As you may or may not know, I’ve been a PlayStation Portable owner since it launched here over here in 2005. For quite a while not the PSP scene has been very quite with one big title coming out every 6-12 months. Everyone had been waiting for a new PSP model. Rumors had been swirling for a while now about a possible PSP2. Well today, it was leaked. No, not a PSP2, but a PSP Go (aka PSP-4000.)

This model is not a PSP2, it’s not even a replacement for the current PSP-3000, it is just a new model to be sold along side the current PSP. This is Sony’s answer to the DSi. This model has had a significant redesign, where the button are behind the 3.8 inch screen and can be accessed by sliding the front up. Gone is the UMD drive and has been replaced by 16GB of internal flash memory which means the unit is completely for digitally downloaded content. There are some other small features but nothing really significant.

They are moving forward with this model, it seems to me like a halfway point between the PSP1 and whatever is coming for the PSP2. The new version of the PSP will include all the new stuff we’ve seen today plus hardware updates as well as the hugely demanded second analog stick. Since this is NOT the PSP2, this is why they haven’t included the second analog stick because that would cut people with earlier models off from newer games or give them a less satisfying experience with alternative controls. Hey, they need to leave something out to get your money again next time.

If you already have a PSP and have build up a large library of games, this probably won’t appeal to you much because there is no way to play you collection without paying again for the digital copies of the game. If there was a way to convert the games, that would be great, but I doubt there is a foolproof way of doing that without leaving it open to exploit. But if you prefer to have a physical copy of a game, they will be sold alongside the digital copy. One thing that would be nice to see though is every UMD copy of the game coming with a code that you can enter onto your PSP account which will entitle you to a digital copy from backwards compatibility when the PSP2 does come out, because I am positive it will not come with any physical media.

So what do I think? To be honest I don’t care much. This is not the PSP2, buying this PSP would be a waste since I wouldn’t be able to carry around or play my current library on this device. For a new PSP owner, this is the one to get. Maybe I’ll care a bit more when it gets hacked to allow me to play ISO’s from my old UMD games. When that happens, maybe more of these things will be flying off shelves into current owners hands. 16GB of games internally plus another 16GB via Memory Stick Micro, that is a lot of room for pirated games.

When I got my MacBook, one thing that got thrown in the package was a Apple Airport Express. At first I didn’t know what I was going to do with it so I had a quick play around with it and then put it back. It wasn’t till the family decided to put the printer (also included with the Mac) upstairs. I decided that I could utilize both products and setting up wireless printing on the network.

The setting up of the Airport is very simple. A few steps and you’re away. I set it up so that the Airport connects the the wireless network that we already have. From there, just connect a printer to the USB port on the airport. That is the hardware all setup. For Macs, you just need to install the printer software and you’re good to go. For Windows machines, you need to install the Airport software which is included with the device. Then just install the printer software/drivers and everything is good to go there.

And there you have it, wireless printing. It is so much better than the old setup. The old setup consisted of a PC on the network with a shared printer connected to it. No longer do I have to turn on the computer and wait 2-4 minutes for it to fully boot up and print. Now I just have to turn on the printer and in a minute the job will be done. If you are living in a place with multiple computers in a household, especially laptops, wireless printing is a godsend.

One of the great things the Homebrew Channel opened up for me was the ability to play Wii game backups. It can play full ISOs burnt to a DVD-R without the need for a Modchip or anything. It is completely a software solution. The process of getting this on is just as easy and simple as installing the Homebrew Channel. Here are the instructions for if you want your Wii to run backups of your games. This only works on Wii System Software 3.3 and below.

1. Install the Homebrew Channel if you haven’t already.
2. Download Wiigator’s Backup Launcher.
3. Copy Backup_Launcher and cIOS Installer to the app directory on your SD card.
4. Launch cIOS_Installer from the Homebrew Channel. This works better if you have Wifi, but if you don’t, read the readme included for the links to get the 20 or so files manually.
5. Follow the instructions. The Wii will reboot once completed.
6. You can delete cIOS_Installer from the SD card.
7. Put your Backup Disc in the Wii Console.
8. Launch Backup Launcher from the Homebrew Channel.
9. Either go to Launch Game and press A to launch game from the Backup Launcher or Press B to reboot the Wii and launch the game as usual from the Disc Channel.

