Now that you know how to put music, movies & pictures on your PSP, let's learn something even more exciting; how to connect your PSP to internet. Connecting PSP to internet will help you appreciate the awesome power of your PSP.

Are you ready ? Here we go:

1) You'll need a wireless router to connect your PSP to the internet wirelessly. You can get it for under $50 for a range of about 500 feet. Since you'll connect to internet using your computer's internet connection, a router with a lesser range is just fine.

2) Install the router's software on your computer. Depending on the router that you've purchased it may ask you to create a firewall. Do create it as it is a good idea to secure your router. You don't want any malicious programs to mess up with your PSP. Select 128 bit encryption as it is most secure.

3) After the router installation is successful, open the browser of your PSP and it should detect the internet connection automatically. You will have to enter your firewall password the first time. Save the settings and you are all set to browse the internet.

Tips

• Get latest firmware before you try to surf the internet from your PSP. Sony Warranty doesn't cover all malicious programs or viruses.
• The WLAN switch on the left side must be pushed upward for the WiFi to work.
• The internet on your computer must work properly before you attempt to connect internet from your PSP. If the internet doesn't work for your computer, chances are it wouldn't work from your PSP!
• To access internet from a hotspot, just switch on your PSP and start the browser. It should detect the connection automatically. If it doesn't, check the WLAN switch.

After learning how to put music and movies on a PSP, let's move on to something equally fascinating but relatively simple to accomplish. We'll learn how to copy and view pictures on a PSP.

Before we begin, it is important to know that PSP supports only .JPEG , .TIFF , .PNG , .GIF, .BMP picture formats(with the latest firmware).

Keeping this in mind, let's learn how to put pictures on PSP -

1) Connect your PSP to your computer via USB cable.

2) In the Home menu of your PSP select USB under settings. Then Press X. Your computer will immediately detect Memory Stick Duo/PSP.

3) A new drive will appear in Windows Explorer. That's your PSP!

4) In "My Computer" section click on the new drive letter to see its contents. Look if it has a PSP folder and a PICTURE folder inside it.

If you can't see any folders simply create them. Create a new folder called PSP. Double click on PSP folder and create a folder called PICTURE. This is where all your picture files will be stored. You can create subfolders inside the PICTURE folder but you can't view those files on PSP!

5) Locate the picture files to be copied then Select and Copy them. Use the standard windows commands to do this (Click on the files to select them and then click Edit and Copy in the menu, or right click and select Copy , or press Ctrl and C together). Then select the PICTURE folder of your PSP drive and paste the files. Again use the standard windows commands (Click on Edit and Paste in the menu, or right click and select Paste, or press Ctrl and V together).

6) When you're finished with the copying, remove the USB connection and you're done.

There you are, now you can view your favorite picture files on your PSP, set them as wallpapers on your PSP, share it with your friends ! Enjoy!

Now that you know how to put music, movies and videos on PSP let's take this knowledge even further. We'll learn how to put all your favorite YouTube videos on PSP.

Are you ready? Here we go:

1) Go to YouTube and locate all your favorite videos. Note down the complete URLs.

2) Next you have to head to a website that allows you to download youtube videos. There are several such sites present on the internet. Some of the good ones are

KeepVid
DownloadYouTubeVideos

These sites allow you to feed the URL of your favorite video and get the download link for the same.

Now here's the important part. Right click on the download link and click "Save Target As" (if your are using IE) or "Save link As" (if using Firefox). In the "Save As" dialog box that appears,select a location where you want to save the file and type a name for the file and .FLV at the end. Put Double Quotes (") around the file name.

Let's take an example. Say you want to download Spiderman clips, so you'll paste the URL in either of the above site and get the link. While saving it, in the Save As dialog Box the name of the file should be

"spidey_clip01.flv"

This step is important because the download link doesn't have the .FLV part. It will save all the files as "get_video.htm". Even if you have downloaded the file as get_video.htm, you need to change the file extension. Here's how you can do it.

