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Hacked PS1 emulation on PSP now more efficient [update 1]
Dark_AleX has released another edition of his custom PSP firmware. Just as it appears '3.03 Open Edition Revision A' (OE-A) is essentially a modified version of Sony's official v3.03 fimware. 3.03OE-A also comes with a modified version of Sony's PS1 emulator, popstation; and with this latest custom firmware release, custom-made ISOs (game files) can now be compressed to conserve memory stick space.Ethical concerns aside, it's amazing how the PSP homebrew scene has exploded ahead of Sony, unlocking the company's emulator for use with all PS1 titles. With just a few hours of research, a stack of old PlayStation games on hand, and perhaps a little trial and error, you now have the power to forge your own emulation experience -- imagine that. You don't even need a PlayStation 3.Update: clarified that popstation is a modified version of Sony's PS1 emulator.
Using your own PSone games for emulation [Update 1]
That Dark_Alex kid is up to it again. His custom firmware currently cracks the protection that PSone games from the PlayStation Store utilize. However, it looks like the next revision, called 3.02 OE-B, will support the ripping of ISO files and turning them into EBOOT files to launch via XMB. This means almost any PSone game you own can be transferred to your PSP. You'll see Castlevania: Symphony of the Night at work in this YouTube demo. Amazing, isn't it? Hopefully, this will convince Sony to release their PlayStation Store games at a much less craptacular rate.[Thanks, jamie!][Update 1: Now available for download at MAXCONSOLE.]
Even GameSpot plays pirated games
A keen observer at the GameSpot forums noticed a small detail in one of GameSpot's recent PS3 features. They show how to download a movie file to the PSP's Memory Stick, and as you can see in the screenshot above, you'll see the typical PSP folders: PHOTO, MUSIC, PSP, MP_ROOT. However, you'll also see a folder called ISO, which is the file format ripped games are usually saved as.While there are a ton of other explanations for this (like publishers sending them ISO files to review), it's funny to think that maybe PSP piracy may be in use, even by people at a large site like GameSpot.
Homebrew PSone emulator released
While many frustrated gamers are waiting for Sony to get their act together with their official PSone emulator support, it appears that a coder at DCemu has released a homebrew PSone emulator of his own. It will apparently run "anything," including ISO, BIN, Z and ZNX files (whatever that means). There are a few bugs in this alpha release, but according to users, many games are completely playable and running at full-speed. With the homebrew community seemingly one-upping Sony, hopefully we'll see the official PSone download service hit American soon... and without the need for a PS3.[Thanks, jamie!]
Fujifilm FinePix F20 reviewed
After dropping a solid, low light-capable offering in the FinePix F30, the folks over at PhotographyBlog were anticipating another winner in the F20. While admitting that their expectations for the little brother were intentionally lowered, they were "pleasantly surprised" by its competency in everyday point-and-shoot environments, as well as low-lit situations. The overall image quality was "on par" with most other average alternatives, with hints of purple fringing and "chromatic aberrations in areas of high contrast" holding it back from superiority; however, it should be noted that this compact didn't suffer from the notorious red-eye introduction that has become all too common amongst pocket-friendly options. The ISO settings -- while not quite reaching the outlandish 3200 available on the F30 -- performed "quite well" up to ISO 800, while shooting at ISO 2000 (unsurprisingly) created images with a bit too much noise for large prints. Overall, Fujifilm certainly cut a few corners here, but if you're only looking for a reliable P&S tagalong that isn't afraid of the (occasional) dark, the FinePix F20 delivers a "beautiful marriage of price and performance."
Pirating Gangs of London supports gang violence
As evidenced by the numerous YouTube videos of people playing "complete" versions of the upcoming Gangs of London, a leaked ISO of the game has been making the rounds on the internet. Stealing is wrong, and Sony spokesperson David Wilson wants you to remember that: "We are wholly opposed to game piracy. Even if people have no sympathy for games developers losing money (though in the end that damages our industry and hurts gamers) - there are proven links that exist between counterfeiting and organised crime and that has some serious consequences (and victims) that people should give due consideration."There you have it. Downloading an illegal copy of Gangs of London may, in fact, help criminals. But, if Senator Lieberman is right, playing games like Gangs of London will turn you into a criminal anyways.[Thanks, steve; via GI.biz]
China, Intel, and the WiMAX agenda
Wireless gaming will be getting a boost over the next few years, thanks to broadband technologies such as WiBro and WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). WiMAX was created to enable cheap and easy wireless Internet access over ranges spanning 50 km (31 miles), and Intel has been working to deploy WiMAX networks worldwide. Through their Asian Broadband Campaign, the world's leading chip maker is building wireless broadband networks in Taiwan and across Southeast Asia. South Korea is also on board and has pledged to make their WiBro (Wireless Broadband) standard compatible with WiMAX.Chinese gamers, however, might be late to the party. Despite having their WAPI national standard dismissed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) last year, China still figures to have a hand in the evolution of wireless networking protocols. The Chinese government has not only filed an appeal to ISO alleging unfair play by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), but a group of Chinese corporations and academic institutions have drafted a proprietary WiMAX specification to counter the recently adopted IEEE 802.16d and 802.16e standards. This will make life difficult for PC manufacturers such as Lenovo, Sony, and Toshiba who have a strong presence in the booming Chinese market, as they wait to see which standard prevails in the People's Republic.See also: Muni Wi-Fi/WiMAX great for gaming Intel will ship WiMAX cards this year Mobile WiMAX standard gets IEEE seal of approval
Pentax *ist DL 6.1 megapixel DSLR reviewed
If you're looking for a relatively cheap way to enter the world of digital SLR photography, the UK's DigiCam Review thinks you could do a lot worse than the Pentax *ist DL, which despite its unpronouncable name, came out a clear winner in their testing. Successor cheaper alternative to the company's *ist DS, the 6.1 megapixel DL impresses on many fronts, including image quality, response times, ergonomics, and, perhaps most importantly to a DSLR newbie, ease-of-use. Specifically, the DL -- which was tested with the optional 15-55mm Pentax DA lens -- captured pictures with good contrast, detail and color, low noise except at the highest ISO setting, and a general lack of purple-fringing or red-eye, while providing a lot of features, such as RAW support, auto ISO, and a 2.5-inch display, for its $740 price tag. The only real knocks here seem to be the lack of image stabilization or CF card support -- meaning storage is limited to the most capacious SD card available -- but since this model is certainly not targeted at pros, those issues may not even matter to most.
