[ # ] What is Remote Play on the PS3 / PSP?

/* Posted April 18th, 2008 at 2:02am */
/* Filed under PS3, PSP, Sony, Video Games */
/* */

Remote Play is a feature on the Playstation 3 and Playstation Portable which allows a Playstation Portable user to interact with their Playstation 3’s Xross Media Bar. Users can access music, videos, games, and various programs stored on the Playstation 3’s HDD, external flash drive, or optical media.

Remote Play works by encoding a video and audio stream (most likely AVC and AAC) of the output image on a PlayStation 3 then delivering it over a network (via TCP port 9293) to a PlayStation Portable. Actions performed on the PSP, such as the pressing of buttons, are uploaded back to the PlayStation 3 over the same connection. This is similar in concept to the Slingbox.

The latest update for Remote Play allows users the ability to access multimedia files across the internet; turn the Playstation 3, and play Playstation 1 games stored on the HDD or on an optical disc with the use of a Psp.

In order to use the basic Remote Play feature on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, users must update:

* Playstation 3 System Software to be at least version 1.60
* PlayStation Portable System Software to be at least version 3.10[1] or custom PSP firmware of similar capability.

To use the internet enabled version of Remote Play[2] users must update the following:

* Playstation 3 System Software to be at least version 1.80
* PlayStation Portable System Software to be at least version 3.50 or custom PSP firmware of similar capability.

The Remote Play functionality originally did not work with the 20GB configuration of the PlayStation 3 as it lacks Wi-Fi and therefore cannot connect and stream to a PlayStation Portable. The 1.60 firmware upgrade addresses this issue by allowing the PSP to connect to the 20GB version. Users set up a Remote Play connection by first registering their PSP with a USB mini B cable. Once this has been done, the PSP may be connected to the Playstation 3.

With Playstation 3 System Software update 2.00, it is now possible to turn the PlayStation 3 system on and off with the PlayStation Portable. To be able to remotely start the Playstation 3 system you need to do the following:

* Auto-Login to the PlayStation Network needs to be enabled
* Settings > Remote Play Settings > Remote Start > On

To turn the Playstation 3 off (standby mode,) one should press the home button located on the Psp and select “Turn PS3 Off” option.