EBOOT files from firmware v3.50 required games decrypted?

Graf_Chokolo from xorloser's blog said that he was able to decrypt EBOOT.bin files from firmware v3.50 required games. If this is the case, soon we should be able to decrypt any EBOOT.bin files from games requiring firmware v3.50 (Gran Turismo 5) and replace it over the encrypted current EBOOT.bin (stored at: \ps3game\PS3_GAME\USRDIR\). Below is a statement from Graf_Chokolo and a link to the snippet of the decrypted Sonic 4 EBOOT.bin file.

[UPDATE] Downgrade tutorial for E3 Card Reader rewritten

Below you will find a few tutorials, written by the E3 Card Reader team, that provides step-by-step instructions on how to put any PS3 running firmware v3.42 (or higher) into Service/Factory Mode. From there, you can downgrade the PS3 to firmware v3.41 or lower. Of course, we had to fix up the instructions to make it a bit clearer.

E3 Card Downgrade Tutorials for Service/Factory Mode:
1) Plug the E3 Card Reader into your computer. Copy the e3downgrade.bin (download link below) onto E3 Card Reader.

Rumor Alert: PS3 running firmware v3.50 can now be jailbroken--no downgrade required

According to French website Logic-Sunrise, any PS3 running firmware v3.50 can now be jailbroken using the X3Max USB device. Below is a video for reviewing the jaibreaking process on firmware v3.50. You will notice that the PS3 immediately logged onto PSN network--indicating it has not been spoofed with a fake firmware v3.50 number, a proof that is running v3.50, and the booting of the FTP homebrew app (developed by blackb0x). Of course, there is no confirmation to whether this is genuine, so take this news as a grain of salt until developers from the PS3 scene can confirm it.

Uncovering the PS3's Master Key

Word on the street is that Estx, a member of XorLoser's Blog, has found the PS3's Master Key. Of course, the announcement from Estx was greeted with doubt by another member who goes by the name phiren. You are probably wondering why the Master Key is so important. To keep it simple, the Master Key can be used to fully unlock the PS3--permanent jailbreak and downgrading. Here's the dialogue between the two:

E3 Card Reader for $15 USD with free shipping

@marcotai2003, one of our followers on Twitter just informed us of a great deal for the E3 Card Reader device. If you go to www.lightake.com and order the device, you can get it for a discount price of $15 USD which includes free shipping. This is no time to think about it, get one for yourself while supplies last.

E3 Card Reader downgrader released. Use it to downgrade any PS3 firmware

The company behind the E3 Card Reader product, E3Diy team, is claiming that now we have an alternative option to PSJailbreak's downgrader. Using their E3 Card Reader product and software (download link available below), you can downgrade any PS3 systems that are running firmware v3.50 (or higher) to any lower firmware versions.

They listed a few advantages over PSJailbreak:

• Turn your 3.5 PS3 down to any version you wanted, i.e. the 3.41.
• No time limit
• No PC software need to download
• No need to write any emails
• No need to wait
• It’s FREE

Mednafen R84 released (multi-system emulator). Includes support for bios in vbam and save game fix

Mednafen is a multi-system emulator. It can emulate various systems such as NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Game Gear, and more. Note: the previous release, Mednafen R83 had an issue with installation, but this would work for everyone.

What's New in R84:

With this release, the changes include support for bios in vbam and support vba-over.ini in vbam (fix game saves for games like Pokemon).

Features:

• Supports built-in NES, GB, GBC, GBA, SMS, GG, MD (Genesis), PCE, PCE-CD, NeoGeo Pocket (and color), WonderSwan (and color) emulators.
• Supports Nestopia(NES) Gambatte(GB GBC) and VBA-M(GBA) external emulators.
• Load uncompressed or zipped images.
• Save and load save ram and save states (not currently supported in Gambatte and VBA-M).
• File browser, place your games on a USB drive, or FTP them to the internal drive.
• Fast forward.

multiMAN v1.10.14 released. Include free type fonts, additional mode, rewritten game scrolling, and bug fixes

Based off the Open Manager homebrew application, multiMAN function not only as a backup manager, but also as a file manager, and as an AVCHD and BDMV player—a very useful tool to have installed on your jailbroken PS3, I must say.

