A pal of mine was telling me how he'd had some problems with his Sony PSP and that as a result of a particularly bad moment to have his battery die, it was now "bricked". What does that mean?

Searched for a few things on your site and I hit pay dirt! Thank you. I'm am nonetheless uncertain on how to pick a MP3 player. I don't know what factors to take into consideration in order to guide my choice. What do you suggest? I'll use it mostly to listen to music on the train as I commute to work. I'm no tech wiz and one of the first things I'll need to master is how to download, so a complicated gizmo won't work out for me. So what should I consider : memory (how much is good?), size, weight, crash proof, compatibility with other technology that might be coming up, keys? As you can read, I have no clue!

I am a big fan of my Apple iPod, but I can't figure out how to have it automatically download the most recent podcast from the podcasts I subscribe to. I think there's something I can do in iTunes to get this to work, but I'm just not exactly sure how to proceed.

Before I buy a fancy new SDcard, can you tell me how many photos, TV episodes or songs will fit on a 512KB, 1GB and 2GB card for my Sony PSP?

omg~~~!!!!! help dave......i have gotten songs on to my sony psp and i dont have wireless internet... so when i go to play the song it says "WMA playback is not enabled. Go to [settings] > [system settings], and select [Enable WMA playback] to enable this feature.

So when i go there it lists the user agreement and i agreeded and it says the system will connect to the internet to enable WMA playback the only option is to say ok it goes to your network connections. . . .but i dont have wireless internet... so if i go to a cyber cafe will i be able toggle this setting so i can play music?

Every year I have a problem trying to figure out where to hide Christmas presents and this year I've finally decided to just leave them in a box in the trunk of my card. My only concern is the cold weather. Can cold mess up digital cameras, iPods, etc?

Hi there, i really need your help, i have a Sony player mp3/wma/rec 256M, but i don't have the driver, could you help me please?

Just read about Amazon's new online music store that features millions of songs for sale without any digital rights management junk. Yeah! My question, before I jump in, can I access the store on my Mac, and if so, can I then put the new music into iTunes and thence onto my iPod?

I dropped my sony psp, and now it doesn't work. I do have my numbers to see if it is still under warranty, but how do I go about contacting Sony to see how to fix it or send it into company?

I forgot the code to unlock the maximum volume limit on my iPod nano, is there some way to hack around it or otherwise get rid of it? I can't even hear my music when I'm on the bus!

My friend was showing me a copy of Windows XP running on his Sony PSP and I'm gr33n with envy! How do I download Winxp onto my own Sony Playstation Portable? For that matter, can I get a copy of Windows Vista for my PSP?

I've been using iTunes for a while on my computer and now have a pretty darn large music collection. Rather than have it all work with shuffle mode, I'm interested in learning about playlists, and particularly about smart playlists in iTunes. What can you tell me and what smart playlists do you have?

We have problems with our son and the Internet. He has a Sony PSP and has figured out how to get on line. Is there a way to remove the software on this PSP? or maybe a password we can set up so there is no avail. service for him. Thanks.

I know that you generally discourage people from downgrading the firmware on their Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) unit, but darn it, I want to do so anyway. Can you offer some tips, even if you have to include a disclaimer?

I've been reading through your site. I see a lot of problems with the Sony PSP music downloads. Why did Sony make this so difficult for the buyers of their product. Why not just get a class action lawsuit against Sony and I'm sure they will come up with an easier solution to fix thier psp transfers.

I just bought a new Apple iPod Shuffle second generation and before I plug it in, want to know how it's going to sync with my Mac and what I should expect. Is there any software I need to download, for example?

I got my hands on a tiny new Apple iPod Shuffle, 2nd generation, and it's amazingly cool, but I'm a bit baffled by what all the different flashing patterns mean. Is this some sort of Morse code or something? Help!

Hey Dave, what do you think about websites like pspblender and allpspgames? They claim to offer full version games for Sony PSP systems as downloads which are supported on all firmware versions including v2.81 and are legal. Are they for real or just trying to con people?

Do any of the following describe a problem you're having with your iPod? My iPod nano won't power on! My iPod mini won't shut down or is frozen! I can't get songs to transfer from iTunes to my iPod! My iPod doesn't show up in iTunes at all? My Apple earbuds or headphones don't work with my iPod shuffle? Or is something else wrong and you just figure it's time to send your baby, your formerly favorite gadget, in to service?

I have psp and my 2gb card will not format, what's wrong? How do I get my Sony PSP to format the memory stick, or can I use my PC card reader to do that?

So many games, so little time! What are the best games for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Dave? I don't want to drop $40-50 on some clunker, obviously!

Help! My kid sister sat on my Sony PSP and broke the screen. Is there any hope for me? I mean, isn't there somewhere I can get my PSP repaired or fixed other than Sony itself?

Now that I have downloaded PSP firmware version 2.8, and successfully updated my PSP (now showing the correct version when prompted), and having spent some considerable time finding a wireless hotspot, and getting access to it I have enabled the WMA playback option. However, any WMA files I download now seem to be protected by someting called DRM - a Windows security system.

