Do More with the PSP

by Luis Bruno Luis Bruno

Dept.: Hidden Talents
Tech.: Sony PlayStation Portable
Cost: Free ($250 for the PSP)
Time: 10 minutes
Dabbler | | | | | MasterNo thanks to Sony, which is notorious for limiting the functionality of its products with proprietary formats and restrictive protections, the PlayStation Portable is now the must-have gadget of the year, even
for those whose lives don´t revolve around the latest first-person shooter. The gorgeous device feels good in your hands, has a stunningly sharp screen, and plays some pretty sophisticated games. It took a bunch of amateur programmers, though, to invent tools that unlock the PSP´s full potential as a portable media powerhouse. Below, learn how to convert any video file-whether home movie, free trailer or recorded TV show-to play on the PSP. (Converting your DVDs is legally murky, although the same programs will do it.) Then turn the page to see how to run free games, such as Tetris and Pac-Man clones, from the PSP´s
Memory Stick. But that´s just the beginning. Now that the PSP has been cracked, new tricks are popping up every day. Head to popsci.com/h20 to see the latest creative uses for this multitalented device.

HOW TO: WATCH ANY VIDEO FILE

1) Pick up a 512-megabyte or 1-gigabyte Memory Stick Pro Duo (512 megabyte from $60; find the best prices at dealram.com).

2) Download the free
application PSP Video 9 (pspvideo9.com) or, if you´re on a Mac, ffmpegX (free; homepage.mac.com/major4). Both convert any .avi, .mov, .mpg or .wmv file to play on your PSP. Other options: iPSP ($20; ipsp.kaisakura.com), available for Mac and PC, which also loads your digital photos and music files, and the Windows-only XilisoftDVD to PSP Suite ($45;
xilisoft.com), which lets you convert a whole DVD or just selected parts.

3) Open your converter program and adjust the settings. Leave the resolution at 320x240, but choose a setting that uses 15 fps
(instead of 30 fps) to fit two hours of video on a 512-megabyte Stick.

4) Attach your PSP to your computer with a USB cable or put your Memory Stick in a card reader to transfer your converted file.