Talk Playstation 3 News

PlayTV has been updated to version 1.21 and the following has been added/fixed.

• Support for Dolby Digital + HD channels
• The recording of HD channels is now possible to store HD channels is now possible
• Multi-channel audio replay. Multi-channel audio replay.
• Improved Standard Definition Standard Definition improved
• Using the reading distance improved use of the reading distance improved
• Support for reading distance Mobile Support for Mobile Remote reading
• Support for the Australian Digital TV support for the Australian Digital TV

To update PlayTV go to the update menu and PlayTV 1.21 will begin to install.

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To update your box, go the main menu for PlayTV, and if you have updated the system before, just go to ‘System Update’. Although if you haven’t ever updated the device, go to ‘Settings’, scroll down to ‘About’, and then ‘Check for Updates’.

It’s good to see Sony are continuing to support their digital TV adapter for the PS3, and we look forward to seeing what more new features they have planned for us.

The patch adds new features including an SD upscaler, skip the menu system to go straight to watching TV.

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Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) Vice President Jim Ryan has confirmed to Gamespot AU that PlayTV is selling rather well in Europe since it’s release in September. Ryan stated that there are plans to launch PlayTV in Australia sometime in 2009.

It’s launched in a number of European countries with good sales, steady sales, and we’re looking forward to bringing the product to Australia at some point in 2009,

There are a couple of issues–technical and commercial–that we have to work through, but it’s definitely on the roadmap.

Australia, you have something to look forwards to.

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SCEE President David Reeves talked to MCUK revealing some details.

The Limited 160GB SKU that will be released in Europe on October 31st will be see as a test device. After being forwarded messages about people wanting 500GB SKU’s but also some not being able to fill up 80GB units, they will use the 160GB SKU as market tool to measure the use of higher HDD capacity with their consumers.
This will really start playing an important role the moment PlayTV and an EU Playstation Video Store are available.

On other news he also said

There is no new news, and it’s completely on track. The closed beta has just ended and the open beta will launch in Autumn. Now when that will be announced, I’m not actually sure – we just didn’t have anything new to announce here. But it’s all on track and we have lots of third parties on board.

The closed beta ended? Does this mean that no invites are being send out until the open beta gets out or do they keep sending them?

But the good news is they have found more third parties to support HOME, hopefully they won’t charge us (too much) to use some features.

Source, via PSU1, 2

Stuff.tv has posted a walkthrough video of Sony’s PlayTV service. You can see the video below.

PlayTV is set for Europe and Australia for now, with other regions unlikely to see it due to differences in digital standards.

Hands on video review of Sony PlayTV for the PS3. Turn your PS3 console into a Freeview PVR. From Stuff.tv – the gadget guide.

Sony has confirmed the ability to be able to record TV while playing on the Playstation 3 with PlayTV.

So if your craving to play games but your favourite show is on, don’t worry, you’ll be able to record while playing.

Sony have just called to confirm that you CAN actually record while playing games. There will be a message in the final build of the code that will ask you to reboot your PS3 to enable the background recording functionality. This rather important bit of info was missing from the review build I have been using! Lovely. I’ll have a look over the next few days and see what, if any, impact recording has when playing a game but clearly this makes PlayTV are far more interesting proposition.

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Eurogamer announced after receiving word from Sony that PlayTV will be released on September 19th for £69.99 (€ 99).

Originally the release was slated for september 10th but now seems to be pushed back for around a week (Ain’t that a surprise).

With PlayTV you’ll be able to record TV while you play games at the same time. There were some technical issue’s with this feature but they managed to solve it. This is a vital and much requested function in modern day DVR/PVR’s.
Some of the code for this feature and more were already implemented in firmware 2.41.

The release will start in the UK, followed by France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The remaining countries in Europe can expect it between September and December. There is still no official list or word of which countries these might be.
Australia and New Zealand can expect it around February 2009, this will give them more time to settle on digital terrestrial standards.

Check out an (old) preview on Eurogamers
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