1. Freeview Satellite! Less likely but PlayTV PS3 boxes for Sky and Virgin (especially Virgin, their HD box is terrible) would also be great.

   
   Comment by Shin-Ra — Apr 2, 2009 @ 5:30 pm

2. Nice video, they get this type of thing all the time on the US blog but it’s not often staff from SCEE’s ivory tower make themselves known on this blog!

   I think PlayTV is a wonderful idea, and in the right environment a must have accessory, picture upscaling is also a really nice addition. Sadly it’s yet another thing Sony don’t advertise well, which you think they would now we are approaching the Digital Switchover.

   Unfortunately I have no need for it given I already have a V+ box connected to the same TV as my PS3 and I don’t have a PSP to make use of the streaming.

   One thing though, now firmware 2.7 allows US users to backup their Video Store purchases to an external HDD, does it also allow EU users to do the same with their TV recordings?

   
   Comment by Apnomis — Apr 2, 2009 @ 5:37 pm

3. Exports to the XMB are already copy enabled, no?

   
   Comment by Shin-Ra — Apr 2, 2009 @ 5:47 pm

4. Nice that they are updating PlayTV, but I’m not sure I believe that this is based on customer feedback. If they were listening we’d have series link recording, an EPG cached to HDD (for when signal is not perfect), and an option to copy and transcode to PSP so you don’t have to worry about finding a wi-fi hotspot.

   Any chance you could ask about those on our behalf ThreeSpeech?

   
   Comment by Nigel — Apr 2, 2009 @ 6:11 pm

5. Since PlayTV was made available, you’ve been able to export recordings to the XMB (a one way process that deletes it from PlayTV).

   It appears the update isn’t currently available though, so if he wants to know anything that I’d like it would include a release date!

   
   Comment by CircleOfFire — Apr 2, 2009 @ 6:28 pm

6. We want Freeview+ support. Probably not possible, but it would be really nice. Series linking is important if you want to be on a par with Sky+ and V+ and the rest of the Freeview PVRs out there.

   Also, a “weekdaily” record function to record a show which only broadcasts Monday-Friday would be nice. Right now I have to set five different recordings to repeat weekly to achieve this.

   Please also remove the limits on recordings - it’s nice being able to limit the number of times something records but some of my shows are on every week or every day without fail. It’s a nuisance having to set up a new recording every 25 times.

   
   Comment by Neil — Apr 2, 2009 @ 6:41 pm

7. Is the update out now?

   I can’t find it from PlayTV.

   
   Comment by Andy — Apr 2, 2009 @ 7:22 pm

8. It would be nice if PlayTV could get HD videos. Yes, I’m from France, and a LOT of people are complaning about this.

   
   Comment by JaKhris — Apr 2, 2009 @ 8:18 pm

9. Its really missing a series link mostly IMO. From my own experience and reading various forums its that one factor that helps people decide whether its worth buying. Missing part of programmes as they have been moved is just plain annoying.

   
   Comment by Martin mackay — Apr 2, 2009 @ 9:18 pm

10. [...] what is actually new in the software update? In a new video released by Sony today detailing the enhancements, Mark Bunting, the producer of PlayTV, announces [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV receiving new firmware update. | PS3 Attitude — Apr 2, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

11. Dear Mr Bunting

    Here in New Zealand we have been promised PlayTV a whole year now (since we got Freeview HD 1st April 2008) and there has been delay after delay, 1st we where told April, then June, then August in September PlayTV (MPEG-2 version) was released in Europe and we where promised New Zealand and Australia would follow a couple of months later, then Dave Hine Marketing manager of SCEE New Zealand announced in a local magazine “PlayTV will be released by Christmas 2008″ …..no cigar, in the mean time Dave Reeves announces “we have PlayTV lined up for January/February 2009….still nothing. I have sent Dave Hines a number of emails, he seems to be just as frustrated as us.

    Just check out these forums, PlayTV here in New Zealand and Australia is a HOT topic (just look at the amount of hits on the forums)

    http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/forum/index.php/board,1.0.html

    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1159251

    http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board?board.id=bANZ_PS3_general

    So PLEASE give us some form of idea when PlayTV is being released in New Zealand and Australia.
    Here in New Zealand on Freeview terrestrial we use MPEG-4 with MHEG5 EPG, EIT EPG only works up to 2-3 hours advance, audio is AAC and AC3 on the UHF platform.

