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PSP
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PSP |
General frequently asked questions about PSP |
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Q: What is a PSP? |
A: As its name suggests, the PSP -- or PlayStation Portable -- is a smaller, lighter version of Sony's PlayStation. It's not as powerful as the PS2, but more powerful than the original PlayStation, and it has a built-in screen and speakers so you don't have to plug it in to anything to use it.
As with the full-size PlayStation2, which can play DVDs and audio CDs as well as PlayStation game discs, the PSP is more than just a gaming handheld. The PSP plays games in UMD (or Universal Media Disc) format, but UMD format is also used for movies and other audio-visual content, and the PSP can pay those, too. And if that isn't enough, the PSP can also play audio, video, and still image content off of Memory Sticks (Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick Pro Duo are the compatible formats).
Unlike the PlayStation or PlayStation2, the PSP comes equipped with Wi-Fi, so you can connect with other players wirelessly and, if your firmware is version 2.00 or higher, get online to browse the internet.
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Q: Sony PSP System Tips and Tricks - Tweaks for Your PlayStation Portable |
A:
Get the Most out of Your Handheld
The PSP is the hottest little handheld around right now. The PlayStation Portable Handheld system is very impressive and plays great games, music and movies. Additionally, the system does have a few tricks as well. Here are a couple of things you can try, some are fairly simple. Please note you must be careful with some of these tricks and they will be marked by a * before the “how to” area. Due to the price and the sensitive LCD screen always use caution when trying anything below.
While these tips are listed here, please do not attempt them if you are uncertain about any aspect of them.
Jam to Tunes Using Your Car Stereo System Speakers
* Use the following instructions to play your PSP games and movies with your cars audio system. You will need a FM modulator, a cable with a male stereo 1/8" headphone connector at one end and split left and right RCA connectors at the other. The red wire with the 'in' line fuse goes to your car battery or switch. The ground wire grounds to the frame. Set the car's CD or tape deck to the FM frequency that is on the modulator. The frequency is usually 88.7 or 89.1. Plug the RCA connectors from the cable into the RCA jacks on the modulator. Plug the headphone end of the cable into the PSP. Turn on the PSP with the volume set at half way.
The PSP's sound goes through your car's antenna. No extra wires are needed nor are any other adjustments. Your games, music and movies will now play through your car's stereo speakers. Please note: take care when trying this and make sure you know how to use the modulator and know the right way to hook up the wire to the fuse box and ground wire. If this is not done right, this can damage or even short out the PSP. This one is for parents!
Changing the Save File Images
* Whenever you save a game, one or two pictures are created on your memory stick: ICON#.PNG - the 144x80 icon displayed when you select your saved file. The #, normally 0, may be higher if a game places multiple saves in one folder. PIC 1. PNG - the 480x272 background that's displayed when you cursor over your save or game disk. Knowing this, you can customize your save icons and backgrounds by simply replacing them with new . PNG files. However, make sure that you keep the new file less than or equal to the original file's resolution, or the PSP will cut off sections to make it fit.
First Connect your PSP to your PC. Then locate the save file you want to change. All saves are located in the PSPSAVEDATA folder, divided into separate sub folders to keep necessary files together. Once you've found the save icon you want to change, add .ori to the end of the file name, in case you ever want to change it back to the original. Resize the image you want as you're save icon to 144x80 and save it as a .PNG named ICON#.PNG - “where # was the number found on the file you renamed”. Then move the new picture into your save folder.
Now, whenever you see your save files on your PSP, its icon will be the picture you changed it to. Use the same method to change PIC 1.PNG files to your own custom pictures, but remember that the resolutions must be at most 480x272. *Please note this is a bit complicated and could result in losing all saves if not done correctly. This tweak is really for those who have knowledge of using these types of files. Please use caution when attempting this or have someone that knows how to work with these files help you.
Choosing a Background Color and Keeping it the Same
The PSP will change colors of the background screen every month automatically. You can pick a color that you like and have it stay that way. Simply go into the settings and select the month that has that color, when it changes, reselect the month. Note: Your date will always be wrong, but if color and style is your concern, this simple tweak does the trick. |
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PSP / PlayStation Portable Specifications |
Good Things Come in Small Packages
The PSP specifications look pretty impressive (see the list below), but what do they actually mean for gamers?
PSP on the Outside
Sony's PlayStation Portable is the most powerful handheld game console so far, but it is also the largest and heaviest (though the Nintendo DS is larger overall when open). It's also the nicest looking, with a sleek, rounded industrial design aesthetic. The button configuration matches that of its big brother, the PlayStation 2, except the PSP only has one shoulder button on each side and has only a single analog nub instead of the PS2's dual sticks.
