Official PS3 PlayTV Thread

SSJX · 5th February 2008, 12:02 PM

Following from TOX's post here: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...01&postcount=4

I have decided to launch the Official PS3 PlayTV Thread.
All PlayTV discussion can happen here, so as to not clutter up the technical discussion forum.
If moderators believe this is more suitable for the 'Audio Visual' Forum, please feel free to link/move.

What is it?

PlayTV is a twin DVB-T (full HD) tuner with Digital Video Recorder ability.
It allows for simultaneous recording of live TV onto the PS3's hard drive (upgradeable) while watching another channel.

It outputs via the PS3, hence it will utilise the PS3's HDMI connection as well as potentially allowing for the Cell Processor to upscale any channel into full HD (1080p) resolution.

The software also features a 7-day Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for on-screen viewing and utilising DVR features.

Additionally, the Wi-Fi and Broadband connections of the PS3 allow Remote Play on the PSP, also allows a user to view both live TV or his/her recorded programs while on the go. This is in addition to playing Playstation games on-the-go via the PSP.

The unit can be controlled by either the standard PS3 controller (SixAxis or DualShock3) and/or Sony's Official PS3 BD remote.

Where can I get it?

It is not currently out for the Australian market, however the release date for the UK is 28 March 2008. Due to the Australian PS3 being of the same build as the European PS3, there should not be many (or any) incompatibilities.

There is no North American or Asian (NTSC) version yet.

How much is it?

Its release price is £99.99 (~$220 AUD as of 5/2/2008)

Official site (retail):
http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStatio...V/Product.html

Video explaining its use:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/clips/play-...ned-292541.php

Sources:
Engadget "Sony's PlayTV turns your PS3 into a TV tuner / DVR, plus VoIP on PSP, DualShock 3 rumors" 22/8/2007

Engadget "More details on Sony's new PlayTV" 22/8/2007

Joystiq "LGC07: SCEE announces PlayTV for PS3, "watch, record and replay TV shows"" 22/8/2007

EuroGamer "GC: PlayTV unveiled for PS3" 22/8/2007

PALGN "LGC 07: PlayTV unveiled for the PlayStation 3" 23/8/2007

Register Hardware "Sony unveils PlayTV telly tuner for PS3" 23/8/2007

Sony PS3 Modding News "PlayTV Release Date and Price Announced" 12/1/2008

PS3 Fanboy "PlayTV DVR gets priced, dated" 13/1/2008

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 5th February 2008, 12:04 PM

Sweet

can't wait for it.

TOX · 5th February 2008, 12:06 PM

This thing is going to be cool as for a few reasons

1) It should upscale TV to 1080P
2) Cheap when compared to buying stand alone
3) It uses HDMI thanks to the PS3
4) It saves having to take up another input on my amp meaning I can get rid of my STB

I'm hoping we can just get the one from the UK, plug it in and it just works straight away.

It will be interesting, it looks good though!

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 5th February 2008, 12:08 PM

I'm concerned with the quality of the feed over USB, mainly with the quality as well as how smooth the video feed is going to be.

TOX · 5th February 2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL_MoNkEY

I'm concerned with the quality of the feed over wireless, mainly with the quality as well as how smooth the video feed is going to be.

Who's really going to use it over the wireless thought, that remote Play feature is such BS.

All I care about is the quality that it spits out to my TV

Ignignort · 5th February 2008, 12:11 PM

Was going to get one, but new Teles have HD tuner built in, so not really much point for me. Unless taping Top gear

SSJX · 5th February 2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignignort

Was going to get one, but new Teles have HD tuner built in, so not really much point for me. Unless taping Top gear

well yeah, it's also meant to double up as a PVR

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 5th February 2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignignort

Was going to get one, but new Teles have HD tuner built in, so not really much point for me. Unless taping Top gear

It about having dual HD tuners as well as a very sexy EPG guide and using the PS3 as a PVR.

Would be great if they could just use the gigabit ethernet connection rather than usb to connect the PlayTV box to the ps3. Time to get a nice usb hub i guess

as well as getting a huge hard drive because 1080i content is going to take up a hell of a lot of space..250gb here i come.

TOX · 5th February 2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignignort

Was going to get one, but new Teles have HD tuner built in, so not really much point for me. Unless taping Top gear

Like it's been said

You get two tuners not one, so you can watch TV on one channel and record another

You also get the PVR functanality of it

Even for people with a HD Tuner built into there teli it's still an excellent addition to there HT setup

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 5th February 2008, 12:27 PM

Interesting to see how simple this "little black box" is, i guess it may just get power from USB port which would save a powerbrick.

Here is a huge version of the promo image with the ps3,hdtv,psp & playtv box.
http://www.threespeech.com/blog/wp-c...vironment1.jpg

stuffisgood · 5th February 2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOX

I'm hoping we can just get the one from the UK, plug it in and it just works straight away.

Do they run on the same DVB-T standard as we do? If so it should just be plug and play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL_MoNkEY

Interesting to see how simple this "little black box" is, i guess it may just get power from USB port which would save a powerbrick.

It'd make sense, I've got DVB-T tuners for PC that are in a USB key format and require no additional power.

Wink · 5th February 2008, 12:33 PM

I will definitely get one seeing my LCD TV has no HD tuner in-built.

UncleRes · 5th February 2008, 12:49 PM

Aesthetically craptastical. But its got a good deal of functionality for the price. If my PS3 ever gets moved to a PC Monitor I might have to pick one up.

CordlezToaster · 5th February 2008, 12:53 PM

Reserved for ads.

What a cool product

Andres · 5th February 2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleRes

Aesthetically craptastical.

