice the ALPHA in the title? Well, this just means that this released version is not yet complete and for now it only supports the Main XMB and wallpaper. In the future, he hopes to:

    
• Sub-XMB Preview
      
• Sub Sub-XMB Preview
      
• File check/Size check- This will help you make right sized icons so that you can make non-corrupt files and have icons fit in their positions.
      
• Menu Names This will help you further see what your XMB will look like with your names.
      
• Program Main Menu- To help you navigate through the program
      
• Integrated guides and references
      
• Support for XMB click sounds
      
• Support for simple navigation functions
      
• Support for wave animation
      
• A simple file flasher through Flash0/1 USB
      
• Include a RCO compiler

- Source: [QJ]

Quota

When wee string together Dark_Alex, 3.30, and O-Es, wee can only only imagine the smiles this will be putting on the reader's faces as they add these words up. Yup - PSPgen has just reported that DA has supposedly announced that 3.30 OE is coming soon.

It will be noted that this news comes in shortly after Team C D's release of a firmware decrypter for v3.30. DA is reportedly using their decrypter to get working on on this new release, although he's only begun. The good news is that DA has commented it won't take too long to complete the work - expect a new custom firmware to be up and about soon.

There are no other details at the moment, except that this new firmware is expected to be larger than 3.10 - so have the proper amount of space ready, and hope for the best. Stay posted in case wee pick up further details on this breaking news

Too good to be true report coming right up. Now, as much as wee ourselves are almost jumping for joy, wee also can't help but remain a tiny, little bit skeptical about it all. After all, it's April Fool's and wee all know that the internet gets flooded with jokes, gags and hoaxes at this time of the year. Anyway, wee may all want to just take this with a grain of salt for now, until DAX himself lets everyone know that he is indeed working his magic again on FW 3.30, or until 3.30 O-E actually shows up. However, wee ARE crossing our fingers... on with the report!

- Source: [QJ]

EMI, Apple 'deal on music locks'
EMI is to hold a media event on Monday with Apple boss Steve Jobs as special guest, prompting speculation of a deal over digital locks on music.

There was initial speculation that Beatles songs were to finally go online on download service iTunes.

In an invite to media sent out on Sunday, EMI said it was announcing an "exciting new digital offering".

Last week at a mobile industry conference, EMI chief executive Eric Nicoli praised Apple.

A spokesman for EMI would not comment on the subject of the press conference.

'Significant amounts'

The Wall Street Journal reported that EMI plans to sell "significant amounts" of music without digital rights management (DRM).

Earlier this year Apple boss Steve Jobs called for an end to DRM on music.

He said the abolition of copy protection software known would be good for consumers and music suppliers.

Copyright protection had failed to tackle piracy, he argued.

"This is clearly the best alternative for consumers and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat," he said in a statement on Apple's website.

EMI tested the waters earlier this year, offering a single by Norah Jones for sale without DRM.

Supporters of DRM say the locks protects the rights of artists and stop wholesale copying of music - or other content such as films.

But critics argue that DRM places unfair restrictions on how consumers can use music they have bought lawfully.

- Source: [BBC]

Finally!  Those companies are starting to realise, CONSUMERS!

Meh, 320kbps MP3s off torrents are still way better quality than iTunes' 128kbps AAC files.