If you like using your PSP to watch movies that you have ripped from your own DVD’s, you love the news that Winnydows has released version 4.047 of XviD4PSP .

This software will help you convert your films to a compatible PSP format, and even supports the unlocked full resolution AVC MP4 facility in the 3.03OE-B custom firmware.

To menu Settings added Disable AVS check option – fix crash on check on some Athlon systems.
x264 updated to version 616.
Now x264 compiled with pthread and start with –threads auto argument – x264 encoding 20-40 fps faster.
Now to log added OS info.
Now if framerate changed frames detect correct.
Fixed buttons lock.
Normalize on preview now checked by default and sticky.
MediaInfo updated to 0.7.4.3 – fix delay detection.
Mencoder updated to 21847.
Fixed rename of output file.
Options Full Info to log and Full AVS Info to log now correct sticky.
Removed AviSynth option Multi-Threading – x264 multithread build + –threads auto much faster and stable.
AviSynth 2.5.6a MT removed from main installer.
Now by default used AviSynth 2.5.7.
Added protection of crash in case incorrect time and frames detection by MediaInfo.
Fixed incorrect VOB size detection.
Fixed switch between DVD titles.
In case inpossible correct detect DGIndex progress windows of this progress tempoary unhidden.
To info line added interlace information.
Now DeInterlace option auto check if interlace found.
Now on uninstall possible remove all dlls and libs installed with program.
Fixed Rename button lock.
Added new format MP4 PSP 480 – create files for PSP with firmware 3.03 OE-B. Warning- now this format support only 480×272 res, so for files with aspect defferent of 16:9 use Auto Aspect check box or add black borders (BW, BH). Hint – Aspect In must be = Aspect Out.
Fixed setting Fix gray flicks option in 1 min and 5 min time cut.
DGIndex updated to 1.4.9 beta 9.
AviSynth updated to 2.5.7 final.

Walmart has been left with a slightly red face this week as it managed to some how sell a UMD containing a porn movie to an eleven year old boy instead of the NBA game that he actually wanted for his PSP.

Yahoo has some more information on the story. It appears that the NBA game was sealed up, so quite how the box came to contain a porn movie is unknown. Walmart is referring the issue back to its supplier to see if the problem can be tracked back to the source.

Perhaps the biggest question is, if the boy had been fourteen or fifteen, would he still have raised the issue with his parents, or just spent more time playing his ‘NBA’ game alone in his bedroom?

Eurogamer.net (amongst many others) have some news on Sony’s new marketing ploy – selling 1GB and 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo’s with a film formatted to a PSP friendly format.

It would appear that instead of the film being pre-loaded onto the Memory Stick Pro Duo, the Memory card comes with a DVD containing the four films that are available, and you have to unlock the one you want using the code that came with the pack and then transfer it over to your PSP using the USB connection.

The four films being distributed with the Memory Stick Pro Duo’s are itch, SWAT, The Grudge and XXX: State of the Union. I’m unsure how Sony have got around you unlocking all four films off the DVD, unless you also require an internet connection that renders the code obsolete once used. If this isn’t required then it should be simple enough to find a way to unlock all the films.

At the moment this looks like a US deal only, with no confirmed plans for the entertainment packs to be available in the UK and Europe.

It seems a little strange for Sony to venture into this distribution method for films, although we must remember that the core product being sold here is the Memory Stick Pro Duo, not the film thats bundled with it. As a way to convince the public to buy the Sony branded Memory cards over those available from SanDisk may work, assuming consumers are interested in viewing at least one of the films available, and are willing to perhaps pay a little more to get it.

Now if only Sony would start distibuting films for use on Memory Stick Pro Duo’s via the internet (at a reasonable price), rather than sticking with the failing and over expensive UMD format.