It is as simple as that. Now you can run most game backups in case of an accident with the original game disc. For backing up your games, you can find a tutorial with apps for backing up or you can find the disc image on the internet. And there you have it, without any modchipping, soldering or even opening up your console. A purely software solution.

After realizing that the Wii had been sitting under the TV for half a year without being touched, I decided that I would try and give console a bit of live by soft-modding the Wii. This would give it the ability to run homebrew apps and some other things. I borrowed a copy of Zelda and used the Twilight Hack to install the Homebrew channel, the gateway to most homebrew apps for the Wii. Here is a tutorial to get you going and giving your Wii a second life.

For the hack, you require a SD card formatted in FAT (16 or 32,) a copy of The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess and SD card reader (or a device that can give you access to the SD card via a computer.) You will also need The Homebrew Channel and the appropriate Twilight Hack for your disc version. If you want to keep your Zelda game save, back it up and keep it somewhere safe.

1. If your System Menu is 3.4, download this Twilight Hack. If it is 3.3 or earlier, download this Twilight Hack.
2. Download the Homebrew Channel.
3. Copy the “private” directory from the Twilight Hack download to your SD card.
4. Navigate to /private/wii/title/. If you are using a USA disc, keep the rzde directory. If you are using a JAP disc, keep the rzdj directory. If you are using a PAL disc, keep the rzdp directory.
5. Copy the boot.dol file from the Homebrew Channel download to the root of the SD card.
6. Put your SD card in your Wii and turn it on.
7. Go into Wii Options > Data Management > Save Data > Wii.
8. Find the Zelda save and delete it.
9. Open the SD card and select the “Twilight Hack” save and copy it. Exit to the menu.
10. If you are using a USA disc, check the serial on the inner disc circle. If it is RVL-RZDE-0A-2 USA, you will be using “TwilightHack2″.
11. Insert The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess game disc and run the game.
12. If you have the RVL-RZDE-0A-2 USA version of the game load the “TwilightHack2″ otherwise load “TwilightHack0.”
13. Once in the game, either walk backwards or talk to the man standing in front of you.
14. Follow the instructions listed on the screen.

After you’ve followed the instructions and rebooted your Wii, you should now see a new channel on your system called The Homebrew Channel. This is where you will access all your homebrew apps. You can now delete the Twilight Hack and the Homebrew Channel files from your SD card. You can download homebrew apps for the Homebrew Channel on the internet. These will go in the /apps/ directory so they can be seen by the Homebrew Channel. Now you have a soft-modded Wii that is capable of running homebrew applications.

For everyone’s homebrew needs, I recommend a application called Homebrew Browser. What this app does it provides an easy graphical user interface for downloading, installing,  uninstalling and updating homebrew applications in it’s database. They have a huge selection in their database so there will be plenty of apps you’ll want. To get this, download the Homebrew Browser and copy the homebrew_browser directory to the app directory on your SD card. From there, just launch the app from The Homebrew Channel and you’re good to go. This will make it extremely simple for you to get apps on and off your Wii, without having to use a computer.

With the announcement last week of a few big titles coming to the PlayStation Portable over the next 12 month, including Little Big Planet, Motorstorm, Assassins Creed and Rock Band, it will soon be time to dust off the old PSP living at the bottom of your closet. If it’s been there for a while, the firmware may be out of date. Like most PSP owners I know, you’re probably running custom firmware like Dark_AleX’s OE or M33 firmwares. Here is a short tutorial on updating your PSP to the most recent custom firmware release.

