Sony showing PS3 PlayTV promo video

Sony is running a new video trumpeting its forthcoming PlayTV service. No new details, but it is showing off some (hopefully) real functionality. Hook your DVB-T antenna to the PlayTV box and make a USB connection to the PS3 to unlock basic dual-tuner DVR functionality. From the video, the UI for the EPG and time-shifting look nice enough, and we like the video thumbnails used for viewing the library of recorded shows. Interestingly, no mention of copying content to a PSP is made, but the video does tout the "Remote Play" feature that place shifts live and recorded content on the PS3 to your WiFi-connected PSP. Two questions, Sony: when is this coming stateside (ATSC, please), and how much coinage?

[Via TGDaily]

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 9:25AM]

any hope of it including ATSC and QAM?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 9:55AM]

Further proving the PS3 is more of a Media PC than "just a game console"

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 10:09AM]

just upgrade my hard drive and i'm set!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 9:10PM]

Sony first try to convince us to go blu, now this.

I didn't know Pinky & the Brain were at Sony.

-gmd

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 10:25AM]

hey the link sends you to this page with music in the background... saying "hacked by turkish" something or other.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 11:36AM]

Not a PS3 owner yet, but make this box a Loss-Leader by putting it in the 40-70 dollar range (they already lose money on the console itself, what's a few million more?) and it could be a reason to own one on top of being a Blu Ray player and the handful of exclusive games (Uncharted mostly) I want to play.

Oh, and that 60 player online mode for Resistance 2, sounds fun ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 11:42AM]

I bought a 40gb PS3 last week and quickly realized it was more than a blu-ray player, more than a game console, this thing has vast unlocked potential. It truly is a HD Media PC for $399. The "Install Other OS" option is very intriguing...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 11:55AM]

@Jim: What's crazy is that they took so many initially planned features, like X-10 compatibility among others, out to make their launch date. If the system had come out for X-mas 2007 instead of 2006, think how packed with future-tech it might have been.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 12:13PM]

"Yeah but it's geared for the kiddie console crowd and blu-freaks who don't know any better and buy anything that Sony sells them"
- Truth Teller, from his cell in the Asylum for HD-DVD adopters care center.

[DrXym Posted Jan 22nd 2008 12:18PM]

This device could be a killer feature for the PS3. A decent freeview twin tuner PVR will set you back �150. If they flogged this for �70 or so it would be another very strong reason to buy a PS3. It's becoming a box that does everything and none of them badly either. I assume the box is pretty dumb and lets the software figure out if its dealing with an MPEG2 or AVC stream. I don't know if there are any HD channels yet on DVB-T but there will be space for them when analogue is switched off.

One thing that would make me hesitate is knowing whether the PS3 can wake up from a timer. There is no way that I'd leave a PS3 on just to record a show. Either the PS3 will have to be able to wake up from a timer, or the box will have to contain the timer and wake the PS3 up through USB when a show needs to be recorded.

[A1 Posted Jan 22nd 2008 12:35PM]

It was up on Play.com (briefly) priced at �99 with a march release. (go check ps3fanboy.com)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 12:36PM]

*quote*
DEEZNUTZ
@ Jan 22nd 2008 12:13PM
"Yeah but it's geared for the kiddie console crowd and blu-freaks who don't know any better and buy anything that Sony sells them"
- Truth Teller, from his cell in the Asylum for HD-DVD adopters care center.
===================================================================================

Wow, that's some hard-on you're nursing there.

I'm flattered & all but thanks but no thanks.

LMAO

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 1:08PM]

Well, he's (DEEZNUTZ) just calling it is...you persistently dismiss the PS3 as a "nothing but a game console" clearly without even seeing one used or using it yourself. The PS3 is a platform not a fixed appliance. As an HD Media PC, it can be loaded with new software and even an alternate OS. Right now it is virtually unlimited in its potential. You would be wise to not simply dismiss it....but I do think sony ought to think about refactoring the case to look more like a stand alone player and rebrand it as a Media PC that features blu-ray and PS3 gameplay (and coming soon DVR).

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 1:09PM]

Just get a Location Free Player which does the same thing that Play TV does.
Only difference is that the LFP does not record tv in the PS3 (then again who wants to use up all their PS3 memory on TV shows?)but you can watch any show on your cable susbcritpion, recorded movies and shows on your DVR, and any movices in your DVD player.
Not only can you watch the shows and movies on your PSP but on your PC as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 3:25PM]

unlike some other consoles, you can put in any 5400 rpm or higher SATA laptop hard drive for increased space. without voiding the warrenty or further reducing console reliablity.

a fast 120gb 7200rpm for the price of an xbox 20gig ($80-100) you say? or maybe a 250gig monster for the price of an xbox 120gig (~$179) is more your fancy. you can even use external drives, or use your old ps3 drive as an external for even more space, the choice is yours.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2008 4:07PM]

JimC, you go ahead & enjoy your little kiddies game console.

Just don't try pushing it on the rest of us.

(.......and the day I start making small & pathetic little comments like that about other posters who haven't even posted in the thread is the day you're entitled to wade in & back up your pal or other account name or whatever the hell is going on between the 2 of you.)