    This whole delay debacle has been a public relations nightmare here in New Zealand/Australia and someone need to step up and make some form of public announcement.
    If Sony Computers delay this any longer I believe they are going to loose major sales as other PVR units are being released soon.

    PlayTV will be a major winner here so lets get the ball rolling……..

    I all look forward to your reply

    Kindest regards

    Mike Foubister

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 2, 2009 @ 11:20 pm

12. It’s still not available

    
    Comment by duff_weird — Apr 2, 2009 @ 11:21 pm

13. PlayTV really is a fantastic little piece of kit. Now i just want MPEG4 support so i can use it in NZ

    
    Comment by El Stefio — Apr 3, 2009 @ 1:45 am

14. Freeview+ style series linking is the main thing missing from PlayTV. They need to have a word with the Humax people, it works a treat on their box.

    
    Comment by Jeebers — Apr 3, 2009 @ 7:50 am

15. Looks nice, when is it going to be available in the UK then?

    The main things PlayTV is lacking in are:

    * Load time and frequency of crashes… should be able to load A LOT faster, and you should be able to do other stuff on the PS3 without fully quitting it. Plus, if it’s recording in the background, why do I have to do a full load as if from cold?
    * Lack of proper series link function… this is REALLY needed, and would make it sell much better surely?
    * Why do I have to set a program to record X number of times? Neighbours is *always* on (almost), so it’s really annoying having to reset it every 25 goes.
    * As someone else has said, a weekday function would be good as I always get random crap recorded on Saturdays and Sundays which I have to delete. Or better still, a proper series link function if you want to compete with Sky+ and V+
    * Should be able to enable the option to record 2 programmes at once, and be forced to watch either one of them (ie. and not a third… maybe a feature for advanced users that understand tuners?)
    * When deleting an item from the list, it shouldn’t then shoot back up to the top again, simple coding error really…. it’s infuriating if you’re trying to delete several that are low down the list.

    Volume control sounds good…. that would have been on the above list but if it’s coming then I’m very happy about that! I wonder which buttons on the remote will be used for it? The hardware designers should have built that into the BluRay remote already!

    All that said though… I use PlayTV every day and it’s very good indeed… just really needs a few more improvements really

    
    Comment by Paul Freeman-Powell — Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:00 am

16. Yes, please add series link. I have implemented this feature myself in our own product so I know how simple it is to add. Next update please!

    
    Comment by Rob — Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:02 am

17. How about the ability to actually record 2 channels at once, while I watch something I’ve already recorded.
    I’ve already got freeview on my TV, so not watching freeview on my PlayTV wouldn’t be an issue, but just like my Sony HDD Recorder, that still only allows me to record one thing at a time, where as my Dads, BT Vision box, allows 2 things to be recorded while watching a 3rd recorded item, is a must in this day and age.

    Sony, get with the times, and stop giving us what you want to give us, but actually what we want. Dual recording feature is a must have. And with the PS3 and PlayTV, I don’t see why this is such a problem.

    
    Comment by Capeview — Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:12 am

18. Hey, can we please have the ability to put content ONTO our PSPs and not only stream it. We can’t get hot spots everywhere!

    I see that Sony have just done this in their latest Bluray machines and it would make sense to allow us to do this. The copyright issues are the same as to whether I copy to PSP or my mac and I can easily take recordings from PlayTv to my mac or PC.

    So whats the issue here? A software convertor built into the PS3 OS would be great and make the system seem a little more ‘joined up’.

    Plus please allow us to record two things at once AND directly record to an external hard drive. Many of us move our programmes to an external drive anyway so why not allow this?

    thanks for listening….

    
    Comment by steven — Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:28 am

19. oh yeah and as someone said above: series linking please!!!!

    
    Comment by steven — Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:29 am

20. Ok, so there’s no actual update out. Could we have an official word on when this will take place as the video implies its already out.

