P3Free Pic-Fun USB Jailbreak Dongle
Manufacturer: P3Free (by Wii-Clip)
Site: Buy from LighTake / Buy from PriceAngels / Buy from IC2005 / Buy Serial Programmer from IC2005 / Buy Pic-Fun + Serial Programmer from IC2005
Price: $29.90 / $29.00 (Serial Programmer) / $39.90 (Pic-Fun + Serial Programmer)

Overview : PS Jailbreak/PSGroove clone that takes advantage of PS3 firmware 3.41 exploit and allows you to install homebrew applications. THIS DOES NOT WORK ON FIRMWARE 3.42 OR ABOVE UNTIL A NEW EXPLOIT/METHOD IS FOUND!

Features:

• Use PIC18F2455/2550/4455/4550 MCU chip
• Come with HID BTL, can upgrade via USB port directly
• Come with the 8pin FPC port, can program any firmware to PIC chip via our FPC programmer
• It can program by any programmer that build in standard ICSP port after use the ICSP swap board
• Come with one RESET/BTL combo button, can use for reset the PIC or enter BTL mode for upgrade
• Come with one switch for set the RC6(TX) to GND, for enter the BTL mode with some firmware
• Come with 2 LEDs to display the working status
• Come with the last "F0" LED demo legit firmware

Quality/Usability : This review is a version and comparison of P3Free PIC Serial Programmer USB. Both are the same with a few slight differences.

[Left: P3Free and Right: Pic-Fun]

As you can see, the noticeable difference between P3Free and its predecessor, Pic-Fun, is LED, buttons and sticker placement. They both have FPC port but is not really needed for Pic-Fun unless you brick it. On the P3Free, the LEDs are visible and on the Pic-Fun, the LEDs are located inside the casing. The switch locations are also different. On the P3Free, the RESET button is in the middle where as the Pic-Fun, the RESET button is on the right side. The newest addition to the Pic-Fun is a switch [RC6/TX to GND] and a yellow unique serial code label. RC6/TX allows you to go into bootloader mode with some firmwares.

Before you start, you'll need these files:

• Microsoft .Net Framework V4.0 : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...displaylang=es
• Microsoft VC++ 2010 (x86) : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...3-37bf0912db84
• HID_Bootloader_2.6B
• Latest P3Free HEX files

Once you have downloaded all the necessary files, you can begin to load the latest HEX files onto the Pic-Fun. Make sure that the switch is on the far left. Loading files via USB is known as "softflashing".

• Insert Pic-Fun into USB port of your computer
• Now just press the RED RESET/BTL button once
• HID_Bootloader should detect your kit
• Click the "Open Hex File", select the right HEX and open it
• Now click the "Program/Verify" button, when you see "Verify Started", then mean it's upgrade complete

Now, if you ever brick your Pic-Fun by loading the wrong hex or something, you can load it back using a FPC Serial PIC Programmer. This is known as "hardflashing". The FPC Serial PIC Programmer is not included with Pic-Fun and can be purchased separately ($29.00). This is not really necessary unless your Pic-Fun is no longer operational and bricked.

If you ever need use the Serial Programmer, the instructions are as follows:

Click here to download the PICPgm v1420 PC program

How to burn the firmware to the PIC chip:
[1] Insert the Serial programmer to Serial Port of your PC and click the "Search" button, to see if it can find programmer or not.
If can't auto detect, then means your serial port has a problem. Please check it or change to another PC and try again, until to it can auto detect JDM hardware.


[2] Now link to your P3Free kit and click the "Search" button again, it should can auto detect the PIC chip.
If not, maybe you insert the FPC cable in a wrong side.


[3] When everything is ready, click the "Browse" button to select Bootloader_USBHIDC18_P3Free_V1.0_12MHz_BTL-pin1_MCLRon_LVPoff_F0_Version.hex.


[4] Then click the "Program" button


[5] It will start to burn and the progress bar will stop to respond, it may seem like it froze but its still programming.