To change name and extension, select a downloaded file in the Windows explorer, hit "F2", type the name and .flv at the end and press "Enter". If you get a message asking if you really want to change the file extension, click on "Yes".

The next steps are similar to what we have already seen in "Put Movies on PSP" post but I'm telling it again.

3) You need to convert the Movies to MP4 format. You need to download a converter for this. PSP X Studio is a good converter that is available. Download and install a converter that suits your needs.

4) Start the converter program. You need to select all the files that you need to convert and select the MP4 format for conversion. The converter will convert the movies to MP4 format and store it on your computer. Next you need to transfer the videos.

5) Connect your PSP to your computer via USB cable.

6) In the Home menu of your PSP select USB under settings. Then Press X. Your computer will immediately detect Memory Stick Duo/PSP.

7) A new drive will appear in Windows Explorer. That's your PSP!

8) Select the new drive and double-click on the MP_ROOT folder. You will see few folders.

9) Look for a folder called 100MNV01. Double click on this folder. Next you can drag and drop video clips to this folder from your computer. Once transfer is complete, press O on your PSP.When you're finished transferring the files, remove the USB connection and you're done.

Tips :-

• You get PSP X Studio *FREE* with a PSP Blender Membership ;-)
• PSP can be picky when it comes to file names. For e.g. if your file has underscore or any other special character(e.g. SPIDERMAN_01.MP4), your PSP may not play it! The only solution is change it to something like MV000001.MP4 (Notice ALL CAPS).
• Movie files are quite big in size. So you'll need a Memory Stick that has at least 1 or 2 GB capacity. As is the case with memories, the more the better.

There you are, now your PSP is fully loaded with all your favorite YouTube videos. Enjoy!

If you know how to put Music on PSP, the next logical step is to put movies and videos. And you know what, the procedure is almost similar. So if you want to see all your favorite movies and videos on PSP, here's how to do it.

As with the music, PSP will not play all the video formats. It can only play MP4 files (plus some more if you have the latest firmware). In this post I'll tell how to put MP4 files to your PSP. The method to put other video file types is exactly the same.

If you want to play video of any other format in your PSP; for example your favorite DVD movies; you have to convert it to MP4 format using PSP Converters.

Here's how to convert and copy movies & videos to your PSP:

• First you need to convert the Movies to MP4 format. You need to download a converter for this. PSP X Studio is a good converter that is available. Download and install a converter that suits your needs.
• Load a DVD in your DVD drive and start the converter program. You need to select all the files that you need to convert and select the MP4 format for conversion. The converter will convert the movies to MP4 format and store it on your computer. Next you need to transfer the videos.
  
• Connect your PSP to your computer via USB cable.
• In the Home menu of your PSP select USB under settings. Then Press X. Your computer will immediately detect Memory Stick Duo/PSP.
• A new drive will appear in Windows Explorer. That's your PSP!
• Select the new drive and double-click on the MP_ROOT folder. You will see few folders.
• Look for a folder called 100MNV01. Double click on this folder. Next you can drag and drop video clips to this folder from your computer. Once transfer is complete, press O on your PSP.

When you're finished transferring the files, remove the USB connection and you're done.

Tips :-

• You get PSP X Studio *FREE* with a PSP Blender Membership ;-)
• PSP can be picky when it comes to file names. For e.g. if your file has underscore or any other special character(e.g. SPIDERMAN_01.MP4), your PSP may not play it! The only solution is change it to something like MV000001.MP4 (Notice ALL CAPS).
• Movie files are quite big in size. So you'll need a Memory Stick that has at least 1 or 2 GB capacity. As is the case with memories, the more the better.

There you are, now your PSP is fully loaded with all your favorite movies and videos. To play videos on your PSP go to the Video icon on your PSP's home screen and press X to view the videos you just transferred. Enjoy!

