Well that was quick! Just yesterday Team M33 announced that they are to take a short break before releasing their latest custom firmware, and they were true to their word, it was a one day break! Today they have released their latest v3.71 custom firmware for PSP. On a side-note, the cat is finally out of the bag, Team M33 IS DARK_ALEX. We asked Dark_Alex why he decided to confirm his secret identity at this particular moment and it is because it is practially the last ever release despite a few side projects as things have gone as far as they possibly can in terms of custom firmware. Check out the release posted by Dark_Alex (a.k.a Team M33) himself here

* Now uses 3.71
* VSH Menu is not longer launched using HOME key, but using SELECT now. This is to not interfere with the XMB function of home, which is now more useful in this firmware.
* Psp Slim: umdcache was allocating memory even when homebrew was launched, wasting memory that homebrew programs may want to use. Now umdcache module is stopped before it can allocate any memory, only in the case homebrew is launched.
* Also, memory is unprotected for user memory usage by M33 core (only when homebrew is launched).
* Developer, for a sample of how to use the extra memory, see the extra ram sample of the M33 sdk.
* Both version boot now from 3.XX ipl, and are independent of 1.50.

Important to note would be the following:

* The main installer will not install 1.50 kernel anymore.
* A 1.50 kernel addon for 3.71 M33 that will install inside 3.71 M33 will be released in a few days (for fat only)
* due to some changes in kernel nids by Sony, you can expect a lot of kernel plugins not working anymore.
* Programmers: refer to the sdk readme for details.

As for the installation procedures, a step by step guided is provided:

* First method for both psp, the preferred when possible:
* Requeriments: a fat psp slim with 3.52 M33-3 or 3.52 M33-4. Previous versions of M33 won't work, due to a bug that affects them and OE; or a psp slim with 3.60 M33.
* Copy the UPDATE directory into /PSP/GAME/UPDATE and copy the EBOOT.PBP of the 3.71 Sony updater there but with name "371.PBP". Note: the program will not even show if you copy it to a different folder than that.
* If you are in the fat psp, make sure you have configured the psp to run the game folder in the 3.XX kernel.
* Press X, and the Sony updater will begin. Sit and enjoy while Sony code installs 3.71 M33
* When finished, the updater will ask you to reboot (pressing X or O). DO IT. Do not skip this step shutting down the psp by yourself, or you'll end with a brick.
* You should be now in 3.71 M33

SO TO CLEAR IT UP. DARK-ALEX IS ACTAULLY M33!!
ALSO IF U HAVE A FAT PSP YOU CANT USE ANY HOMEBREW UNTIL DARK-ALEX(M33) RELEASES AND PLUGIN FOR 1.5 KERNAL ON 3.71M33

I didn't see that one coming! Great stuff Dark_AleX.
But it does explain how "M33" managed to "decompile" the OE custom firmwares so quickly.

I am so sorry, for all times I said I hated M33, and it was Dark_AleX, I am so sorry my hero. I guess I'll be updating now. So he never left the scene, well I followed him from SE to OE, I'll follow him from OE to M33!

Heres a little more info that you should know:

And without further ado, here's the changelog for CFW 3.71:

* Now uses 3.71
* VSH Menu is not longer launched using HOME key, but using SELECT now. This is to not interfere with the XMB function of home, which is now more useful in this firmware.
* Psp Slim: umdcache was allocating memory even when homebrew was launched, wasting memory that homebrew programs may want to use. Now umdcache module is stopped before it can allocate any memory, only in the case homebrew is launched.
* Also, memory is unprotected for user memory usage by M33 core (only when homebrew is launched).
* Developer, for a sample of how to use the extra memory, see the extra ram sample of the M33 sdk.
* Both version boot now from 3.XX ipl, and are independent of 1.50.

Important to note would be the following:

* The main installer will not install 1.50 kernel anymore.
* A 1.50 kernel addon for 3.71 M33 that will install inside 3.71 M33 will be released in a few days (for fat only)
* due to some changes in kernel nids by Sony, you can expect a lot of kernel plugins not working anymore.
* Programmers: refer to the sdk readme for details.