I've been playing with my RCA Lyra RD-2312A Mp3 player and it's pretty good, but I'm intrigued by one thing: it apparently can record FM broadcasts right off the air? Cool. How do I do that, and, when I have a recording, how can I get that off the Lyra and onto my computer?

I just got a cool new RCA Lyra RD2312 Mp3 player and am really impressed with how small it is. My problem: I have a Mac and am basically clueless about how to get music out of my iTunes library and onto the little device. Can you help?

I'm thinking about buying an Apple iPod and was actually contemplating the Dell DJ until I read that Dell's discontinued their own brand of MP3 player. Now there's another device on the horizon, the Microsoft Zune. Darn. What can you tell me about the Zune, Dave? I mean, should I wait until Christmas and buy one, or just stick with a tried-and-true iPod?

I love my new RCA Lycos Mp3 player but am finding that listening to the same dozen songs over and over again is getting, dare i say it, boring. A friend turned me on to audio books and now I'm eager to listen to more, but I can't afford $25-$40 per book! Are there places I can get free or really cheap audio books?

I know this might have been answered before.. if so all I need is a link thank you. But I read your answer on transfering music to the Sony PSP and the music went on the PSP. But when I play it after about 15 seconds it'll stop and say file is corrupted. The music is in mp3 format. The PSP firmware version is 2.60. Please help. thank you.

Hi Dave, I have pokemon gold on gameboy color. I've had it for about 2 years now and recently it's been playing up. When i save the game it runs through the usual procedure of saving and says "save successful" BUT when I turn it on again the next time it doesn't have the "continue" option. only "new game" it's REALLY ANNOYING!

Also [I hope u dont mind me asking this too] but i have pokemon sapphire on gameboy advance and when it loads it says "internal battery has run dry, time based events will no-longer occur" which is also VERY annoying and I cannot complete the game because some pokemon only appear at night and it stays as permanent day time.

Please, please, please help me! I saw a question you answered earlier about how to: Convert WMA from Windows Media Player into MP3 files? Now, I know you know how to convert WMA files to MP3 files, but do you know how to convert MP3 files to WMA files? Please help me, you would be my hero! You are my last hope!

My son is really into what he calls "speed metal" and I call horrible loud noise. Even when his headphones are clamped to his head I can hear the guitars and singers screaming into the mic. I seem to recall that Apple added some system whereby I can limit the maximum volume on his iPod so he doesn't go deaf by the time he's 17, but I can't figure out how to do it. In the name of humanity, HELP!

I have a new Apple iPod that I've been playing with on my brother's PC, but now I want to pair it to my iMac. Every time I try to do that, though, it refuses to do anything and I'm ready to toss it out the window! Rather than do that, can you please tell me how to proceed? At this point I don't care if I lose the music on the iPod either, since I have it all on my Macintosh...

Dave, I follow all your steps on how to get to the Internet on my PSP, but every time I try it says no access point detected. What does that mean, and how do I solve it??

I've just bought a new Apple iPod Mini and am really excited about getting started loading my music onto it, but I can't figure out how to do so! Windows Media Player can synchronize music with the iPod, but the iPod itself doesn't then seem to know the music is there. HELP!

I just got my daughter a psp and I can't figure out how to use it. It has a game with it but I can't figure out how to get it to play.

Do I have to have a memory card for it?

I bought it from a friend that didn't want it anymore and I don't have the little booklet that comes with it. How can I get the booklet?

Can you please send me some info on how to get this thing to do something?

It does light up and it shows me the menu... but what else?

I'm considering getting a Sonos system, but I don't understand how it works with my computer and home stereo, and what I would need in terms of equipment to set it up. Can you give me some idea of what I'd need and how to make it work?

Now that I have a Sony Clié to play with, I'm wondering if it's possible to turn it into a music player so I don't also need to purchased an MP3 player? It's running PalmOS if that makes a difference.

Hi Dave!!! Yesterday i was updating my psp to the new firmware version but it suddenly ran out of power and turned off. Now when i turn it on there is no response, just the power indicator light on. What do i do???

I have a Sonos system all set up, and it’s really sweet. A couple of quick questions, however. I got a subscription to Rhapsody for Father’s Day – can the Sonos work with it? Also, can I set up my favorite free radio station to work with the Sonos?

I installed the Sonos player, which seems to be a sleek little unit, but I don’t understand how to play my iTunes music through it. How can I play my songs and playlists?

Dave, help! How do I delete downloaded movies from my Sony PSP? More generally, how do I manage the files that I've put on the PSP without having to use my PC all the time?

Hey Dave, how do I turn off the little white light on the Sonos unit in my bedroom? I gotta say that the Sonos unit is awesome, but that white power light is driving me crazy at night!

I have a bit of a dilemma: I need to reformat a memory stick to be able to work with my Sony camera, a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200, but I don't have a clue how to do it. Can you help me out, Dave? Thanks!

