The info is flying fast today as
Sony's launches a multi-tiered attack on the entertainment community. Luckily, we've got some additional info on the
just announced PlayTV TV tuner / DVR for the PS3, and we'd like to share it. The unit will apparently be coming to Europe "early in 2008" with other territories to follow (PAL only for now). The new box will feature two 1080p tuners, which utilize the European Digital Video Broadcasting system (DVB-T) -- which should dash any US hopes for the time being. The system will allow you to store recorded broadcasts on your PS3 drive, and also transcode and transfer the saved files to your PSP. Additionally, you'll be able to use the PSP's "Remote Play" feature to program
and watch your PlayTV away from home. Sony reps also make the bold pronouncement that the PlayTV architecture will "never be out of date" due to automatic network updates from the company. We're gutted that the US gets no love from Sony on this one, but it's a good time to be a European PlayStation 3 fan, that's for sure.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Matthew @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:29PM
Never be out of date?? Really, so this means that Sony will not be releasing a Playstation 4 then because then it should never be out of date either right?
fistpittingnork @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:45PM
"The PlayTV feature 'will never be out of date'" says the article, not the Ps3.
Martin @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:21PM
So basically you get about 5-8 hours of TV even on the highest end console. Wouldn't you rather just use your computer where storage is cheaper and transferring the video is easier and then just stream it across the network to your computer? I wish one of the consoles did that....
coplice @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:09AM
@Martin
you can stream stuff from your computer to your PS3 already but remmeber that you can transfer your PS3 video on an external HDD/USB/Flash card (i read they are about to make 16/32gb card!) and then plug it to your PC for transfer
maybe you can already copy stuff from PS3 to PC, i didnt try
Jivebro @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:16PM
The thing that you have to realize is that you will be able to watch TV anywhere you have an internet connection with you PSP: "you'll be able to use the PSP's "Remote Play" feature to program and watch your PlayTV away from home." That is what I am really stoked about.
JeffDM @ Aug 24th 2007 9:56AM
Martin, one thing that can be done is attach an external USB drive, so you can go and get your $200 750GB drive and be done with it. The PS3 can probably make short work of transcoding over the air MPEG-2 to AVC, meaning that if they do offer that, then you can get even more use out of a given drive.
Though I hear the comment down a ways, it would be nice if there were USB ports in the back of the unit.
Dave @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:30PM
Finally! Some love for the European region. We are the biggest console market and yet the one region which is always left in the dark. This makes up for all the ill-treatment...
Ryan @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:30PM
Nice. If this comes out in the U.S., it could be what pushes me to get a PS3. That and MGS4
James @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:31PM
"We're gutted that the US gets no love from Sony on this one"
Typical Americans. How selfish. Europe rocks!
Joshua @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:40PM
Wow yeah it's the Americans that are selfish. I NEVER hear one person from Europe complain about not getting features Americans do.
Well except for the Bioshock release, Xbox Marketplace content, or any comment section after any Major Nelson post on his blog.
James @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:46PM
It's true though - especially regarding North America, they gets loads of stuff before anyone.
Jared Kole @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:07PM
Dissapointment is so selfish.
John @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:20PM
Yeah, how dare we express disappointment that we do not get something along with the another part of the world.
Note: Selfish would imply that the sentiment was "why couldn't we get it instead of those filthy, piglike, jew-hating europeans". Instead, what was said implied that they, as Americans, wanted it too, and not at the exclusion of Europeans. But hey, what has America ever done for Europe anyway, except end two wars...
Indy @ Aug 29th 2007 4:40PM
It does make a nice change as it gets both boring and annoying hearing about loads of great things coming out over in US and then having to wait ages to get it over here.
Dave @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:32PM
True, americans always expect things there first and think that the world revolves around them.
"We're gutted that the US gets no love from Sony on this one", implies that somehow you have a right to this before anyone else, well, you don't and sony has proved it :)Anyways NTSC is crap and PAL is good, so I do feel sorry for americans...
