PlayTV: Use Your PS3 as a DVR!

PlayTV: Coming soon...the ability to use your PS3 as a DVR!

Yes, it’s no longer only a rumor or just a cool idea. Sony has revealed that they do plan to launch an actual digital tuner for the PlayStation 3 in early 2008, which will give it programmable, digital TV recording functions.

It was reported in early 2007 that Sony’s Warwick Light, marketing manager of Computer Entertainment in New Zealand, leaked the details to a website called The Press, promising to "transform the PS3 capabilities so as to meet people's changing entertainment needs." He also added, "We're also hoping next year – about the same time that Freeview launches its terrestrial broadcasting service – to release a digital tuner for the PS3, turning it into a programmable TV recorder."

Sony apparently continued to refuse to comment on the matter, but sure enough…during the Leipzig Game Convention in Europe, Sony officially announced that they will be launching PlayTV in early 2008. It’s expected to offer tons of cool features like simulataneous recording of one program while watching another, and copying shows from your PS3 to your PSP to carry away with you, and who knows what else.

So maybe you’d better hold off on that decision to buy a TiVo just yet if you’ve been dreaming of a way to turn your PS3 into a DVR! PlayTV is real and coming soon…so you may not have to wait much longer!

(via gi/sb)

Sony Drops 20GB PS3

Sony is discontinuing sales and support of the 20GB model of the PlayStation 3. Sony executives have cited the overwhelming popularity of the 60GB model in favor of it as their main reason. The two separate models that have been offered since the launch were intended to meet the diverse needs of their PlayStation fan base. However, the majority of consumers were obviously more than willing to spend about 20% more in exchange for triple the disk space.

It came down to spending only about $100 more for an item that already costs about $500 anyway. Most PS3 buyers probably aren't looking to save money as much as to buy the best possible system. So the tendency toward purchasing more rather than less storage, whether it be in digital cameras, mp3 players, PC's, etc. is what came into play. Other than the disk size, built-in WiFi and a few more storage media slots were about the only other difference between the two models.

Microsoft seems to be staying a step ahead of Sony. The expected release of their new Xbox 360 Elite model is around the end of April 2007, and it will feature a massive 120GB hard drive.

It seems that , as far as memory and storage space goes these days, the old saying "Less is more" is getting more and more obsolete.

PS3 Firmware Version 1.54 Offers An Ironic Possibility

When Sony released Firmware Version 1.54 for the PlayStation 3, it opened up compatibility with USB Cameras that support UVC. (USB Video Class) Interestingly, this includes the Xbox 360's own "Live Vision" camera! (Which, I believe, is the only camera it's own system can use.) So if you happen to have one, you can now use it on the PS3! Plus, PS3 also supports more people being involved in live chats than Xbox 360 does, as well as the new full screen video chat mode. And with support for your USB or Bluetooth mic, the versatility of the PS3's accessory support is becoming more and more impressive.

ps3

Sony Releases Firmware Upgrade, Version 1.54

Sony continues to improve and add features to the PS3. The latest upgrade available now being Firmware Version 1.54.

Newest features include a "screen mode" option for video chat to allow the image of your chat partner to match the screen size, and compatibility with UVC (USB Video Class) cameras.

If you already have your own PS3 and you're not up to date with the upgrades, you can download it here at Sony's website.

Watch Out For The Fake PS3 Console

There's a funny story going around the internet about a PS3 store display in Australia. It seems that the PlayStation 3 is still a pretty rare site in the land down under. So much so that a Harvey Norman store resorted to using a flat picture of a Sony PS3 console for a kiosk display - wrapped around an Xbox 360 of all things!

You can come up with your own joke on this one, but I can't help but think in the spirit of those "How to speak Australian" beer ads that used to run all the time...

In a classic Australian accent, of course: Xbox...it's Australian for PS3, mate!

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/harvey-norman-removes-fake-playstation/2007/02/16/1171405415017.html