New Sony Image Converter 2 Plus

[Ishiyoshi]

New Sony Image Converter 2 Plus

In conjunction with the new updates offered by PSP’s new firmware 2.0, – notably H.264 video playback – Sony has released Image Converter 2 Plus. The new software retails at 2,100 yen and 1,050 yen (upgrade version) for existing users of Image Converter 2.

The most significant improvement of course is the option to encode video in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with bit rates of 768/384/192/96kbps and aspect ratio of 16:9 and 4:3. However, resolution still remains at 320 x 240.

Just a note of interest: I've joined P-TV and downloaded a beautiful H.264 trailer – 皇帝ペンギン <Emperor Penguin>. The video quality of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC is simply amazing. So, for those who has a PSP and somewhat fluent in Japanese, please go and sign up an account with P-TV.

[Christopher]

Surprising this isn't out in America yet. So just to make sure, there is a difference between v2 Plus and v2, right?

[Ishiyoshi]

Surprising this isn't out in America yet. So just to make sure, there is a difference between v2 Plus and v2, right?

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Yes, there's a difference - notably the option to encode video in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC with bit rates of 768/384/192/96kbps and aspect ratio of 16:9 and 4:3.

[quantum]

I suspect that Sony would want to release it together with the PSP update cause I noticed that the release date for IC v2 Plus (v2.2) and Sonicstage 3.2 (at Mora) were all released on the same day as the PSP (JP) firmware update. I am just curious though, I bought v2 plus and have since tried out the 16:9 and 4:3 aspects.

Ishiyoshi, I was wondering how you knew that the resolution was 320:240 even though the aspects are different? I have encoded at the 2 different aspects and although the bit rates are the same, hence resulting in files of similiar sizes, the one at 16:9 appears to be sharper when pulled to full screen as compared to the 4:3 one.

[Ishiyoshi]

Ishiyoshi, I was wondering how you knew that the resolution was 320:240 even though the aspects are different? I have encoded at the 2 different aspects and although the bit rates are the same, hence resulting in files of similiar sizes, the one at 16:9 appears to be sharper when pulled to full screen as compared to the 4:3 one.

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From Sony Japan --> Image Converter 2 Plus Info Sheet

[quantum]

Ah! Thanks for the link Ishiyoshi. I think then there will be little need for encoding in 4:3 since the new PSP firmware can reformat the video in 4:3 for any 16:9 video.

[Christopher]

I can't wait for this to arrive on August 12th..