Care for PSP Media and Headphones

The PSP itself isn't the only thing that needs a bit of tender love. The things that came with it also require your attention and thoughtfulness. A UMD, for example, has a gap in the plastic cartridge through which the surface of the disk itself is exposed. Memory Stick Duos are somewhat fragile little things.

You can respect both types of media in some common ways:

• Don't leave them in direct sunlight or in areas of excessive heat. The disk inside the UMD cartridge can actually warp, and flash memory can become damaged.

• Don't get them wet. If you get moisture inside a UMD, forget about it. It will take days to dry, and it will be smudged unless the source of that moisture is absolutely pure and evaporates without residue.

• Don't touch the exposed stuff. That means the contacts of the Memory Stick Duo and the internal disk in the UMD (Figure 3.7). Fingerprints can cause big problems with reading both kinds of media.

  Figure 3.7. The gap in the UMD's protective cover and the exposed contacts of the Memory Stick Duo are possible trouble spots.

  

  

  Some UMD cleaners on the market claim to be able to remove smudges from a UMD. I've tried a few and never had good luck with them. The best way to deal with a smudged UMD is not to let your UMDs get smudged.

  
  

  

  If a UMD gets smudged despite your best efforts, the best way to clean it is with a dry cotton swab. Rub the swab from the inside of the circle outward and back (Figure 3.8), and use the spindle at the center to rotate the internal diskg.

  
  

  Figure 3.8. Try your best to rub away smudges on a UMD with a clean, dry cotton swab.

  

• Keep'em in their cases. When they're not in the PSP, keep UMDs in their packaging and Memory Stick Duos in the tiny plastic cases that they're shipped in.

• Don't leave them lying around. Keep them in a safe place, preferably in an area that's dry and not subject to extreme temperatures.

Finally, your PSP's headset deserves a bit of regard. Although it's fairly tolerant of high and low temperatures, remember that there's a bit of circuitry inside the remote, so don't get it wet or let it bake in a hot car. Also, be careful of the wires: Inside the rubber casing is a set of metal wires that can snap, causing poor connection or no connection at all. Don't allow the wires to twist or tangle, and if they do, gently set them right. Never tug on the wires, and never lift your PSP by the wires.