PS Vita 1.50 Firmware Update & Content Manager Assistant Out

[senas8]

Just one question.. if somebody has a PS3 CFW, can you confirm this.

Go to the /dev_flash/vsh/resource/ and check if you have a document called silk and silk_nas, thanks.

Confirmed there's a silk and silk_nas.

[BerserkLeon]

silk is the core that the web browser runs on if i recall correctly.

[Nabnab]

It's more than that http://www4.wiwiss.fu-berlin.de/bizer/silk/ anyone else can confirm ?

just to let you know, the PS Vita include that too

[smokyyuwe]

Both folder has similar things, silk having a extra folder for widgets. The majority of the files are XMLs, which not much inside, and a few .bin files. Although most of the bin files start with CE, one being named ceframework, so it's possible it's based on this: http://www.ceframework.com/

[Prince Valiant]

I really fail to understand the need to be connected to copy save data. If you use a save, trophies should be locked and nothing else.

[cfwprophet]

To control you. So you don't can copy a hacked save data or game that maybe has an exploit in it. (i would say)

[senas8]

Over the weekend PlayStation Vita developer Virtuous Flame has made available OpenCMA, an open-source homebrew application that prevents the PS Vita Content Manager from connecting to the Internet to bypass online and the latest OFW checks.

OpenCMA r1 for PS Vita / OpenCMA r2 for PS Vita / OpenCMA r3 for PS Vita / OpenCMA r4 for PS Vita / OpenCMA r4 for PS Vita (1.80 Fix) / OpenCMA r4.5 for PS Vita (Unofficial) / OpenCMA r5 for PS Vita / OpenCMA r5 for PS Vita (Mirror) / Open CMA 6 by hossain.zip / SVN / YifanLu's OpenCMA GIT

To quote, roughly translated:

Open CMA by Virtuous Flame prevents the PS Vita Content Manager Assistant from connecting to the Internet. The PS Vita comes with a system to copy save files that requires you to be connected permanently to the Internet.

This system is here to force you to update the Vita when a new version is available. In addition, it might be inconvenient for you to be constantly connected when you want to copy your files from and to the Vita. This patch is here to help you with this situation.

Installation:

• extract the archive in your CMA folder (program files/Sony/Content Manager Assistant by default)
• quit the CMA if it is running on your PC
• execute "run.bat" (you need to run it in "Admin mode" on Windows 7
• That's it, now the CMA should run without requiring to be connected to the Internet

Changelog:

• fixed bat on Win7

Finally, from wololo (linked above): I tested it myself, and it works fine, although Virtuous Flame told me it might still be unstable. It is not yet guaranteed that this tool will be enough to prevent the console from upgrading its firmware without your consent, but hopefully this should help.

As a reminder, if you want to keep using the CMA normally, a firmware upgrade is compulsory every time Sony says so. Since every firmware upgrade comes with a new license and a new Terms and Conditions contract, it means that Sony can progressively change the contract you agreed with when you initially bought your Vita, and entirely lock you out of some core features (such as backing up the games you bought and your save data to your PC) if you refuse the new contract.

The OtherOS lawsuit in the US has also shown that Sony can remove any feature they want from the system you bought, and not be afraid of any legal consequences. This patch is also useful for these kind of unfair situations.

From jd8531:

We knew it was awful when firmware 1.80 rolled out disabling Open CMA. Everyone hard at work has made a new patch to fix all the problem and it works!

This release has some new features as well as some bugs but it’s working. To use this you MUST have the official CMA already uninstalled. All credit goes to Virtuous Flame for his new version and special thanks to chesethief and ind3x-gosu from the forums with helping me on this.

HOW TO INSTALL

The following tutorial by me and is also included in the download with more details and troubleshooting (just follow Jd8531's tutorial text file).

1. Download the patch and extract the files to your desktop
2. Run “CMASetup”
3. After installation open the folder openCMA_vita_180 and copy everything to where the official CMA is installed at —>(C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\Content Manager Assistant).
4. Run (<–DOUBLE CLICK)the “set.dll” file (run everything as administrator)
5. Then Run the batch file named “run”
6. It should load everything within the window and it’ll install CMAWatcher and CMADownloader in that same folder.
7. Run “CMAWatcher”, it should open and close quickly (you might not even seen it open)
8. After that let it rebuild the database if needed
9. You are all done!

I was able to successfully copy psone, psp game saves ect without internet on either the PC or VITA with no error. Sorry mac users this is so far windows only and something is in the works. Enjoy a youtube video showing it working below:

Other files related to VHBL, etc... still need to be tested but this is still good news for everyone who uses open CMA regularly. If you are having errors you can try replacing the psp2-updatelist.xml with these specific ones or the second set of steps in the Tutorial:

• Japan: psp2-updatelist.xml
• US: http://fus01.psp2.update.playstation...updatelist.xml
• EU: psp2-updatelist.xml

Note: DO NOT close CMA on your computer while it is running on the Vita or you will have to install everything again.

Update: OpenCMA PS Vita 1.80 Fix: A new version of the Open CMA for Vita 1.80 has been made to easily fix the errors a lot of people have been receiving. (This also fixes the music/video bug!)

You can download the newest version above or alternatively if you already have the other one installed you can replace the psp2-update.xml file with the correct one corresponding to your appropriate region at the bottom.

