Xmax Katsu teases a Hybrid Firmware for the PS Vita?!
Xmax Katsu is currently teasing something that he calls a ‘Hybrid Firmware’ (HFW).
The term hybrid Firmware must not be confused with a proper Custom Firmware, but what is an HFW?
If we go back to the PSP, then we will see that hybrid firmwares used to be around a few years ago. The older 3.xx OE CFWs have been hybrid (custom) firmwares, since they were based on firmware 1.50, but had an additional 3.xx custom firmware kernel.
As of firmware 3.70, the first ‘universal’ PSP firmware that supported not only the old PSP 1000, but also the (then) newer PSP 2000, this got swapped and the 3.70 had been the base firmware, while an additional, optional 1.5 kernel add-on was available for PSP 1000 users. All future (4.xx, 5.xx, 6.xx) CFWs are following this latter concept (at least so far).
Back to the Playstation Vita. While the PSP had full kernel access, this is not available on the PS Vita. A hybrid Firmware is (apparently) nonetheless possible, and can kinda be described as having different parts of different official firmwares on the PS Vita.
For example the device identifies as (an attack helicopter… Nah, just kidding) firmware 3.51/3.52, but has a base firmware of 3.18, and core parts of firmware 3.36.
This would enable one to visit the Playstation Store, play games that ‘require’ a higher firmware (unless those requirement claims are legit – then it won’t work until you run the proper requirement firmware), but also be able to use exploits & software that was created for lower firmwares (e.g. the 3.18 or 3.36 one).
Such a HFW would be the perfect kind of official firmware, even though it still doesn’t have kernel access. It would retain the so far achieved hacking methods, while also allowing someone to enjoy the ‘new and exciting features‘ that a newer Firmware would offer.
Regardless of OFW or HFW, you still won’t be able what a proper CFW would offer you: Kernel access.
An HFW would just allow you to kinda >em>”merge” two different OFWs into one, which then lets you use the currently available hacking stuff for older firmware, while the device itself & the Sony servers think it is running the higher version.
Before you guys are asking for a download link & tutorial, keep in mind that this still involved a hardware modification, which is something 95% of the people are not willing to do (themselves).
An easy one-click software solution is not yet available, and will most likely not be available for a few years.
Source via Wololo.net/talk
If this would be released to the public, the webkit exploit would be enough to overthrow the focus on Rejuvenate back to the webkit itself, or even better both would be a good combo in it’s entirety.
I don’t think the WebKit will be able to beat rejuvenate
As what I’ve understand, Rejuvenate can only operate on the PSM sandbox, while the webkit has kernel access and better yet one can use ROP codes to initiate commands like invoke and use the Package Installer through the webkit. And that system apps has access to the kernel as compared to PSM which is a non-mandatory app that has only access on the PSM sandbox.
This one would be put to great use if we can at the least change the already-patched browser to the previous exploitable-browser, or at least the modules that are needed to trigger the exploit.
The webkit exploit doesn’t have kernal access yet as far as I know.
Well, thanks for correcting me :D.
Rejuvenate doesnt run in psm sandbox . . .
Rejuvenate uses PSM exploit, but runs on native level. So no… it is not sandboxed. 😉
you are supposed to say first .
people usually do that
You mean idiots say that.
You made my day, kind sir
Only linear minded people do that. I’m not one, so I’ve decided not to :).
1.Wow, impressive.
2.This seems like a trends so: First.
Dig your own grave, why don’t you(:
You were second. By 2 minutes mind you. EPIC Fail. XDDDDD
The way you describe it makes it sound like just a spoofer for lower FW’s… Which would probably also mean the risk of getting your account banned is high.
Still, PSN store access would be nice…
Im not sure but i think i know how to do this its just it was possible all the time no one just tried.
So… at last, hardware manipulation has begun..
This is pretty interesting now I have something to do with my 3.5 vita even though the read says years. I’ll keep track to stay up to date with my 3.18 vita and my 3.5 vita. I hope Xmax Katsu keeps up with this, but question… since this is a “dual official firmware” type of thing would it be safe to assume that one could keep current hacks on lower firmware but keep updating and later on trick the vita to thinking its on a lower firmware to use that stuff again?
