Sony's PlayTV for PS3 gets shown off, still only for Europe
By Donald Melanson 
posted Feb 14th 2008 2:02PM
posted Feb 14th 2008 2:02PM
Sony's been relatively mum on its Slingbox-like PlayTV add-on for the PlayStation 3 since it announced it last fall, but it's now finally starting to show it off for all to see and, thanks to the BBC's dot.life blog, we now have a pretty good idea of what European PS3 users can expect. As you can see in the video after the break, the PlayTV software appears to be straightforward enough, and includes the usual program guide, and options to pause and rewind live Freeview TV, as well as the ability to record one channel while watching another (thanks to the dual tuners in the device itself). Also on display is the PlayTV's ability to work with your PlayStation Portable via Remote Play, which'll let you watch live TV (or recorded programming) from anywhere with a WiFi connection. One of the few things it can't do, it seems, is record programming in the background while you're playing a game, although the developers are apparently "working hard" to add that feature. Still no word on a price or exact release date though, so you have a bit longer to be spared the inevitable bragging from your European friends.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Here's a Youtube link for anyone who might want to add it to their favorites...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAUGsdFJgts
PlayTV sounds like a very very cool device. I have doubts about how standby and timers work. Assuming the PS3 can go into standby when not recording and wake from standby when you want to record a show then it will be a must have accessory.
It seems that they're even offering future proofing by supporting HD when it finally appears. So I assume that the dongle is fairly dumb and most of the functionality is in software.
I still think the Media Center/Home server with the 360 as an extender is a better approach than this.
Live TV with pause/ff/rw, Recording as many chanels as you have tuners for, guide, record while you play games.. all of it. Plus watching on other extenders, on other computers, burning shows to DVD.
The PS3 "solution" just seems so limited. Maybe I am missing something.
I think you are missing something. The PS3 and the 360 sit right underneath your TV. Why should it be necessary to stream TV from a computer possibly running in another room when the PS3 can do it for itself? Streaming may have purposes but convenient it is not.
Anyway if you want to stream TV on a PS3 you can do that already. The PS3 has DNLA support too.
Will this suffice as an HD DVR?