Sony opens up PSP to more uses

Sony is making viewing multimedia content, including podcasts, easier to look at on its PSP system.

A new 2.7 firmware upgrade, now available for download, delivers support for the Macromedia Flash Player, which allows users to experience videos and other multimedia content right from their PSP system.

Also, audio content from RSS channels can now be saved directly to the Memory Stick Duo, enabling users to listen to their favorite podcasts at their convenience.

Click here to get the download, which can also be taken down wirelessly to a PSP system with a Wi-Fi connection.

--- DISH Network customers are getting their OLN channel back beginning today. DISH and OLN have reached a multi-year agreement after the channel went dark on the mini-dish provider.

"It was important that we negotiated a fair contract, enabling DISH Network to remain a tremendous value for our customers," said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming at DISH. "We understand that this has been a difficult period for our customers, and we thank them for all their patience. We look forward to a long relationship with OLN in which we can provide the network to our customers."

OLN returns to channel 151 in America's Top 180, DishHD Gold or any higher programming package. National Hockey League fans can now catch exciting playoff action including tonight's double-header involving the New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. (EDT), and the Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars at 9:30 p.m. (EDT). Visit www.OLNTV.com for a complete NHL playoff schedule.

-- There's NetFlix and Blockbuster and now MovieBeam, an over-the-air downloadable movie service that is coming to Charlotte soon. You buy the MovieBeam player for $199 and it comes with 100 movies installed. Each week, up to 10 movies are automatically downloaded via a small antenna to the box. You don't need cable or satellite.

Rental fees are $1.99 to $4.99 and browsing the website
shows that the service has the type of new releases you'd expect to find at the other services of this type.

-- A new iPod docking station is a must-have for users of the fantastic storage device. It comes with an RF remote and a USB charger and lets you easily connect your iPod to a computer, stereo or television set.

-- VSO Software's Image Resizer seems like a good creation. It allows users to resize pictures or change their format (from gif to jpeg for example). This tool can help improve pictures management and saves storage space. Image files which are smaller in size are more easily sent by email, something difficult to do with the original file size.

The resizer (available as freeware) handles images in all popular formats: bmp, jpeg, gif, png and can converts them at the preferred resolution (from 320x200 to 1600x1200, including even Ipod photo and video, Sony PSPS, HDTV and DVD). The images will adjust automatically to the size of the desktop or to the source used to display them.