Jose @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:03PM
"We're gutted that the US gets no love from Sony on this one", implies that somehow you have a right to this before anyone else, well, you don't and sony has proved it :)"
Really? It implies that somehow we have a right to this before anyone else??? I could have sworn it just implied that we wish we could get it too...you know what do they call that, ummm, disappointment, yeah, thats it.
shapey @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:22AM
now now ladies! why can't we all just get along? *hugs*
Nick @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:32PM
Okay #1 when its SONY.. Japan is always the first to get stuff.. not America.. sure US will get stuff with Japan typically.. and the only reason why the US misses out on this is cuz we have to be difficult all the damn time with our A/V specs.
#2 America gets Microsoft stuff and alot of other tech stuff first because it tends to be the National market for those companies... Normally you see how your product works out on a smaller market (nationally) before just going global with it.
#3 If European companies first release things in places other than Europe.. sorry.. but sucks for you.. not anyone elses fault but the European Companies.
Ignacio @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:35PM
"Sony reps also make the bold pronouncement that the PlayTV architecture will 'never be out of date' due to automatic network updates from the company."
But is it 3-laws safe?
k4j3 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:40PM
I dont think HD on DVB-T is due until 2009 or something daft in the UK its plain old SD until then....
Zinn @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:18PM
In Sweden their already broadcasting in HD.
Redmeister @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:41PM
No loss to me an I live in US, already have a HD DVR an no Sony products. Let the Euros have it... fine by me.
x20mar @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:42PM
And this is what happens when you set standards and not let the media companies dictate to you.
Dave @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:48PM
what are they chances that playTV gets rolled out to the US by the end of this year?
Larz @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:33PM
Zero percent.
Play TV is a tuner which picks up digital broadcast channels. That simply doesn't exist in the US. But the good(?) news is that our government recently put a plan in place to stop the current analog broadcast system, and therefore--hopefully--force stations to broadcast digitally... er, in 2009.
If a US version came out right now it would have to be a completely different device for cable/sat subscribers only.
AndrewNeo @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:45AM
@Larz: Woah, stop right there. ATSC is North America's digital terrestrial broadcast system. Most over-the-air television stations are broadcasting both your standard 'antenna' analog channels, as well as (HD-capable) digital ATSC. ATSC is basically the North American equivalent of DVB-T, while they're not the same it does exist. ATSC is what we'll be moving over to after the standard analog channels stop broadcasting in 2009.
DBX00 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:58PM
The US doesn't have a DVB-T system in place so you can't pull the TV guide to record over the air television shows. However, if this succeeds in Europe it would make sense that they create a TV tuner with cable card and air tuner (that you can manually set to record times or an internet guide). Either way, the infrastructure just isn't in place in the US, but Japan should see something b/c they have their own system in place.
G @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:03PM
ATSC has an over-the-air guide. Just depends upon how good the stations are about keeping it up to date.
SimbaDogg @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:29PM
its VERY possible, you're not familiar w/ the ATSC...
as the gentleman above me said, the ATSC does have guide info build it, its just up to the stations to keep it up to date. On top of that, the PS3 could always DOWNLOAD that info from the net
AdamY @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:07PM
Are there plans on this coming to the US?
Sony might just make me their bitch, like Apple this year (MacBook/iPhone) and Nintendo last year (Wii/DS Lite, oodles of games).
I might not even resell my PSP if so.
luuk @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:20PM
Ci for smartcards?!?!?!
dj-kenpo @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:23PM
meh, if there's one thing you can count on it's that Microsoft copies EVERYTHING. whether it makes sense or not, they HAVE to do it themselves. web maps, flash, what's there version of flash called? the zune, etc etc.
so! my point, if sony has it for ps3, ms will release something similar for xbox in the US+euroland.
Jared @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:48PM
It's called IPTV, they announced it last year. This time Sony is taking one from Microsoft.
dj-kenpo @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:57PM
iptv and cable tv are 2 different things. thanks.
mills.edward @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:26PM
About time we had something before you Yanks, even if it is a little dull.
