Opening and iTunes account is fairly easy. All you need is to fill-out a form using your valid email address and credit card. But what if you don’t have a credit card or you’re only interested in free apps?

Here’s an easy way to open an iTunes account without a Credit Card.

1. Open iTunes and go to the iTunes Store.
2. Browse for a free app.
3. Once you’ve chosen an app, click Get App. A new popup window will appear, prompting for your iTunes account log-in details.
4. Click Create New Account.
5. A welcome screen will appear. Click Continue.
6. Read and Agree to the iTunes Store terms and conditions. Click Continue.
7. Create your iTunes store account. Fill-out the necessary details completely. Click Continue.
8. Fill-out the next form. In the payment method, choose none and fill out the other important details correctly. Click continue and you are done.
9. Final step is to validate your itunes account. Go to your email and follow the instructions sent to you in validating your iTunes account.

Now you have access to all the free apps you want. If you wish to purchase apps from the itunes store, just update you iTunes account and provide the necessary Credit Card details.

If you have problems following this tutorial, leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

With Windows ReadyBoost, you can use non-volatile flash memory, such as that on a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, to improve performance without having to add additional memory “under the hood.”

The flash memory device serves as an additional memory cache—that is, memory that the computer can access much more quickly than it can access data on the hard drive. Windows ReadyBoost relies on the intelligent memory management of Windows SuperFetch and can significantly improve system responsiveness.

It’s easy to use Windows ReadyBoost. When a removable memory device such as a USB flash drive or a secure digital (SD) memory card is first inserted into a port, Windows Vista checks to see if its performance is fast enough to work with Windows ReadyBoost. If so, you are asked if you want to use this device to speed up system performance. You can choose to allocate part of a USB drive’s memory to speed up performance and use the remainder to store files.

Source

ReadyBoost in Windows 7
ReadyBoost in Vista

Ever encountered a slow response from you iphone button? Chances are, dirt has already accumulated at the edges of you iphone/ipod touch button.

So before going to your trusted technician for expensive repairs and replacements (especially if your warranty has expired), try this quick fix!

What you need are the following:

1. Your trusty finger
2. A gasp of deep breath

Now here’s what to do.

1. Press your home button.
2. While depressed, blow into the edges to remove the dust and dirt deposits (just make sure your saliva doesn’t come with the air you blow into it)
3. Repeat to your hearts content.

Now you have a fully responsive home button. And you’ve saved a lot on technicians fees!

Just remember, no saliva while blowing or you’ll fuck up your home button. If you have a hand blower or car air compressor, much better.

Let me know in the comments if it worked for you.

Enjoy and watch out for more DIY tricks for your iPhone!

I know this post is very much too late but it’s like obligatory to post the instructions on how to install the latest update. We’ll here it is (taken from DA’s instructions):

This update is a try to fix memory stick low speed since 3.80.

Instructions: Copy UPDATE folder /PSP/GAME/ and run.

If you come from a version prior to 5.00 M33, put sony update as 500.PBP in same folder, or let the program download it for you using a wifi connection.

Changes in 5.00 M33-5:

- A setting has been added to recovery, that, when enabled it may increase memory stick reading speed. (only on the psp, not in the pc).
By default it is disabled. If you installed 3.71 fatmsmod, do not use this setting, as its perfomance with 3.71 driver has not been tested.
Instead, reinstall 5.00 m33-4 using dc8 and update to 5.00 m33-5

Changes in 5.00 M33-6:

- Fixed a bug that made unbootable psp without memory stick or with a bad one.

The included file fat_comparison.html contains a comparison of perfomance between the 5.00 fat driver, the 3.71 one, and the 5.00 one with the speed up hack during the read of an iso.
The test was done on the game Valkyrie Profile in cso format in march33 mode. Other games, modes and applications different than iso reading showed similar results.

Download update: http://rapidshare.com/files/186553068/500m33_6.zip

• Speed selected for umd/iso was not properly locked in some new games that used scePower_EBD177D6 instead of scePowerSetClockFrequency to change speed.
• UMD/ISO speed settings now apply to PSN games too.
• Fixed libupdown.prx connecting to dark-alex.org instead of sony when npsignin_plugin checks for a new version and m33 update is enabled.
• Iso file descriptor was not closed in driver deletion
• Added a shutdown command to vshmenu.

Requirements:

• Fat or Slim PSP installed with 5.00 M33-3 or lower. If you don’t have a 5.00 M33 yet, here’s a 5.00 M33 installation guide.
• USB Cable
• Computer

Instructions

1. Download the update via rapidshare or megaupload.
2. Unzip the file anywhere on your computer. Connect your PSP to your computer then copy the contents of the UPDATE folder to ms0:/PSP/GAME/
3. Go to XMB menu and then go to GAME>Memory Stick then run the Update
4. Wait for 5 seconds. Voila! You now have a 5.00 M33-4 PSP.

Got it? Enjoy.

• A bug was introduced in 5.00 M33-2 that made some games and homebrew not to work
• PSN version check is now automatically bypassed without need of touching any setting

So basically, 5.00 M33-3 is better and less buggy. And now onto the very easy installation guide.

The Requirements

• Your PSP installed with 5.00 M33-2 or 5.00 M33. Follow the 5.00 M33 here.
• USB cable
• Wifi – If you have wifi connection at home, you could do the update in one step. Just go the the Network Update on the Settings Menu and follow your instructions and your done.

