Finally my PS VITA KIOSK (IDU) have arrived. This unit is currently on Firmware 1.69 and my observation below is based on this firmware. The results might differ if you are on higher firmwares. I will just keep this review short and direct in point form. I hope this information could be helpful to those who have acquire IDU consoles. Do feel Free to add to this thread, any other related information that might have been missed out. Key point/ Observation -There are 2 variations, TRUE IDU Consoles and Converted IDU Consoles. Basically both serve the same purpose of being a kiosk console, however things to note. TRUE IDU Consoles have a plastic catch in-place to prevent unauthorised access to the PS VITA game slot and at the back of the unit (Right bottom corner) indicates NOT FOR SALE, while Converted IDU consoles are just like Retail consoles running Demo mode. (I am not sure on valuation if TRUE IDU Consoles fetch higher value compared to Converted IDU Consoles, perhaps anyone would like to share their thoughts on this?) -To gain access to TRUE IDU Console game cart slot, just use a size 1.5 hex key -IDU console firmware can be updated using Retail PS Vita game card. (This unit was originally 1.51 firmware, I updated using the PS VITA New little King story R3 game card. After the IDU restarts, Demo mode still in existents. (This proves the theory that IDU units are not using specialise firmware to keep Demo mode intact, but rather application based) -If IDU is connected with the USB cable and idle more than 5 minutes (DEMO mode) it will automatically start playing all videos stored on the device. (even if videos are 30mins in length) -If IDU is NOT connected with the USB cable and idle more than 5 minutes (DEMO mode) it will automatically power off the unit. -If IDU is triggered by buttons/touch by user in DEMO mode, unit will auto shutdown after 5 minutes in-regardless if user are watching Video or playing DEMO. -Holding Left and Right Shoulder trigger and directional pad Up and pressing the Start button for 5 seconds to unlock the Demo mode of the kiosk unit. This is best described as “Unlocked mode†-It is known that the earlier firmware versions lower then <2.61, the IDU unit are “permanently†unlocked and will not auto-shut down after 5 minutes if the USB cable is not attached. -Should your IDU console is above >2.61 firmware, after accessing the “unlocked mode†kindly perform the following steps to prevent the 5 minutes auto- shut down. (it is confirmed and known that IDU console on high firmware will now auto- shut down after 5 minutes even on Unlocked mode) Turn off your Vita completely (Long press on power button ->System Power off) Connect the USB cable (Your IDU should auto power on and start into the DemoMode) Proceed to access the “unlocked mode†by pressing and holding L + R + UP + START for 5 seconds in the main screen Press the Power Button to standby the IDU and wait till the blue led blinks and the screen goes off Disconnect the USB cable and power on the vita (short press on power button) -Exploits Works in “unlocked mode†as per retail PS VITA, requires exploited PSN Game purchase via PS3 and to perform the transfer to the PS VITA, exploited save game is to be transferred using Open CMA. - To noted that PSP Ad Hoc File transfer version 0.7 works well with transferring of PSP files between PSP and PS Vita, effectively bypassing the need to use Open CMA. (was wondering if one could transfer a digital downloaded Vita game/ Demo across another PS Vita using this method?) ~Feel free to share your thoughts on this matter.
Interesting. Seems like the Kiosk models are a bit better than the PTEL model where damn near everything is locked down, plus no activation BS with the IDU kits.
IDU units can't run unsigned code period. PTEL can run after activation. Both IDU and PTEL are the same hardware as retail PCH-1001. I'm still curious if cloning the nand on a PTEL will work on a PCH. (Someone needs to try this)
Nice photos and bravo for your try to help people learn something for these. Only the comparison between the true kiosk and... is wrong, so I would like to add the following: If you take apart your "not for sale" unit you will find those rubber pieces from the original slot protectors. When people cut off or steal the originals, Sony adds this plastic piece to protect the slots from physical damage (most commonly people put gum or other stuff into the slots). And like yifanlu said, both consoles have retail (CEX motherboard) which is not exactly converted but activated for different use than the retails when booting up. So, there is no "true" or "converted" kiosk. The only difference is the "not for sale" of the rear touch pad which is another confused story. If you do a little search you will see that many ps vita presskits (usually the day one editions) have the same rear touch pad indication, so we don't really know if Sony used the "not for sale" indication at the first kiosks or just had spare press kits to convert to kiosks or had parts of them to swap the damaged touch pads of the kiosks.
Is there a objectives suites PSVita version of the app that could convert a retail Vita to a Debug/DEX vita? Since considering there isn't any sign or leak of a possible cartridge that has the same similar process to that of the CEX-Kiosk one?
No. PDEL contains additional hardware and larger OS with additional modules. PTEL is same hardware but different software. There's no official way to convert retail to PTEL.