PSP can not only play games but also music. If you don't know how to put music on your PSP, relax because I'll tell you how to put music on PSP.

Here we go,

Before we put the music, keep in mind that your PSP will not play all the music formats. It can only play MP3 files (plus some other formats such as WAV and WMA if you have the latest firmware). In this post I'll tell how to put MP3 files to your PSP. The method to put other music file types is exactly the same.

If you want to play music of any other format in your PSP; for example music from your CD; you have to convert it to one of the above formats.

You have two options in this case:

1) Convert the music files to MP3 format on your computer and then transfer them to PSP.
2) Use a CD ripper to copy music from the CD to the PSP directly.

First let's discuss how to copy music when you have your favorite music in MP3 format on your computer. Here's how to copy music to your PSP:

• Connect your PSP to your computer via a USB cable. Your computer will immediately detect a new USB device.
• In the "My Computer" section you should see a new drive letter. That's your PSP! Generally it will be the last drive in "My Computer" section.
• In "My Computer" section click on the new drive letter to see its contents. Look if it has a PSP folder and a MUSIC folder inside it.
• If you can't see any folders simply create them. Create a new folder called PSP. Double click on PSP folder and create a folder called MUSIC. This is where all your music files will be stored. Don't create any other folder inside the MUSIC folder to store music files as PSP won't recognize be able to read it!
• Locate the music files to be copied then Select and Copy them. Use the standard windows commands to do this (Click on the files to select them and then click Edit and Copy in the menu, or right click and select Copy , or press Ctrl and C together). Then select the MUSIC folder of your PSP drive and paste the files. Again use the standard windows commands (Click on Edit and Paste in the menu, or right click and select Paste o, or press Ctrl and V together)
• When you're finished with the copying, remove the USB connection and you're done.

Now let's see how to copy music to your PSP from the CD directly.

• Connect your PSP to your computer via a USB cable and locate (or create) the MUSIC folder as explained in steps 1-3 above.
• You'll need a CD Ripper or Converter software to convert music. There are many CD rippers and converters available on the internet. Download and Install one that can convert music from an Audio CD directly to PSP. For a list of FREE Music Converters, check this out Music Converters
• Load the music CD in the CD drive. Start the CD Ripper program and you'll see "Extract and Encode" button. Click on the button and it'll covert and transfer songs to your PSP. Make sure you select the PSP format. When you're finished with copying, remove the USB connection.

There you are, now your PSP is fully loaded with all your favorite songs and music albums for you to enjoy!

Firmware is to PSP what operating system is to computer. And similar to operating system upgrades you can update your PSP firmware. Updating firmware allows you to more with your PSP such as run different application or file types.

But before update, check the firmware version of your PSP.

Here's how to do it

Click on the Settings icon and go System. Go down to the System Information and pres X. Your PSP will display the "System Software Version" and the number is your Firmware version.

Before you download the latest firmware, one word of caution. If you have downloaded homebrew games, they may not work after you update the firmware.

There are 2 methods to update your PSP firmware:

1) Using computer :- Connect your PSP to your computer via USB and press "USB Connection" under Settings. Your computer will detect a new USB device. A new drive will appear in your "My Computer" Section. That's your PSP!

Click on the drive to check its contents. Look for a GAME folder under the main PSP folder. If GAME folder is present look for a UPDATE folder inside GAME folder.

If you cannot see any folders, simply create them. Create a PSP folder first and then a GAME folder inside it. Create yet another UPDATE folder inside GAME folder (folder names in Uppercase).

Then go to PSP update site which is

http://www.us.playstation.com/PSP/Downloads/SystemUpdate

Check for the latest version of the firmware by reading the Notices. Then download the update in the UPDATE folder you created in the previous step.

To install, Select Memory Stick under Game from the Home menu. Then Select () button. Press X to start the update.

After update is complete check for the Firmware version as mentioned above. It should display the updated version.

Tips

Before your update

• Charge the battery fully
• Connect the power adaptor to your PSP and plug it in.

