Play TV...

Is the PS3 better than a C64, all in here

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RichardK
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Play TV...

Post by RichardK »

Let's see an Xbox version of this!

Play TV is the little box that turns the PS3 into a PVR, recording Freeview (and apparently able to record one programme whilst watching another - checking how well that works now).

I'm working, watching Scrubs on the PSP via PS3 remote play. No dropouts, just set the PS3 to record Family Guy later...

£49 on Amazon when I got it. Bonus is that the Freeview EPG etc. is way better than the one built into the TV. I'm thinking the picture quality is a bit better too, though I don't see how that can be possible.

Means losing a USB port, which on a newer model is a PITA. But I'm putting a 500GB HD in and if it behaves, byebye underused DVD/HD Recorder thing!
SamUK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by SamUK »

Image


:clown: :-P
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matt_mr2t
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Re: Play TV...

Post by matt_mr2t »

I've never seen a post about it. Especially one with first game experience.
SamUK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by SamUK »

damn it matty, no!


the xbox doesnt have anything like it, that was my only defense.
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RichardK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by RichardK »

I hadn't seen a thread about it either, but I appreciated the 80sness of the repost image ;)

I watched Scrubs and Minder; the latter started recording whilst watching Scrubs. I'm using the PSP since I'm working in another room; you can't Remote Play and watch the PS3's display at the same time.

Recorded part of Minder (whilst watching another channel) looks fine.

Only thing I can't test - as my router is a bit naff and I'd need to stick the PS3 in the DMZ to get the right ports open... is the "Watch your PS3 from a wifi access point anywhere".

Also; PSP allowed about 2 hours of video watching despite having been charged, then left apart from a few minutes use and one software update.

It appears that the files are not protected; your MPEG-2 or AVC/MPEG-4 recordings can presumably be used on other devices.

Downsides: Requires a 3GB install on the PS3 (it doesn't need the game disc and this presumably includes some buffer allocation too), uses up a USB port (more a design limitation of the PS3; I think that it should have a couple of ports on the rear, allowing the EyeToy and PlayTV to be plugged in). Could do with a through port for the RF, but that's just being picky; the PS3 is near-silent when running this.

For the price - about double a remotely decent single-tuner Freeview box - it's a bargain. The software will be actively developed, unlike Freeview adaptors where you're stuck with the bugs they shipped with, and the cost of a PS3 and 500GB drive is still under £400, so you're going to be able to build a very nice "media hub" - Blue Ray, TV, Radio, games...

I'm assuming it doesn't support the forthcoming HD broadcasts on Freeview.

Sony would do well to produce a new PS3 variant that fits the £400 price point, with a 160-250GB HD and built-in Play TV, PS2 backwards compatible mode restored, and two USBs on the rear as well as two on the front. Bundled with the media remote.
matt_mr2t
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Re: Play TV...

Post by matt_mr2t »

I've never quite got why people need loads of usb ports? How many things can you have plugged in and most importantly USE at once?
RichardK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by RichardK »

Play TV - one port
Charging lead for controller - one port
EyeToy camera - one port
Guitar Hero adaptor - one port
Singstar Microphones - one port

(I unplugged the camera).

I don't want to unplug and plug in different adaptors depending on which game I'm going to play. I don't understand why they didn't use the built-in Bluetooth for the Guitar Hero wireless guitars, since they're PS3 specific anyway.
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Lauren
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Re: Play TV...

Post by Lauren »

Tis a pity you don't have the earlier PS3.. we have a 60GB one which has 4 USB ports and is backwards compatible. I can see the limitations of just having two USB ports.

Play TV sounds good, though I wouldn't consider it until or unless it can do HDTV. We already have a sony HDD/DVD recorder so at the moment it's probably not worth doing for our needs.
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matt_mr2t
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Re: Play TV...

Post by matt_mr2t »

Again though, you just don't need the camera, microphones, control pads and guitar plugged in at once. You're just being lazy lol.
SamUK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by SamUK »

it does sound like a cool feature.


not having the usual dig here but i was suprised to find out it isnt free.

the PS3 is struggling at the moment so adding it to the standard feature list (which im sure they could of done) would of given them another boost in sales.

stick a downloadable video library on there like live with movies and stuff and you have the complete system in a box.
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mikee66
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Re: Play TV...

Post by mikee66 »

SamUK wrote:it does sound like a cool feature.


not having the usual dig here but i was suprised to find out it isnt free.

the PS3 is struggling at the moment so adding it to the standard feature list (which im sure they could of done) would of given them another boost in sales.

stick a downloadable video library on there like live with movies and stuff and you have the complete system in a box.



