Hi,
I hope I can help you.
1. I have this PSJailbreak2 (a clone) is it any good?
It does its job. Though, there are fake (clone of the clone) which seems poorly designed and could break after an upgrade.
1-2. Do I have to "jailbreak" every time I turn off the PS3?
Yes, it's a memory patch. the device put the console in debug mode.
The console initialize plugged USB hub after a hard power off and before power ON, hence the power cycle+plug+power ON, each time you want to put the console in debug mode.
1-3. Do I have to keep the device plugged in after I jailbreak or while playing games?
The original needed it. All the "2nd gen clones" don't. You can unplug it after the console is correctly booted in debug mode.
2. What's the best backup manager (gaia, open manager, etc...)
Gaia, Open Manager 2.x, and Open Manager 1.x by Moh.Sakkai are equally good. (Open manager 1.x and 2.x are both different version maintained by different developers)
"Open Manager 1.x" is the most simple. the others includes covers and many patches (like allowing to play newer games with older frmware), etc.
the 3 devs decided to join their forces and release a "unified manager". It will be released soon I think.
Note that some patches require a specific payload (Hermes v4, or PL3, etc.)
3. How do I transfer a game (ISO) to the PS3?
A) Is that really an .iso ?
the games have to be in a file/folder form, not an iso form.
ISO are the old dump format, before the jailbreak was released.
Now games are re-released in a file/folder form.
You have to place the game folder in a correct place on your HDD (internal or external).
The place change for each manager, so it's really a mess to swap managers. that's why they decided to merge them in only one development effort.
See bellow for more info.
B) If you have the original bluray disc, the manager will dump it to the internal HDD for you automatically to the correct folder.
4. WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE HEX FILES?!
To place the console in debug mode, you need to use a program to tell the PS3 what it has to do when booting.
That program has been converted to open source and is often updated. There are 2 main Open source version : PSGroove and PL3.
When they release a new version, the sources are compiled in a form of hexadecimal code (in fact, it's the binary), and you have to write this .hex file to your dongle's chipset.
There exist few programs to do that transfer. It should be available on the official PSJailbreak2 website.
5. How do I install a .pkg file?
Place the .pkg at the root of an FAT32 USB stik or USB HDD.
When in debug more, under the Game menu, there are 2 new options :
- Install Package Files (it will list all the .pkg found and will install them)
- PS3_Game/something/ (this one is used as a shortcut to launch games when you don't have a disk in the drive)
6. Can I play pirated PSN games (like flower, echochrome, etc...) after I jailbreak?
Not yet. but a hacker team (from Old time, like amiga ?) is working on it.
Currently you can only install retail demo, and official game updates from the PSN.
To install these retail, you need at least the .hex payload version "Hermes V3fix" or "PL3 from 2010-10-23".
There's another option to install .pkg without these payload, but I will tell how only if it's needed not to confuse people.
There are 3 possibilities to install them without a PSN account:
A)
Download the file.pkg on your computer, and place it on your external HDD root.
There are few websites providing links to free and
legal retail .pkg download.
Some websites are also providing not so legal .pkg (internal demo, pre-released version destined for PS3 developers etc.)
Here are two legal one :
ps3news.com : psn
http://www.psxstore.com/
B)
Directly from the internet browser of the PS3
http://www.psxstore.com/ + external HDD, it will be downloaded to the root of the drive.
Once downloaded, go to the "install package files" menu of the PS3.
C)
From a PS3 homebrew : FreeStore (I can't provide the link, I guess it's compiled with leaked sony sdk)
Edit : it seems FreeStore is only for installing homebrew. It's the "Wii Homebrew browser" counterpart for PS3.
Informations on where to place your games :
• External HDD :
USB:/GAMEZ/
note :
/GAMEZ//ICON0.PNG here etc.
Don't put the files (icon and USRDIR) in the GAMEZ, put the game directory containing the files.
• Internal :
Backup Manager 1.0 (can be used by other managers too) :
dev_hdd0/games/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/
Open Manager 1.x :
dev_hdd0/games/LAUN12345/GAMEZ/
Open Manager 2.x :
dev_hdd0/games/OMAN46756/GAMEZ/
dev_hdd0/games/OMAN01234/GAMEZ/
Gaia Manager (there are 2 pkg versions) :
dev_hdd0/GAMEZ/
dev_hdd0/BDRIPS/
As the first manager used "games/laun12345/gamez", usually each managers will ask you if it has to use this folder or not.
Attention : If you use that folder, and decide to delete "backup manager 1.0"" or "open manager 1.x", all your dumps will be deleted too (as they are sub-folder of the manager).
if you want to update, don't delete the previous version. just install the new one, as they share the same GameID the manager will be replaced without loosing your games.
The best thing to do is use Gaia Manager and refuse to use "laun12345" folder, it will place all the game in the root:/GAMEZ folder, so you won't loose your game by accident.
I don't know yet which folder name will be used by the unified manager (maybe it will be user defined !).