    
    Comment by warpkid — Apr 3, 2009 @ 8:59 am

21. Hello,

    It is possible to implement a cutter Programm, that automatically remove the advertisement in the records ? i musst do that on my PC … thats s u c k s … maybe a future update brings that

    
    Comment by Kalle — Apr 3, 2009 @ 9:14 am

22. For the PSP, all they need to do is add in the codec to read the video files. That said, they’re rather large so not many would fit on a memory stick… so at the moment you will just have to copy them to your PC, convert and shrink resolution (and with that, filesize).

    
    Comment by Paul Freeman-Powell — Apr 3, 2009 @ 10:25 am

23. There is an HD DVB-T test channel in Italy, too (it’s called RaiTestHD ). Give us the ability to watch HD channels on PlayTV!

    
    Comment by 9158 — Apr 3, 2009 @ 10:27 am

24. Hi all, like all other french i’d like to experience HD tv on playTV as i don’t own a HD tuner yet and don’t plan on buying one since i know PlayTv could just do it with a software update.

    I’m also interested in Audio channel select, and subtitle. Having an easy way to change the language of the live playing program, and subtitle would be great. as easy as on a DVD player for example where you can cycle through the different languages.
    The other part of this request is about recording, it would be great to be able to choose what language to record! maybe several ones, and the same goes for subtitle in several languages. yes i know the file would be bigger, but i would be able to choose the languages at the playing time, depending on who is watching with me (not everyone in my place speaks or read the same languages)
    In the very end, an option allowing me to strip the video keeping only the language i want, could let everyone happy for storage purpose vs storage required space.
    The same request could also be used to choose if you want to record stereophonic or 5.1 sound.
    Because the user need to make his choice before the program to begin, i suppose it’s quite challenging to find a way to set up the preffered audio tracks, and quantity. But i think there are ergonomic ways to do this. Looks for example Gambits in final fantasy XII, you can “program” your characters in very easy and powerfull way.
    Rules like:
    “IF AUDIO.ENGLISH.DD51 => KEEP”
    for keeping a specific audio track in the recorded file
    “IF AUDIO.FRENCH => KEEP BEST QUALITY”
    for keeping the best available quality for this program in french in the recorded file
    “IF SUBTITLE.ENGLISH => KEEP”
    “IF SUBTITLE.FRENCH => KEEP”
    for the subtitles.
    Of course with a default behavior to at least have one audio track!
    An other point is the use of the two tuner simultaneously, like “Picture In Picture” or “Picture and Picture” allowing you to check a program is starting while watching another channel.
    The refinment would be the ability to have both sound available for example one redirect to the TV and other one to a blueTooth device, like this two people can watch two different programs on the same TV… with big TV it’s something not really disturbing.
    Other good part about split screen would be to be able to watch TV half the screen and play a game/use media bar/watch internet other half.
    Some TV talk show doesn’t require serious watching, and you might do something else the same time.
    I’m actually doing this through my TV capabilities wich allow Picture and Picture, one is PS3 and other one is TV. however the analogic channels will disappear soon in france and i won’t be able to do this anymore since my TV only allow 1digital and 1 analogic signal in the same time…
    By the way these ideas maybe won’t suit with everyone, but it gives more capabilities and control to the user. The one don’t know or like this don’t use, but it doesn’t limit the others.
    I hope it gives you plenty of other great new ideas.

    
    Comment by Fred — Apr 3, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

25. How about the ability to re-order the channels? How about the ability to record programmes on channels where there is no EPG entry without having to jump through hoops? You know, simple features that stand-alone DVB receivers and recorders have had for years!

    
    Comment by Weaste — Apr 3, 2009 @ 12:39 pm

26. Great news, really looking forward to trying this out!

    PlayTV is now almost perfect, all we need now is:

    1. Series linking
    2. Faster start up times

    Thanks!

    
    Comment by BubbaUK — Apr 3, 2009 @ 1:41 pm

27. I don’t know if it’s only me that has a trouble with this, but if I want to search for and record a programme, I find it a bit of a hassle.

    On my full PVR, if a programme is in the guide, I just press one button over its position in the EPG, and my box will search for more occurences of it. I can configure which or all channels to scan, etc.

    At the moment with PlayTV, I find a programme on the guide that I’d like, then have to come out of the guide, and go to the main menu, and from there select to search for a programme, and type the name in manually which can be frustrating just using the bluray remote.

