Is Sony developing PlayTV2? And will we get to play in the states?
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted June 1st 2010 4:49PM
posted June 1st 2010 4:49PM
Sure, it's only one word in a long and involved interview, but according to Sony Cambridge Studio's Mark Green (who's been talking shop with Spong) it seems that a little something called PlayTV2 is in the works. "We're still working on PlayTV, PlayTV 2," he says, while the shop has "other guys working on other concepts." And while that's all well and good, but is there any chance that the digital tuner / DVR for PS3 might make it to the states some time soon? To be honest, we're beginning to lose interest.
speak for yourselves, i'm still very interested
here here! I too am very interested.
Me thinks Engadget is "beginning to lose interest" because this is a Sony project and not Apple
@OriginalJosh Either PlayTV in the US, or a Browser that is worth a damn... I would love to get Hulu, CBS, EPSN3, etc on my PS3. Wouldn't need live TV then.
@PolarBearTC I couldn't agree more.
@OriginalJosh Sshhhh, they're using reverse psychology.
@OriginalJosh
does not matter to me unless we of norh america may use it and the canadians should be included too considering they don't get a vid store
@manofchao5 Couldent agree more. We Canadians end up paying more for a product that doesn't do half of what the amaricans get it to do.
@PolarBearTC
Good luck on that wish for the PS3 browser to get Hulu, etc. Most of the TV networks have forbidden services like Hulu to run on TVs. They are afraid of exactly what you are saying (not paying for cable or satellite any more).
Not gonna happen any time soon. Networks are too greedy and will continue to fight against the future, just like the music companies did.
@greenmonkey Hulu? Not going to happen. Sony IS a media company. Media companies don't want Hulu on your TV set. Sony is going to play ball, not fight them. You'll have to use XBMC or Boxee. Sorry. Needs to be a hacker mentality, not a corporate product for now. Eventually they'll realize they lost the battle and it'll show up everywhere but that'll be a while.
As far as a DVR for North America, it ain't gonna happen. They could do live channels of course, but most American's don't get their TV that way. Satellite doesn't provide a way to hook up. AT&T U-Verse is the same. They could do cable for Time Warner/Comcast/Verizon using Cable Cards, but you don't get VOD, it doesn't work with Switch Digital Video Channels (forget Time Warner after all), and the cablecos make sure the installation sucks. The solution to that is tru2way but that's going nowhere fast. Probably dead as I write this. Likely the FCC is going to throw the whole thing in the fire and start again so almost no point doing something using cable cards now. And you end up competing against the "free" cable company DVR, and like Tivo finds out every day, you lose. Not going to happen.
it sucks that it will probably see the light of day in the states. does anyone know why it was released here in the first place?
@iName Sorry, I don't understand what you are saying here. Does it suck that it will probably NOT see the light of day in the US you mean? Are you referring to Japan or Europe or somewhere else where you say "why it was released here in the first place"? In the US it was not released for sure.
Personally, it sounds interesting. They should really add in Support for HDHomerun network tuners if they bring it out here in the US.
Could it be GoogleTV based? Now that would be interesting.
@kidphat
Android on PS3 in future update? Nothings impossible!
I don't really see the point...
"Oh, it does the same thing as my TV providers free DVR, but on a smaller HDD and on a game console, where I spend absolutely ALL my free time watching TV on. Which makes complete sense. Mmmm crumpets and tea."
The above paragraph should be made out in a shaky old lady's voice, a clueless shaky old lady's voice.
@APV Think about it - do you think all providers provide a free DVR? There is usually a fee for that, at least at Comcast....
@tosvus Will this be free is it come's to the US anyway?
Probably not.
And $5 a month isn't horrible if you get to do whatever you want, wherever you want, and still get to watch your favorite shows whenever you want.
Exactly.
@APV I pay a "DVR fee" of $8 + $8 for the actual box (which includes a dvr.......but they are pretty smart about this...), so I actually pay $16/month, though of course, depending on the price it could still take some time to recoup.
@tosvus
Well then it sucks to live where you live because every provider in my area either has free DVR or a $5 a month rental fee, and free DVR service.
Dang.
@APV I could switch to satellite, but by having cable I at least get a somewhat lower price on good broadband internet, so I'm kinda stuck with Comcast.. (Their boxes/service is ok in their defence though)
@tosvus
Cable is the enemy in my area, they are the only provider for internet in my area so the prices are ridiculous. For TV though Satellite is the best. And the TV quality actually is better, since with cable everyone feeds off the next house, satellite you have your own connection.
Plus it's half the price as cable TV in my area...
@tosvus I have Comcast and it comes with 1 free DVR and $10 for additional. You used to have to pay for the first, but if you change over to an xfinity plan it will be free. I dropped $60 off my bill by changing over to an identical plan, just with a new XF name. Call them up and see, or do an online chat if you don't like talking to customer service reps.