Like the PS3. The Z, do you have information if this method will apply with Vitas on FW 3.01?
FIRST!
your 7th, good job I’m so proud of you
nice try
according to my timezone I’m still first!
First in your eyes, last in everyone else’s.
Oh, this would be perfect ! I can get all my ps plus games, themes on my vita. But yeah, hardware modification is not my cup of tea so guess I’ll have to wait .
NINETH, still in top ten! °\(o.o)/°
Btw this is really nice but i doubt sony would let you use online features for long…
i dont thing i will be able to use this features but it is great news i like it
Good good,i you love!!
Conclusion : useless at the moment.
For people like you who don’t know how to use a soldering iron, yes. For people like me who do it’s very useful.
True that 😀
This would be nice to activate my psvita without a ps3, and enable my download list
Yeah, I want that too
Xmax is just a liar…
He might be asking for attention .. since it’s all about yi fu lim ( why is that he’s already well known and yet I still can’t spell he’s name correctly).
I just remenber his “HDMI output mod for vita” that still pending… baby cry for attention as you said
Oh cry me a river.. if you had been following his twitter you would see yourself this is completely legit and theres no way that it could possibly be fake.
On the topic of the HDMI Mod he claims to have performed, It’s entirely possible but 25% chance says it’s legit and 75% chance says it’s a fake or he had that modchip installed by that japanese fellow and isn’t using the incomplete native out the Vita 1k has on board.
And just the other day he announced a game exploit .. did anyone even bother porting the hbl.. I gues no one -_-
Vita is the worse console ever, any hack will not change this fact… I’m so hungry that i was believe in dream when buy
When you say ‘new and exciting features’, you mean ‘improved stability’, right?
Lol
It was clearly sarcasm 😀
How is this a 3.52 spoof when it shows 3.51 in the system menu and no proof it can access PSN store?
He was launching the package installer while in 3.52 HFW even though that was already patched in 3.20 OFW. In other words, he has some sort of hax, he’s just unwilling to share, much like that native HDMI Mod he claimed he had/has..
Would be nice if we could backup our nands and restore like the hard mods on the 3ds!
we can, but the procedure is rather annoying to do and isn’t cheep to have someone else do it. (Last i heard, it cost something like $100 to do on 1k Vitas)
Actually its closer to $25 you just need good soldering skills.
How did he connected the vita to tv?
PSV TV
it’s still *** if you can’t load homebrew anyway. lol
i mean directly with hacked system loader.
No wonder modders/hackers are reluctant to release their stuff with people like you. We could have full kernel access and you wouldn’t be satisfied because it won’t microwave your hot pocket for you because your lard as.s doesn’t want to leave the sofa
Interesting, but why the bad stuff at the end? 😛
I don’t know if I want to modify my hardware. Would depend on how it must be modified or easier said: how much risk it is to ruin my vita.
If you’re asking these questions there is a high chance you will damage your TV if you attempt this. If you’re a novice at soldering the Vita is not the device to learn on unless you have a lot of money for replacement Vitas.
Practice soldering, become comfortable with it and then come back to this trust me. I’ve ruined game consoles myself before and I’m a competent solderer.
Interesting news, seem’s the community is really focused on the Vita these days! Its just a shame that its requires a hardware mod, so that excludes 95% of us, as you mentioned =[
So basically this is the Vita version of emuNAND?
Wait. If the servers thinks that psvita is running 3.5 firmware maybe also the psvita think this. So: why i can’t update my 3.36 psvita with this HFV? I mean why the psvita don’t think su this firmware like a normal update?
(Sorry for my bad english, i’m italian)
As*
It will not work , simply because the PSvita does additional checks on the integrity of the update.
Does this mean we’re finally going to get PS-Vita ISOs after so long?
Nope. It’s been 3 years and it’s still been nothing. No-one will actually bother with doing anything about PS-Vita because “Vita security system is too hard to hack, piracy is bad, *whine whine winge winge*”. We’re never going to get PS-Vita ISOs because people just do jack ***. This is why I swapped over to the 3DS because they have been supporting 3DS ISOs for years and I can save so much money rather than waste it on *** PS Vita stuff