[Zach] sent in his temperature controller and display for PS3, and even though it only works with a PS3 fat, we like our PS2 backwards compatibility very much, thank you.

The build stated off with [Zach] putting thermal sensors on the CPU, the RSX, and Northbridge of his PS3. After starting out controlling the fan with his laptop, he moved on to an integrated fan and display controller after seeing this post about a ‘hidden display.’ In the end, one of the coolest looking PS3 mods we’ve ever seen was born.

The build runs off an Arduino Pro that gets the temperatures from the sensors, prints everything to a custom 7-segment display board, and controls the fan. [Zach] thankfully made the Arduino source available and also put up some board files if you’d like to make your own. It’s a pretty impressive build that’s completely invisible when the PS3 is powered off.


http://hackaday.com/2011/07/08/inter...t-ps3-display/ ...

Lantus released a new version of FBANext, after FB Alpha (Final Burn Alpha). Remember, this is a multi arcade emulator based on the source code for Final Burn.

New / fixed: - Numerous changes to the code and that will interest mainly developers: - No more sound Separate class to go through - AudioInterface for PS3 now implements audio_check, audio_init, audio_constructor, and is in audio_destructor icts member functions (static function) . - Main loop emulation Improvements - Audio Is Now a straight function call to audio_check INSTEAD of going-through the first audio interface class (audio.check) - put the 'box Emulating:' block inside a do-while loop - not only is this faster (Because We Do not Have To Go Through The Whole switch again to see if GameStatus == Emulating Is True - But It Will Also allow us to do frame advance from Within the ingame menu. - Bugfix - when a shader WAS loaded - only the fragment program WAS loaded - and the vertex shader program from the previous Would Remain active. Both vertex and fragment Now Programs get updated with the ones from the shader .. Being loaded - Changed audiosample rate from 48,050 to 48,030 - the Closest We Can Bring this to 48,000 Without audio crackles - We Will Ensure the more video Will Be blocking - giving us better video performance. - Set audio samplerate from 48030 to 48020 - still no audio crackles - Cleaned up PSGL video driver - cut down on code duplication, made a lot of the OpenGL functions static namespace Into macros (So They Can Be Straight Into inserted vid_psgl.cpp - Where They Are Needed) - Moved the static variables from vid_psgl.h to vid_psgl.cpp - Removed broken shader-2xSaL HD.cg - Added experimental jararaca's retro shader - Cleaned up PSGL video driver code - Added shader dot.cg - Changed audio samplerate from 48020 to 48010. - Commented out VidSScaleImage in all of the rendering functions - is no longer needed - Auto-aspect ratio modes - this aspect ratio to select Automatically determines the proper aspect ratio for the game and then you're loading Automatically use it. There are Two automatic aspect ratio modes - 'Auto' and 'Auto FBA' - 'Auto' Does Some calculations to arrive at the proper aspect ratio while Auto FBA 'uses FBA's built-in aspect ratio settings for EACH game. - Cleaned up PSGL video driver - Some video optimizations to do with Three nested for loops - CPS3 - Pallet exchange WAS only Being done When loading / saving a state - putting this inside the function Draw Frame WAS WAS only cps3_palette_change Unnecessary When set to 1 ounce in cps3Scan - so the color palette Changing Moved to cps3Scan and out of the main frame function. Tested on Both 360 and PS3 - Nothing is Affected by this. burn.cpp-Speed ​​Improvements to and burnint.h - static functions Which are Used only in one ounce function inserted straight in - In Particular, biggest improvement cam from turning DrvClearOpposites Into a macro. - Is Now Button input blisteringly fast - Tested on Both PS3 and 360. For the user: - Implementation of a jog in the ingame menu - use either the Cross or hold R2. - The shaders can be can now be activated from the ingame menu - press left or right D-pad or analog stick from the shader to change. Then load the shader of your choice via the button CROSS. - Reorganization of the code of the aspect ratio - the ratio following aspects are now available - 4: 3, 5:4, 7:5, 8:7, 12:7, 16:9, 16:10, 16:15, 1:1, 2:1, 3:2, and a Custom mode (scaled). Custom mode corresponds to that previously available. You can also switch to this mode if you have selected a different aspect ratio from the ingame menu, via the 'Resize Screen' and then leaving again. - You can now change the aspect ratio from the ingame menu - The Bilinear filtering can be enabled / disabled from the ingame menu - Added rotation options in the menu ingame. Support the following platforms: - Support for Roma Capcom CPS-1 - Support for Roma Capcom CPS-2 - Support for Roma Capcom CPS-3 - Support for Roma Cave - Neo Geo roms Support - Supports roms Sega System 16 (and similar systems), System 18, X-Board, Y-Board - Support for Roma Toaplan - Support for Roma Taito 68k - Support for Roma Psikyo 68EC020/SH2 - Support PGM Roma - Roma Konami Support - Support for Sega Megadrive roms (savestates not supported) Features - Full Support Graphics / audio - Resizing the screen - Explorer for Roma easy to use. - Option for filters according to the drivers - Option to hide duplicates - Option to show only allowing multiplayer games (3 or 4 players) - 1080p 60fps for most Roma - Pixel Shader Support - Support up to 4 controllers - Options screen rotation - Filter Options Hardware (Linear, Point filtering) - Triple Buffering Installation : - Place your roms in the folder: / dev_hdd0/game/FBAN00000/USRDIR / roms / - The first time you run FBAnext, a file-fbanext ps3.xml will be generated. This file contains your options. - If you want to change the path of your roms, edit fbanext-ps3.xml ...

