Backyard brewer Hotter has just released a new plugin for the PSP which he calls PSPconsole. The plugin features a bunch of shortcuts, utilities and games that you can call up directly from the XMB. Check out this message from Hotter:

“With PSPconsole you can view memory stick, delete, copy, cut files… sort games, use calculator, play c snake and more… when you are in XMB ;) Tested with PSP slim 5.00 M33-6.”

Couldn’t be easier, fellas. Make sure you eyeball the readme for more detailed instructions on how to install the program and for some comments on its functionality. Thanks to Hotter for this useful little application – keep up the great work!

Download PSPconsole v1

Intergalactic backyard code cowboy Bubbletune has just released the fourth iteration of his definitive, home-cooked Game Categories plugin, and this time he’s titled it Game Categories Revised. In case you weren’t informed at the door, this is a plugin that enables you to organize your files and homebrew goodies in convenient sections accessible via XMB. The plugin got a complete make-over since its last release, and Bubbletune wrote this changelog to accompany the new release:

• Removed vshmenu option, it was slightly buggy and I’ve now provided two alternatives.
• Added Multi-MS mode, see section below for more information.
• Added pre-game-menu mode, see section below for more information.
• Reloading of the game modules will now be done via a patch as opposed to faking a memory stick ejection.
• Added keycombo to switch between the two modes (L + R + Home).
• Added configuration file to remember your latest category chosen and your current mode.
• Did some bugfixing on the patches, should have solved removal bug, random corruption, and probably some other things.
• (if you are still experiencing any problems with this, don’t hesitate to report them and I’ll see what I can do)

The plugin should work on PSPs that utilize 5.00 M33 or 5.02 GEN. The developer makes a critical point in saying that if you’re using GEN, you’ll have to make sure to disable the built-in Game Categories plugin. Do so by way of the Configuration option in the Recovery menu. Definitely peep the readme, which is included in the download package. That package, of course, is sitting right here, so gobble it up.

Download Game Categories Revised

Hot on the heels of the latest official PSP Firmware release from Sony, v5.03, comes Dark AleX’s latest custom firmware update. The most current version is now M33-6, which came just minutes after the release of M33-5. CFW 5.00 M33-6 is an exciting piece of homebrew awesomeness that shows off the prowess of the PSP underground. The following text is from the changelog:

This update is a try to fix memory stick low speed since 3.80.

Instructions: Copy UPDATE folder /PSP/GAME/ and run.

If you come from a version prior to 5.00 M33, put sony update as 500.PBP in same folder, or let the program download it for you using a wifi connection.

Changes in 5.00 M33-5:

A setting has been added to recovery, that, when enabled it may increase memory stick reading speed. (only on the psp, not in the pc). By default it is disabled. If you installed 3.71 fatmsmod, do not use this setting, as its perfomance with 3.71 driver has not been tested. Instead, reinstall 5.00 m33-4 using dc8 and update to 5.00 m33-5

Changes in 5.00 M33-6, according to the developer:

• Fixed a bug that made unbootable psp without memory stick or with a bad one.
• The included file fat_comparison.html contains a comparison of perfomance between the 5.00 fat driver, the 3.71 one, and the 5.00 one with the speed up hack during     the   read of an iso. The test was done on the game Valkyrie Profile in cso format in march33 mode. Other games, modes and applications different than iso reading     showed similar results.

Grab the CFW 5.00 M33-6 download here, and stay plugged in for more updates from this clutch piece of homebrew. Yet again, thanks and big up to Dark AleX for all his hard work in the scene.

Download CFW 5.00 M33-6