Still confused about PlayTV? Watch this video

by Jem Alexander { Jan 18th 2008 at 10:30AM }

There's been a lot of talk about PlayTV, but until now that's all been words. ThreeSpeech have released the above video to show you, with actual pictures and everything, how exactly PlayTV will work. It's all very simple and straight forward.

PlayTV's release date is still shrouded in mystery, though Play.com did leak a possible date and price (March 28th for £99) this has now disappeared. No doubt there will be a significant marketing push when the system is nearing its release. We're just hoping to get our hands on it as soon as possible.

Tags: dvr, play-tv, playTV, threespeech

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nate @ Jan 18th 2008 10:44AM

no video?

Jeff @ Jan 18th 2008 10:56AM

No...not confused about PLay, I am, however, confused about the December NPD sales figures. Can you guys discuss that, and put a positive ps3 spin on it like you do with other articles? I feel like MS cut my e-peen right off while Nentendo was kicking my teeth in.

Help me Sony Fanboy Friends, you're my only hope.

DolphGB @ Jan 18th 2008 11:56AM

Those NPD figures that people are discussing are for the US only. In Japan, the X360 is getting it's teeth kicked in. In Europe, the Wii rules on units but the PS3 is doing well.

The one thing everyone forgets is that the PS2 has an install base of around 117 million units. The PS2 is still selling, but there will come a time over the next two years that more and more PS2 owners will naturally upgrade and stick with Sony.

If only 25% of PS2 owners upgrade, Nintendo and MS will have a serious issue. The original Xbox managed 20 million units, if I remember...

So - no positive spin needed.

Put simply, the Wii will outsell on units because it's cheaper than either of the other two consoles but is about even on actual revenue. The PS3 is newer than the X360 and so it needs time to catch up.

If you look at the trend lines and match up the launch dates, the PS3 has tracked the growth of the X360 and is now just started to grow at a higher rate than at this exact momnent in the history of the MS box.

Jakob @ Jan 18th 2008 3:17PM

It's funny how people think America is the most important market. But Europe has about 700 mio. citizens, compared to US/Canada's 330 mio. citizens.

And in Europe the PS3 is doing very well. But can't wait to buy PlayTV. I don't think the 28th March date "leaked" from Play.com is real, because many PS3 games get a 28th March date on Play.com.

Just mine 25 øre.

DolphGB @ Jan 18th 2008 10:59AM

There's a YouTube version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAuWAgZeJoI if the one above isn't working...

Sauvage @ Jan 18th 2008 3:05PM

Good to see the UK getting some accessory love.

emaxximus @ Jan 18th 2008 11:19AM

I think that this hardware could be easily re-designed to recieve over-the-air digital broadcast signals for the U.S.So c'mon, do it already.

Tim Parsons @ Jan 18th 2008 11:29AM

yeah this would be nice in NA too ,. I wonder though what are the inputs it excepts? if it excepting Component I could just plug my Satellite receiver into it instead of directly into the TV,. but im guessing it has only an RF input ,. which is far from HD

buzzbean @ Jan 18th 2008 12:46PM

Ahh not so, in the US many OTA signals are in HD, both 720p & 1080i. Also remember the Feb 2009 cutoff date when all OTA signals must be digital, ie. HD. so yes this could work fine in the US. All they need is to have an ATSC tuner instead of the DVB, (i believe) tuner for europe.

Jason Rhyne @ Jan 18th 2008 11:37AM

Most likely the US version will be a cable card type device, since there are just being release. Which is probably why they didn't release a US version of Play TV, we have high cable demand. But this is just my speculations.

tej.jethwa @ Jan 18th 2008 11:39AM

This will be awesome! Can't wait for it to be released. and once you can start watching your blu-rays on ur psp...it's gonna be SWEEEEET!!!

Dan @ Jan 18th 2008 11:44AM

Although watching Blu on a PSP would really defeat the object of Blu-ray :P

rav97 @ Jan 18th 2008 12:14PM

@Dan:
Buying a movie (as opposed to renting it), and watching it once and never again would really defeat the point of buying it :P.

I only buy movies I really like, and I like rewatching them from time to time. I'm glad I can rewatch them on the PSP, without the need to buy/rent the UMD version (which might not exist).

Dan @ Jan 18th 2008 12:54PM

rav97 :) I was meaning that watching a Blu-ray film on a PSP seemed to miss the point of Blu-ray which is being able to watch movies in glorious high definition.

ClarkyCat @ Jan 18th 2008 1:49PM

This video throws up more questions than answers.
If your aeriel is plugged into the PlayTV box, how do you watch standard TV?
Can you play games/watch a DVD while recording TV?
Are the channels available dependent on country or are they the same across Europe?
Does it upscale standard TV to HD?
Cost? Release date?

Steve @ Jan 18th 2008 2:16PM

There's no word on how PlayTV will handle recording future programmes. Are they expecting us to leave the PS3 turned on so the PlayTV box can record a program to the PS3? That would not be great with a 200W device!!
What would be cool is for PlayTV to turn the PS3 (left in standby) on to start recording to its hard disk (and turning it off again afterwards too)... not sure the PS3 is able to do this?

bamf @ Jan 18th 2008 2:51PM

@steve
I know that the PS3 isn't constiantly running at 200w. Test had been done and PS3 ran in different wattage depanding on what the PS3 was doing. If PS3 is left on in XMB but nothing is happening this consumes less power. I think when your playing a game and the fan spins it gets to 180w. While recording it may not reach that? however it may be more than 200w, who knows?

In my region digital TV isn't available so I'm waiting for the turnover. I don't watch much TV anyway but it would be good for watching a sport and rewinding to see a goal or whatever.

JaffaBoy @ Jan 18th 2008 3:15PM

Good point bamf. Not too worried about wattage while its recording, its just what it takes (costs!) to leave it powered on in XMB.

Hoping PlayTV does it all and I can sell my Panasonic hard disk recorder ;-)

Mike @ Jan 19th 2008 1:47AM

Uummm....I already have Play TV...but it's a product by Sony called the Location Free Player which allows me to watch my cable susbscription or any shows or movies saved on my DVR, and any movie I have in my DVD player on my PSP anywhere I can pick up a wi-fi signal.
This is nothing new ppl.