PSP World

Mark/Space intros The Missing Sync for PSP

Mark/Space, known for its software for Pocket PCs and Palm handhelds, has introduced The Missing Sync for Sony PSP. The Mac-only software, available now, features Intel-native video encoding, offline web browsing, packaging of contacts, calendars, tasks, notes and Safari bookmarks into stylized web pages and integration with iPhoto and iTunes. The software is available as a direct download from Mark/Space's website and sells for $29.95.

"The PSP is an unbelievably cool device, capable of fulfilling multiple roles," said Brian Hall, Mark/Space president and CEO. "By leveraging the PSP's inherent strengths and providing Mac OS X integration, The Missing Sync for Sony PSP increases the usefulness of the PSP in many ways that are both useful and exciting. Never before has a device presented personal information, such as calendars and contacts, in as fun a way as we've made possible with the PSP. Our customers will be taking their PSP more places than ever."

Extending the PSP's Capabilities

All of the features present in The Missing Sync for Sony PSP either increase the functionality or the fun-factor of the device. For example, the PSP does not provide applications for storing contacts or calendar information. The Missing Sync solves this problem by gathering data from Mac OS X's Address Book and iCal apps -- or any applications that employ Apple's Sync Services technology in Mac OS X "Tiger" -- and making it viewable in the PSP's Web Browser. Memos from the bundled Mark/Space Notebook application are also downloaded to the device, putting useful information at its owner's fingertip.

The start page for all of this information is then bookmarked, providing quick access from the PSP's Web Browser application. This capability gives the PSP an electronic organizer-like capability, making it far more than just a multimedia game device. Mark/Space takes this feature one step further by providing interesting themes for presenting information on the device, allowing the user to personalize the experience to suit their own tastes. Themes range from simple, colored themes to more complex, photo-realistic themes with gorgeous background images.

WebSnacks(TM)

The Missing Sync for Sony PSP introduces a feature that downloads web content for offline viewing. Called WebSnacks, this feature downloads web pages, blogs and RSS feeds to the PSP's Memory Stick and bookmarks them for convenient offline viewing. Settings are provided for how deep to scan and how often to refresh downloaded content. WebSnacks provides access to favorite web pages, allowing the user to stay informed or keep entertained even when Wi-Fi Internet access isn't available, such as on a commuter train or in the movie theater before the show.

Video Encoding

The Missing Sync for Sony PSP includes video encoding capabilities for viewing movie previews, viral videos, home movies and other video content on the PSP. Dragging videos to the application tells The Missing Sync to prepare them for the PSP. The encoding methods provide native Intel and PowerPC support, so the user will enjoy the best possible encoding performance from their Mac. Quality and aspect ratio settings allow control over the process. The Missing Sync for Sony PSP does not provide video extraction from DVDs.

Photos, Tunes and Podcasts

Complete integration with iPhoto and iTunes allows photos, music and podcasts to be downloaded to the PSP. The user simply checks which albums and playlists they want copied to the PSP, and The Missing Sync does the rest. The software is smart enough not to download protected iTunes Music Store songs that cannot be played on the device.

Mark/Space Notebook

Mark/Space Notebook, a new standalone application for notes and memos is included for free with The Missing Sync for Sony PSP. In addition to supporting text and graphics notes syncing to the PSP via The Missing Sync, Mark/Space Notebook supports Spotlight searching and synchronization across multiple Macs via Apple's .Mac service.

Additional Features

The Missing Sync also provides complete Memory Stick backup and restore capabilities, with multiple restore points for added safety. There's a Game Backup plugin that protects the user's time investment in game playing by allowing them to restore specific game states to the device. The Folder Sync plugin enables a sort of digital briefcase capability, syncing the contents of selected folders back and forth between the Mac and the PSP. The Missing Sync even keeps track of multiple Memory Sticks independently, allowing the user to store different content on each.