[6] After program complete, this green window will show 3 seconds and auto close, now the new firmware is ready for test, all done!


The process is the same as the PSGroove and requires 3.41 firmware. Anything above this will NOT work as Sony has blocked off this method. Anything under 3.41 will cause some problems.

The P3Free boot step:

1. Remove the AC power cable from your SLIM PS3, or turn off the AC switch with your FAT PS3;
2. Insert the Pic-Fun, and remove other USB device if you inset it before, and eject the disk from BD drive if exist;
3. Insert the AC power cable to your SLIM PS3, or turn on the AC switch with your FAT PS3;
4. Touch the PS3 power button to active PS3, then touch the EJECT button quickly;
5. You will hear some "beep beep" sound from PS3, then the Pic-Fun's RED LED will start to blink, after a while, the RED LED will turn off and the GREEN LED will turn on. When you see the GREEN LED turn on, it means the Pic-Fun is successfully active, now you can take out the Pic-Fun if you want.

The video shows how to insert the P3Free but the same applies to the Pic-Fun:

In order to make sure the Pic-Fun dongle worked flawlessly, I had to uninstall all my homebrew applications that I had originally installed. To install applications or any homebrew applications, you will need to download and save the .pkg files to a USB drive such as thumbdrive or harddrive. To install, simply insert USB drive to the PS3 and navigate to "INSTALL PACKAGE FILES" on the XMB under GAME. Select the file you want to install by pressing X and it will automatically install the file. All applications installed and loaded without any problems.

Conclusion : Overall, the P3Free Pic-Fun USB Jailbreak Dongle is essentially what the P3Free should have been when it first released. Its USB updatable out of the package. Pic-Fun comes with FPC cable to use with Serial PIC Programmer. But the cable is not even needed if it doesnt even come with the programmer. Even if you were to purchase the programmer, it comes with the cable. The ability to reload the bootloader if it gets erased or corrupted is a big PLUS. Other clones or jailbreak devices does not allow you to do so. The only site that sells the serial programmer that I know at the moment is IC2005. They charge $29 for the programmer. Pic-Fun itself costs $25 at LighTake and $29.90 at IC2005. If you're interested in Pic-Fun and the Serial Programmer, you're better off purchasing the bundle from IC2005 ($39.90). So essentially, you're paying only $10 for the Serial Programmer from IC2005.


Please note that none of the "upgrade" products listed in this site are endorsed by Nintendo, Sony and/or Microsoft. DCEmu Reviews and DCEmu Network does not condone piracy. The primary functions of a "modchip" and/or "flashcart" are to allow you to play imported games and homebrew software that you legally own or simply just for experimenting with hardware. We in no way endorse piracy, and encourage all users to do the right thing and support the developers/manufacturers that support them. We do not take any responsibilities for any use outside of these parameters or where the use of such a device is illegal.

Images via comments

For more information and downloads, click here!

PS Samurai PS3 JailBreak USB Modchip
Manufacturer: PS Samurai
Site: Buy from PS Samurai Distributors
Price: $25.00

Overview : Unlike others, PS SAMURAI uses its own, custom programming software for PC and MAC; has a recovery function, very useful after a bad flash; uses 32KB on-board flash (majority uses 16KB); delivered with no code inside which means it is 100% legal; device is rubbercoated and designed to enhance protection and grip and can be afford by ordinary people. THIS DOES NOT WORK ON FIRMWARES 3.42 OR ABOVE UNTIL A NEW EXPLOIT/METHOD IS FOUND!

Requirements :

• PS3 Console (fat or slim)
• Console (firmware) version 3.41 only
• Remove all discs from the drive
• Do not connect any devices to the console via USB
• IMPORTANT: The console must be completely switched off before using PS SAMURAI. For fat versions, use the switch at the rear. For slim versions, simply remove the power cable. This is extremely important for the process to work correctly when you start the console.

