Hack your PlayStation 3

After a heavy dose of the Gaiden, I noticed Folding@Home v1.2 is now available for those running firmware 1.60 or later. That triggered a synapse in the ol’ noggin’ which reminded me — our very own PS3 Hacks Folding@Home team is doing awesome! As of me writing this post, we’re ranked # 302 of 77735. Give all contributors a round of applause.

So what’s new? Immediately after downloading and installing the update, I noticed several differences: advanced mode (reportedly only available to those who fold 8 or more hours per day; props if that’s you), new visuals have been added, and Remote Play integration. With Remote Play you’re able to view and control folding@home; so you know, real-time bragging rights at Second Up, like roosta69 over there, acting all cool because he’s #2. Pffft.

VIEW FOLDING@HOME STATS

You know what to do next.

This was reported way back when, before firmware 1.90 & the European PlayStation 3 launch. Now there is convincing video proof (somewhat…) that booting PS2 .ELF compiled binaries is possible using Swap Magic v3.8. Personally I cannot confirm this method to work, due to my current Swap Magic-less state. Watch the video, judge for yourself, and please, if you have Swap Magic v3.8, enlighten us with your experiences below.

Tested using Swap Magic v3.8 on a European v1.90 PS3 (no emotion engine).

• Create on a USB/Flash drive a folder named SWAPMAGIC
• Place the .ELF file (of choice) in the SWAPMAGIC folder on USB/Flash drive, and RENAMEthe ELF file you just inserted to SMBOOT0.ELF.
• Insert the USB/Flash drive in your PS3 USB port.
• Insert your SWAP MAGIC CODER 3.8 CD, when it launches go to SMBOOT in the menu, and select SMBOOT 0 to run the .ELF.

It’s mentioned this procedure DOES NOT boot PS2 ISO images, or PS3 ISOs for that matter.

Thanks for the email Shak

- source: gaffyh & gametrailers.com

Update: Too many cry babies in the scene… Anyway, apparently the TIF exploit was discovered by H3R3T1C. Which is fine, props to you H3R3T1C for finding such an exploit. However, just for clarification purposes, the paragraph below is written by me — it was not said by anyone else, thus stolen. How quickly the tables turn.

These guys could be on to something… Chase_Lambeth and Team PS3 Hacks have discovered some odd behaviour which may potentially lead to playing backed up blu-ray games. Copying a specifically crafted tif image to a USB stick, and attempting to open it seems to cause the PS3 some confusion… While the console remains responsive to controls, you’re able to browse the XMB and launch a game. The game won’t fully launch allowing time for a disc swap. Once swapped, remove the USB stick, and the new game boots — no errors! For a clearer understanding of the said procedure, watch the video…

This potential TIFF exploit has been tested on firmwares 1.31, 1.80, and the latest, 1.90. Further testing is underway, stay tuned for updates.

Download: PS3 TIF Exploit

As we all anxiously await the arrival of Sony’s 3D networked community, Home™; resident PS3 hacks forum member, Sir Chase Lambeth, has alleviated the constant hassle in manually refreshing the Home Beta Trial page. When that text (“Keep checking back on this site to register an interest in taking part in an exclusive closed Beta Trial of Home”) is replaced with a sign-up link, you will receive immediate notification, and all thanks to Chase, you’ll most likely end up the coolest kid on your block.

In order to take advantage of this app, Internet Explorer 6 is required. Please report any errors/bugs, feedback, ideas, or questions in the comments below.

While Home Beta Checker seems to execute fine under Vista and IE7, I’ve only noticed one problem — you cannot reopen the interface after minimizing to the system tray. Nevermind, this is native behaviour… Home Beta Checker functions fine under Vista/IE7 and XP/IE6.

Download: Home Beta Checker v1.3.1

Sadly it would seem the PS3 is harder to hack than develop for. Due to the lack of PlayStation 3 hacks, I’ll share this news tidbit with y’all… The 80GB version is now available in North America. It’s retailing for $599 US / $649 Canadian. The 60GB model is to be phased out; analysis are expecting the remaining units to last until fall. Smart move for Sony, or stupid?

First released in South Korea, the 80GB PS3’s US debut was announced alongside a $100 price drop for the 60GB PS3. Though the latter’s new $499 price point was hailed as a long-overdue move by analysts, its rapt reception dissipated somewhat when Sony confirmed it was ceasing manufacture of the console and phasing it out.

But while the 60GB console’s days are numbered, its supply is holding up despite a massive increase in demand. According to Sony, sales of the console have increased 113 percent at its top five retail partners–Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, and GameStop–when compared to average sales during the month before drop. Sony did not supply specific sales figures for the PS3, which sold 98,500 units in the US in June, according to the NPD group.

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