PSP Tips - PSP Tips & Tricks Collection

PSP Daxter Entertainment Pack - Ice Silver

Product Features

* Multiplayer - Choose whom to play, where to play and when to play - two multiplayer modes let you take on the world or just your buddies.
* Enhancements - Make your PSP go further. Watch recorded TV with TiVoToGo. Watch live TV wirelessly with LocationFree TV
* Connect to the Internet withcomplimentary T-Mobile service
* Carry your favorite pictures with you wherever you go
* Carry your favorite music with you wherever you go with built-in MP3 player

First use a Website copier like WinHTTrack on Windows or DeepVacuum on Mac OSX. Download the site starting with the archive where all the comics are located. For this tutorial I used Diesel Sweeties and Cat and Girl. Let it run and it will take a couple minutes over broadband while the Website copier will download all the images and HTML pages on the website. While you are doing this you should seriously consider buying a T-shirt or other fine products from the web comic authors. I have both some Cat and Girl t-shirts and Diesel Sweeties t-shirts and they rock ever so hard.

Then you want to find the directory where all the comic strip images are stored. One of the problems is some web comic authors have broken down their comic archives by month and year so there is a plethora of folders containing those precious images. So do a localized search in that folder for the image file format. This will generate a list of all the comic strip files in that directory and then copy the results into a single directory. This is sort of a trick to bring them all to a single folder for image processing.

Now the Sony PSP can only read JPEG files and there are plenty of web comics in GIF and PNG so we will need to do a batch conversion into JPEG files. Make a empty directory called "Cleaned Comics" so your batch image program can deposit them before loading onto the PSP. You don't want to resize the web comics since most of the fonts are designed to be read at a 1-to-1 on-screen aspect ratio. If you were going to transfer a bunch of high-resolution digital images from a camera or photoblog you might want to sample them to 50% or so to save space on your Memory Stick. I am using the Mac OSX app Easy Batch Photo to convert all the comics to JPEG. Photoshop or any other major image editor should be able to do a batch conversion on a folder of images. I wish i could have found an easy way to do this on GIMP but I could not at this time. Make sure to use a compression ratio around 50% and don't save a thumbnail in your JPEG file.

More information continue below

Then you can enter your JPEG images in a PSP file manager like iPSP or PSPWare. I registered my copy of PSPware because of the tight iLife integration and it can encode ripped DVDs to PSP video MP4s. In Apple iPhoto 5 I created a PSP keyword and assigned all the images that I wanted to transfer to the PSP that keyword. It is a drag that Sony included a small ass 32 Meg Memory Stick Duo with the PSP. You really can't do much more than transfer some photos and save your games. The entire experience has convinced me that a big ass 1-Gig Memory Stick Duo would be worth the bucks.

Then sync your PSP and transfer your images over with the USB cable that Sony did not include with the PSP either. Or manually drop them off in the directory /PSP/PHOTOS/WEBCOMICS/ on the Memory Stick if PSP sync software is not your bag.

Then when you are in the PSP image viewer make sure that you are set at 100% and use the analog stick to pan around the image and use the L and R buttons to navigate to the next comic. It actually works out pretty damn well and I was able to fit all130 or so Cat and Girl comics on my PSP memory stick.

Once you do this is is pretty simple to do again in the future. I think that everyone should know how to do a batch image conversion.

It would be slick if Sony would allow other developers to make mini applications or plugins for the PSP via a Firmware update and a SDK. I am sure that there are plenty of software hackers that would love to put together an RSS reader, and web browser for the PSP. How cool would it be to subscribe to your favorite webcomics via a RSS feed and have it automatically updated from the PSP via Wifi without having to use a PC. Ah well one can dream. Until then you need to do some work-arounds in order to get your favorite non-game content on to the PSP.

Scratches? Dust under screen? Cracked Screen? Most people at this point get frustrated at their PSP and break their PSP's or they throw them away.

Unfortunately people do not understand that the PSP is one of the most customizable handheld systems out there. You can not only change things like faceplates, but you can also replace broken LCD screens.

An average PSP TFT-LCD screen costs around 50-70 dollars, and that is way less then going out of your way to buy a 3.10 firmware PSP for $200.

Below is a guide i found on how to replace the LCD screen, and a great site to pick up the PSP TFT-LCD screens for the replacement.

To replace a PSP screen it takes a screw driver and around 10 minutes.

How to Replace an PSP TFT-LCD:

Ok, now we can get started on the guide. Here is what you are gonig to need to complete the job:

%u2022 Replacement Sony PSP Screen with backlight. You can get parts that are just screens that you need to install the backlight in and use your current backlight or buy a complete LCD with backlight. Spend the extra couple of dollars and buy one with
backlight, you will not regret it. Where should you buy your LCD Screen? You have a couple of choices here as many people sell LCD Screens on the market now.

%u2022 Precision Screwdriver Set. If you do not have a small precision screwdriver set for eyeglasses or other small electronic, spend the $5 at Home Depot. Otherwise, you run a great risk of stripping out the screws on your Sony PSP while you try repair your broken PSP LCD screen.

Now we can get started on the repair.

1. Layout the parts and screwdrivers and let everything come up to room temperature. For those of us who live in warm weather climates, this is not a big deal. However, if your garage is much colder or the parts are not at similar temperatures you could have issues in some circumstances.

2. There are six screws that you need to take out in order to open up your PSP case. Two of them are hidden underneath the battery. Before you can get to them, you must remove the black strip of tape near the bottom of the compartment. This is the
warranty tape, removing it will expose the last two screws.

3. Carefully separate the plastic casing for your PSP by removing the top cover on your PSP and set it aside. This should separate very easily. If you have troubles removing it, there is still a screw left on your PSP.

Read Step 4 from section below!

4. Using a small, flat precision screwdriver (exacto knife may also work), pry the metal edges of the silver screen assembly from the LCD screen. The LCD should pop out, but the cables should still be attached by the clips.

5. Fold the screen down to expose the connections to the clips. Carefully release the clips from the front by gently lifting them with a flat-head screwdriver. Be extremely careful not to break the clips by applying too much pressure. A broken clip is the only thing that will require you to send your PSP into Sony for repair.

6. On the Sony Playstation Portable clips are lifted, the cables will slide out and your broken (shattered) LCD will be ready for disposal.

7. Lay the new LCD screen face down in front of your PSP so that you can access the cable clips and gently slide the cables all the way into the clips. (In some cases, the cables may not go in without a little help from a screwdrive or by slightly ending the cables. Be very careful if you need to use this method as you do not want to damage the leads of the cable.) Now, close the clips by snapping them down.

8. Fold the new Sony PSP LCD Screen up and snap it back into the metal assembly. Do not put on the LCD screen itself as it is very sensitive and you could crack it. Snap it in by pressing along the edges of the unit. It should go together very easily.

9. Place the cover back over your case and put all the screws back in.

10. Turn on your PSP and enjoy your new screen!