Ultra Slim Guard Skin Advance for PSP

"Ultra Slim Guard Skin Advance". Now that is quite a long name isn't it? What it is really is a skin case for the Sony PSP Slim. This is one of my first cases for the PSP. For users who do not like the hard casings or the pouch alternatives, these skin cases can provide the protection your PSP needs.

The difference between this skin case and others that I have seen is that, this one is very slim in its profile, meaning that it is not thick. It has cutouts for all your buttons, jacks, UMD door, triggers. It's all there. They are aligned properly as well, and it does not interfere with the pressing of the buttons. However, because of its design, like all other skin cases, there is no protection for your screen, and there is a large opening for the UMD door access.

In conclusion, it is as good as the current lots of skin cases gets, but does not offfer suffcient protection by itself. When combined with a soft pouch for example, this could be an ideal solution.

PSP Video Converter

If you are familiar with your PSP, you will also realize that the PSP will not read just any video format. So if you have a nice video clip or two that you want to load into your PSP and watch them on the go, you will need to convert them into PSP mp4 format that it can understand.

One of the best free converters is the PSP Video 9 software.

"PSP Video 9 is a free PSP video conversion and management application. It can convert regular PC video files (avi, mpeg, etc) into PSP video files, as well as manage/copy these PSP video files between your PC and PSP."

I use it personally, and I find it easy to use, and gets the job done.

Capdase Luxury Hard Case Review

The Capdase Luxury Hard Case draws its concept from the Logitech Playgear Pocket Case. At first glance, it looks sleek with an aluminium top, and a rubberized bottom construction, and it feels light and rather thin, but still feels sturdy enough.

The aluminium top looks like it should stand up to some rough handling over time. The rubberized bottom is thinly coated and have some grip for your fingers too. However, because of this thinly coated rubber, it will wear off over time. So, if you accidetally scratch the bottom with your keys, it is going to leave a mark.



Opening up the case, you will find the top portion is padded and there is a provision for 2 memory sticks. Nice touch, but once again, I feel that the padding is a bit too thin as well. Running your fingers along the top padding, you can actually feel the contruction underneath it.

The bottom of the inner case is once again coated with thin rubber, and it does a good job holding your PSP snugly in place. Even the sides which clip on to your PSP is coated with rubber. This is good because you will not want your PSP scratched when removing it out of the case, and this does the job fine. Once the PSP is in place, it is secure, and will not fall off.

So like the Playgear Pocket, with the top cover fully closed, it protects the PSP almost 100% except for the provision for the earphone jacks, the memory stick access, the power button, and the right/left trigger controls.In comparison however, you will notice that this case is lighter and less bulky.

Turning the case to the back, you will notice that it has a door for you to access your UMD. It is of a plastic and rubbery feel once again, but not too flimsy. This door can connect to the front case when opened to form a stand for you to watch movies on your PSP as well. Neat design. The only flaw on this stand if any is that, you cannot adjust the angle, so you have to watch your movie in one fixed position, whether you like it or not.

If you are looking for maximum protection so that you can throw yor PSP against a wall and still find it in one piece, I will not recommend this case. However, if you are looking for a slim line sleek case that does not add much bulk to your PSP, and still survive accidental drops, this case is ideal.

Skype for PSP

If you have recently bought a Sony PSP-2000 slim series, chances are that you have the latest firmware, which already has skype installed on your PSP. So what do you need for your PSP to run Skype?

Before we go into that, bear in mind that Skype on your PSP is only for Skype calls, and not chat. For Skype to run, you will need a headset or earphone set with a mic, wifi connection and 1MB free on your memory stick. Now you see, the PSP does not come with an integrated mic, which they really should include for this generation of PSPs.

The headset with mic requirement is easy to accomplish, but you need a wifi connection for it to work. What this means is that, you must be near a wireless hotspot for Skype to work. So, if you are thinking about Skype calling while you are on a bus or taking the train, it is not going to work. It would be perfect if they can utilize the mobile networks as well, but it does not.

If you can accept this, then you are ready to start. All you need then is to create a Skype account if you don't already have one. You can sign up on your PSP even. Signing in to the Skype account on the PSP over a broadband connection takes about 10 secs. Once connected, the call quality is crystal clear, and on par with what you would get using a PC.

Logitech Playgear Pocket Review

Logitech - a name we have come to know that makes good mice, keyboards and webcams. It is then no surprise that they have attempted to bite a big chunk off in the gaming market. It is after all a lucrative market to begin with.

The Playgear Pocket is not exactly a revolutionary idea, but more evolutionary. Think of it this way. The idea is basically the same as that of a crystal case we all come to be very familiar with. The difference is that, they improved on that idea, and came up with a winning product. So what's all the hype about?

Let's take a look.

This case looks sleek, and comes in black or white. I prefer the black one, but I am sure if you have a white PSP, and getting a white one to match can be pretty cool as well. It is made of polycarbonate with a snap closure. It is said to be a very tough material and is able to absorb impact of a drop and a few hard knocks. This is important, as in real world conditions, drops and knocks do happen. I have tried dropping a test case on the floor, and the lid stays closed. Quite impressed. Fitting in the PSP in the case is a breeze, and it fits snugly.

When the lid is open, you have access to all controls as you would if the PSP is bared body without a case. The good news comes when the lid is closed. Get this, all jacks and ports can be accessed without removing the PSP from the case. This is nice to know as I personally listen to my music on the go, and it would be annoying to have to remove the PSP from the case each time I want to plug in my ear phones.

The lid design on this case is pretty good and sturdy. It can shield sunlight when you are playing your games outdoors and can even act as a stand for watching your movies. Pretty cool. I guess it is just marketing jargon that they use, but it works in real life situations. At the end of the day, I feel this is one solid case to own. Personally, I have a few cases on hand, and this is one of my favourites.

Game Werks PSP Retailer - 1st Impression Review

I don't usually do retail store reviews, unless it is from personal experiences. So drawing from my personal experiences, here you are. Game Werks is a retailer dealing with gaming consoles and accessories, and since this is a PSP review blog, my focus is going to be more towards the PSP crowd.

This store is based in a HDB estate, Clementi to be exact. I know some of you prefer to buy your PSP stuff from air conditioned fancy shopping malls, but this location is quite convenient. I drive, and it was my first time there, and was delighted to find that there was ample parking space in the cash card operated car park right behind the block of shops where Game Werks is located. Very convenient.

If you are looking for a mega store, you will be disappointed. The set up is small, but this is expected of most PSP retail stores located in these areas. Although it is small, I did not feel crammed and gasping for air when inside the store. It gave me a good neighbourly feel. The staff there are friendly, taking their time to explain the products to the customers, and a no rush attitude is present. I like it, and I think this is important, not like some other stores I came across before, where they just can't wait to take your money and rush you out of there.

What is also important is the pricing of the items. The pricing is one of the best I have come across. I will not mention any items here, but I have bought the exact same item for twice the price elsewhere. So, you can't go wrong as far as value for money is concerned.

In terms of web presence, they have a website. It is pretty well done with information on the products as well as prices listed! This is something I don't see in some of the competitor's websites. People want to see prices, it is just more convenient for potential customers to decide if they are going to buy it or not. No point hiding the prices. One more thing that they have is a cbox chat box in their website, and it enables people who browse their websites to ask questions and get respones. I tell you, they have the fastest responses I have ever came across, now I call that service! I know, as I have tested similar websites to see their responses.

If I have not already own a PSP, I will without a doubt buy it from them. This store is worth a look in my opinion.