    It would be much easier if I could just press a button on an item in the EPG, and have the option to scan for more occurences, and then be able to simply highlight and press record on those search items I wish to record.

    I also WISH, really WISH, that the EPG had a list view function.

    I have a Sony Bravia TV, and the EPG is also only in grid format, and I can’t use it. Same with the PlayTV EPG, I find it really hard to read, and find stuff on.

    I always wind up going back to my PVR, which I have setup to provide a LIST view on a per channel basis. So rather than have a handful of channels on the screen at once, I just have a list of what’s on BBC One, then press right, and have a list of BBC Two, then right, and a list of ITV 1, etc. I find this much quicker and easier to navigate.

    I’m not saying this is for everyone, but the choice would be nice… my PVR offers Grid or List view.. my Sony TV and Sony PlayTV both only offer a cramped looking Grid View. I really hope this can be rectified.

    These two features I’ve mentioned above, are the two things that keep me from using the PlayTV very often. I only use it when my other PVR is already busy recording two channels.

    So, I hope these can be updated soon, and I would be delighted!

    For the record, no new PlayTV update here either. I’m currently on V1.2.

    Vin.

    
    Comment by Retro Fan — Apr 3, 2009 @ 2:13 pm

28. Actually, just a few more thoughts now I think about it.

    Yes, the start up time is awful, I’d love for that to be severely reduced. So another vote for that.

    The ability to crop programmes would be welcome too. A feature my PVR also has. If a program starts late, or whatever, I can just select a start and end point, and cut it out. Could also be handy for adverts.

    Also, it would be handy if files were split when exported to the XMB. Most TV progammes are less than 2gb, and can be saved on a USB drive, no problems, for transferring to PC or whatever.

    However, of course, there’s a FAT32 limit, so when a programme/film exceeds that limit, there’s no way to export it from the PS3 to a USB drive. If the MPEG2 file could be split, allowing the part files to be saved to a USB drive, they could always be joined on a PC later.
    At least this way longer programmes could be exported off the PS3, which is totally impossible at the moment, due to the FAT32 restriction of external drives.

    Vin.

    
    Comment by Retro Fan — Apr 3, 2009 @ 2:19 pm

29. Play TV is a nice gadget but I’ve one problem with it.
    In Germany there’s no DVB-T in HD.
    Such an easy way to solve the problem: Just make a new box with two DVB-S tuners and many German customers would be happy. I wouldn’t hesitate one second to buy a fully-fledged DVB-S HD receiver!!!

    
    Comment by spikker — Apr 3, 2009 @ 2:43 pm

30. [...] now, is explained in a little bit more detail in a video clip over at the semi-official PS3 blog Three Speech, where PlayTV producer Mark Bunting also claims that Sony would like to expand the tuner into the [...]

    
    Pingback by PS3’s PlayTV gets built-in upscaling in new update | Electricpig.co.uk — Apr 3, 2009 @ 3:15 pm

31. when does the update come out? this was announced yesterday but its still not available to download

    
    Comment by mailong — Apr 3, 2009 @ 4:38 pm

32. i love the ps3 and how it has grown since i’ve had it from day of release….but….i cant seem to find the update.when i updated last through settings it was fine but i cant update this new one through settings or software update. i followed the instructions but it keeps saying no new update. i’ve got vers. 1.02… anyone………

    
    Comment by warchylde — Apr 3, 2009 @ 6:01 pm

33. How about Play TV in New Zealand Sony. You promised it by Feb ‘09 but now you say maybe this year. What’s up with that!?

    
    Comment by Tim — Apr 3, 2009 @ 6:28 pm

34. Sadly I cant see 2x recording hile you atch a 3rd channel being added (Play Tv contains two seperate tuners to enable recording 1, so it ould have to magic a 3rd tuner to record another channel)

    anyway,
    Great to see another update is… on its ay, (still not here in UK yet)

    —Full 1080p up-scaling
    —Full Dts & Dolby 5.1
    —Full Red Button Support
    —Video + integration including record by code or selection, and by program, time scale, season/series, etc..
    —xmb record option ((allowing user to enter video + code and start recording in-game or on xmb))

    
    Comment by GodfatherObie — Apr 3, 2009 @ 7:17 pm

35. First, I want to thank SONY‘s developers to bring us such a great product: PLAYTV. More promo needed ! …Here in Czech Rep. the PLAYTV is not sold !!!! I got one in the UK.

