If you find yourself purchasing videos from Sony’s Playstation Network, be wary: You may want to read the Terms of Service thoroughly or you could risk the possibility of losing all of your purchased digital goods thanks to Sony’s DRM policy.

An Ars Technica forum-goer dubbed Noise found this out the hard way and warns others of this unfair policy. Having deleted purchased content from his hard drive in order to free up space - he later found that he was unable to re-download the videos.

“Purchased content can be downloaded to a single Playstation 3 or a single PSP system.” “Content cannot be redownloaded once it has been downloaded to either a Playstation 3 or PSP system.” “Consumer service can issue a redownload as a one-time courtesy, as provided by our guidelines, for the title to allow the consumer to go back and download the movie from their PSN download list.”

Noise may have lucked out this time with his “one-time courtesy” of a free download for video he’s already paid for but it’s his money and they should be his to keep for good. May this be a lesson and warning to all those who use the Playstation Network. Don’t let Sony screw you out of your money.

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Your cellphone doesn’t quite have the power the PSP has, though it’s trying. The Seiko Epson Corp are pushing the future of cellphone software forward with their 3-D display for mobile phones. With about 500 PPI of resolution, this 3D display is a sight to see with no 3-D glasses needed:

“[It's] one of the world’s highest resolutions of direct-view-type displays that do not use projectors,” says Goro Hamagishi, general manager of the Display Development Center, Corporate Research & Development Div, Seiko Epson Corp.

This is done using a special lens called lenticular lens that, when placed over pixels, is possible to make different images be seen from different angles. Similar to the ‘real-time’ 3-D image rendering system, several cameras are used to shoot images from different angles. It is then that the 3-D image takes its true form. The company plans on commercializing this display within the next two years. Until then, you’ll have to hold yourself over with Doom RPG for your cellphone.

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We’ve seen a lot of neat stuff made with the Arduino processor, like that Mad Hatter top hat or the gigantic keyboard. With the infinite possibilities the Arduino offers, where are all the games made for this development platform?

Enter the ArduGame, a hand held device that runs a small game that has yet to be named. Using an OLED display and the controls of an old Sony PSP, the folks at BricoGeek have crafted a fine piece of gaming hardware that could potentially put the portable Atari 2600 to shame. It finally proves that the Arduino is a fun and flexible tool for game programming.

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Web searches on your PSP just got a whole lot easier with the upcoming v4.00 firmware update. Now the Google Toolbar is available for any Wi-Fi connected PSP, bringing you loads of internet meme fun. Another feature coming to the PSP via v4.00 is the ability to change viewing speed during playback of videos stored on your memory.

While the PSP could already do practically anything, it was lacking the Google Toolbar it needed to make Googling anything on the go an ease. Vince is hoping they include the “I’m Feeling Lucky” feature; his personal favorite.
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If you can deal with the life-altering mutations and the screams of children as they gaze upon your disfigured face, there are some benefits to living right next to a nuclear power plant. One of the coolest being that cool natural glow. These XCM Magic Night Glow replacement covers for your PSP make the portable console look like it has been sitting next to a reactor a little too long with a glow in the dark sheen.

All you have to do is leave the PSP out in the sun for a few minutes, shut off all the lights, and watch as the PSP glows a bright shade of green, blue, or orange. The color selection is your choice, and luckily, you and your mutated face can order the covers right online, without leaving the comfort of your very own cage. Grab your own for about $25 each. (more…)

Try singing the title of this post to the tune of Styx’s “Come Sail Away” and I think you’ll find yourself mildly amused. Regardless, it seems for some reason, a random Japanese manufacturer feels that putting a piece of string around a ZipLock bag constitutes use as a waterproof case for your PSP. Would you buy this? Would you seriously take your easily-earned cash from selling pot to high schoolers and buy this “waterproof” PSP case? No and I’ll tell you why. I’ll show you how to make one:

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There have been rumors of a PSP phone around for a while and while we might not be seeing that anytime soon, a UK company is working on bringing phone capability to the PSP. British Telecom is working on a PSP phone system that would be released to over 100 countries and would allow wireless telephony between other PSPs and some BT phones.

BT plans on starting the service up in the UK, with the service only working at home or at BT hot spots, of which there are around 2,000 situated in airports and other public property, but would gradually expand to a more international user base. — Andrew Dobrow

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Sony announced today its virtual golf caddy for the PSP, titled Minna No Golf Jo or Everybody’s Golf Course. Combining the PSP’s GPS transmitter with the physical sport of golf will insure that you never have to tip a crappy caddy to give you bad advice ever again.

Minna No Golf Jo will provide in-depth info about shot distances and obstacles directly into your handheld device to assist you in playing your best on the green. The virtual caddy will be available for Â¥9,980 ($82) for a bundle with the software and the GPS receiver or Â¥5,980 ($50) for just the software. — Andrew Dobrow

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We wouldn’t know first hand, but we are pretty sure that Muslims around the globe hate taking away from their PSP so they can go pray. I mean, let’s be honest, there are some points during a game where pausing is just impossible. The Raise is a service that plans to offer “Islamic content for the PSP”, allowing users to download the Koran onto the gaming handheld among other religious material.

The download will be available for free after May 19th, so just hold your praying horses until then. — Andrew Dobrow

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Sony has launched their beta of the social virtual world, PS3 Home. Home seems to be a lot more serious and developed then I ever thought it would be. Some things you can do while cruising around home is interact with your PSP, play mini-games, interact with other gamers, and of course, check out the view of a whole new world.

Is this an attempt by Sony to beat Nintendo at their own Mii game? You bet it is. The leaked screenshots from the Home beta are looking really good. Nintendo, we love you, but Sony may have you beat with this one. (more…)