New PSP owner

[Skywise]

I finally decided to get one the other day, and have some questions - no, not about games :). I was actually wondering about things like accessories. What do people recommend getting? I already have an extra capacity battery on the way, as well as 1GB (for pandora) and 4GB sticks.

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for homebrew apps (both on the PSP and PC)? What are the essentials? I really like being able to stream from TVersity through the PS3, but are there any DLNA client apps so I can do it directly to the PSP?

And err.. am I looking in the wrong place, or is there no Playstation Network for the PSP? I figured it would be similar to the store on the PS3, but I can't seem to find it.

[ADC]

I don't have all the answers, but I do know that the Playstation Network can be used only from a PS3 or a PC running Windows. They should make a PSN client to run on the PSP itself, but I've never heard anything about them actually doing it. I checked up on this point when I got my PSP.

If your computer has a card reader that'll do Memory Sticks, you're already golden as far as getting files from computer to PSP (wallpaper, music, movies, that kind of thing); otherwise, you need a special USB cable because Sony's retarded and refuses to use standard ports. (i.LINK, anyone?) The USB port on the PSP is neither type-A nor type-B but some proprietary nonsense. So watch for that.

[EmperorBrandon]

Luckily there was already a USB cable around (for one of my sister's toys) that worked with my PSP, so I've got to using that today (just got back home to my computer so was curious about trying that out)

One question I have about the PSP is there any problems from having "Sleep mode" on for too long (and thus leaving the game paused for a while)? I've found this feature to be useful, so I was curious.

[Skywise]

It is actually a standard USB connector, but it's a mini-B one. I have a cable for it from the PS3, and I also think I have one lying around that came with a digital camera. One thing I do wonder about though - there's a USB charging function I noticed, is that active if you just hook the PC up to the USB port of the PSP? There doesn't seem to be any charge indicator that lights up.

EDIT: Nm - I didn't realize you actually had to put the PS3 in USB mode. I thought you could use it just like a regular power cable and keep doing whatever you wanted (gaming, watching videos etc)

[ADC]

It is actually a standard USB connector, but it's a mini-B one. I have a cable for it from the PS3, and I also think I have one lying around that came with a digital camera. One thing I do wonder about though - there's a USB charging function I noticed, is that active if you just hook the PC up to the USB port of the PSP? There doesn't seem to be any charge indicator that lights up.
Hmm. So there's a large-B and a mini-B? Then Sony's succeeded in confusing the pshit out of me. :( As for charging, my PSP-2000 doesn't charge over USB. The POWER light on the lower right lights up orange while the PSP is charging, but it only does so when something's plugged into the DC-in jack. Either that or Sony's succeeded in confusing the pshit out of me again. :(

One question I have about the PSP is there any problems from having "Sleep mode" on for too long (and thus leaving the game paused for a while)? I've found this feature to be useful, so I was curious.
The battery still drains while in sleep mode, so you will lose anything you didn't save when the battery is completely discharged. It's a useful feature so long as you are fastidious about charging your PSP.

[Zanza Hiro]

an accessory i really liked was the soft gel like pouch that Sony sells. i don't like hard cases cuz they make the PSP kinda bulky in my humble opinion, but the gel case is black and soft.

as well as protecting the PSP from scratches etc, it also comes with a white wrist strap which i found kinda handy when PSP'ing on the bus etc. when worn right, you can kinda let it dangle from your wrist when doing other stuff

[WRX]

I'd recommend a case with a semi-hard shell. I have one like that and my screen is pretty much unscathed despite being knocked around in my backpack most of the time. It also holds 4 extra UMDs inside the case which is nice.

I finally decided to get one the other day, and have some questions - no, not about games :).
Get "Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness" anyway. :P ;)

[Stormfalcon]

Hmm. So there's a large-B and a mini-B? Then Sony's succeeded in confusing the pshit out of me. :( As for charging, my PSP-2000 doesn't charge over USB. The POWER light on the lower right lights up orange while the PSP is charging, but it only does so when something's plugged into the DC-in jack. Either that or Sony's succeeded in confusing the pshit out of me again. :(


On the first point, there's your standard B connector, and then there's Mini-B, which has been around for a while. A lot of digital cameras, MP3 players, and other devices use Mini-B due to the smaller size, naturally. While A-to-Mini-B USB cables aren't as widespread as the standard A-to-B ones, you can find them and use them for a PSP.

