The portable behemoth nestled in your hands has unlimited media potential. The widescreen display and external memory offers high class consumption of video games, movies, music and photographs. Sony’s tiny user manual rarely addresses these issues in great detail though, with only a few pages devoted to explaining the capabilities of the hardware. Many gamers who have received the Sony PSP for Christmas will have played their first UMD game and be wondering what to do next. With so many homebrew and customisation websites to pore over, it can arguably feel a little daunting. Well have no fear, because below is a handy ThumbSticks guide to getting the most out of your PSP.

Music

Admittedly, most commuters have now embraced the MP3 generation and carry around portable music devices. However, I still recommend carrying a back-up device just in case you forget your iPhone or the Zune in your pocket decides to run out of juice. Likewise, if you feel you might be gaming on the go it can be helpful to cut down on the gadgetry you’re carrying around and just take the Sony PSP.

With the help of a Pro Duo Memory Stick (a 4GB version can be picked up for as cheap as 10 GBP) you can easily store and transfer your favourite tunes. Simply plug the Sony PSP into your computer with the USB lead and scroll to your settings menu. Hit the ‘USB Connection’ icon and you should have full access to the space on your memory stick. Most will have a Music folder already setup, but otherwise just create a folder labelled ‘MUSIC’ inside ‘PSP’. Now you can drag and drop until your heart is content.

For playback, just scroll across to the Music icon on the home page of your Sony PSP.

PlayStation Network

Although aimed primarily as a digital distribution service for the PSP-Go, PSN also has a diverse selection of content for the traditional PSP. The easiest way to register is on the PlayStation website, after which you can access the store straight from the handheld’s main menu. The store includes original PSOne games (such as Final Fantasy VII), movies for rental and even Marvel Comics to view on the go. It can also be a great way to access demo’s for upcoming releases and is worth checking regularly.

Internet

Adding to its repertoire of media functionality is the built in internet browser. Located on the Sony PSP home page, it’s a quick and easy device for connecting to routers and Wi-Fi hotspots. Unlike many smaller mobile phones, the widescreen display is efficient at displaying the entirety of a webpage and the nub also doubles up as a great mouse pointer. Once you’ve typed in the URL you’ll be prompted with a connection screen, which lets you search and select the most appropriate service provider. For those who are comfortable with homebrew customisation, a faster Opera Mini browser can also be found here.

Films

Sony will try and tell you that purchasing UMD movies is the only way to playback your favourite flicks. Although these offer optimum quality and can be picked up pretty cheaply (the format hasn’t been particularly successful) there are ways you can transfer DVDs and video files for free. Websites such as PSP Video 9 offer all the necessary software and guidance that you need to convert a wide range of file types. The hefty screen of the PSP makes it a fantastic companion for catching up with your favourite TV shows and video podcasts whilst you’re waiting for the train. The quick button interface also makes it relatively easy to pause, stop and rewind footage.

Once you have some files stored to your Memory Stick, hit the Video icon on the home page of your Sony PSP.

Homebrew

Although I don’t encourage the piracy of full retail games, the thriving community of homebrew enthusiasts has had a huge impact on the scope of the PSP. Retro titles that are now out of circulation and import copies that will never see western shores have all been saved for your consumption. Popular websites offer extensive guides and active forums in order to get the absolute maximum out of your machine. YouTube players, text readers and internet browsers are just some of the upgrades that have been achieved so far.

These are just some of the features available at the PSP’s disposal. With a hefty game library to get into and a brilliant ad hoc mode to link up with friends, there’s more than enough to get you started. Reviews for all of the latest PSP titles are available right here on ThumbSticks.