    A few more ideas:
    - Recordings larger than 2GB should be split automatically to more smaller files when exporting to XMB menu – as an option.
    - I miss cut-crop-split function
    - PIP would be nice, especially if 2 tuners are already built-in. And TV broadcast in one picture and other PS 3 function in the other.
    - What is really annoying: deleting old recording one by one !!! Ideally: to mark what files to save OR to mark what to delete. OR what file to protect+ „delete ALL“ function…..in one click.
    - Here in Prague We have 2 HD free channels in test operation – so I wish to have HD tuner + HD record function
    - Timer recording: periodical-/serial recording should have an option to over-write the „last week episode“ with the new one to avoid piling up old unnecessary recordings
    - If you insist on limiting the number of seriál timer recordings, give us an option from 2 to 365, please 
    - Loading time is too long and frequency of NOT FINISHED LOADING (frozen black screen) is high. If PS 3 required, after switching on, more time to prepare for PLAYTV LOADING – a notice (sand-glass ) would help !!
    - An option to load PLAYTV automatically after switching PS3 on, could be comfortable
    - I could not find a way how to change order of the memorized channels. For example to move TV station XXXXX from memory 5 to the memory positon 2.

    Thanks
    Vitek
    Prague

    
    Comment by Vitek — Apr 3, 2009 @ 7:22 pm

36. Great! Been looking forward to 1080p!

    But one thing that I have always wanted to see and it could really make PlayTV stand way ahead of even the best Humax’s… is for the search to read the Genre text.

    Every programme on the EPG has it’s genre listed, creating a genre text search would be fantastic!!!

    
    Comment by Reddragan — Apr 3, 2009 @ 7:40 pm

37. @2… you can do that anyway. I have loads of recording playing direct from the ext HDD like it’s a giant video jukebox

    
    Comment by Reddragan — Apr 3, 2009 @ 7:41 pm

38. We need DVB-C upgrade. Most of the people today do not have DVB-T coming into their houses.

    
    Comment by tahir — Apr 3, 2009 @ 9:11 pm

39. [...] on Joystiq Playstation on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV gets SD upscaler and more in new update | Gaming Rover - The News You Want — Apr 3, 2009 @ 9:31 pm

40. [...] on Joystiq Playstation on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV gets SD upscaler and more in new update — Apr 3, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

41. [...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments :Syndicated News [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV gets SD upscaler and more in new update | v1deogame.com — Apr 3, 2009 @ 9:46 pm

42. when is the update coming because i looked and cart find it

    
    Comment by jonny b — Apr 3, 2009 @ 10:07 pm

43. For me, MPEG4 support is I want most; then it will support Irish Freeview, and lots of other systems worldwide.

    However, series linking (Freeview+) is a huge oversight, which I still can’t believe isn’t being supported. Having to set it to record every episode of a series manually is crazy, especially since pretty much every other box supports it.
    The manual series link thing is very annoying because it puts (Timer) at the start of the title, thus messing up the alphabetical sorting.

    Others in order or importance:
    -Record 2 programs at once. If you have to limit use of the PS3 to PlayTV only when this is happening, then so be it. As long as there is a warning to tell people, then there shouldn’t be much confusion
    -When deleting something, the list goes back up to the top, which is very very annoying. I usually delete in batches, and it is fustrating!

    
    Comment by Steven — Apr 3, 2009 @ 10:11 pm

44. [...] quality and enhance contrast when viewing. Producer of Play TV Mark Bunting has demonstrated in a new video here, the feature in [...]

    
    Pingback by PS3 Play TV: Update adds SD upscaler and more - Information is Valueless — Apr 3, 2009 @ 10:35 pm

45. @31

    Video+ !!! Surely those haven’t been used since the nineties and VCRs. Are the codes even published any more?