That leads to USB charging on a PSP. You can do it, but you have to go to your system settings and enable it. However, I don't see much utility to it since charging over USB is slower than charging it through the AC adapter.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

I already have an extra capacity battery on the way, as well as 1GB (for pandora) and 4GB sticks.

Good call! I have a 1GB and 4GB myself. I can fit almost an entire season (26 episodes) of high video quality anime on one 4GB (the leftover eps + game data goes on the 1GB). If you have one of the 2000 models, I'd get a video-out cable (component is preferred). I've found it can be handy from time-to-time.

As for the battery, I've been considering one myself. Let me know how your battery turns out.

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for homebrew apps (both on the PSP and PC)? What are the essentials? I really like being able to stream from TVersity through the PS3, but are there any DLNA client apps so I can do it directly to the PSP?

I... Have NO clue. :( I didn't want to mess it up fresh out of the box and I haven't tried anything crazy since. If you turn on remote play, however, you might be able to stream that from your PS3 to your PSP.

And err.. am I looking in the wrong place, or is there no Playstation Network for the PSP? I figured it would be similar to the store on the PS3, but I can't seem to find it.

I'm not in front of my PSP at the moment, but there is a way to access the PS Network from your PSP. I believe it might be a bookmark in your browser. Check that out, but don't hold me to it. ;)

[ADC]

I'm not in front of my PSP at the moment, but there is a way to access the PS Network from your PSP. I believe it might be a bookmark in your browser. Check that out, but don't hold me to it. ;)
I just tried it, but while I could navigate to the PSP website, I couldn't actually do anything with it. It's all locked away unless you're a member of the Playstation Underground or something to that effect. And I'll mention that using the stupid little nub as a mouse is a whole lot of frustration pressed into one piece of plastic.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

The nub - Tell me about it!

The Underground - Accounts are free. Create an account, you're good to go. :)

EDIT: Isn't your Underground account the same as your PSN account?

[ADC]

EDIT: Isn't your Underground account the same as your PSN account?
Beats the hell out of me. I didn't sign up for PSN when I saw that there's no Mac client, and all I've ever seen is that you have to have either a PS3 or a Windows PC to get games off of PSN for the PSP.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

I didn't sign up for PSN when I saw that there's no Mac client, and all I've ever seen is that you have to have either a PS3 or a Windows PC to get games off of PSN for the PSP.

I am currently able to download demos onto my PSP with just the PSP browser and my PSN login. Give it a try. :)

[ADC]

How about PS1 games? Can you buy them on the PSN website and download them straight to the PSP? I could give a damn about demos, but if I could get a handheld Symphony without having to buy Rondo (or a PS3), I would.

[Skywise]

I found the bookmark, but it lead to a site that hasn't been updated in a year, and had almost nothing on it. It did lead me to discover www.yourpsp.com on my PC, but the problem with that is that it doesn't let me pick a non-European country (thanks Sony -_-). At least the content is updated.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

How about PS1 games? Can you buy them on the PSN website and download them straight to the PSP? I could give a damn about demos, but if I could get a handheld Symphony without having to buy Rondo (or a PS3), I would.

I'll try right now...

:tries:

I do not see this option, unfortunately. I thought I had read somewhere that you could, but I don't see how to do so. All I see are game demos, news, screenshots, etc.

I found the bookmark, but it lead to a site that hasn't been updated in a year, and had almost nothing on it. It did lead me to discover www.yourpsp.com on my PC, but the problem with that is that it doesn't let me pick a non-European country (thanks Sony -_-). At least the content is updated.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about foriegn PSPs. I'm in the U.S. and have a U.S. PSP. The address that my PSP goes to is:

http://psp.us.playstation.com/

That site displays differently on a PC, but it has been updated recently (it has a preview of the new "Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem" game).

[Skywise]

Got a memory stick now, so I'm finally able to actually get content on the PSP. I must say I'm disappointed with the clunky download system from PSN. At least on the PS3 you can queue up downloads in the background. They seriously need to work on making the system more transparent, and having a PDA like synch function instead would have been good.

As a result of being able to store bookmarks I have also managed to get TVersity working for streaming music over to the PSP instead of going through Remote Play. Works much better than I thought it would and provides full playback controls and visualization.

Now all I need is the battery and I can start experimenting with homebrew..