During the update

• Do not remove the power adaptor.
• Do not turn off the system or remove the Memory Stick
• Do not cancel an update before completion, your PSP may be damaged and it may require servicing to repair or exchange.

2) Network Update :- If you are planning to use WiFi to update the firmware here's how to do it:

In your PSP Home menu select "Settings". Go down to "Network Update" and press X. Select the desired connection or create a new one if there is not connection defined.

Your PSP will detect if there is any update available. If not, you can exit. But if a newer version is available press X and the file will download. After the download is complete, press the X button to start the update. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

Tips

Before your update

• Charge the battery fully
• Connect the power adaptor to your PSP and plug it in.

During the update

• Do not remove the power adaptor.
• Do not turn off the system or remove Memory Stick Duo
• Do not cancel an update before completion, your PSP may be damaged and it may require servicing to repair or exchange.

After the update

• Delete the update data from the Memory Stick Duo.

There you are, now your PSP is updated with latest Firmware. Enjoy!

Ad-hoc mode allows PSPs to communicate with each other. It is useful when you want to compete with other gamers. It can also be used to send files such as picture to other PSPs.

Most games require that both the players own a copy of the UMD game to compete against one another. But there are some others that will allow adhoc competing with only one PSP having the UMD inside it.

Here's how to setup the Adhoc mode on your PSP

1) In the main menu, go to "Settings" and then down to "Network Settings". Press X.
2) Select "Adhoc Mode" and press X.
3) Select the channel for communications. Both the PSPs must be on the same channel to allow communication. Choose "Automatic" so that your PSP dectects the channel of a nearby PSP and selects the correct channel automatically. Press X to select and then Press X again to save your new settings.

Tips for Adhoc mode

1) WLAN switch must be on (pushed as high as posible) for a successful Adhoc connection.
2) All PSPs must be in the same channel or in "Automatic" mode. If this doesn't work try setting all the PSPs to the same channel manually.
3) If your Adhoc mode doesn't work, it might be due to WiFi signal disruption. There are many things that can disrupt your WiFi Connection. Some of them are Cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, Microwave, Fluorescent lights, High power audio devices, Televisions, Computer monitors, other devices that produce radio frequency interference. Try moving away from such devices and see if the Adhoc mode works!
4) When playing an online game in Adhoc mode, ensure there are 2 more PSPs with same game located nearby.

Now you're ready to compete with your fellow gamers and beat the hell out of them!

Today I'm going to give you some tips for your PSP.

General Tips

1) Turf-Off v/s Stand-By Mode :- When you want to turn-off your PSP, push the POWER button upward and hold it for 4-5 seconds. If you push the POWER button and release it immediately your PSP will not turn off but it be in a Stand-By Mode. Stand-by mode is a low power state.

2) Lock Keyboard :- If you want to lock the keyboard so that the keys are not pushed accidentally (helpful while traveling), it can be easily done. Press the POWER button downward and your keyboard will be locked. Similarly pushing POWER button upward will un-lock the keyboard. Push the button upward gently so that your PSP doesn't go to a Stand-by Mode.

3) Save POWER while listening to Music :- Did you know you can save turn off the LCD while listening to MP3s? It is very easy to do it. Push the Brightness button for 2 seconds and it will be turned off. Press any key to turn the LCD on.

4) Zoom In / Zoom Out Images :- Press the "Square" button and then push the upward / downward buttons to zoom in / zoom out the images.

5) Brightness levels :- PSP has 4 brightness levels but the level 4 is available only when the power adapter is plugged in. However if you want to keep the brightness level 4 without the adapter, here's a trick

• Plug in the power cord
• Change the brightness to level 4.
• Start your UMD game
• Unplug the power cord when the program is launched. The brightness will not fall to level 3.

6) Headphone Control :- Headphone Control was designed for controlling the PSP while watching movies or listening to music. Basically you can lock your keyboard and then control the PSP through your Headphone control.

