Off Topic: Turn Your PS3 Into a High-Definition TiVo
Yep, pretty cool... tune in ATSC digital television and record it, right on your PS3... Well, only if you're in Europe. Does Sony hate Americans? (will we ever get the PSP Camera or GPS here stateside? Maybe the white PSP? C'mon Sony...)
Here's the press release:
PLAYTV UNLOCKS FREE DIGITAL TV ON PLAYSTATION 3
Watch, record and replay TV shows on demand
Turn PS3 into a digital personal video recorder and record programmes to watch
anytime, anywhere
Leipzig, 22 August 2007. At Games Convention today, Sony Computer
Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced the introduction of PlayTV, a combined TV
tuner and Personal Video Recorder (PVR) for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™). PlayTV will
be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008, with other
PAL territories to follow in due course.
Designed to reinforce PS3’s rightful place in the Living Room at the heart of
the home entertainment needs, the twin channel TV tuner peripheral and PVR
software turns PS3 into a state of the art TV recorder, allowing users to
watch, pause and record live TV. PlayTV will also record individual programmes
or whole series1 to the PS3 hard drive for viewing later on the family TV, or
for transferring to the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) for remote viewing outside
of the home.
Operating on the widely available Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial
(DVB-T) format, PlayTV uses an incredibly quick and easy to use 7-day
Electronic Programme Guide EPG2. that provides the navigation for programming
the PVR features of PlayTV.
In line with PlayStation’s focus on advanced technology made easy, PlayTV provides
a host of added value features seldom seen on anything but the highest cost
standalone PVRs:
· PlayTV’s two TV tuners are High Definition ready and are able to view, record
and play back High Definition signals in full HD1080P to fully complement PS3’s
already impressive High Definition credentials.
· Unlike the electronic programme guides found on conventional satellite and
cable services, PlayTV’s EPG is lightning fast, and simple to use with
either PS3’s SIXAXIS™ wireless controller or the BD remote control to really
enhance viewing pleasure.
· Intuitive controls, single button help features, tutorial videos and simple
navigation make PlayTV a positive joy to use compared with the complexity of
some standalone PVR models
· Seamless connectivity with PSP allows you to set recordings, watch Live TV
and recorded TV programmes remotely on PSP via a Wi-Fi connection (using Remote
Play feature). Alternatively, quickly transcode recorded TV shows for high
quality viewing to PSP by USB cable for remote viewing away from the home.
· Optional on-screen graphical display provides a wealth of information about
the status of PlayTV and provides quick access to programme information, stored
TV programmes and the controls to pause or record live TV. PlayTV will also set
the correct interface for either Standard Definition or High Definition
displays, maximising the viewing experience.
· PlayTV will evolve with time, with great added value functionality being
updated via PLAYSTATION®Network; a feature that sets it above all other set top
boxes. PlayTV will never be out of date.
“The introduction of PlayTV really will extend the already broad entertainment
credentials of PS3, and makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition for
the whole family,” said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment
Europe. “PS3 already provides High Definition gaming, Blu-ray Disc movies,
music, video, photo album, web browsing and PLAYSTATION Network support. With
the introduction of PlayTV’s state of the art TV tuner and PVR functionality,
PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family.