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 Sony reps also make the bold pronouncement that the PlayTV architecture will "never be out of date" due to automatic network updates from the company.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.
posted August 22nd 2007 2:21PM
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!
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.
but there are no fricken USB ports in the BACK. this crappy thing is going to be messing up the look of my console if I have it plugged in. and generally to get any use out of it, you would want to have it plugged in 24/7. no usb ports in the back means that i will probably get tired of looking at it/it getting in the way and ill unplug it.
Nice call on removing those USB ports from the back sony.
I am sick and tired of all this anti American anti British/European shit every time one of our countries gets something that the other doesn't. From talking about Play TV to the War, Jesus. Don't you lot realize that the leaders actions of our respective countries are making us think like this against each other, All this arguing?, It's bollocks really, because at the end of the day the people running our countries are still there laughing at us getting up to their own agendas, And if there no longer in charge someone else with their mindset will just step into their place and nothing will change. End IT
As for Play TV if your country is not getting it, make your views known to SONY and tell them to get their arse in gear and bring it to your country.
uhh.... will this work with comcast?
Does anyone know if these will work with the BBC's trial over-the-air HD broadcasts in the UK if you are in an area where they're broadcasting? If so, this would sweeten the deal a whole lot more for me...
For the Xbox 360 crowd, don't worry. Microsoft will have an Xbox blah-blah edition or a cheap add-on ready to match this very same spec before Sony release anything on this side of Atlantic/Pacific. It's not called Micirosoft for nothing. They can't innovate, but they surely know how/when/what to copy.
Its great that the convergence of media is getting easier. This was probably Sony's plan all along. The only thing that bugs me is that it does not invite 3rd party developers to modify these things :(.
By the way, the Xbox 360 has been doing this tied with a media center PC since it came out. Unless I can hook up a 500GB hard disk to a PS3 like I have in my Vista Media center PC, I don't see the point. A 80GB drive will record just a few hours of HDTV.
You can swap the hard drive in the PS3 to any size lattop Hard drive you like.... at the moment they top out at 500gb but you can get an adapter and put in a standard drive thats bigger, also you can just attach an external drive through usb.... point of this is that you don't need a computer.. it all from the comfort of your couch.
Sony will be killed by Sony. Their execution is a mess. Marketing is a joke. Cost structure is ridiculous. Add a touch of branding/engineering god-complex, and Japanese-flavor bureaucracy, you have a company can't stop throwing its futures into financial abyss.
Look at the exhibit above as an example, what the hell is this announcement. A decent product, yes, but why announce it to be buried before launch. Words of wise to Sir Howard, armor up, load "enough" ammo (inventories), shoot, THEN leak/talk.
Well, I supposed DVB-T is a start, but, I'd rather see a dual tuner DVB-S or DVB-S2 option available...
Well I, an admitted X360 fanboy, can man up and say "congrats" to the Sony folks -- you've one-upped us this time...
Nick,
This is not meant to be mean spirited...but if Japan had got this one first, then the US should have as well since Japan uses the NTSC specs, not PAL.
So, if indeed that Europe got this first (before Japan and the U.S.), then I can see it.
Maybe Sony is holding out on the U.S. because sales have been slow? But that wouldn't make sense because I would think that this would encourage a lot more people to buy one. Since I don't have a PS3 (I have a Nintendo Wii), I would be inclined to get one with DVR capabilities.
Yay! DVB-T is used in Australia too! Finally a decent reason to get the PS3 regardless of games :)
I for one admit to be a bit envious about the US getting everything first. Not that I don't wish them to have it, but a simultaneous console release would be nice for a change.
Why do we only get the PS3 6 months later that the rest of the world?
And why is our version stripped of hardware PS2 compatibility (for those of you than don't know in europe it's done in software and not that compatible, but improving)?
Could it be to lower production prices? But then why do our prices have a parity to the US dolLar? 600 euros for a PS3 translates as roughly 850 USD, a 37% premium even though europe's salaries are lower on average (not to mention games).
Don't interpret our discontent as trying to take something from you, rather than a simple expression of discontent over the treatment 90% of manufacturers give us.
Make us wait, then make us pay more to find out we have a stripped product, how's that for level terms?
Don't worry too much about the playtv, you'll have it in 6 months at half price anyway.
The objective fact (truth) is that until the technical details are known it is useless discussing the PlayTV TV tuner / DVR.
The product should have at least the following:-
1) HDMI 1.3 properly implemented.
2) Able to maximize 48Bit TVs
3) A Super Multi recorder player that is better than Samsung's dual player with HDMI 1.3 in/outputs.
A) Play all formats including Blu-Ray and HD DVD
4) Resolution (native): - 4k x 2k progressive.
5) 24 frames per second, and at least 75/fps
6) Response rates of much less than 8ms
7) Motion Flow
8) An excellent video and HD sound upscaler
Perfect HD and non-HD broadcastings and films
9) Two excellent 1080p HD Freeview (digital) tuners
A: Excellent HD programmes and HD channels
B: No subscriptions required, no need for expensive Sky and Virgin in the UK.
Too many people have forgotten that the Blu-ray group donot believe in people networking HD info for own personal use. It Probably explains why there are no HDMI in-ports/sockets on DVR/PVR players or DVD recorders.
The objective fact is that the Play Station 3 is already obsolete, because for example it doesn't have a blu-ray and HD DVD recorder/writer. The hard disk space should be one terabyte - defintely 80GB is a joke!