Battery Tips

1) Battery Life :- The battery can easily last for 4-6 hours when you're playing games and 3-5 hours when you are playing movies. The battery can last for 6-10 hours in stand-by mode.

2) Time for charging :- It takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes However it is recommended that you charge the battery for additional 20-30 minutes.

3) Battery Type :- PSP has a lithium battery and it doesn't need deep charging in the first 3 uses.

4) Extend battery life :- If you play with power adapter plugged in for a long time; take out the battery. It will extend the battery life. And the system will re-initialize (date and time needs to be reset) 24 hours after the battery is taken out. Don't worry its normal.

WiFi Tips

1) Save power :- Turn off the WiFi after use to save power. WiFi button is on the left side. Push the button upward to turn WiFi on and push it downward to turn it off.

2) There are many things that can disrupt your WiFi Connection. Some of them are Cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, Microwave, Fluorescent lights, High power audio devices, Televisions, Computer monitors, other devices that produce radio frequency interference.

3) WiFi can interfere with the working of electronic or medical devices so keep it off when you are in a hospital, in a plane or near Fire Alarm.

LCD Tips

1) Cover LCD screen with a protective film to avoid scratches.

2) Use a soft cloth or paper to clean the LCD. Do not use rough cloths or papers as they can damage the screen.

Storing And Playing Movies

1) Video Formats :- PSP can play MP4 and AVC videos. If you want to play videos of any other format first convert them to MP4 using Video converters.

2) Storing Videos :- Video files of MP4 and AVC formats should be placed in different folders so that they play correctly. You need to create 2 folders, one to store MP4 files and another to store AVC files.

• Create a folder "100MNV01" under the MP_ROOT folder in the memory stick. Thiw folder will store MP4 videos.
• Create a folder "100ANV01" under the MP_ROOT folder in the memory stick. Thiw folder will store MP4 videos.

We'll cover more tips and tutorials in future to help you get the best out of your PSP. Enjoy your PSP experience!

PlayStaion Portable (PSP) was released in 2005 and it quickly became a rage worldwide. It ushered a new era in the portable gaming industry.

PSP is truly a versatile device that not only allows you to play the latest games but also to play music, movies, music videos, view photos, browse the internet and run many other applications such as navigation through GPS etc.

PSP is fully customizable and you can make your PSP unique by choosing from thousands of skins and themes available.

PSP has a 4.3" TFT LCD screen that offers a 16:9 display.

PSP also has a multiplayer functionality that allows you to compete with other PSP gamers.

PSP offers many solutions for your gaming needs:

• PSP Entertainment Pack - offers the PSP system, battery pack, AC adapter, a UMD Game, a UMD movie, and a 1-GB Memory Stick ProDuo.

• PSP Core Pack - offers the PSP system, AC adapter, and a battery pack.

• PSP Value Pack - offers the PSP system, battery pack, AC adapter, Memory Stick ProDuo, pouch and wrist strap, cleaning cloth, and headphones with remote control.

PSP downloads have become quite a rage and there are many sites that allow you to download millions of games, music, movies, music videos and other softwares. These sites also allow you to download emulators, softwares that allow you to play old PlayStation games, PC, Nintendo, Gameboy games right on your PSP!

Before you start playing your favorite games on your PSP, make sure you are familiar with all its buttons and their functions. The picture below shows a detailed front view of a PSP (click on the image to see a bigger version)

Do You Know All the PSP Buttons?

Since you'll be connecting your PSP to your computer frequently, it is useful to know that a PSP is compatible with those operating systems that can detect USB devices. Microsoft Windows XP Home/Professional,Vista,Mac OS X fit the bill perfectly. For other OS you may have to install other softwares or drivers. Contact your computer support personnel for assistance.

In the coming days we'll cover a lot of other topics to help you maximize your PSP experience. So be ready to Get The Best Out Of Your PSP!