1. Turn on your PSP and navigate to Settings >System Settings > System Information.
2. If your System Software is 3.52 M33-3 or higher, skip to step 13.
3. First you have to update your firmware to 3.52 M33. This will allow you to update to any of the later M33 releases.
4. Download the 1.50 Official Firmware, 3.52 Official Firmware and 3.52 M33.
5. Rename the 1.50 and 3.52 Official Firmwares to 150.pbp and 3.52.pbp if they aren’t already.
6. Copy the M33CREATOR directory from the 3.52 M33 zip to the PSP/GAME directory of your Memory Stick.
7. Put the 2 Official Firmware files onto the M33CREATOR directory on the Memory Stick.
8. On your PSP navigate to Game > Memory Stick and launch 3.52 M33 CREATOR.
9. Accept any prompts that appear. Once the program is finished, it will return to the XMB.
10. Navigate to Game > Memory Stick and launch 3.52 M33 UPDATE.
11. Accept any prompts that appear. Once the program is finished, it will prompt you to press ‘x’ to shut down PSP.
12. Start up your PSP.
13. Download the 3.52 M33-3 update.
14. Copy the M33Update3 directory from the m33-333.zip to the PSP/GAME directory of your Memory Stick.
15. On your PSP navigate to Game > Memory Stick and launch 3.52 M33-3 UPDATE.
16. Go to dark-alex.org and download the latest M33 release. Also download the associated Official Firmware. (As of writing this, the most current M33 release is 5.00 M33-6 so download that along with 5.00 Official Firmware.)
17. Rename the Official Firmware to <versionnumber>.pbp (eg. 500.pbp) if they aren’t already.
18. Copy the M33CREATOR directory from the M33 zip to the PSP/GAME directory of your Memory Stick.
19. Put the Official Firmware file onto the M33CREATOR directory on the Memory Stick.
20. On your PSP navigate to Game > Memory Stick and launch M33 CREATOR.
21. Accept any prompts that appear. Once the program is finished, it will return to the XMB.
22. Navigate to Game > Memory Stick and launch M33 UPDATE.
23. Accept any prompts that appear. Once the program is finished, it will prompt you to press ‘x’ to shut down PSP.
24. Start up your PSP.

Now you will have a fully updated, custom firmware PlayStation Portable. Luckily, they have made the updating process in the most recent M33 custom firmware much simpler and can be done from the Network Update menu under Settings so you should have no issues keeping up with new custom firmware now and have no trouble installing it. I hope this helps all my PSP friends with outdated systems who cannot wait for some Little Big Planet PSP action. This is especially for you!

Last month, I rediscovered a website I had been on quite a while ago called iminlikewithyou. This website has a bunch of little multiplayer flash games such. A lot of these resemble other games you made have seen or played before, for example Bomberman. These games are a lot of fun to play together with friends but you can also play them with random strangers. I find it to be much more fun with friends because there are not people to ruin some games, like draw my thing.

I can’t describe the games well enough so you have to check them all out for yourself. My favourite games on the site are Dinglepop, Draw My Thing and Balloono. The library is slowly increasing but ever game they release is of a very high standard. I strongly recommend you try out this site, it is loads of fun. Hit me up if you ever wanna play together, especially if it is one of my favourites.

I’d been waiting a while to finally get my hands on a Mac. I had decided that a MacBook would be my next laptop shortly after I got my last one. I was really considering getting one at the end of 2008 or start of 2009. Then as that time approached Apple came along and updated them with nice new models. This was a great time to pick one up. Finally the day came at the end of 2008 when I finally acquired my very own Aluminium MacBook.

To start off, the packaging is pretty small. When I was looking at the box, I was thinking to myself that maybe getting a 13″ notebook wasn’t such a good idea since it’s really small. The box width was a similar size to my current laptop which did worry me. But when opening it for the first time, the size of the thing wasn’t an issue. The computer fills most of the box right up to the edges. Most other computers have about a good 10-20cm from the edge of the box but this left only a few centimeters. The rest of the the parts like the power adapter and cord as well as a few booklets and discs took up the rest of the box but the packaging itself is pretty amazing.

