SKFU got his hands on a Vita devkit…says it has vulnerabilities that could help hacking it
Following up to the news on SKFU, some additional information has been discovered with what could be the very first public glimpse at a developer model PlayStation Vita.
If you just currently read Wololo’s article about SKFU and his progress on Vita hacking then you would know there wasn’t a lot of confirmation on things, until now. It appears that SKFU has successfully got his hands on a PlayStation Dev Kit, and that might be how he made progress on his hacking research.
After some extensive research it was discovered (thanks to reader Maccle!) that he does indeed have a dev kit. SKFU posted a thread over at Assembler Games trying to sell his dev kit for unknown reasons, however, giving out some surprising information.
“So, what might it be worth to collectors?
A bit background information about PS VITA DevKits:
The official SONY price for devkit models which are sent to third party developers is 1.900€.
There is no fix price for internal models known.
The prices you are going to submit are for an internal model based on newest hardware revision.
Surprise me :)”
SKFU went as far as posting clear images of the top and back sides of this “new model”. Developers do get access to hardware better than the normal Vita with usually double the RAM, but it’s possible other upgrades and enhancements exist in those Vitas. In particular, the pictures give us some good insight of what a developer device looks like compared to the normal consumer Vita. The pictures show noticeable physical changes such as matte buttons, a USB port (2.0 for Faster transfer?) and a HDMI port. This dev Vita is dubbed the “Vita PDEL-1001” which is supposedly ” the first one in the wild.” Definitely some exciting discoveries here.
Notice the addition of a “real” mini USB port and an HDMI port
Compared to the retail version under it
However, that’s not the only information that was revealed when one user asked about the every 90 day activation of the dev kit Vita license that has to be done to keep the developer special features working. SKFU responded with the following information on the subject…
“Partly correct. the activation is just required to run unsigned self’s.
all other functions are fully active like any pc tool to connect or mess with, debugging functions, file system access etc etc.
running unsigned selfs can be achieved other way. aswell there’s several vulnerabilities in devkits up to newest firmwares which
might lead to bypass the activation soon :)”
It seems that not only has SKFU gotten into the Vita’s OS with full access but he has also found exploits within the dev kit firmware. This is huge news as it could mean we are closing in on more developments towards a Vita exploit. SKFU has not made any other type of public announcement regarding such so that could mean he is holding on to it for a later date or still working.
It is still unclear at this point if he used a regular developer license (in association with the devkit) to get access to the information he posted last week in his blog (as implied by some of you in our comments section, some tools made available to developers by Sony could allow to read what’s on the Vita Stick without a need for any hack)
This is a huge discovery and definitely one that will be constantly developing, so stay tuned. One other question that needs to be answered is, why would SKFU need to sell this unit, if he’s making progress with it?
What do you think about this? Are you ready for a Vita hack? Let me know in the comments!
First :p
Nice work on getting it though, looking forward to more info 🙂
guess got tired n no like play with the devkit now
without reading this blog….
… what hacks did come ever out with the help of skfu???!
this guy sucks
Yeah… SKFU is a nice fellow with apparently lots of connections, but I must admit I’m having a hard time finding any time he’s done a major contribution to the PS3 or Vita scene. We’ll see, I guess 🙂
All I can recall is that he used to be the leader of Team ICE and released PKG xTractor for the Vita.
…and that’s not a major contribution
I don’t know about you, but talking about myself, I haven’t contributed with nothing at all, maybe just my positive support on their work, or some respect.
So, I believe that every step forward in the scene is valid, and can help haxors each other.
Let’s see you come out with something better then.
It’s people like you that makes people like SKFU quit the ps scene. If you don’t like what you see or read then don’t leave a comment. Have some respect for this guy who takes time from his life to help out most of the immature little children like you who just don’t really care how hard it is to do this. There are other people like wololo who care and give attention to his work. Anyways keep on going SKFU and thank you wololo for the update.
hey,he only said that because it’s probably what he observed.
i would love it to see him leave, finally less nonsense… uhh yeah can feel the satisfaction
Perhaps the reason he want’s to sell it now is that he has found a way to convert a standard Vita into a dev unit, and wants to get some money for it before it becomes worthless?
