PlayTV
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Manufacturer | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Type | Digital video recorder |
| Generation | 7th |
| Release date | EU September-December 2008 (UK: 19 September 2008)[1] AUS 26th November 2009 |
| Storage capacity | Hard disk (via PS3) |
| Controller input | PlayStation controller, BD Remote or PSP system using Remote Play |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, 75 ohm Coaxial |
PlayTV is a HDTV/DVR add on unit for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game console. It allows the PS3 to act as a HDTV or DTV receiver as well as a digital video recorder (DVR) for recording television programmes to the hard drive for later viewing. The application will only start up with the DVB-T adaptor connected.
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[edit] Features
LiveTV:[2] The Live TV feature allows access to free-to-air (unencrypted) channels in the widely available DVB-T network (in the UK this is known as Freeview). While using the Live TV option, live programming is cached as it is displayed, so that users can pause, rewind and fast forward through any recently-viewed material, as well as record and turn subtitles and audio description on/off. Screen size can also be changed. PlayTV allows users to watch one programme while recording another. Live TV also has a now and next bar enabling users to scroll through live TV and see what is on other channels and what is coming on next.
Guide (Electronic Program Guide):[2] The software features a 7-day electronic program guide.[3] PlayTV allows users to set recordings and change channel from the Guide; also selectable is a Favourites guide which is a list of a user's favourite programmes. The Guide shows a full description of all programmes. While setting recordings, users can set whether they would like to repeat the recordings daily or weekly for up to 26 times but lacks Series Link.
Library:[2] The PlayTV Library is where all the recorded content is stored. The content can be viewed in a list view or in a thumbnail view. Its also fully sortable by date, channel and name. The library is also where content can be exported to the PlayStation 3's main menu to be stored with the rest of the user's video files. While playing back the recorded content, users can pause, fast forward, rewind, skip to/from and turn subtitles and audio description on/off. Screen size can also be changed.
Schedule:[2] The schedule feature allows users to edit their future recordings. It is also fully searchable.
Find and Record:[2] The find and record feature allows users to search the next 7 days worth of TV programmes by searching with a key word in the title of the programmes and/or the description of the programme. Find and record also lets users set manual recordings using the channel, date and time that you wish to record.
Mobile TV with PSP: Wi-Fi connectivity with a PlayStation Portable allows for portable viewing of live or recorded television programming. By using the Remote Play feature of the PlayStation 3, owners can use a PlayStation Portable to access their PlayStation 3 console from anywhere in the world via the Internet. The Remote Play feature has the ability to 'wake up' the PlayStation 3 from stand-by mode, allowing the user the ability to watch live TV, set recordings and watch previously recorded content anywhere in the world direct from their PlayStation 3 to their PlayStation Portable via the internet. The new Sony Ericsson Aino has been confirmed to link up to a PlayStation 3 and will use Remote Play which allows users to watch PlayTV on their phone.
Manuals:[2] PlayTV displays an on-screen manual. This acts as a quick reference to the various functions of a controller, Blu-ray remote control and remote play using a PlayStation Portable.
Settings and other features:[2]
- Turn Subtitles on / off
- Turn Audio Description on / off
- Set whether you would like live TV to always be recorded or just when paused for trick mode.
- Screen Size settings
- Game play recordings on / off (See below)
- Parental Lock
- HDD Size: PlayTV can only record to the PlayStation 3's own internal hard drive. Recorded video can then be transferred to an external storage device.
- Codecs: PlayTV supports MPEG2 SD and HD. AVC/MPEG4 is now available with the latest PS3 firmware update. (UK manual only states MPEG2 in the supported codecs under technical specs)
- PlayTV can be controlled using a PlayStation controller or Blu-ray remote control.
- Twin HD (720p/1080i) tuners
- Antenna input only. No antenna output.
Sony previously stated that PlayTV would be able to record TV while playing PS3 and PS1 games, the code for the function has already been incorporated in the version 2.41 firmware update.[1][4] To use the product however a 5GB install is required from the disk provided with the PlayTV device.[5]
Sony has also stated recently that PlayTV is incompatible with the forthcoming UK Freeview HD, as it uses the DVB-T2 standard[6].
[edit] Release
The device was launched in the UK on September 19, 2008 with other regions in Europe to follow.[7]
It had been reported that Australia and New Zealand were to receive the PlayTV accessory 2 months after Europe. While a release date for Australia has been officially announced for 26 November 2009 now that the PlayTV software update for HD has been released, New Zealand has been postponed to early 2010. The update underwent testing in both countries due to the wide availability of HD channels and use of common broadcast codecs (MPEG 2/MPEG 4).[8]
Since North America uses NTSC/ATSC rather than DVB-T, PlayTV is not compatible with broadcast TV in that region. It is unknown if there are plans to release PlayTV or a similar device in North America. A similar accessory known as Trone will be made available in March 2010 available in Japan for use with their ISDB-T broadcast system.
On 12 September 2008, Sony released an interactive demo of PlayTV on the PlayStation store in Europe.[9]
First week shipments of PlayTV in the UK were reportedly 85,000 units, apparently with "specialist and national press giving thumbs up to the device."[10]
[edit] Software updates
Software updates are available via the About section in Settings using the "Game Update Check" Functionality (when using the original PlayTV software). In recent versions of PlayTV software, a Software Update function is available directly from the main PlayTV menu. A further update was announced on 2 April 2009 that will include new volume and search controls, upscaling of standard definition (SD) content and faster access to TV shows from the XMB menu system.
In February 2009 another update was released, this provides better standard definition upscaling. [11].
[edit] Linux and Windows
The device can be used in Linux since 2.6.30. It also can be used in Windows patching the USB IDs in the driver of a card with the same dibcom hardware (like Pinnacle PCTV Dual DVB-T Diversity Stick). It can be used in both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows. There are believed to be two hardware variants of the device, using the ULI chipset.
In Linux or Windows, PlayTV can handle AVC/MPEG4 HD broadcasts which are used in continental Europe. The UK will be adopting DVB-T2 for terrestrial high-definition TV broadcasts, so the PlayTV will not give PS3 owners access to those TV channels.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Sony clarifies PlayTV date, price". Eurogamer. 2008-08-12. http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=212119. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g "PlayTV Preview". Eurogamer. 4 March 2008. http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=93867. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
- ^ Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (August 22, 2007). "PlayTV unlocks free Digital TV on PLAYSTATION 3". Press release. http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4413&NewsAreaID=2.
- ^ Steve O'Hear (14 February 2008). "Video: Sony’s PS3 DVR, PlayTV". last100.com. http://www.last100.com/2008/02/14/video-sonys-ps3-dvr-playtv/. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ^ Installation Disk provided with the PlayTV device
- ^ James Thorpe (30 October 2009). "EU Playstation Blog, PlayTV Update: Comment 2". EU Playstation Blog. http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/09/29/playtv-update-2/comment-page-1/#comment-27385. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
- ^ Jem Alexander (12 August 2008). "PlayTV coming September 19th, reasonably priced". ps3fanboy.com. http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/08/12/playtv-coming-september-29th-reasonably-priced/. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ "Global HD PlayTV test in Australia". http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25672790-5013040,00.html.
- ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=235443
- ^ http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/playtv-ships-85-000-units-in-uk
- ^ http://threespeech.com/blog/2009/04/playtv-gets-software-update/
[edit] External links
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