A September To Remember – PlayTV Arrives on the 19th

PlayTV is a twin-channel DVB-T tuner peripheral with DVR software which allows users to watch and record television programs to the hard drive of a Playstation 3 console for later viewing. Sony announced it around this time last year and it has been delayed several times. Fortunately, the delays are no more – Eurogamer is reporting that PlayTV should arrive in the UK by September 19th for GBP 69.99. The price is pretty fair considering the features included, as well as the possibility of further software updates. Unfortunately, North American markets, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico all be use the ATSC digital standard (and the latter two are currently early in their digital transition), it is unlikely they will see the PlayTV device because of compatibility issues. It isn’t completely impossible however that if the device is a huge hit in the UK (and eventually Europe) that the Americas could see this device.

Several of the expected features include..

LiveTV: The Live TV feature allows access to the widely available DVB-T network. In the UK this is known as Freeview. Whilst 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 whilst 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): The software features a 7-day electronic program guide. 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. Whilst setting recordings, users can set whether they would like to repeat the recordings daily or weekly to record the same programme again in a series – similar to the ‘series link’ feature on Sky+.

Library: 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. Whilst 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: The schedule feature allows users to edit their future recordings. It is also fully searchable.

Find and Record: The find and record feature allows users to search the next 7 days worth of TV programs 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.

Recorded programs can be transcoded and transferred via USB to the PlayStation Portable. The recorded files will not contain DRM meaning the programs will be copyable to any mass storage device connected to the PlayStation 3. This feature also allows the export of radio shows allowing users to make their very own podcasts for on the go listening. You can also record while playing games.

Eurogamer has an excellent preview (with additional screenshots) of PlayTV.