Sony confirms PS3 PVR

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 23 August 2007 04:26

Your IT - Entertainment

Sony has confirmed its plans for a TV tuner and PVR software for the PlayStation 3, as foreshadowed by one of its New Zealand executives.

Announced at Games Convention in Leipzig, PlayTV will be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008. (What part of "Christmas shopping" doesn't Sony understand?) Other PAL territories will get the device "in due course," according to Sony officials.

The twin DVB-T tuner hardware will have 1080p capability, and the software delivers the usual PVR functions and the ability to transfer recordings to a PSP for on-the-go playback. Content can also be streamed to a PSP via Wi-Fi.

A seven-day EPG is supported, but presumably depends on stations offering a full over-the-air EPG rather then the crippled 'this program and the next' delivered by Australian broadcasters.

Sony officials made the bold claim that "Intuitive controls, single button help features, tutorial videos and simple navigation make PlayTV a positive joy to use compared with the complexity of some standalone PVR models."

Subsequent software updates delivering additional functionality will be delivered via the PlayStation Network.

"With the introduction of PlayTV’s state of the art TV tuner and PVR functionality, PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family," said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.