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The
U.P. (Undiluted Platinum) is a flash replacement system
for the PSP™ which allows the use of previous flash
updates or custom firmware builds, opening up the possibility
to run unsigned homebrew code on even the latest PSP
systems. The U.P. contains 32MB NAND flash which is
programmable from the PC via a high speed USB connection,
using our user friendly software. You may boot the PSP
from either its onboard flash or the flash contained
on the U.P; the flash which is used is determined by
a button press as the PSP is powered on (U.P. flash
is used by default, hold L1 to use the PSP onboard flash).
Since U.P. provides a secondary flash which the PSP
can boot from, it can even be used to restore a PSP
which has been "bricked". Every effort has
been made to make our flash updater software, which
will be freely available for download, both as easy
to use and reliable as possible. The software also contains
diagnostics which can be used by installers to determine
if an installation has been successful or not.
The
U.P. has been designed to minimize installation difficulty
and effort. A FPC (flexible printed circuit) cable is
included which routes the essential signals from the
PSP motherboard to the U.P. main board and U.P. USB
connector. Copper enamel wire is included, which will
provide the connection between the FPC cable and the
motherboard signal traces. The FPC cable also helps
by reducing the mechanical stress placed on the solder
points, making a U.P. modified PSP shock resistant which
is important for handheld systems. Installation aids
are included, and installation diagrams for all PSP
hardware revisions will be available for download, together
with flasher software application, from our reseller's
websites. More about installation together with install
pictures closer to release.
The
FPC cable end to which the USB connector board attaches
is routed into the battery compartment and sits above
the battery. The battery cover can be replaced after
flash updating and the cable remains safely in the compartment
until the next update is required, whereupon the USB
connector can be clipped in place within a few seconds.
This means that the U.P. is completely contained within
the PSP under normal usage and avoids any unsightly
external modifications to your PSP. PSP is after all
portable, let’s keep it that way!
In
order to maximise the benefits that U.P. can provide
its users, we have decided to take an open source approach
with U.P and will be releasing source code for any software
we release as well as full documentation for the U.P.
hardware interface - including information on how to
control U.P. from within PSP programs. This will allow
anybody to create software which can take advantage
of what U.P. has to offer. We have also sent a few prototype
units away to some of the scene's best software hackers
in order to give them a headstart at working on custom
flash replacements - cant wait to see what people will
come up with!
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