Where would you plug in the arial? You need the wee box of tricks mate
matt_mr2t
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Re: Play TV...

Post by matt_mr2t »

It's a pretty fairly priced box of tricks. A freeview box with hdd costs more than that and as far as i'm aware one with sky+ features doesn't even exist?
SamUK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by SamUK »

mikee66 wrote:
SamUK wrote:it does sound like a cool feature.


not having the usual dig here but i was suprised to find out it isnt free.

the PS3 is struggling at the moment so adding it to the standard feature list (which im sure they could of done) would of given them another boost in sales.

stick a downloadable video library on there like live with movies and stuff and you have the complete system in a box.



Where would you plug in the arial? You need the wee box of tricks mate


ahhhhh i c now. didnt realise there was an extra bit.
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mr2daz
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Re: Play TV...

Post by mr2daz »

RichardK wrote:
Means losing a USB port, which on a newer model is a PITA. But I'm putting a 500GB HD in and if it behaves, byebye underused DVD/HD Recorder thing!


I thought you could only get a 320gb drive to fit in there, is there a 500GB one that fits and is guaranteed to work? I haven't actually looked for one myself, I was just assuming 320 was the biggest available.

I very nearly got PlayTV before xmas but coudn't make up my mind, I may do it now though it sounds ace. :thumleft:
JohnnyC
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Re: Play TV...

Post by JohnnyC »

mr2daz wrote:I thought you could only get a 320gb drive to fit in there, is there a 500GB one that fits and is guaranteed to work? I haven't actually looked for one myself, I was just assuming 320 was the biggest available.

You should look :thumleft:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/7523847/W ... oduct.html
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mr2daz
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Re: Play TV...

Post by mr2daz »

Thanks muchly! :thumleft:
I am a lazy git at times. :oops:
RichardK
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Re: Play TV...

Post by RichardK »

Lauren wrote:Tis a pity you don't have the earlier PS3.. we have a 60GB one which has 4 USB ports and is backwards compatible. I can see the limitations of just having two USB ports.

Play TV sounds good, though I wouldn't consider it until or unless it can do HDTV. We already have a sony HDD/DVD recorder so at the moment it's probably not worth doing for our needs.


I do have the 60GB (soon to be 500GB). I still think that the lack of rear USB ports is a PITA for things like this.
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Re: Play TV...

Post by RichardK »

matt_mr2t wrote:It's a pretty fairly priced box of tricks. A freeview box with hdd costs more than that and as far as i'm aware one with sky+ features doesn't even exist?


It's a touch cheaper than an Elgato type device for a PC/Mac, doesn't require plugging a laptop into the TV, and has arguably nicer software IMO.

I couldn't believe how good it was, people forget that most DVB-T USB things are single tuner.
Goto10
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Re: Play TV...

Post by Goto10 »

RichardK wrote:Let's see an Xbox version of this!

I'm not sure the XBox can, the PS3 reserves a processor core that PlayTV utilises, so it doesn't impact on gameplay/recording in anyway, I think the Xbox would be forced to share resources which would likely cause slowdowns. Shame though because a 360 Media Centre would also be nice.


I'm thinking the picture quality is a bit better too, though I don't see how that can be possible.


The PS3/PlayTV upscales the broadcast, much like it does with DVDs, so the picture will look better than the standard broadcast.


Means losing a USB port, which on a newer model is a PITA. But I'm putting a 500GB HD in and if it behaves, byebye underused DVD/HD Recorder thing!

I ditched my Media Centre/PVR in favour of this a few months ago & stuck a 320gb drive in (was the best gb/£ at the time) never dipped below 100gb available and I download/record a *lot* of crap. 500gb future-proofs it a little though I guess.
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Re: Play TV...

Post by Goto10 »

RichardK wrote:
For the price - about double a remotely decent single-tuner Freeview box - it's a bargain. The software will be actively developed, unlike Freeview adaptors where you're stuck with the bugs they shipped with, and the cost of a PS3 and 500GB drive is still under £400, so you're going to be able to build a very nice "media hub" - Blue Ray, TV, Radio, games...

I'm assuming it doesn't support the forthcoming HD broadcasts on Freeview.


Well, it has DVB-T tuners, so in theory they can easily receive an HD broadcast, just a larger MPEG stream - however, no one yet knows what format Freeview HD will be transmitted in, if they stick to DVB-T then job's a good'un (Sony themselves say it will support HD broadcasts, but DVB-T is the caveat), but more likely it will go to DVB-T2 which is not supported. (PlayTV HD will then no doubt be available with another £50 box)
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