Features :

• USB Plug and Play solution that installs in seconds without any need to open up the PS3.
• Does not break your warranty seal.
• Compatible with all PS3 models*, both Fat and Slim.
• Supports all regions: USA, JAP, PAL and KOREA.
• Fully updatable via USB on your PC using an encrypted bootloader
• 32KB onboard flash (most competing products only have 16KB flash)
• Disables forced software updates and will never brick your console.
• Supports most games and homebrew applications.
• Easy-to-use software for backing up, managing, and playing games from external USB Hard Drive.
• Playing games from HDD is much more enjoyable, benefiting from greatly enhanced seek and loading times.
• Supports installing homebrew application on PS3 and external USB media.
• Optionally PS Samurai can be supplied with an “open” firmware which does not support backup loading. Users would then have to download a firmware update for PS Samurai to get full functionality.
  * Currently not compatible with 3.42 firmware

Quality/Usability : The first thing that comes to mind when you look at PS Samurai (or atleast for me) is the infamous picture of the red dongle from PSJailbreak. I thought it was a mock-up image of PS Samurai's dongle but after receiving it, its not. PS Samurai comes in a small anti-static bag like majority of dongles that are being shipped out. The dongle is covered with a red rubber cover which not only protects the dongle but makes a great grip. The rubber cover can be easily slipped on and off. Removing the rubber cover exposes the metal casing. This casing itself looks exactly like the PSJailbreak, PS3Key and AVRKey. There is also no writing or logo on the housing. The dongle measures approximately 1.25" (length) x 0.50" (wide) without the rubber cap. Like the PS3Key and AVRKey, PS Samurai is running on ATMEL MEGA32U2 (ATMEGA32U2) and is upgradeable via USB port. The USB board also contains two leds; red and green. Red is for when the jailbreak is being performed and Green for when it is successful.

Instructions on How to Load PS Samurai firmware, HEX (.hex) Files, Import Payloads (.bin) or ERASE files :
Required files:

• Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86) (vcredist_x86.exe)
• PS Samurai Upgrader Software
• PSGroove HEX (.hex - Teensy) or Payloads (.bin)

Before you start, you MUST download Microsoft's Visual C++. Without this, PS Samurai's Upgrader software will not work and will give an error when you try and open it. Once you've downloaded C++, download PS Samurai's Upgrader software via link above. To get the PS Samurai into Update Mode, all you have to do is insert the dongle into the USB port on your computer. When it enters into update mode, no LED is lit up but when you open the software, it will tell you if the dongle is connected. You can also tell by the little pop-up notifications on Windows. I like how the PS Samurai Upgrader software is set up, however each time there is a new software file, you'll have to download the newest upgrader software for the latest updates. It would be convenient if there was an option to check for the latest software or files and download it over the software rather than go to their site and download the latest software. On the Upgrader software, you're able to load their own proprietary file (PSSAMURAI FIRMWARE), PSGroove HEX (.hex) files, Import payload (.bin) files or ERASE the files on the PS Samurai. So, if you want the latest updates, you can simply load the HEX files and than load PS Samurai files when it becomes available if you wanted to. To load the files, select the method you want to load your files whether it be PS Samurai's firmware, HEX files or importing payloads and select the file you want to load. Once selected, click on START and the software will begin to upgrade the dongle with the file you selected. Once completed, it will pop up with a message and click OK. Now, you're able to remove the dongle from the computer and into the PS3.