The hardware or the interface?

The hardware is tiny, and would be hidden from view.
The software looks nice in my opinion.

What will be interesting is if it can :

a) use the BD remote NICELY
b) how it encodes the recorded stuff (maybe uses divX support?)
c) if said encoded stuff can be 'exported' to a PC (to burn, archive etc)
d) if the EPG is half decent in Australia and recording interfaces with it simply.
e) can interface straight from the XMB as an additional icon in the main horizontally scrolling menu (I don't want to have to 'load' TV)

5th February 2008, 12:02 PM	#1
SSJX Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,882	Official PS3 PlayTV Thread Following from TOX's post here: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...01&postcount=4 I have decided to launch the Official PS3 PlayTV Thread. All PlayTV discussion can happen here, so as to not clutter up the technical discussion forum. If moderators believe this is more suitable for the 'Audio Visual' Forum, please feel free to link/move. What is it? PlayTV is a twin DVB-T (full HD) tuner with Digital Video Recorder ability. It allows for simultaneous recording of live TV onto the PS3's hard drive (upgradeable) while watching another channel. It outputs via the PS3, hence it will utilise the PS3's HDMI connection as well as potentially allowing for the Cell Processor to upscale any channel into full HD (1080p) resolution. The software also features a 7-day Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for on-screen viewing and utilising DVR features. Additionally, the Wi-Fi and Broadband connections of the PS3 allow Remote Play on the PSP, also allows a user to view both live TV or his/her recorded programs while on the go. This is in addition to playing Playstation games on-the-go via the PSP. The unit can be controlled by either the standard PS3 controller (SixAxis or DualShock3) and/or Sony's Official PS3 BD remote. Where can I get it? It is not currently out for the Australian market, however the release date for the UK is 28 March 2008. Due to the Australian PS3 being of the same build as the European PS3, there should not be many (or any) incompatibilities. There is no North American or Asian (NTSC) version yet. How much is it? Its release price is £99.99 (~$220 AUD as of 5/2/2008) Official site (retail): http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStatio...V/Product.html Video explaining its use: http://kotaku.com/gaming/clips/play-...ned-292541.php Sources: Engadget "Sony's PlayTV turns your PS3 into a TV tuner / DVR, plus VoIP on PSP, DualShock 3 rumors" 22/8/2007 Engadget "More details on Sony's new PlayTV" 22/8/2007 Joystiq "LGC07: SCEE announces PlayTV for PS3, "watch, record and replay TV shows"" 22/8/2007 EuroGamer "GC: PlayTV unveiled for PS3" 22/8/2007 PALGN "LGC 07: PlayTV unveiled for the PlayStation 3" 23/8/2007 Register Hardware "Sony unveils PlayTV telly tuner for PS3" 23/8/2007 Sony PS3 Modding News "PlayTV Release Date and Price Announced" 12/1/2008 PS3 Fanboy "PlayTV DVR gets priced, dated" 13/1/2008 __________________ Good Trader list: click here 183 unique users and counting Add your PSN ID to OCAU's Wiki Sony Vaio Club Member #2 Last edited by SSJX; 5th February 2008 at 12:04 PM.

5th February 2008, 12:08 PM	#4
DiGiTaL MoNkEY Bokehlicious Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 26,693	I'm concerned with the quality of the feed over USB, mainly with the quality as well as how smooth the video feed is going to be. Last edited by DiGiTaL MoNkEY; 5th February 2008 at 12:13 PM.

5th February 2008, 12:11 PM	#6
Ignignort Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hobart,Tasmania Posts: 1,748	Was going to get one, but new Teles have HD tuner built in, so not really much point for me. Unless taping Top gear __________________ PSN: Ignignortx XBL: Ignig

5th February 2008, 12:33 PM	#12
Wink Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hills District NSW Posts: 11,157	I will definitely get one seeing my LCD TV has no HD tuner in-built. __________________ Alienware X51 (i7) \| Sony KDL-32CX520 \| MS Arc Keyboard \| Razer Mamba 4G \| Logitech G25 \| Logitech Z623 \| Sony PS3 Slim \| Apple iPod 5G 30GB \| Apple iPhone 5 \| Apple iPad 2 \| Canon Powershot S90 \| 2010 Lexus IS-F \|

5th February 2008, 12:53 PM	#14
CordlezToaster Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Your Mums Bed Posts: 3,850	Reserved for ads. What a cool product __________________ Playing online games?, Want some Company? Come Join us Join us as a member (Social or Competitive) @ www.deathinc.com.au

5th February 2008, 12:04 PM	#2
DiGiTaL MoNkEY Bokehlicious Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 26,693	Sweet can't wait for it.

5th February 2008, 12:06 PM	#3
TOX Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Xindian City, Taipei Posts: 14,265	This thing is going to be cool as for a few reasons 1) It should upscale TV to 1080P 2) Cheap when compared to buying stand alone 3) It uses HDMI thanks to the PS3 4) It saves having to take up another input on my amp meaning I can get rid of my STB I'm hoping we can just get the one from the UK, plug it in and it just works straight away. It will be interesting, it looks good though!

5th February 2008, 12:27 PM	#10
DiGiTaL MoNkEY Bokehlicious Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 26,693	Interesting to see how simple this "little black box" is, i guess it may just get power from USB port which would save a powerbrick. Here is a huge version of the promo image with the ps3,hdtv,psp & playtv box. http://www.threespeech.com/blog/wp-c...vironment1.jpg

5th February 2008, 12:49 PM	#13
UncleRes Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Adel Posts: 3,735	Aesthetically craptastical. But its got a good deal of functionality for the price. If my PS3 ever gets moved to a PC Monitor I might have to pick one up.