Playing iTunes Music on a PSP

Andy writes, "I purchased songs from iTunes Music Store and I locked all of my songs so my sister couldn't use them, and now I don't know how to unlock them. We are now only using one user on Windows XP. Would you know how to unlock these songs so I can play them on my PSP?"

iTunes Music Store songs not playing on your PSP isn't something you did specifically; it's by design. Apple uses copy protection on all items purchased through the iTunes Store in order to prevent you from playing the songs anywhere but on your iPod or on an authorized Mac or PC. Sony's PSP is not an iTunes supported device. If your PSP is the primary device you plan to use for playing back songs on the go, I would suggest buying CDs and ripping them rather than relying on iTunes as your method of song acquisition. You spend less time working with your music files to get them where you want and more time actually listening or doing something fun.
There is a legal (although somewhat time consuming) way around this problem.

Sony PSP Adds WMA Support

This one only matters to Sony PSP owners, but it's another reason to get a PSP (at least in my mind). WMA playback adds support for a more efficient audio codec than what is possible using MP3, which is important for fitting more songs on those over-priced Memory Sticks. After upgrading to the latest firmware update, you'll see an option on the System Settings menu to Enable WMA Playback. Select this option and the onscreen instructions will guide you to a WMA-enabled experience. No support yet for PlaysForSure content, but enabling WMA support is a step in the right direction. Keep in mind, updating the PSP firmware likely renders any emulator hacks you may be using, so if you prefer hackability over standard features, living without WMA support may be necessary. [PSP Required $0.00]

MyTV ToGo

After I detailed all the steps for creating a fully automated conversion of Media Center files for playback on PSP (or iPod Video), I ran across MyTV ToGo on Sean Alexander's Addicted to Digital Media. I have not tried this app, but if Sean gives it his stamp of approval, I guarantee it's good. I only know a few people with a closer relationship to Media Center. MyTV ToGo converts recorded television for playback on PSP or iPod video and transfers the files to the connected device. What it lacks is the automation of a watch folder, like I illustrate using with PSPWare in my tutorial, however, I'm also hacking the system. The net cost of my methods is $15 vs. MyTV ToGo for iPod or PSP at $29.95. Considering it's a one-trick pony at this point, I'll likely hold off on getting MyTV to go, in favor of integrated media management in PSPWare. On the other hand, converting recorded television with MyTV ToGo is certainly a cleaner set of steps. [Windows XP MCE $29.95]

Logitech PlayGear Pocket

The one thing Sony forgot to put in the PlayStation Portable box is a real case. Sure there's a lightly padded leather job to protect the shiny surface from scratches and scrapes, but it does nothing to keep the screen from getting cracked in your pocket or backpack. The only case I found offering both solid protection from screen breakage, with enough rubber padding to help prevent breakage in the event of a fall, without totally bulking up the PSP, is the Logitech PlayGear Pocket. There are other cases with rugged features like metal casing and thick foam padding, but they won't fit in cargo pants pockets. As a former Creative Zen Portable Media Center owner, I liked the fact that Creative made the case double as a stand for viewing movies; Logitech added this feature to the PlayGear Pocket too. Some industrious folk over at Mod My PSP even offer skins for the clear shell of the case. Games are still playable without removing the case and virtually every port on the case, including battery recharging is accessible without removing your PSP. A case isn't something I'd normally get excited about; in most cases function beats aesthetics. In this instance, you get protection for your gear and a cool case in one almost perfect package. At $15-20, it's cheap insurance for your gaming gear.

Convert DVR-MS to PSP Automatically

How to automatically convert DVR-MS files for PSP Playback

Despite the recent launch of Sony's own Media Manager, PSPWare remains the best solution for syncing content to your PSP. Chris and I were lamenting the lack of an easy way to automatically convert DVR-MS files created by Windows Media Center to files ready for playback from PSP Memory Sticks. Here is the solution.

Convert DVD Movies for your Sony PSP

How can I watch my DVD movies on my Sony PSP?

Sony's trying to encourage people to purchase PSP specific versions of movies distributed with yet another Sony proprietary format, UMD. So far, the selection is limited to titles released by Sony, which severely limits the catalog of options and doesn't account for a majority of available movie titles. While some people are up in arms over the format being read only, which doesn't really matter (DVDs happen to be read only too), you can take your movies with you by ripping them and converting the files to MP4 and transferring them to a Memory Stick Duo Pro. If you've previously converted DVD movies to a digital format like DivX or WMV you are well on your way. On the other hand, you can start from scratch and end up with an equally useful result. Read on for a detailed explanation of the process.