Taking his word on it, it supposedly wont be worthless even after the 90day period. Converting a standard Vita into a dev unit…I doubt it, but you never know 🙂
This is the only logic that crossed my mind too.
Man im waiting for this *** cuz ive missed every freaking exploit
for sure i am ready for it!! btw, SKFU only gonna sell the license or the Vita unit only?
I am ready for an exploit, but do you think sony may stop making games for the vita if that exploit is ever released?
ieap, how is it going to leave the console alone
Highly unlikely, they’re still making psp games and that’s been exploited and hacked to no ends.
No they signed a 10 year agreement saying that they will support the Vita for at least the next 10 years.
That agreement being signed to whom? Themselves? After all it’s their console, their software, their hardware, if they wished they could say today you know what we can’t be arsed with the Vita anymore, let’s ditch it. No-one on the face of the planet could change a thing.
Alot smaller than the original. Any one want to get the ps vita slim beforehand can buy it, lol
think its ony wifi n the card port is removed to make room for the usb n hd port
HACK SONY
Yea, hack the people that gives you free access to play online.
you mean that laggy super special awesome filled with boring people that cant even think about a startegy ehrn playing … YES KEEP IT ALIVE
I wonder what dev kits do. If he’s able to do signed games and whatnot, is it possible he can sign homebrew or try out homebrews on his dev kit Vita?
THATS CRAZZZY SON!
most likely he has a means to run unsigned self on retail vita 😀
This is great news. I only hope we can have a v hack by xmas.
MOAH WAS FÜR EINE FICKFACKEREI!!!!
Where can you purchase one of these units from?
A regular PS Vita user trying to get a devkit?? You’re surely out of reach.
Lol. Not when you’re waving money in the air…they come to you.
lmao
Yes.. This is what I want to see.. Congrats bro. Hope to see more news regards on this.
🙂
hmmm…
My hope is something like a rap2rid process for Vita. I think CFW firmware on the ps3 with oCMa feature coud lead to good things. So you downlooad a vita as a pkg file then use a ps3 app to sign it then tranfer to vita thru a ps3 oCMA. Dont know if this woukd be a path but it woukd be cool.
Is it just me, or does the dev Vita actually look a little cooler than the retail model? I’m loving those black buttons on top instead of the silver colored ones.
Yep, and it has got 9 LEDs on the front too!
see this pic 😀
http://i45.tinypic.com/330vl00.jpg
that’s awesome. are the LEDs to show activity in various parts of the PSV architecture? because 9 seems a bit excessive unless they’re all giving useful information lol
looks nice.. if its like the ps3 n psp n guessing for ram. hard drive wifi bluthooth. but probly got sumthing for usb n hd ports still cool…
yap!I can’t wait!
hey skfu its me joey from ps3hax i used to be a mod on there
we talked a couple a times back in the psp hacking days i dont know if you remember me but any way i hope you did find a exploite in the vita that would be great news dont listen to the people saying you never gave nothing good to the ps3 seen or psp scene thats bs if you did find something you will be praised by alot of people even the ones that said you never gave anything good to the scene i guess some people dont know what it takes to find exploites these days
good luck man and thanks for all your work
Mi brother is seeing vita cfw soon the true cfw,i am wating for that and mi brother who is in the hospital too.
@joseph never heard of you an secondly i dont think i would talk to anyone with a stupid name as joseph so you must be drunk thinking you have a talk with me.
As I highly doubt someone who is involved in the scene and has a basic level of intelligence would be a complete a-hole to someone he’s apparently never heard of, I would suggest that you don’t impersonate other people. Anonymity is your friend, but it’s not a free pass to be a little sh*t. Poser.
i cant wait cfw for my ps vita
skfu wow are you for real i was a mod on ps3hax
i use to talk to you this was years ago i congrat you and you disrepect me wow *** you then people are right you never gave anything good to the scene to talk about
Not the real skfu, dont trust just based on nickname.
stop encouraging joseph to post more stupid comments its abvious he is lying and yes im the real deal sorry joseph no happy ending.
abvious? ABVIOUS??? Wrong vowel there slappy. Learn how to spell if you’re going to impersonate someone, and insult others.
think his spell check not working..
thank you wololo sorry in that case i should have known better he wouldnt have acted like that
He’s selling it either because it no longer serves his purpose as he got what he wants out of it. Or because he doesn’t want to deal with possible repercussions from Sony. I mean keep your eyes open, but don’t get to excited yet as nothing is definite nor guaranteed at this time. That’s what I think. Either way, progress has been made.