What is New in v1.10.14:
This release comes with a few changes, which include free type fonts, additional mode, rewritten game scrolling, and bug fixes.

What is AVCHD? AVCHD is a camcorder video format. Most camcorder use this format for high-definition recording.

What is BDMV? BDMV is a Blu-ray video format.

Features:

• User defined options.ini (options_default.ini) to set various options
• Copy/backup progress bar
• Support and display for 7 devices (HDD/USB/BD/SDHC/MS/CF)
• Animated icons and backgrounds 

Simple File Manager v0.1 released. Copy, move, and delete files stored on the PS3 with ease

Simple File Manager is a PS3 homebrew application designed to help you manage files stored on your PS--copy, move, and delete files. Also, with the built-in pointer, you can move around the application with ease.

Mednafen R83 released (multi-system emulator). Includes font anti-aliasing, bug fixes, and sorting of folders

Mednafen is a multi-system emulator. It can emulate various systems such as NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Game Gear, and more.

Features:

• Supports built-in NES, GB, GBC, GBA, SMS, GG, MD (Genesis), PCE, PCE-CD, NeoGeo Pocket (and color), WonderSwan (and color) emulators.
• Supports Nestopia(NES) Gambatte(GB GBC) and VBA-M(GBA) external emulators.
• Load uncompressed or zipped images.
• Save and load save ram and save states (not currently supported in Gambatte and VBA-M).
• File browser, place your games on a USB drive, or FTP them to the internal drive.
• Fast forward.

Run Wii and GameCube games on your PS3--soon

Developer shinhalsafar, who ported over the Game Boy Advance, SNES, and NES emulator to the PS3 is planning to port over the Dolphin emulator, as well--it's going to be called dolphin-ps3. Currently, the Dolphin emulator is an computer software that can be used to run Wii and GameCube games on the PC. Cool huh? Yes!

[UPDATE] How-to guide: Downgrade firmware v3.41 to v3.15

You may already know that you can use the PSJailbreak USB device to downgrade any PS3 systems running firmware v3.42 or higher back down to v3.41 (for the purpose of jailbreaking). But what you may not know is that you can also use it to downgrade firmware v3.41 down to v3.15. Why would you want to downgrade to v3.15 when v3.41 is good enough, you ask? Well, ever since firmware v3.21, Sony had removed the "Other OS" option from the original PS3--disabling the ability to install Linux. Therefore, using this guide, you can get back what Sony had taken from you and proudly say “I win and you lose, Sony”—or not. By the way, the slimmer PS3 models do not support “Other OS”, therefore downgrading to v3.15 may be pointless. And many homebrews are only compatible firmware v3.41. Alright, before performing the downgrade from firmware v3.41 to v3.15, you should at least become familiar with how to put the PS3 into 'Service Mode' and downgrade the PS3 from firmware v3.42 (or higher) to 3.41--using the step-by-step guide below. Once you have become familiar with the process, follow this video guide below to downgrade to v3.15.

Jailbreak your PS3 using an HTC Desire HD (aka HTC Ace / HTC Spade) phone

 

Can't afford to buy a USB jailbreaking device (minimus 32, X3 Max, Teensy++,  or PS3key) for your precious PS3 system but own an HTC Desire HD phone? Well, you're in luck. Now, you can use your HTC Desire HD phone to jailbreak your PS3 (running firmware v3.41) system. The first thing you will need to do is root (hack) your phone (Google for HTC Desire HD rooting instructions) so that you can install ClockworkMod recovery. Once installed, you can use the new recovery system on your phone to jailbreak your PS3 system via the PSFreedom option (PSFreedom is a port of PSGroove). See below for the ClockworkMod recovery installation instructions.