Andrew B. @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:33PM
The US version will most likely have cable card.
ry38read @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:31PM
cablecard support is questionable given the fact that cablelabs has destroyed hopes for DIY media center vista boxes.
cablecard ready pc's can only be purchased by oem manufacturers. the products need certification from cablelabs. i would assume the ps3 would have to do the same if they wanted cablecards. these attachments wouldn't come cheap.
william @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:48PM
Ow pls god come to North America i will pick up a ps3
deedeedee @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:54PM
i always wanted to move to the Netherlands, now its about time!
James @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:54PM
"Why couldn't we get it instead of those filthy, piglike, jew-hating europeans" so were all Nazi's here in Europe are we? OK, if thats what you think - you obviously haven't ever been to Europe if your thinking that.
America has done f all for our country, in fact it's made us think of your and your ass hole president and society ten times worse. Yes maybe Tony Blair liked George Bush but our country doesn't like you. Why don't you just nuke yourself - the world would be a much cleaner, intelligent and better off place. What's the Europe generalisation of Americans; Fat, Dumbasses... could go on and on.
deedeedee @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:15PM
chill dude, i'm no american, but if you dont like the government, don't insult the people, they've done nothing wrong. cuz if you do you should be more angry at the germans and japanese for the world wars.
and a piece of advise, if you've travelled the world you'll notice that there're dumbasses assholes everywhere ok. and you seem to be one dumb angry asshole.
Raw32 @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:21PM
Reading comprehension! Next time you might want to read his whole statement so you would realize he was saying "It's not like we said".
You sir, are an idiot.
Kennyb123 @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:31PM
Reply to James:
Your "Take Offense" radar was way too sensitive on that one. I could be wrong, but I honestly don't think that John's comment was reflecting what he thought of Europeans - just what he thought a selfish American prick might be thinking. His point was that the original comment was one of disappointment, and not selfishness. You didn't have to rave on about Americans like that. This really isn't the place for that. I have no negative feelings towards any group of people. Where is the love? lol
James @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:03PM
Ok ok ok. I'm sorry for my negativity - it's just that we here are sick and tired of waiting for new tech. I took his comment from a different point of view so my wrong.
shaun @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:56PM
"Good time to be a european playstation 3 fan.."
wait a minute thats me!
dj-kenpo @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:01PM
wow, I love the petty bickering about us/euro lands. america drops bombs on hospitals and schools and europe brings us swedish rap. thanks both are equally as bad, ok? done.
now lets get back to enjoying the shiny blinky objects we came here for.
Secura @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:09PM
And why is everyone arguing over which is the better country? Who f-ing cares. We're all the same if you think about it, despite what country we come from. We all love technology and want everything first. That's it.
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:13PM
US get "small" stuff, like earlier release dates, cheaper prices and a lot of nice content.
Finally we got one big product..
Will there be a TV icon in the XMB!
Tonester @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:16PM
Everyone whining about this being pointless in the UK are completely missing the point.
Fact: Unless you watch a lot of sport (football) a basic Sky package gives little or nothing over Freeview.
Fact: HDTVs fed with SCART are far from at their best - there are precious few PVRs with HDMI, and no cheap ones.
The Remote Play finally becomes useful, and combining this with Haze and Home will mean my launch day purchased PS3 finally gets more usage than the Wii on which I'm writing this...
... can we have a cheap Bluetooth keyboard please? ;-)
fistpittingnork @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:42PM
Jeez, why all the political BS? Save it for elsewhere, and deedeede, thanks for trying to share some rational thinking.
America doesn't have DVB-T, but just be patient people, surely Sony will come up with an equivalent option for us. It's technology that's (for the most part) already available by other means, so the biggest thing the Europeans are gaining out of this is convenience. Let 'em have it, it's possible we'll all get a piece of the pie eventually, and if not, well then just play your games and appreciate what you do have.