and All Consoles

One of the coolest little secrets to come out about the PS3 since its recent release is it’s ability to wirelessly share content with Sony’s handheld PSP unit via a function called “remote play”. Using remote play, your PSP becomes so much more powerful, as you can bring it anywhere in your house and have access to tons of music and video stored on your PS3 by synchronizing with the PS3’s Cross Media Bar.

The first thing to mention is that currently the remote play option is only available with the 60GB PS3 unit. This is because the feature realies on WiFi and only the 60GB PS3 comes with WiFi capabilities. Also, for the time being, you can only access your PS3 content from your PSP while you are in range of your unit’s WiFi signal. It gets even better though, as Sony is currently planning to allow IP access which would allow you to use your PSP to access your PS3 from anywhere.

To prepare your sytems for remote play, you must first update both your PSP and your PS3. Your Playstation 3’s software must be version 1.10 and your PSP’s firmware must be version 3.00. With this completed, you now have to spend some time configuring both the PSP and PS3 so that they can “talk” to each other.

From Your PSP’s network settings, you want to edit the infrastructure mode and set up a new connection. Follow the instructions on the screen, being sure to keep track of the name and password you create. Once this is completed, be sure to save your new settings by hitting the X button.

Next you’ll want to turn on your PS3 and let it know about your PSP. Go to “Network Settings” in your PS3’s menu and continue through to the “Remote Play Connection Settings”. You’ll be prompted for the SSID and WAP name and password you created on your PSP. With these settings saved, you’re almost ready to go.

Now, return to your PSP. All you need to do know is choose the connection you created in the “Remote Play” option under “Network”. If everything went smoothly, you should now see your PS3’s menu on your PSP! You’ll be able to control many functions and access much of the content on your PS3 from your portable.

There is still some content that cannot be accessed from the PS3 with your PS3; for example, you can’t play most games. On the other hand, the ability to be able to watch any of your downloaded videos and listen to any of your music you have stored on your PS3 from anywhere in your house makes the remote play function very useful.

As time passes, Sony will likely add more features to remote play. Already, at least two games can take advantage of this feature including Grand Turismo HD. Also, once access is expanded from the now limited WiFi range of the PS3 to global access, the PSP will likely become a very popular must-have for any PS3 owner.

For the time being though, if you already possess both a PS3 and PSP, be sure to set up the remote play option yourself. It’s very useful for example, if someone else wants to watch TV. In this case, you can just take your PSP to another room and still watch your videos or listen to your music that’s residing on your PS3.