via http://www.romhacking.net/forum/inde...pic,12860.html

The following Translations have been submitted and approved to the database (in submitted order oldest to newest):

•SaGa 2: Hihō Densetsu: Goddess of Destiny​ (English)(Fully Playable)(NDS)
•Minelvaton Saga (English)(Fully Playable)(NES)
•Soma Bringer (English)(Fully Playable)(NDS)
•Fortress of Fury 2 (English)(Fully Playable)(GB)
•Makai Toushi SaGa (English)(Fully Playable)(WS)
•Magic Knight Rayearth (English)(Unfinished)(GG)
•Dragon Warrior IV (Spanish)(Fully Playable)(NES)
•Bloody Warriors (English)(Unfinished)(NES)
•Tetris (Turkish)(Fully Playable)(NES)
•Dragon Force II (English)(Announced)(SAT)
•Parodius Da! (English)(Fully Playable)(NES) ...

News via http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/07/08/p...s-in-the-wild/

An unbricker battery compatible with the ta88v3 has been released recently, and scene dev Yoti uploaded a video demonstrating the tool. Read along…


Nowadays running a custom firmware on a PSP is not complex, no downgrading is required as both pro cfw and TN Hen run on the latest firmware, and people who want to install another CFW such as M33 just need to use the necessary tools.

But people who have joined the scene a bit earlier know that the biggest hack for the PSP was the pandora battery, where hackers discovered (with lots of work and a bit of luck) that the battery in the PSP was used not only to power the device, but also to enter service mode, so that Sony repair centers could quickly fix a broken flash or install a new firmware on a PSP. Coupled with a “magic” memory stick, this allowed hackers to create a very cheap downgrade/unbrick mechanism, and basically with a special battery and a special memory stick you could easily unbrick your psp, or install a custom firmware on it. I still have one of those, and it is the most convenient technique for installing a CFW on PSPs that support it. It is also extremely safe, because even if you mess up your flash, you have ways to rewrite it entirely, so there is no risk of brick, unlike recent CFW installation systems.

Sony quickly reacted and their new PSP models were not compatible with this Pandora battery anymore. The first model of motherboards to include a security against the Pandora battery was the Ta88v3, the doomed psp2000 model. This model was still compatible with the battery and could enter service mode, but the magic memory stick didn’t work anymore, so it was basically made useless. Further models (the psp3000) even added more security, rendering the battery itself useless.

Hackers Boryan and ErikPshat have found a technique to use a magic memory stick on a ta88v3, which is a big deal for those of us who are stuck with a bricked psp 2000…

The technique is described in this thread, and the result is shown in this video, made by dev Yoti (who has provided several updates for PSARDumper PSPIdent in the past) and showing the jigkick installing firmware 5.02 on a 6.38 ta88v3 (correction, the psp in the video is a ta85v2, but Yoti guarantees that the results are the same on a ta88v3)

...

News via http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/07/08/c...ps1-emulation/

Virtuous Flame is the main man behind this new release of cfw pro, the open source Custom Firmware compatible with all PSP models.

The main feature of this new revision is the integration of popsloader directly in the CFW, which allows you to play PS1 backups from your PSP (useful if your old PS1 titles are not available on the PSN, or simply if you don’t want to pay Sony twice for the same game), but it also ships with a few other features and bug fixes. Quoting coldbird:

•[!]Vshctrl code refactored
•[!]Disabled “Pause Game” on PSPGo while ISO cache is enabled due to incompatiblity
•[!]Disable ISO cache by default on PSPGo
•[!]Fixed potential lag while displaying ISO movies
•[!]Added support for Popsloader in PRO
•[+]Added Idol Master SP Genuine Check Bypass Code


Pro CFW can be downloaded from the official project page, where you will find versions for PSPs running on 6.20, 6.35, and 6.39 (and if you have a different firmware installed on your psp, just upgrade

Download Via Comments ...

