Live in Your World, HAX in Ours!
Hello World! I've been reporting on Sony PlayStation hacking news since 2000 and started PSXHAX in 2014 to cover PlayStation (PSX), PlayStation 2 (PS2), PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation Vita (PS Vita), PlayStation TV (PS TV) and next-gen PlayStation 5 (PS5) platforms along with anything else of interest.
Click on my UserName author link above and you'll be able to view a curated list of all the articles I've contributed thus far to PSXHAX.COM!
Click on my UserName author link above and you'll be able to view a curated list of all the articles I've contributed thus far to PSXHAX.COM!
PlayStation 4 External Hard Disk Drive (USB 3.0 PS4 HDD) Listing
We've reported on Setting Up a USB 3.0 External PS4 HDD on Firmware 4.50, Sony's PS4 External HDD Restrictions, covered PS4 USB HDDs with PSN Accounts and shared a tutorial on PS4 Apps and Games on an External HDD and here comes some USB 3.0 250GB-8TB external hard drive recommendations that can be used with the PlayStation 4! 
Below is a summarized list derived from PS4Home.com with various pricing and size details from the manufacturers and online retailers, as follows:
Below is a summarized list derived from PS4Home.com with various pricing and size details from the manufacturers and online retailers, as follows:
- Seagate Backup Plus / Fast - available in 500GB at $49.99, 1TB at $54.99, 1.5TB at $74.00, 2TB at $79.99, 4TB at $119.00, 4TB Fast at $195.07 and 5TB at $159.99
- WD My Passport - Ultra 1 (1TB) at $59.99, Ultra 2 (2TB) at $79.99, 3TB at $109.99 and available in 4TB at $119.99
- Toshiba Canvio Basics - available in 500GB at $48.50, 1TB at $54.99, 2TB at $83.49 and 3TB at $97.35
- Seagate Expansion Portable USB HDD - available in 500GB at $49.99, 1TB at $54.99, 2TB at $79.99 and 4TB at $119.99
- Seagate Expansion USB HDD - available in 2TB at $89.99, 3TB at $99.99, 4TB at $109.99 and 5TB at $119.99
- Samsung P3 Portable - available in 500GB at $49.99, 1TB at $64.99, 2TB at $89.99 and 4TB at $179.99
- ...
PS Plus Promotions: 3 Bonus Months and Let It Die Booster Pack
As a follow-up to their last promotion, starting today through March 31st Sony is offering 3 bonus three months of PlayStation Plus to yearly subscribers alongside a Let It Die Booster Pack for every PS Plus member through April 18th, 2017. 
Below are more details on the Let It Die Booster Pack from James Hallahan, to quote:
Here's what the Direct Hell Booster Plus pack ($20 value) includes:
Below are more details on the Let It Die Booster Pack from James Hallahan, to quote:
Here's what the Direct Hell Booster Plus pack ($20 value) includes:
- Death Metals (10) — These allow you to continue upon death and expand your storage.
- 1-Day Express Pass (2) — Passes provide a small taste of what our 30-Day Express Pass offers.
- Kill Coins (20K) — Kill Coins can be used to purchase weapons, armor, and Skill Decals.
- SPLithium (20K) — A special resource used to craft equipment and strengthen various elements of your Waiting Room (home base).
- Solo Shelter (2) — A tent-like item that can be used to take quick breaks from gameplay preventing enemy attack while replenishing HP.
- Barbmeat Full Portion (3) — This full portion of meat replenishes 100% of your max HP.
PS4 Firmware 4.50 Can Preload Day-One Game Patch Updates
While it's not listed in the official PS4 4.50 OFW changelog, an undocumented Sasuke System Software update feature has been uncovered that allows PlayStation 4 Firmware 4.50 to preload day-one game patches among other updates in advance. 
Below are the details from PSU.com, to quote: "It now appears that you can preload PS4 patches prior to being able to install them.
LittleBigPlanet 3 is the first game to offer a preload of a patch launching on March 17, as shown in the picture below.
This means that those annoying day-one patches that you have to wait to download, even though you’re already preloaded the game, will be a thing of the past."
While this may not be as interesting as PS4 4.50 exploit or jailbreak developments, it certainly will be appreciated by PlayStation 4 owners who want to spend more time gaming and less time waiting for game patch updates to download.
Below are the details from PSU.com, to quote: "It now appears that you can preload PS4 patches prior to being able to install them.
LittleBigPlanet 3 is the first game to offer a preload of a patch launching on March 17, as shown in the picture below.