    Seriously though. Why would you want to tap in a weird code when you could just find a programme on the epg and hit select? Maybe I’m being dim, but I don’t think I can see any possible benefit of video+…

    
    Comment by Nigel — Apr 3, 2009 @ 10:49 pm

46. [...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV gets SD upscaler and more in new update | PlayStation 3 News — Apr 4, 2009 @ 1:02 am

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    Pingback by PlayTV gets SD upscaler and more in new update | PSP NEWS — Apr 4, 2009 @ 1:28 am

48. [...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Get your copy of Guitar Hero World Tour Metallica on sale Now! [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV gets SD upscaler and more in new update | Guitar Hero World Tour — Apr 4, 2009 @ 2:58 am

49. Nice to see another update, one of my frustrations with PlayTV has been that there is no obvious place to leave feedback. So hopefully the PlayTV people are reading this and will create or at least make it known that playstation forum xyz is one they read and where feature requests and bug reports can be sent.

    I like PlayTV and have used it since launch instead of the Virgin HD box we used to have. All in all I like it, but like others have mentioned the recording and EPG stuff could use more love. First of all a weedays recording option would be great, I am currently recording 7 days a week for a couple of programs and have to delete random recordings on the weekends. Also it would be nice to set some recordings to unlimited as long as there is diskspace.

    It would also be nice if PlayTV actually tried to keep track of what happens on the EPG in terms of the recordings, like I had one show which got rescheduled to 15 minutes later. Which meant my recording for that week had 15 min of crap in front of it, but more importantly was lacking the last 15 minutes.

    The startup time is a bit annoying, but I have to say I prefer the slow startup time to the lack of responsiveness I had on my old virgin box. PlayTV feels responsive once you have it up and running at least. Got a feeling that most of the slow startup is the lack of caching of the EPG.

    
    Comment by Uraeus — Apr 4, 2009 @ 2:44 pm

50. why is the update not live yet? went to the update screen, and it says there is no update available.

    
    Comment by Ronesh Amin — Apr 4, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

51. Also a few other improvements would be great:

    1) Sleep mode (I generally watch TV before i got to sleep. I can put my TV to “sleep” in 30mins, but i have to phyiscally turn the PS3 off which wakes me up again!)

    2) Faster loading times (it takes on average a minute to want to watch TV! That’s riduclous, and sometimes puts me off even bothering to turn it on!)

    3) Series link like what has laready been mentioned.

    I really hope for the “sleep” mode over all of them. I think it must be such a simple update. It would be perfect for the way i use PlayTV too. And also, it’s perfect to show your green credentials by advertising it as an energy saving device!

    
    Comment by Ronesh Amin — Apr 4, 2009 @ 3:42 pm

52. so where is the update? this s whats annoying about sony, the video made it sound like it was out already. so if theres been a delay it would be nice for them to let us know

    
    Comment by mailong — Apr 4, 2009 @ 6:24 pm

53. I dont know if possible, but the ability to browse the EPG from XMB–> then setup recording without having to open the appliction ??

    the other thing that would be great is if they could put an option in PLAY-TV settings to `Auto add 2-5mins` at the start and end of recordings (user defineable) there is an option to do it MANUALLY at the moment but you`d have to do it every time,
    In theory the 2nd request means that 2 programs that meet end to end (with overlap settings) would effectively mean PS3 is recording 2 things at same time, possible why feature isnt there

    
    Comment by Darren Jarvis — Apr 4, 2009 @ 7:14 pm

54. PlayTV gets software update?
    When? cos its not out yet

    
    Comment by PJ — Apr 4, 2009 @ 7:28 pm

55. If anyone from Sony is reading this….. can we have a UK release date???

    
    Comment by Paul Freeman-Powell — Apr 4, 2009 @ 7:28 pm

56. A worrying statement to be coming from the producer of PlayTV? Hopefully this is just an oversight, as the product hasn’t been released locally yet. But still, the “one day” comment in regard to HD doesn’t inspire confidence of anything happening imminently…

    “HD only available in France and Spain!!”….. I hope this was another oversight from the producer, what about Czech Rep, Poland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand who are all running HD terrestrial!! in fact You CAN use the European PlayTV in Australia and it will record and playback in HD (with a couple of small issues but it does work)

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 5, 2009 @ 12:57 am

57. Add the ability to TRANSFER (i.e. NOT JUST STREAM) the recordings to the PSP and I’ll buy one tomorrow.

    This was promised before the launch of PlayTV, then pulled at the eleventh hour. Ironically, there’s still a page on the UK playstation website claiming that it can be done!: http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/news/articles/detail/item76297/TV-star/

