MP4s, PSPs and OS X

[ObviousTroll]

So, I advanced the cash to my son to get himself a Playstation Personal yesterday. (He'll work it off over the spring and summer by mowing his grandmom's lawn).

Anyway, the tech is incredible, including the ability to play movies in MP4 format. There are apparently a couple of Windows based MP4 converters that use Apple's Quicktime to do the conversion.

Does anybody know how I can do the same thing with OS X?

 

[jmgalvin]

As far as I know QT is MPEG4.

Don't know what you want to do but you might consider spending $30 to upgrade your QT player to QT pro. Just launch QT player and click on Get Pro.

It's very interesting what you do in QT Pro - after reading the documentation. While we do not do video editing, we have actaully done some frame knockouts and stretches in this for broadcast public service announcements (PSA) in some emergency situations.

 

[ObviousTroll]

Thanks, JM. I was thinking about that.

Mostly I'm just curious about it's abilities (the PSP) and whether it's worth buying as a sort of mega-pda - so, if I can download home movies to it, that would be a win.

It's a little frustrating that it doesn't have a web browser though.

 

[drlex]

ObviousTroll
Take a look at the current version of ffmpeg - it claims to allow conversion to a PSP-compatible format.

http://homepage.mac.com/major4/psp.html

If it works as well as it does for me in other conversions, then you'll be sorted.
Agree with you about the browser - sure to come later as a third party job if Sony doesn't release their own.


soi la, soi carré

 

[ObviousTroll]

drlex,

Good tip - ffmpeg seems to be the software used by various commercial/shareware tools to manage the conversion.

I'm a bit of a coding geek, though, so I reaaallly want to know why I just can't save MP4's to the Sony.

:-D

 

[drlex]

You're welcome - the program is great, albeit taxes my ole G4 somewhat.
I saw something (perhaps Macbidouille or whatever) which indicated the issue was with non-standard headers on the mpeg4 file. Given that ffmpeg has to work through the file shows that it can't just be a few bytes to change, though.

Fairly soon there will be more info about this as the PSP becomes popular. Hopefully Sony won't pull out DRM/DMCA actions on those people who offer software.

I'm patiently awaiting the UK launch (or a generous gift from my father-in-law when he goes to Lake Nona, FL, this weekend) before I can tinker.

soi la, soi carré