Thats right guys, the new version of IR Shell has been released.

For those who dont know what this little app is. It is great app for unlocking the full power of the PSP, adding tons of features, from using the PSP to control your TV and DVD player, to MP3 alarms. This is a most have app for all homebrew users.

Any way there is a ton of new features, as well as a lot of bug fixes. And the best part is that it also runs of the PSP slim! Along with these other host of features from the change log:

* Supports the latest M33 firmwares across both Phat & Slim. Slim users can choose among 3.60M33, 3.71M33-1 to 3.71M33-3.
* PSOne 2-Player Adhoc Support.
* Introduces a new Context Menu System. Functions (plugins) under context menu will always be available to all file types, similar to the right mouse menu click under Windows.
* Added a new Multi-tasking PRX Plugin System. This allows user written PRX Plugins for iR Shell to multi-task with another game/app. The included PRX HTML/Text Viewer developed by korDen allows you to view HTML & Text documents while playing games or homebrews..
* With the help from Dark_AleX, support to M33 & NP9660 No UMD Modes have been added. NetHostFS & UsbHostFS are also available for the No UMD modes.
* Added support to the latest Popsloader for 3.71M33-3 by Dark_AleX.
* Allow random start of MP3 for the alarm clock function, so you'll be greeted with different tunes each morning.
* Added the options to put your PSP to auto-sleep while idle to save battery.
* Allows you to press Hot-Key to turn off/on all LEDs. The annonying memory stick or WiFi LEDs will no longer distract you from watching your favorite video/movie.
* Support TV-Out for Slim via component cable.
* Added the display of volume bar for PSP main volume in iR Shell.
* plus numerous bug fixes.

Now something to note is that all the features that work on the fat PSP, should also work on the slim (With the exception of the Infra-Red remote)

With that said give this great app a try.

Thanks to forum member blackmage for the heads up!

Download: IR Shell 3.8

Makers of the D2Ckey Announce FlexPCB

Considering installation of the D2Ckey requires soldering 31 wires, the same group will soon be releasing their FlexPCB to make installation easier. As quoted from their site:

"The FlexPCB for D2CKey streamlines installation of D2CKey reducing the overall time spend fitting the chip. The FlexPCB is available seperately at additional cost. Although installation with the FlexPCB is quicker, installation of D2CKey is still best left to professional, experienced mod chip installers!"

Source: www.d2ckey.com

Major Changes In the Wii Scene

First off, I would like to apologize for neglecting the Wiibrew site. With this in mind, it's time to fill the news page as a lot has happened.

Up first is the D2Ckey.

From www.metriodmods.com

There was a time when all those with the dreaded D2C chipset mourned over the fact they were unable to play backups or use GC homebrew. This all changed Oct. 10th with the release of the D2Ckey. With a simple 31 wire install your D2C Wii is now unlocked. You can find more information at http://www.d2ckey.com

Next big thing in the Wii scene was the dump of a demo kiosk copy of Super Mario Galaxy. The whole Wii community was left scrambling when a new "modchip detecting" protection was found. In reality, the game was not detecting chips, rather required a new patching method that current chips could not provide. While D2Ckey chipped Wii's were safe with their 31 wire installs, Cyclowiz, Wiikey, Wiinja, and open source chips were left in the dust. Since then all retail chips have seen updates to address this problem. Links to these updates will be posted in the download list.

Prompted by the SMG issue, the modchip scene has thinned out. The only retail modchips with apparent continuing customer support are the big 3: Cyclowiz, Wiikey, and Wiinja. None of the other 'retail' chips have yet to come back into the scene with an update. On a sad note, the open source scene has just met the end of one of the best open source chips, Wiifree. YAOSM has been handed the torch, which they have definitely earned, and is now at the forefront of the open source scene right along OpenWii which both have updates for the SMG problem.

So, just to reiterate, the only chips working with SMG are:

D2Ckey

Wiikey

Cyclowiz

Wiinja

Datel Drive Doctor

OpenWii

YAOSM

The Wii Scene is now balanced with working mods for all versions of the Wii on the market. How long will this peace last? Only time will tell.

That's right, after "leaving" the scene what would seem like countless times, we again find that he will NOT be leaving this time either.

This is great news for all of us who use custom firmwares from the M33 team.

This new was posted at lan.st by user Mathieulh, and here is what he had to say:

"Not quite a surprise but I rather make it official, after much reflexion Alex decided to go on with the M33 project, although you should not expect as regular updates as there used to be, for instance the M33 will be updated to future kernels only when believed necessary, thus no 3.72M33 planned (we are waiting on future official firmwares and keep improving M33's features from now on.)
About the releases you should either check the m33 website, exophase.com, the maxconsole forums, Dark_Alex's website or the lan.st forums, or any other news site you see fit (although the previous ones are likely the ones that are getting update the sooner)

Cheers"

Well this is great new for the homebrew scene, and hopfully we will be able to see some more great M33 custom firmwares some time in the near future!

Alright, we just got our hands on custom firmware 3.72 HX-2. And now it gets even better, yes its the 1.5 kernel add-on by developer Dark_Moon!