The Guide

1. Download the update package from any of the following mirrors:
   Mirror1: http://rapidshare.com/files/156743814/500m33_3.rar
   Mirror2: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J2B220F8
2. Extract the archived file to your computer.
3. Connect the PSP to your computer and copy the UPDATE folder to ms0:/PSP/GAME/
4. Go to your XMB and run the update
5. Follow on screen instructions and wait.

Although you could install this update directly from previous versions (3.71 M33 to 4.01 M33-2), I did write this guide for noobs.

Thanks to Dark Alex for the custom firmware.

So you went out successful from the bathroom. You are excited to return to your game when you find out that your brother is tinkering with your PSP and he just exited the game! What to do? You load your game but you have to go to all those monsters again, all thanks to your brother. But is he to blame? Good thing there’s PSPStates! You don’t have to worry about those things now. With PSPStates, you can save your game whenever you want.

PSPStates copies the data in the PSP’s memory to a save state image on your Memory Stick. You can then load that saved state back to memory and continue from it at any point like a Saved Game. And you don’t even need to use a save point. PSPStates was created by Dark Alex and you can download the plugin for 5.00 M33 at the following mirrors below:

Mirror1: http://rapidshare.com/files/154982316/p … s2_500.rar
Mirror2: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HVZI6HRZ

You can read the installation guide from the readme.txt that comes with the package above. PSPStates only supports the PSP Slim with 5.00 M33 custom firmware installed.

If you have questions, you can leave a message at the comments.

5.00 M33 + 1.50 Kernel = Killing Machine, illustration by DL

Enough with the introduction. Read the guide after the jump.

Below are notes from Dark Alex himself.

because even deleting LFTV and korean font there was not enough space this time, this version will delete also flash0:/dic/apotp.dic

I’m unsure about what this file is for (maybe for japanese text predicition?) but system works fine with it.

IF you want to keep some of the things deleted by the 150k_installer do following things.

- Install DC7. Use the Format flash options in nand operations menu. Make flash1 size like around 1 MB smaller, make flash3 the smallest possible, and make flash2 a bit smaller (not too much, or you won’t be able to download games and demos from psstore). Then, make flash0 as big as possible and continue.

- Install 4.01 M33, update to 5.00 M33.

- Install 1.50 addon. Dump 5.00 using the latest psardumper, and flash the deleted files you want back.

Warning: You must do the following at your own risk. I won’t be held responsible for any damage it may do to your device.

The Requirements

• A Fat PSP (a.k.a. PSP-1000) installed with the latest custom firmware 5.00 M33.
• Enough battery so your PSP wouldn’t accidentally turn off in the middle of the flashing.
• USB Cable

The Guide

1. Connect your PSP to your computer and put it in USB mode.
2. Download the official 1.50 firmware and copy it to the root of your PSP’s memory stick. You can get the 1.50 firmware here.
3. Download the 1.50 Kernel Add-on for 5.00 M33 installer, extract it anywhere on your computer and copy it to /PSP/GAME5XX.
4. Go to your XMB and scroll to GAME>Memory Stick then run the 1.50 Kernel Add on update. Follow the onscreen instructions and wait. The PSP will restart automatically after the update has been installed.
5. Congratulations, you now have a full homebrew enabled PSP.

Again, thanks to Dark Alex for providing us homebrew goodness.

• PlayStation Network
• Sleep Timer
• USB Auto-Connect
• New theme
• Full-Screen keyboard has been added
• Full screen and interlaced TV-out option for PSX games on the PSP Slim and PSP 3000

Read the guide after the jump.

Now here’s what you’ve been waiting for, the simplest easy to follow guide that you’ll find on the web. Here’s how to install custom firmware 5.0 M33 on your fat and slim PSPs – no hack for the PSP 3000 yet.

Homebrew for everybody

Remember kids, do this at your own risk. I won’t be held responsible for anything that would happen to your PSP. If you don’t understand the guide or not sure of anything, ask by using the comment form below.

The Requirements

• PSP with previous custom firmware installed, at least 4.01 M33-2
• At least 75% battery, connect your PSP to an outlet via the Adapter.
• USB Cable

The Guide

1. Download the installer pack I compiled here.
2. Extract the file you have downloaded anywhere on your computer.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer and copy the UPDATE folder you extracted to ms0:/PSP/GAME/
4. On your PSP, go to the XMB menu and scroll to GAME > Memory Stick and run the 5.00 M33 update. Follow the onscreen instructions.
5. After the installation, you’ll be taken back to the XMB menu.
6. Grab a soda or something.

Don’t thank me for the guide, thank Dark Alex because without his hacking abilities, this wouldn’t even be here. And don’t forget to thank Sony for bringing us a cool handheld device.

UPDATE: For PSP-1000 a.k.a Fat PSP owners out there, 1.50 kernel add-on is already out. Read the installation guide here.

Below are notes about the custom firmware:

• Popsloader does not work (due to some changes on modules that sony did). UPDATE: There is a patch for this but it would require you to flash files which is dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. Will write a post on this later.
• 1.50k addon not yet supported but will be soon

5.00 M33 Please

Instructions on how to install 5.0 M33 custom firmware will follow soon. Meanwhile, relax at the new colors of the site.