Instructions:
Power off, then power on the device with 'volume down' pressed and selecting the 'recovery' option, by using 'adb recovery', by installing 'Quick Boot' from the Market or by installing 'ROM Manager' from the Market.

Extract processes from Hypervisor dumps using IDC script

Forum member Jack Chen, from psx-scene, has released an IDC script which will help in the extraction of processes from hypervisor dumps. See below for more of what he had to say about this script.

"I originally posted this IDC file I made in Xorloser's Blog. But I think not everyone goes there in a frequent manner. Here is a IDC script I made for those interested in extracting the processes from HV dump, and by the way my name is Jack Chen[...]"

PS3 debug firmware v3.41 leaked following the leak of firmware v1.50 the other day

This can't be good for Sony. Another debug firmware for the PS3 debug units was leaked earlier today—firmware v3.41. Only a few days ago, debug firmware v1.50 was leaked. Since it is illegal to link to this debug firmware, you will have to Google for the download link.

multiMAN v1.10.13 is out but includes only minor changes

Based off the Open Manager homebrew application, multiMAN function not only as a backup manager, but also as a file manager, and as an AVCHD and BDMV player—a very useful tool to have installed on your jailbroken PS3, I must say.

What is New in v1.10.13:
This release comes with some minor changes, such as new fonts, no compile errors for source, separate update for firmware v3.15.

What is AVCHD? AVCHD is a camcorder video format. Most camcorder use this format for high-definition recording.

What is BDMV? BDMV is a Blu-ray video format.

Features:

• User defined options.ini (options_default.ini) to set various options
• Copy/backup progress bar
• Support and display for 7 devices (HDD/USB/BD/SDHC/MS/CF)
• Animated icons and backgrounds 

PS3 service mode called special execution mode accessed

According to JaicraB, developer of the USB Firm Loader application for the PS3, he has managed to gain access to the PS3's service mode. This service mode is called the special execution mode. Since there isn’t much information to work with, we can only assume that this means full access to the PS3’s critical system files.

PSJailbreak Updater v1.3 is released. Yes, another update...

Another day, another update to the PSJailbreak Updater from the PSJailbreak team and just like v1.2 (see here), this one includes bug fixes (really?). I have a good feeling that v1.4 will be out in a day or two.

"We have received numerous compatibility complaints across different windows platforms. We have repaired all issues concerning file save directory, 64 bit windows integration and file corruption. Now you just install fresh version, click receive updates

Mathieulh is working for Sony, says DemonHades

Oh man, the arguments between Mathieulh and DemonHades just doesn't end huh? Now, DemonHades is accusing Mathieulh of not releasing the FIFA '09 kernel exploit for the PS3 because, according to him, Mathieulh is work for Sony. Of course, Mathieulh denies everything that DemonHades is claiming and went on to say that DemonHades is a “moron”. See below for the “so-called” proof of Mathieulh working for Sony and what Mathieulh had to say.

"There is no such exploit, DH is accusing me of keeping a so called “Fifa09 exploit” secret, if he knew better he’d know that the NX bit is enforced at the kernel level and that you can’t exploit games through stack overflows, not to mention he talks of a “kernel”

VBA PS3 v0.9.9 (Game Boy Advance emulator) is released and ready for your big screen TV

We knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Come on, there's already an NES, SNES, muti-arcade, PSX, blah blah blah emulator that are available for the PS3. So, this was not a surprise. The release of VBA PS3 (GBA emulator) will enable you to run Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on your PS3 system. Playing Game Boy Advance games on the big screen? Oh man, this is exciting because it reminds me of the days of Super Game Boy for SNES. Some of you may be too young to know of what a Super Game Boy is, so don’t worry about it.

"This is an application for the PlayStation3 that makes it possible to play
Game Boy Classic / Game Boy Color / Game Boy Advance games on your jailbroken
PlayStation3. It is based on an up-to-date version of the popular PC emulator,
VBA-M."