PSP's Sights and Sounds
The PSP's screen is larger than that of other handhelds, with a higher resolution, so playing games and even watching movies is a visual feast. The stereo sound isn't especially loud through the built-in speakers (third-party manufacturers offer small external speakers to make up for it), but with headphones on you can hear every sound effect and crank up the volume to buffet your eardrums.
Multimedia for PSP
Games and movies are available on Sony's UMD (Universal Media Disc) format, which is -- Sony says -- DVD quality.
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Q: Top 5 Things to Do With Your PSP Besides Play Games |
A: 1. Listen to Music
With a PC, a USB cable, and a memory stick, you can download your music to your PSP and listen on the road. It may not be a big deal if you've already got an MP3 player, except instead of having separate machines for games and music, with the PSP you only carry one. You'll probably need a bigger memory stick than the one that comes in the box, but they're getting cheaper every day.
2. Watch Movies
According to some few reports, sales of movies in the PSP's UMD format are higher than sales of games. Regardless, the PSP makes a nifty portable movie player. You can either buy movies on UMD, or transfer your own DVD movies onto a memory stick. The PSP's screen might seem too small for movie-watching, but it's actually super-sharp, and the audio is great with headphones. And I swear I saw a laptop-sized portable DVD player at Walmart with a screen about the same size as the PSP's.
3. Look at Pictures
You can also download and view photos (or any other images in a supported format) with a memory stick. You can zoom, rotate, and move pictures, and even view them as a slideshow. It's an easy way to show your relatives your latest digital snapshots, without a computer. You can even transfer photos from your PSP onto your mother's PC. The possibilities of using the PSP as a portable portfolio of my art and design were a significant factor in my decision to buy one as soon as I did.
4. Surf the Web
With the system update version 2.0, an internet browser was added to the PSP's features. The "keyboard" might take a while to get used to, but if you've ever sent a text message on your cell phone, you shouldn't have any difficulty. You might not want to bother with websurfing at home on your PSP, especially if you have a desktop or laptop computer handy, but if you're out of the house, you can access any open wireless points. Why lug around a laptop when all you need is your PSP?
5. See in the Dark
You might consider this a stretch, but I've found the PSP's bright screen handy on several occasions, such as trying to sign an attendance form in a completely dark lecture theatre (I could never have found my name on the list if I hadn't pulled out my PSP and turned it on). Another time, I had to sneak around in a dark room in which my roommate was sleeping. I couldn't have found what I was looking for without waking her if it weren't for my PSP. |
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Q: Hagiwara Sys-Com Easy Recorder 2 |
| A: The Bottom Line
While some people may question the need to be able to directly record video for playback on a PSP, if that's what you want to do, this is the prefect device to do it on. There are a few other MP4 video recorders out there designed to do the same thing and, while I haven't had hands-on experience with any others yet, the Easy Recorder 2 seems to hold its own just fine in the reviews I've looked at.
The Easy Recorder 2 from Hagiwara Sys-Com is tiny -- a littler smaller and a lot light than the PSP itself, but it packs in pretty much all the features you need for recording PSP video. |
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Q: How To Transfer Video to a PSP Memory Stick |
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Whether you want to show off your own video work, or watch the latest anime video trailers on the go, being able to transfer video to your PSP is a useful thing. If you can can turn on your PSP and navigate the home menu, you can transfer video files.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 2 minutes or more, depending on the number of files
Here's How:
- Insert a Memory Stick into the Memory Stick slot in the left side of the PSP. Depending on how many video files you want it to hold, you may need to get a larger one than the stick that came with your system.
- Turn on the PSP.
- Plug a USB cable into the back of the PSP and into your PC or Mac. The USB cable needs to have a Mini-B connector on one end (this plugs into the PSP), and a standard USB connector on the other (this plugs into the computer).
- Scroll to the "Settings" icon on the home menu of your PSP.
- Find the "USB Connection" icon in the "Settings" menu. Press the X button. Your PSP will display the words "USB Mode" and your PC or Mac will recognize it as a USB storage device.
- There should be a folder called "MP_ROOT" on the PSP Memory Stick if you formatted it on your PSP; if not, create one.
- There should be a folder called "100MNV01" inside the "MP_ROOT" folder.
- Drag and drop files into the folders just as you would save files in another folder on your computer. Video files go in the "100MNV01" folder.
- Disconnect your PSP by first clicking on "Safely Remove Hardware" on the bottom menu bar of a PC, or by "ejecting" the drive on the Mac (drag the icon into the trash). Then unplug the USB cable and press the circle button to return to the home menu.
Tips:
- Video files compatible with firmware version 1.50 or higher are MPEG-4 (MP4/AVC). Use the tutorial linked below to find out which firmware version you have (if you're in North America, you'll have at least version 1.50).
What You Need:
- a PSP
- a computer
- a Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo
- a USB cable with a Mini-B connector on one end
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