Either way, I don't think this has a monthly fee, just a 1 time fee for the box. Though I do know that some companies charge for access to the tv guide (like $20 a year), so I don't know if you have to pay that or not.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
DANG!
Sooner or later they'll find a way to charge for how many times you press the guide button...
It's getting ridiculous here how much things they are charging for now.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget That's interesting - Thanks for the tip. I actually go into their comcast center which is about 20 minutes from my house, and they have said what I have currently is the best they can do for me. I can try calling instead.
@tosvus oh yeah thats how they get you.
1) DVR Box - $12
2) DVR Service - $11.95
3) Digital Cable Service -$7
Bullshit.
@tosvus oh yeah and I wanted to add that TWC keep advertising that their HD is FREE!!!!!! When I call CS and complain they also say TWC HD is FREE!!!
are these douches insane?
DVR Servce, DVR Eqt, Digital Cable Fee and it's all FREE!
It's more likely coming out because DVB-T2 is coming out in the UK this year to replace DVB-T1. This is going to be the free HD standard for TV here in the UK. The hardware is not compatible between the two formats so they need a new box basically. I thought PlayTV was not out state side because the US didn't have a widely used free digital service? We get around 40 free digital channels in the UK.
@rfielder We may get less than that, but all major networks and other obscure channels definitely are out over ATSC here in the US. Cable companies are mandated to provide open QAM format channels for the same channels as well, and I would venture I have about 25-30 channels or so (including spanish language channels etc). All digital, but not all in HD.
@rfielder It's important to note DVB-T2 doesn't replace DVB-T1 and won't do in the foreseeable feature.
DVB-T2 adds support things like 256QAM for delivery of MPEG4 HD content in a standard DVB multiplex, but anything carrying the freeview HD logo must support both DVB-T and DVB-T2.
Either way, i think you're right :) PlayTV2 is more than likely to be a DVB-T2 compatible box. And i welcome it - Maybe a Freeview HD receiver might finally do 5.1 surround properly.
@tosvus
It might just be a licensing headache to work with all the different US networks companies then. All free national transmission are ran by a single service called Freeview in the UK. All paid for TV has to use different systems like satellite or cable. Simpler I guess.
PlayTV is great if you do get it by the way!
@rfielder could be, I would love to see PlayTv in action.
honestly i bought a ps3 a few months ago and used it as a media center for my tv. things were great for a long time, blu ray, media streaming, games etc. all my friends would be on everyday too. but as of late its just become my blu ray player and little else. also pretty much none of my friends ever get on their ps3 anymore. dwindling interest in the ps3 seems to in the air for my group of friends. perhaps a lack of truely striking titles or features are whats missing?
disclaimer: none of my friends and me use an xbox/wii
@zcubed Why would your interest in using the PS3 as a mediacenter dwindle due to lack of good titles?
Disclaimer; I own both PS3, Wii, and xbox360. For family fun we use the Wii, I play some stuff on the PS3, and the least on 360 (mainly due to their ridiculous policy on 3rd party controllers, so the selection/pricing of some of that has been limited - arcadesticks being one example).
@tosvus
I used it to play games as well such as call of duty MW2 with friends. my lack of interest in it goes beyond just using it as a media center. i have seen a general lack of interest in my circle of friends, who may or may not use it as a media center. i think talk of playtv2 wouldn't help the situation. sorry just ranting a little about something i noticed a few days ago.
@zcubed Hey, I agree, the mediacenter functionality is pretty lacking, especially compared to the Extender functionality in the xbox360 - if they could at least make it work like the WD Live unit, that would be something (not having to have a pc on, acting as a server). There is no denying it is one heck of a blu-ray player though :)
PlayTV2 firmware updates:
Version 1.0.1 - Fixes minor bugs
Version 1.0.2 - Improves playback performance
Version 2.0 - Takes away all recording/playback ability, leaving buyers with a useless piece of nothing.
oh g-d please bring this to the US. I have been waiting for years for this to be implemented.
I ONLY have cable for the Internet. I get my HD over-the-air. I want this (as long as I can record OTA).
@brexb you won't. I'm sure all the networks have put stops in place for HD content on playtv recording wise. If i remember you can only record SD content and save that to a USB or external drive but HD can only be recorded but not removed from the HD as the playstation puts DRM on it :-/
Pity sony are missing the boat *AGAIN* with playtv2.
If it was out now it would fly off the shelfs like sh*t off as shovel. They are going to be pushing the world cup in HD over here big time on freeview HD. Yet again sony is late to the party.
God, the XMB is such a horrible UI...
@Grubasaurus Rex
XMB horrible? You clearly haven't used the PlayTV user interface then. XMB is peaches and cream by comparison. PlayTV's UI is dreadful. Oh it looks quite nice, but it appears to have been designed by people entirely unfamiliar with both the XMB and with DVR's in general.
Now Torne, that would be exciting.
I'll avoid the PS3's terrible Bluetooth remote problem. I'll keep my 360's with a Media Center server.