Ok guys, what this little tool does is help us unlock our PSP's even more. For those of you who dont know, a lot of homebrew is made in the 1.5 kernel, now when first installed 3.72 HX-2 DOESNT have that kernel. BUT thats where this comes in, its the kernel add-on!

Ok so here are some notes by Dark_Moon, and also how to install this.

Instructions :

1. When you have installed the firmware 3.71 m33 and the kernel addon download this file and open MS_ROOT. Then copy the PSP folder to the root of your memory stick.
2. Run the app, and press Square. Now the program will start to dump the addon. The dump is on ms0:/psp/game/update/km. Copy the km folder to your hd.
3. Install 3.72 HX. Later copy again the PSP folder that contain this app to the root of your memory stick.
4. Connect the USB (Flash0) and copy the backup done before in the root of the flash0. Run de app again and press X. It will copy the reboot150.prx and all will be done!

So there you go, now guys before you use this be warned that this can be unsafe to try if you are not careful. So read the instructions carefully and enjoy.

Download: 3.72 HX-2 kernel add-on

Yup guys thats right it seems that _HellDashX_ has giving us a update on his custom firmware.

There are a lot of changes that have been made this time around, the underclocking has gotten easier, and there are now two updaters to keep you from all the messing around with the PSP from last time. But thats not all, just take a look at the change log.

• Contains the latest 3.71 M33-3 changes.
• The file vshctrl.prx IS NOT the one from Dark_AleX,It's coded by me after reversing it 100%.
• The exported functions from the vshctrl.prx are the same like the 3.71 M33-3 SDK,plus two more:
• int vctrlVSHEraseIsoCache(con st char* path) -> Lets you erase the cache from an iso created by the CF.
• If the parameter is empty "",it will erase the whole cache,not just from one iso.
• The iso cache will not be created in the memorystick. It will be in the flash1.I made this function to test stuff faster.Gives a 0 if it deletes correctly else it will give -1.
• int vctrlVSHMakeCFDirs() -> Lets you create the custom firmware directories,in case you dont have them(GAME150,GAME372…) in the memstick.Good if you have a pandora memstick and cant format the ms but dont want to create all directories by hand.
• Only one vshctrl.prx for both psp models.In 3.71 M33-3 and others there was a vshctrl for the fat and an other one for the slim because they have slight changes.This new vshctrl will detect if you got SLIM or FAT.
• Other non important changes in the code.

So with that said a few other thing to note, since with this update there are two updaters make sure you get them right.

The mini updater is for those of you who are at 3.72 HX-1, and the full updater if this is you first time using the firmware.

So make sure you use the right one, also its a good idea to read all notes that come with this firmware.

So with that said give _HellDashX_ a great big thanks and enjoy.

Download: 3.72 HX-2

It's awesome how little has actually changed within the internal design of the console, obviously some components have changed but the general layout remains the same after two years.

Here's what's interesting: the CPU, GPU and eDRAM die all seem to have gotten smaller, but at different rates. The CPU sees the biggest reduction in size, the new core being about 75% the size of the old one, while both GPU components are around 85% the size of their predecessors.
It's possible that all three chips are now 65nm, or a mixture of 65nm and 80nm.Needless to say, the chips are all smaller, which should yield some nice power savings.

Ok, we are trying to get this site up and running again as all of you know.  So we have a question for everyone. Do you want us to post news just concerning Homebrew for the Xbox line (which is few and far between) or post articles concerning just about all Xbox and 360 news?

 This can make a change to the site and we want this site to suit every person's wants and needs. So post a comment and tell us what you want.  

 Also, we are posting new forum rules. So everyone have a look at them and see what you think.

Wow, it has been a while since we last heard from DAX but here is some news from him. We now have update 3 of some of his latest work. It has fixed some of the major issues people have been complaining about and most of all, it shows DAX might be around a little while longer.  

 3.71 might not have the best themes yet but i hate seen some that are pretty nice.  So, time to get out your PSP to upgrade.

Thanks  majik2007 for the heads up.

Requirements:
- 3.71 M33 1 or 2

3.00-3.03: kd/popsman.prx, kd/meaudio.prx, kd/pops.prx, vsh/module/pafmini.prx
3.10-3.30: kd/popsman.prx, kd/pops.prx, vsh/module/pafmini.prx
3.40-3.72: kd/popsman.prx, kd/pops.prx, vsh/module/pafmini.prx, vsh/module/libpspvmc.prx

The files must be decrypted. (use square in psardumper). Support for encrypted&packed files is planned for the future.

3.71 M33-3 plus popsloader Download

3.71 M33-1 Download

Alright guys there is now a new firmware out! This time around you might not be thanking DAX. But think again, this new firmware has been reverse engineered for DAX custom firmware.

But thanks to _HellDashX_ this version has a 3.72 in the name. 3.72 HX-1.

Alright guys here is a little info about the firmware from the official thread of the release.

"First of all,a big thanks to Dark_alex

Thanks to him I learned alot.

_HellDashX_"

Ok with that said lets all give a big thaks to _HellDashX_ ,and also DAX, And Coolj.

(Also i great big thanks to mice R nice ~(_"> for the heads up )

So why not give this new firmware a try!

Download:Custom firmware 3.71 HX-1