As for the installation procedures, a step by step guided is provided:

* First method for both psp, the preferred when possible:
* Requeriments: a fat psp slim with 3.52 M33-3 or 3.52 M33-4. Previous versions of M33 won't work, due to a bug that affects them and OE; or a psp slim with 3.60 M33.
* Copy the UPDATE directory into /PSP/GAME/UPDATE and copy the EBOOT.PBP of the 3.71 Sony updater there but with name "371.PBP". Note: the program will not even show if you copy it to a different folder than that.
* If you are in the fat psp, make sure you have configured the psp to run the game folder in the 3.XX kernel.
* Press X, and the Sony updater will begin. Sit and enjoy while Sony code installs 3.71 M33
* When finished, the updater will ask you to reboot (pressing X or O). DO IT. Do not skip this step shutting down the psp by yourself, or you'll end with a brick.
* You should be now in 3.71 M33

Well he gave me the slip. Great work anyway. I think I'll still wait for another version to come out before I upgrade.

i never would have thought that m33 was DAX lol. I also used to dislike m33 but now that i know it is DAX i will be upgrading. Ill upgrade when the 1.5 kernal addon comes out in a few days.

LOL to all the haters and nay sayers. Man it's taken me 16 hours of solid reading to get back on the scenes latest news, just because I been away since April (or there abouts) My eyes hurt.

Respect to DAX and his other persona M33, in your face Sony (allthough, thanks for the hardware in the first place) -(Nope not sucking up just a fact) sony's restrictions suck but it's thanks to people like DAX that we have the ability to use our systems how we like.

Exactly the same as any other Hacker out there, we've all modded our PSP's or we wouldn't be here (LOL) and no doubt most of you have modded your PC in some way that it wasn't intended for (Warez any1)

DAX will be missed if he is gone for good, respect to his abilities and respect to any1 who carries on his legacy.

I can also buy my PSP Slim now he is releasing the 3.71 M33 with 1.50 and the unbricker!!!!!! I can then have fun, allthough I have my N95 to use for tv out in the meantime!!!!

I kind of had a hunch that the "M33" team was DAX all along, but I still had my doubts! Like right when he "quit" the "M33" team came along and with reverse engineering they started I think 3.40 M33 or maybe 3.51 M33

has anyone tried this yet? cos when i did it i got a brick it couldve been that i accidentally hit the poweroff button tho

lol turns out it was me flicking the switch at the end i got this to work fine but im waiting for the 1.5 kernel

crazy... cant believe m33 was dax haha. still gotta wait for that plugin though...

The 1.50 kernel is only for the fat psp not the slim. But there are ways to get older homebrew running on the slim too.


It would be the flicking of the switch.

Hi, in the readme, it says "* If you are in the fat psp, make sure you have configured the psp to run the game folder in the 3.XX kernel."
I'm currently using 3.52 m33-4 so do i need to do any configuration? If so how? Sorry for the questions, i'm quite a noob...

Edited: Btw i've tried to update anyway, but after i press x to continue the update after correcting the idstorage, it says "Starting sce updater, pls wait..." then it brings me to purple background with "PSP system software Version 3.71" and asked me to press start, however i didn't continue cuz it looks like a real update. Can some one tell me if i'm doing the right thing and continue or i've did it wrongly?

Appreciate it...

Sorry for the double post, i din even know i did that even though i click on edit and now i am not able to delete the first post... =(

chower, I think it is meant to look like the official 3.71 update.
If you have a Pandora's Battery you could always downgrade back anyway.

that what kinda suprising that dark_alex was M33 though...

Same here. I'm also waiting to see if there are any compatibility issues or probs with the new FW. Well hurray for DaX.

pretty surprising... i wonder when did he learned to speak russian... well anyway atleast we all know that dax has not abandoned us...