PSP 4.01 Firmware Update (English)

Labels: download, firmware, mac, psp

PSP 3.3 Firmware Update (English)

Labels: download, firmware, mac, psp

Sony PSP 2.82 Firmware Update

This software update may include security patches, new or revised settings and features and other items, which will change your current operating system. We encourage you to check this page from time to time for software updates and to always maintain your system to use the latest version of the system software.
An update to the PSP® system software was made available on October 26, 2006. If you update your PSP® system, the system software will be version 2.82.

Labels: firmware, mac, psp

As noted in a previous post, MoviesForMyPod/PSP/Phone does not create files compatible with the Sony PSP 2.7 Firmware. I just flashed (upgraded) a 2.7 PSP to version 2.8 to test with the latest firmware. Indeed, both standard 4:3 and widescreen encoding 16:9 are now again working in 2.8. Use the 2.6-compatibility mode and place your files into a folder named /VIDEO on your PSP memory stick. It appears that the VIDEO folder technique no longer supports the .THM 'thumbnail' files which were used to create the little poster frames that show a preview of the video content. So there's no need to copy those files. Also, it is no longer necessary to use the bizarro M4V0001.MP4 style filenames. Use any descriptive filename you want.

This means our files are compatible with the following PSP firmware revisions:

• 1.5 through 2.6 Firmware - supports 4:3 (not widescreen) MPEG-4 video.
• 2.6 Firmware - supports 4:3 and 16:9 video.
• 2.7 Firmware - not supported.(Upgrade your PSP to 2.8)
• 2.8 Firmware - Supports both 4:3 and 16:9 MPEG-4 video

Therefore, if you want to produce a "Universal" iPod+PSP podcast, stick to 4:3 aspect ratio (not widescreen) and convert it using the 1.5 PSP compatibility mode. This will produce a file compatible with all video iPods, all the PSP firmware versions listed above, QuickTime 6.5 and higher, and usually VLC and other MPEG-4 players.

If anyone has a Creative Zen and wants to write in a compatibility report, please do so.

As of this time, Digigami recommends everyone upgrade to PSP 2.8 Firmware, unless you are running one of the bootloaders. Otherwise, 2.8 looks like Sony finally figured out that consumers don't want to have secret handshakes with their little devices - they just want to play their media files.

Labels: firmware, mac, psp

After reviewing the changes to PSP Video capabilities after the Sony PSP 2.7 firmware upgrade, currently my recommendation is to stay with version 2.6. If you've already flashed to version 2.7, then you have limited options for converting videos to PSP.

On the Mac, it would appear that ffmpegX is the survivor for 320x240 MPEG-4 SP encoding. Unfortunately, the audio encoding in ffmpegX is lackluster. Currently, the MPEG-4 SP streams produced by MoviesForMyPod/PSP play on Version 1.5 through 2.6 firmware, respectively. The PSP H.264 streams produced by ffmpegX are not compatible with 2.7 firmware.

On the PC, I haven't had a chance to run Nero yet, but the Sony-designed (PC/Windows only) $19.95 Media Manager software can convert most videos into "AVC" (H.264) format. It does not support MPEG-4 SP encoding at all. I also just discovered today that the Sony Media manager supports decrypting DVD's for converting music videos. This is a very interesting development.

The one (and only) good thing about the version 2.7 firmware upgrade is the support for MPEG-4 AAC audio encapsulated in the same file format used by iTunes. Yes folks, .m4a audio files can now be played on the PSP (which also plays MP3).

Labels: download, firmware, mac, psp, sony