@jlo138 you have nothing to worry about i am working on it.
we all know you’re fake, go away.
HAH!
Very nice job! Keep it up! I am ready for a Vita hack. 😉
a vita hack is good… but only if is oriented to homebrew and not for run illegal copy of any ps vita game.
if someone is capable to make a hack without psv iso reader i tell yes to the hack of psv.
Well done mate your comment is the best on this topic, anything that will lead to ps vita game piracy isn’t a good hack
yeah right because piracy killed all the other systems… oh no it didnt´t
skfu if you would like to tell us to update or not to 2.00 ofw?
Amazing how the dev kit happens to have features most vita owners would like such as a HDMI port and the LED’s sony *** you ya overpricing cheapskate ***!
Lol if it is possible to recreate dev firmware on any vita I think the world as we know it could flip on its head. I would love to see this happen, since I heard of the dev kits capabilities I’ve said that it should be used for vita since Sony doesn’t incorporate it to begin with! Cloud gaming, developing, free games, etc etc. this I hope will progress and those knocking SKFU you might just burn one day.
i think the usb for the dev is just used to excess to the memory card like the psp were u can just copy to the memory card as from a folder on ur computer. idk wy the dev vita need hdmi out unless is for checking graphic on 720 or sumthing since the psp go the wire used for video out was the same port as the psp usb n charger port… wandering is it to check the remote play on the ps3 systems.. cuz was think can video out the thing right in to the vita unless is jus on out port n not one in port but is hdmi…
man, it’s great if the ps vita get’s hacked, i’ll be able to unlock it’s simcard and use it but I’m also having 2nd thoughts about it. would this really cause fewer games to be released by game developers or ported games from japan? because of fewer people going legit? i guess it’s way to early in my opinion.
lol wish mine had an hdmi port
I’d kill a hobo for a dev vita!
That’s amazing!Looking forward for more information.
Can’t wait to see where this goes! eCFW is nice and all, but native Vita cfw would open homebrew up to a whole new world of possibilities!
Did @Skfu get this dev vita from donations and now he is trying to sell it already? pretty poor on the users that donated towards it in my opinion, unless he is ready to share something big!
think they released sumwat wat he found out ..think said found the internal memory were the vita store the internal apps n stuff wich from what seems like nice that they have uvl.. but its just the paths that i seen… but i think the game card install are keep in the same location..
SKFU I say *** . This guy solicits money for a dev kit, to help the scene by finding exploits. Well he got the dev kit and says there are exploits in it, but for some reason he wants to sell it.
sounds to me like he got the dev kit, found out its useless for exploits and now wants to make a buck.If it really is useful then he should be selling it to wololo and friends,for whatever he had to pay out of pocket for it (the money that was donated for the kit,was to find exploits not fatten his wallet)
I say shame on SKFU and good like getting donations in the future
lol like =luck
What are you fussing about? it’s none of your problem.
1st and foremost, it’s his decision, he bought it and therefore he can do what he wants.
If you are so wanting to help the hacking community, do it urself. Otherwise, see things as it is and remember that they are doing it on their freewill.
I do help ,like donating for a dev kit that SKFU is now selling.
and he didn’t buy it we the people who donated bought it.
1st and foremost SKFU didn’t buy it we the people who donated bought it
2nd I’m not a dev but I do help the community by donating $ when I can
ps I would never rag on a dev for not releasing something or taking too long to release or scrapping promised projects ,but when you beg the community for money to buy a dev kit then turn around and sell it, that just shady
2nd that. However perhaps he is merely tested the waters for people who would use the dev kit for monetary gain, i.e. the bad pirates.
How in the world did he Get the DEVKIT?!?!?