Tutorial for the new version:

• Extract the archive in your CMA folder (program files/Sony/Content Manager Assistant by default)
• Quit the CMA if it is running on your PC
• Execute “run.bat” (you need to run it in “Admin mode” on windows 7
• That’s it, now the CMA should run without requiring to be connected to the internet

Its recommended that you do use open CMA when the vhbl files come out. Open CMA for those who do not know is the content manager to copy files to the vita and back but without any internet connection unlike the official Sony CMA. It will also not sneak a patch or do a forced firmware update on your device if one comes out and it will not send any data to Sony about whats being copied, edited, transferred or crashes.

Open CMA 1.80: We knew it was awful when firmware 1.80 rolled out disabling Open CMA. Everyone hard at work has made a new patch to fix all the problem and it works!

This release has some new features as well as some bugs but it’s working. To use this you MUST have the official CMA already uninstalled.

You can download the patch here. All credit goes to Virtuous Flame for his new version and special thanks to chesethief and ind3x-gosu from the forums with helping me on this. How to install:

The following tutorial by me and is also included in the download with more details and troubleshooting (just follow Jd8531′s tutorial text file).

1. Download the patch and extract the files to your desktop
2. Run “CMASetup”
3. After installation open the folder openCMA_vita_180 and copy everything to where the official CMA is installed at —>(C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\Content Manager Assistant).
4. Run (<–DOUBLE CLICK)the “set.dll” file (run everything as administrator)
5. Then Run the batch file named “run”
6. It should load everything within the window and it’ll install CMAWatcher and CMADownloader in that same folder.
7. Run “CMAWatcher”, it should open and close quickly (you might not even seen it open)
8. After that let it rebuild the database if needed
9. You are all done!

I was able to successfully copy psone, psp game saves ect without internet on either the PC or VITA with no error. Sorry mac users this is so far windows only and something is in the works. You can find the /talkforums thread here, and enjoy a youtube video showing it working below:

Other files related to VHBL, etc... still need to be tested but this is still good news for everyone who uses open CMA regularly. If you are having errors you can try replacing the psp2-updatelist.xml with these specific ones or the second set of steps in the Tutorial:

Japan: http://www.mediafire.com/?8v8kf91h5kjx2nr.
US version :http://fus01.psp2.update.playstation...updatelist.xml
EU: http://www.mediafire.com/?x8epwbv6l25amq6

EDIT: All the errors seem to be related to the psp2-updatelist.xml file, so just replace that with one of these below corresponding to your appropriate region:

US: http://www.mediafire.com/?8v8kf91h5kjx2nr
UK: http://www.mediafire.com/?gwyky82s2jwlfy5
EU: http://www.mediafire.com/?x8epwbv6l25amq6
JP: http://www.mediafire.com/?8v8kf91h5kjx2nr
AU: http://www.mediafire.com/?gna6fs6f9f9o41j
SA: http://www.mediafire.com/?8hfohuwhc1wsho6

Update #2: Open CMA 5 (Compatible with all 2.00+ Firmware) by Virtuous Flame is now available above with the details as follows:

What is Open CMA?

Open CMA is the content manager assistant to copy files to the Vita. Open CMA is the same as the official Sony version but modified, so that you can copy files without any internet connection unlike the official Sony CMA which requires a constant internet connection to the Sony Servers, something that can be inconvenient It will also not sneak a patch or do a forced firmware update on your device if one comes out and it will not send any data to Sony or their servers about whats being copied, edited, and transferred. Open CMA also does not collect data regarding crashes.

In General it:

1. Allows offline transfers on either PC or Vita.
2. Allows lower firmwares to transfer. (Open CMA 5 works on 2.00+ Only)
3. Disallows the sending of information to Sony.
4. No contact to Sony’s servers.
5. Open CMA prevents CMA from auto updates or mandatory updates.
6. It also allows you to transfer anything black listed, it doesn’t check their servers to confirm if its on the PSN.
7. Lets you copy Homebrew, ISO/CSO to use with an exploit with less errors.

How to Install VF's Open CMA 5

1. Download the latest verision of the Official CMA
2. Apply VF”s Open CMA 5 patch in the same folder as the official one
3. Run .bat and then setdll.exe

More PlayStation 3 News...

[Nabnab]

First Happy New Year and i wish all the best for everybody

CMA.exe (Content Manager) has a lot of information, open it with hexa.

About the USB Bus PS Vita check here http://pastebin.com/xM5TiXHY

[Register or Login to view code]

For the Linux User, you need to use LibUsb with Python (nice couple) to send commands.

[Nabnab]

Back to work

This is for the Mac OS users and it can also work on Linux (To exploit the USB PS Vita).

Install Fink or MacPorts
Install Python 3.2.2 (Mac OS already has a pre-compiled Python but too old to use it good) http://www.python.org/download/releases/3.2.2/
And PyUSB http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/pyusb/

About MacPorts, i recommend to install LibUSB (Fink don't need) after install Macports, you just need to launch the Mac OS Terminal -> sudo port install libusb

To Install pyusb, after you installed Macports/Fink + Python
Terminal
Cd on your PyUSB documents (unzip)
and sudo python setup.py install

If you want to talk with the USB of the PS Vita -> check that first http://pyusb.sourceforge.net/docs/1.0/tutorial.html

You don't need but if you want a Gui for python
http://www.wxpython.org/download.php (OSX Lion has a precompiled Python 2.7 download the Wxpython gui 2.7 to use it properly)

[cfwprophet]

No offence meant but why MAC ? I hate Apple so much unbelievable