I had no problems loading and getting PS Samurai firmware and importing payloads to work on the PS3 once loaded onto the dongle. However, I went to install a Minimus HEX file (similar board to AVRKey) on PS Samurai and the software said it was completed. Went to jailbreak the PS3 and I don't see the usual files and the LED did not light up on the dongle. So I went to plug the dongle back into the USB port and I hear no ding to state that the USB is plugged in. Loaded up PS Samurai Upgrader software and it says "DEVICE NOT CONNECTED". Ut oh! Unplugged and plugged it back in and nothing. So I thought, maybe I can try and get it into update mode like the PS3Key by inserting and removing it a couple of times. Nothing. It seems the dongle is completely dead and unrecognized at all. I even inserted the dongle without the metal case and still nothing. What is weird is that even if I load the Minimus HEX on the AVRKey, it works but not on PS Samurai even though AVRKey and PS Samurai uses the same chip (ATMEGA32). Even if I was to load the wrong HEX, I should still be able to erase it or overwrite the HEX with the correct one, but that's not the case. I informed PS Samurai of my testings and they passed this information to their engineering team. PS Samurai was able to send me another dongle so I can finish up my review and testings. If it wasn't for this problem and having to wait for another dongle, this review would of been the first review to be posted.

Operation :
Once the power to your console is completely disconnected:

• Turn on the console (PS3 Fat with the switch, PS3 Slim connecting the power cable)
• Insert PS SAMURAI into a USB port on the PS3
• Start up the PS3 and press the EJECT button.
• The LED (which should have been red initially) will change to blue.
• If the above process worked, there will be a link to “Install Package File” in the game menu.

In order to make sure the PS Samurai dongle worked flawlessly, I had to uninstall all my homebrew applications that I had originally installed. To install applications or any homebrew applications, you will need to download and save the .pkg files to a USB drive such as thumbdrive or harddrive. To install, simply insert USB drive to the PS3 and navigate to "INSTALL PACKAGE FILES" on the XMB under GAME. Select the file you want to install by pressing X and it will automatically install the file. All applications installed and loaded without any problems.

Conclusion : Overall, the PS Samurai PS3 JailBreak USB Modchip worked as stated. The metal casing is similar to all PS3Key, AVRKey, ecliPS3 and PSJailbreak but stands out with the red rubber cover. The rubber cover also allows you to get a good grip on the dongle when you need to remove it from the PS3. The part that makes it stand out from the rest of the Jailbreak dongles (at the moment) is the ability to not only load PS Samurai's own firmware, but the ability to load HEX files, import payloads and even erase files on the dongle...all within their software. So this gives you lots of options on how you want to use the PS Samurai without locking you in. My only complaint is having to delete and redownload the software if there is an updated software. It would be nice if they incorporated a way to download or upgrade the Upgrader software over the internet

At the time of this review, there is no listing of distributors or sites selling the PS Samurai and no mention of price. However, I was informed that the price would be $25USD/piece. This is very very affordable and a great price range for those interested.

Please note that none of the "upgrade" products listed in this site are endorsed by Nintendo, Sony and/or Microsoft. DCEmu Reviews and DCEmu Network does not condone piracy. The primary functions of a "modchip" and/or "flashcart" are to allow you to play imported games and homebrew software that you legally own or simply just for experimenting with hardware. We in no way endorse piracy, and encourage all users to do the right thing and support the developers/manufacturers that support them. We do not take any responsibilities for any use outside of these parameters or where the use of such a device is illegal.

Images via comments

For more information and downloads, click here!

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Much-delayed PlayStation 3 racing simulator Gran Turismo 5 has seen its release date go back again, just three weeks before its planned US launch on November 2.

Sony has yet to specify a new date for Polyphony Digital's one-time platform ambassador, but claims it will still arrive 'this holiday season.'

Spokespeople have confirmed the delay applies to Europe as well as the US, with the Japanese website revealing the same issue there.

No reason has been given, bar a statement on the PlayStation US blog hinting at late-in-the-day polish:

"We sincerely apologise to GT fans for the delay, however, creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital want to make certain they are creating the perfect racing experience, and we are confident that this ambitious game will exceed expectations when it launches."

Gran Turismo 5 has been in development for six years, and was originally revealed at E3 2006. Last year, Polyphony claimed the budget had hit $60 million.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...gran-turismo-5

For more information and downloads, click here!