This means that those annoying day-one patches that you have to wait to download, even though you’re already preloaded the game, will be a thing of the past."
While this may not be as interesting as PS4 4.50 exploit or jailbreak developments, it certainly will be appreciated by PlayStation 4 owners who want to spend more time gaming and less time waiting for game patch updates to download.
PS Vita ePSP Bubble Installer v3.1 Update by CelesteBlue Arrives
Following the previous revision, today PlayStation Vita developer @CelesteBlue updated the ePSP Bubble Installer for PS Vita to version 3.1 with the changes below. 
Download: ePSP_Bubble_Installer_v3.1.vpk (5.24 MB) / Readme_v3.1.txt
To quote from the GekiHEN page on the latest release: EPSP BUBBLE INSTALLER 3.1
This is a tool that quickly installs a mini ePSP bubble for use with Adrenaline or ARK. No need to be on IDU or to have a PS3. Moreover, the bubble will only cost you 3.5MB !
Since v2.0, you can even activate your PSVita directly through the app ! Since v3.0, you can clone ePSP bubbles and delete them if needed. Open the app and follow what is written on screen. Enjoy, finally, ARK and Adrenaline.
Changelog:
3.1 (2017-03-19)
Download: ePSP_Bubble_Installer_v3.1.vpk (5.24 MB) / Readme_v3.1.txt
To quote from the GekiHEN page on the latest release: EPSP BUBBLE INSTALLER 3.1
This is a tool that quickly installs a mini ePSP bubble for use with Adrenaline or ARK. No need to be on IDU or to have a PS3. Moreover, the bubble will only cost you 3.5MB !
Since v2.0, you can even activate your PSVita directly through the app ! Since v3.0, you can clone ePSP bubbles and delete them if needed. Open the app and follow what is written on screen. Enjoy, finally, ARK and Adrenaline.
Changelog:
3.1 (2017-03-19)
- Fixed bubbles removal function
- Added ePSP bubble duplication: quickly, up to 99 ePSP bubbles !
- Added ePSP buble removal
- Fixed PSN activation for some unlucky PSTVs/PSVITAs
- Entirely compiled with latest ***
- New livearea picture by chronoss
PS4 4.50 Firmware Update Network Error / WiFi Issue Fixes
Since PlayStation 4 v4.50 Firmware Update went live, many users including @jpkb1997 (who let us know HERE) have experienced network errors from WiFi connectivity issues, and below are some temporary fixes until Sony officially addresses the problem. 
According to Sony's PlayStation Error Code site, if you are receiving a NW-31297-2 error it means unable to connect to the wireless network.
To quote: "Could not connect to the Wi-Fi network because the Wi-Fi password is not correctly set on the PS4, or the wireless network is busy.
Go to [Settings] > [Network] > [Set up Internet Connection] to configure the network settings again.
If the error only occurs in a limited period of time, the wireless network may be busy and preventing the connection. Try disconnecting other devices from the wireless network and retry internet connection test at [Settings] > [Network] > [Test Internet Connection]. If you cannot disconnect other devices from the wireless network, try the internet connection test on PS4 later."
PlayStation 4 user Dead-Sync who updated to System Software 4.50 alongside a host of other sites including MobiPicker.com, UberGizmo.com and WWG.com have also reported similar PS4 WiFi connection issues so below are some temporary fixes courtesy of Kotaku.com:
To quote: There are a couple of temporary workarounds that will at least make online games playable for those affected.
According to Sony's PlayStation Error Code site, if you are receiving a NW-31297-2 error it means unable to connect to the wireless network.
To quote: "Could not connect to the Wi-Fi network because the Wi-Fi password is not correctly set on the PS4, or the wireless network is busy.
Go to [Settings] > [Network] > [Set up Internet Connection] to configure the network settings again.
If the error only occurs in a limited period of time, the wireless network may be busy and preventing the connection. Try disconnecting other devices from the wireless network and retry internet connection test at [Settings] > [Network] > [Test Internet Connection]. If you cannot disconnect other devices from the wireless network, try the internet connection test on PS4 later."
PlayStation 4 user Dead-Sync who updated to System Software 4.50 alongside a host of other sites including MobiPicker.com, UberGizmo.com and WWG.com have also reported similar PS4 WiFi connection issues so below are some temporary fixes courtesy of Kotaku.com:
To quote: There are a couple of temporary workarounds that will at least make online games playable for those affected.
- Switch your wireless router’s signal support from B/G/N to just B/G. This workaround requires accessing your wireless router’s internal settings. Normally this is achieved by typing the IP...