Sony PSP News and Tips

Convert and Download Videos to the Sony PSP

The best thing about the Sony Playstation Portable? It's not its sexy design. It's not the depth of its game library. It's not even the amazing WiFi connectivity that is unheard of for a gaming handheld. The best thing about the Sony PSP is its multimedia functions. Truly, Sony's first entry in the portable gaming market is a multimedia beast, capable of broadcasting PSP audio, displaying PSP images, and playing PSP movies.

Of all these types of media files, PSP movies are the most exciting. After all, that 4.3 inches of widescreen goodness won't realize its full potentials if it won't be able to play some video files. PSP movies make the Playstation Portable a handheld theater that will entertain you wherever you go, whatever time of the day it may be.

Now, here's the thing. The Sony PSP cannot play each and every video file out there. PSP movies must be in the MPEG-4 format, the same type of video file that the iPhone can play. The Sony PSP cannot play popular video formats like .avi, .mpeg or .wmv.

What you can do to ensure that the video files on your computer can be transported and played on your Sony PSP is to convert these video files into PSP movies. There are a variety of universal video file converters out there. Some of them you have to pay for, others you can procure for free.

Once converted to MP4 format, you can then transfer your PSP movies to your PSP unit. MP4 versions of PSP movies, assuming the films last less than 2 hours, would be 200 to 350 megabytes in size. Make sure that your memory card has enough space for the PSP movies you want to bring with you.

To transfer your PSP movies to your PSP unit, you will need a USB cable that will connect your PSP to your computer. Alternatively, you may also use a memory card reader and insert the memory card specially formatted for your Sony PSP to an empty slot. Once both terminals are synched, look for the MP_ROOT folder on the memory card. If none exists, make one. Inside the MP_ROOT folder, there should be a folder named 101MNV01. If none exists, make one. This is the folder destination for your PSP movies in MP4 format.

Once uploaded, you can disconnect your Sony PSP from the PC and turn it on. On the dashboard, go to VIDEOS then MEMORY CARD then select among the PSP movies you have uploaded the video you want to play.

Easy, right?

PSP movies make the Sony PSP a true multimedia machine. This video playback ability is one of the best features of the Sony PSP, and it distinguishes the portable console from its more limited competition.