I have my Sonos system all hooked up, and it’s a really great system. I have iTunes, Rhapsody, and even that Hawaiian streaming Internet radio station you mentioned in one of your other Sonos articles. Here's the problem: I’m having a party to celebrate the beginning of summer, and I’d like to set it up so that every zone plays the same thing for the party. I can’t figure it out. Help!

I bought a new RCA Lyra RD2312 MP3 player and have liked it overall (though don't tell my boyfriend I still have a bit of iPod Nano envy) I have found that on occasion it freezes up on me and when that happens, I don't really know what to do. I think I should be able to reboot the Lyra, but I don't know how to do that. Can you help out?

Dave, if i take a usb cable from a psp and a dsl cable and I cut them both in half and connect the usb to the dsl cable would that make my Internet work on my Sony PSP? I have firmware version 2.70.

i just got a new Sony PSP, way cool, and I found a great web site about hacking the PSP. On the site they say that it's totally legal, but is it? Should I do it? Oh, and what is homebrew?

Dave, I just wanted to know how many songs does a PSP 2G memory card hold? I want to buy a good one that holds a lot of music so I can listen to whatever I want on my Sony PSP when I'm out of the house.

I just got a new iPod Shuffle and it's definitely cool, but I really have no clue what all the lights mean on the unit. Can you illuminate?

Hey Dave! I just got a Toshiba Gigabeat F40 and I sort of figured out how to download music onto it and all but random pictures that were on my computer downloaded on to my mp3 too - I don't want those pictures in here! How do i delete them?

How do you download songs onto a BeatSounds EMP-ZII PLUS MP3 player? I just got it and i'm desperate to know since no one else will tell me. I have a windows xp comp. So please tell me how to download songs to my mp3!

I have a Rio Carbon MP3 player which I really like, but I'd like to reformat the memory in the device so I can wipe all my old music and start afresh. How do I do that?

I have to admit it, I'm new to the mp3 game, heck I didn't leave my room for a week when the Xbox 360 came out. I just got an iPod Nano and it came with a 25 dollar itunes card. I downloaded itunes and I haven't used it yet. The problem is that I also decided to download limewire. I haven't downloaded limewire yet ,but I want to know if it is illegal. If it isn't, could you help me decide if I should stick with itunes or get limewire? Thanks Dave.

Recently my PSP was stolen, I know who stole it but I also need proof. He only took the PSP console, battery, game and memory stick. I have also found out each PSP has their own individual ID and my question is, does the psp manual contain the PSP's ID code to the PSP it came with? If so then where would it be located?

Hi I'm having a problem with my Sony PSP and connecting it to the internet see I can get through everything but the WEP code. Is there a common WEP key? Are they all different? How would I be able to get mine? I searched everywhere but I still can't find it! HELP ME PLEASE!

I was reading the questions asked about the Sony PSP and i saw a lot of questions about firmware or something and that it has different kinds of number like 1.50 and 2 or greater ! Now my questions are what is firmware and what does it do and how do i know wich one is my sony psp?

How do i charge my Ipod when it's fully dead? My ipod died completely where it is showing a dead guy thing and i have a cord to connect into my computer. I plug it in and it doesn't do anything but show the dead thing over and over and i even have itunes on my computer!

How do I change the background on my Sony PSP version 1.5? Failing that, how can I change the background if I update my PSP to the latest firmware, version 2.60?

Hey Dave! I have a Sony PSP and was wondering if I buy a wireless base station how do you set it up and are there any programs that i have to install?

I really love my new Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) and while most of the games are kinda lame, there are enough good ones that it's a great companion on my daily commute. I bought a few UMD format movies, but I have a HUGE library of DVDs that I got for my home and I'd love to be able to copy some of them onto the PSP rather than have to buy UMDs. Is that even possible, and if so, how the heck do I do it, Dave? Help me, please!

Dave, help! How do I download the music already on my computer to my creative zen mp3 player?

I have a samsung yh-820, but i brought it off e-bay, about 5mnths ago, so i have no warranty and it's gone wrong. I turn it on and it says ' connect to pc and repair with recovery utility' only problem is that it isn't recognised by my computer. I've contacted the samsung company who were very unhelpful and suggested i try a new usb cord, but i know that it isn't the usb becuase it charges fine and this is on the same cord. And it constantly reloads when plugged in. I really don't know what to do, do i have a right to send it back to the seller or not or do i have to pay for repair. I would really appreciate help here if possible

I really enjoyed your pre-System call with Ken McCarthy (register to listen to the call or learn more about the conference) but I had a problem when trying to listen to it on my Creative Zen Microphoto MP3 player.

If I listen to the downloaded call on my PC it comes out fine, however if I transfer it to my Zen it plays real slow. Kind of like a 45rpm record being played at 33rpm. Any thoughts on what is causing this? I don't have this problem with other mp3 downloads except the ones from Ken which all seem to suffer the same problem.

I have a Samsung mp3 YH-820. I already transferred songs to it but i can't hear them. What can I do?