When you first pick up the it’s quite light compared to other laptops and also remarkably thin, especially compared to my old 14″, which is about twice the size and weight of my beautiful MacBook. The unibody aluminium design makes it look really clean and polished. It also makes it seem more durable and stronger than most plastic notebooks. They also make it easy to get into this thing with a simple latch to open the door to access the hard drive and battery. The whole thing looks quite nice, even the base of the thing.

One of the complaints people had with this model was that it was no available in matte. This didn’t impact my decision at all to get this thing. My last computer had a glossy screen and I never had any issues with it. It was usable in all conditions, even outside. It wasn’t as easy to see but it was never bad enough that it wasn’t usable. The glass screen on this is another really nice finishing touch on this laptop which fill up the edges of the case making it really clean like the rest of this thing. The screen was a little bit smaller than my old 14″ (obviously) but I got use to the small size difference pretty quick and it is a non issue now. I am pretty happy which the size and if it makes this thing smaller, lighter and more portable, that is an easy compromise.

Probably the BEST thing about this laptop is the multitouch trackpad. It is much larger than most traditional trackpads, probably twice as big as most, but that gives you a lot of room to work with, which is more than welcome for the gestures. There are no buttons on the trackpad, instead it is one big button. I personally think its horrible, it take a bit of force to push it down and it makes quite a sound when you press it. Luckily the software has touch to click, something which I have been using on trackpads since I started using them, which makes the button problem a non issue. The trackpad also comes with a variety of gestures which make using the software so much easier to interact with. It doesn’t take long to learn either. I myself got it pretty much figured out with a few hours of playing, and now these have become second nature for me. Whenever using another laptop, I do miss the big touchpad and the multitouch. It really does add to the Mac experience.

One of the reasons that I decided to get the higher end model was for the backlit keyboard. The keyboard on it is great. The keys are nicely spaced out which makes it harder for my sloppy fingers to accidentally catch the edge of another key, something that I am thankful for. The backlight is amazing too. It makes the keyboard so much easier to see and use in the dark. Not having to use the light from the screen is great. Also the ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the screen brightness and keyboard backlight brightness to levels that suit the conditions of the lighting in the room. That is a great feature in a computer and not having to worry about the levels myself is great.

Now just to mention some of the other things. The system does seem to get pretty hot for me. That is because I run a lot of applications at one time and a few CPU intensive ones. My friends MacBook of the same model gets no where near as hot as mine and he has a couple of apps open so depending on how you use it will definitely impact how hot this computer gets. One of the things the MacBook’s have had for a while at the Magsafe adaptors. I love these things. Not having it physically plugged onto the system makes it easier to use and also give you that added security if someone trips over the cord as it’s not going to send your laptop flying. It comes with 2 heads in the box, one with a long cord and one that plugs straight into the power brick. On the subject of power, the battery life in this thing is really good. I get about 3 hours of normal use “for me” but I can also push that to 4 to 4.5 hours with light use. That is a huge improvement from the 45 to 60 minutes of my last laptop.

I’ve been using the smaller one as I don’t need the added length which is something I’ve come to appreciate about the power adapter. The lack of firewire doesn’t really bother me as I’ve never had firewire to begin with. Maybe if I had used it and had firewire peripherals would have been an issue. The lack of USB ports hasn’t been a big issue yet but I can see how it can be a problem. I would certainly welcome another USB port or two. I haven’t had a chance to use the Mini DisplayPort, mostly because of the huge price just to get an adapter for the thing. Hopefully this standard becomes more widely adopted so prices go down. I think it would have been nice if they actually included an adapter with the thing but Apple being Apple, that would never happen.

The MacBook I got was the 2.4Ghz model which was a bit extra but I think it was worth it for the little extras it includes. It will also mean it won’t need upgrades for quite a while and will also last a long time. I’ve only really used one other laptop but this is far the best laptop I’ve ever used. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a laptop computer that doesn’t need to be Windows. Yes, I’m sure it does make a great Windows computer but for the premium price point of this hardware, I couldn’t justify to anyone getting it since for the same price you could get a much better Windows based PC. Now, for my next laptop… I’m thinking maybe a 15″ MacBook Pro.