Over and over again, we get questions from people asking things like:
* When will there be a 2.81 downgrader?
* Should I sell my 3.03 PSP and buy a 1.5?
* Should I upgrade my 2.81 to 3.03?
This article is an attempt to provide some balanced answers to those questions.
Here are the facts:
* It looks like the Team C+D kernel mode exploit will work all the way up to v3.03 - the relevant code seems to be unchanged.
* It's very likely that Sony will patch that exploit in the next firmware.
* As soon as a user-mode exploit is found for 2.81-3.03, it should be possible to get homebrew running on those firmwares.
* It looks like the current 2.80 downgrader will probably work on v3.03, once we can run homebrew on that firmware.
* Dark_AleX's OE firmwares are the best platform for homebrew users, and it seems likely that it will be possible to keep updating OE for the latest firmwares shortly after they are released.
* It has historically always been easier to downgrade lower firmwares.
So what does all that mean for 2.81-3.03 owners?
* Well, right now things are more hopeful for you than they have been for bleeding edge firmwares for a long time. We're only 1 step away from being able to downgrade your PSP and move it onto an OE firmware. It's almost certain that a downgrader will eventually come - but no-one can accurately predict when that might be, so please don't ask!
* Upgrading to the next firmware release would be homebrew suicide. Don't expect any sympathy if you choose to upgrade as soon as the next firmware is released - if you wait a short time, you can probably have it as an OE version instead.
* Upgrading your firmware even from 2.81 to 3.00 is probably not a great move - you may delay your ability to downgrade when a downgrader finally comes.
One final note - if you have more money than patience, then your best bet for getting homebrew on your non-homebrewable PSP is to simply sell it, and buy a downgradeable PSP. The difference in price is not very large these days, and so it's not really a hard thing to do if you really can't wait.
Via N00bz