Sony has pledged to right the wrongs of the PlayStation Portable with its successor, the PlayStation Vita.

One of the first questions Sony asked itself when creating Vita was how to improve on the PSP's controls.

"What we didn't do right with the PSP was where we started when we began the development of PlayStation Vita," president of Sony's Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida told Eurogamer sister site Gamesindustry.biz.

"We were very happy with having something very close to the PS2 experience in a portable format with the PSP, but we didn't do a good enough job creating the proper interface to really play games with graphics in 3D.

"The lack of a right analog stick, for example. That's something we wanted to attack with the PS Vita because we wanted to enhance the portable core gaming experience and we have to do it right."

Another problem faced by the PSP, Yoshida said, was that its visuals were rendered outdated by high-definition home consoles soon after release.

This is why Vita features touch-screen controls, a rear touch pad and motion sensors as well as enhanced graphics and dual analog nubs.

"The other thing was that after a couple of years with the PSP people get used to looking at pretty pictures and especially after the launch of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 the expectations for graphics moves on," Yoshida said.

"Just having great graphics on a pretty screen wouldn't have been enough. That's why we spent so much time innovating with user interface devices like the touch pad or camera and motion sensors."

Vita is without a release date or UK pricing. Announcements are expected at German show Gamescom next month.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...t-psp-mistakes ...

Epic's Mark Rein has talked up the importance of PC to the future of gaming, insisting: "We're at the stage in the life of the consoles where the PC has shot by them in terms of capabilities."

Echoing comments made by id Software's John Carmack at E3, who said current PC gaming tech was "ten times as powerful" as current consoles, Rein argued that PC was "always the most important leading edge platform".

Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer TV, in the first part of a series of video features on PC gaming, Epic Games' VP said: "Don't forget every game that's ultimately built is built on a PC. PCs are always going to be the tools through which all games get made.

"With the PC you can simulate the future – you can put enough hardware in a PC to show you what a future console will look like."

Epic grabbed headlines at GDC earlier this year with its Samaritan Unreal demo, created to showcase the near-future of high-end gaming, but running on ultra-high spec current PC tech.

"It was kind of our love letter to hardware manufacturers," Rein explained. "The next-gen, we expect, will look like that. If you fast forward a year or two years that should be a fairly common gamer's spec.

"We hope the console manufactures look at that and go, jeez, if we aim for that in our next consoles we'll be competitive with what you'll be able to do on a PC in a year, year and half from now. A reasonably priced PC - obviously you can do it on an expensive PC already."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ot-by-consoles ...

Did you finally use JailbreakMe to free your iPhone? Well, if you're also sick of pecking at its virtual keyboard, then Andrew Liu's new Swype iOS port may pique your interest. Although the app's still in the earliest of stages -- version 0.1.0, to be exact -- we can confirm it works, but it did take us two downloads via a repo with Cydia and functionality proved limited. We were able to swipe words in pre-loaded apps like Messaging, Mail and Search, but had no luck with Safari or others we've downloaded. Furthermore, Swype's all-important blue trace-line is absent, and our words didn't always come out as expected. Liu stated on Twitter that the current release is still a beta and that he'll be sprucing it up soon; in the meantime, let us know how your swipe-typing goes in the comments if you choose to install it.

Update: Looks like the newest beta includes the aforesaid blue line, and accuracy is said to be improved by some degree.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/s...via-jailbreak/ ...

Don't be shy now: which of you doesn't love raiding your mother's closet and trying on her paisley dresses and velour tracksuits? That's more or less the idea behind Virtual Dressing Room, a Kinect hack that taps into the clandestine thrill of sneaking into other people's boudoirs. Unlike some other shopping hacks we've seen, the app goes beyond just pilling on 2D pieces, but uses 3D models so that the items mold to your limbs, with the shadows and creases in the virtual fabric changing as you preen for the camera. That all comes courtesy of a special physics engine, while the app itself was written in C# along with Microsoft's XNA tools. Arbuzz, the group that dreamed this up, says the project's still a work in progress, though we can see this, too, being used to relieve those of who are allergic to shopping malls. Until then, you'll just have to settle for watching some other guy work a knee-length skirt.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/k...nd-youll-like/ ...