    
    Comment by simonb — Apr 5, 2009 @ 9:36 am

58. I’m assuming this was just an April Fools then?

    
    Comment by Duane — Apr 5, 2009 @ 9:58 am

59. PlayTV seems a B-project, developed by a small english team, that is not interested in what DTT is anywhere outside UK, not interested in what people ask. SCEE would increase money in it to avoid another loss of image,

    
    Comment by gobs — Apr 5, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

60. Amazing update! SD upscale? yes please! Volume control? Check! Skipping the main menu? Oh yeah!!!

    And he confims that the hardware will be able to be updated with new firmware once the freeview HD standards are finally agreed! WooHoo!!!

    errr…..just tried to update though……not avaliable?!

    
    Comment by elephant_stone — Apr 5, 2009 @ 2:06 pm

61. When will this be available. Fancy asking TS or do we have to do it ourselves?

    
    Comment by katamari-ball — Apr 6, 2009 @ 10:59 am

62. STILL not out.

    Come on Sony, get your act together. Would it kill you to release a quick update letting customers know what the hold up is and when to expect the release?

    It wouldnt be so bad but for the fact that the new article and video stated that it was already out.

    
    Comment by warpkid — Apr 6, 2009 @ 11:10 am

63. this is just getting ridiculous! the video was released on the 2nd and its now the 6th, no update and no news on when it will be released. please get a move on sony and let us know whats gooing on or relese the update already!

    
    Comment by mailong — Apr 6, 2009 @ 11:36 am

64. Anyone reading this blog entry from the UK, who has seen some of the updates on this page, will have got mighty confused, and likely hopeful that PlayTV will give UK Freeview HD with a software update.

    This is not technically possible, and you cannot blame this on Sony - it is because Freeview HD will be provided using a new transmission standard, DVB-T2, which is so different than the current DVB-T that it will need new decode chips. These chips do not even exist yet (as of April 2009), preproduction test versions that haven’t been shrunk down into chips are just being tested now.

    GodfatherObie said he cant see how you could record 2 channels while watching a 3rd if you just have 2 tuners. Well, its is kind of possible, some Humax PVRs can do it. The reason is that the Tuners dont pick up just one channel, they pick up a Multiplex, which is a group of channels (this is how digital terrestrial squeezes 40 or so channels in, when analogue only have space for 5). So as long as the 3rd channel you want to watch is on the same multiplex as one of the 2 channels you are watching, its technically possible…. although most PVRs dont bother because it is too confusing to explain to most non-technical people why a 3rd channel would work sometimes and not others!

    
    Comment by Andy — Apr 6, 2009 @ 1:11 pm

65. Today, Apr 6th 2009…And still no update available! Maybe I lost something…

    
    Comment by TixSoul — Apr 6, 2009 @ 1:18 pm

66. Obviously it’s a free update so it’s hardly like we can complain about our rights or anything…. however it is rather bad form to announce an update like this and then go so quiet for so long…

    … I’d rather have not heard about it yet, that way it would be less frustrating as even though I’m a grown man, I’m rather like a child on Christmas Eve when it comes to new updates lol

    
    Comment by Paul Freeman-Powell — Apr 6, 2009 @ 5:10 pm

67. QUOTE
    “This is not technically possible, and you cannot blame this on Sony - it is because Freeview HD will be provided using a new transmission standard, DVB-T2, which is so different than the current DVB-T that it will need new decode chips. These chips do not even exist yet (as of April 2009), preproduction test versions that haven’t been shrunk down into chips are just being tested now”
    UN-QUOTE

    Not entirly correct, Here in New Zealand our Freeview HD uses the DVB-T standard MPEG-4 abd AAC/AC3 audio, the hardware works 100% here all we require is the software to run MPEG-4 standard.
    a number of people are using PlayTV on there PC and steaming to the PS3

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 6, 2009 @ 7:03 pm

68. It’s now live!

    Playtv master volume adjustment
    PlayTv automatic volume normalising
    picture quality enhancement by upscaling video
    switch to last channel
    direct to live tv setting
    new fast forward and rewind speeds

    comes in at 21 mb

    
    Comment by Simon Revell — Apr 7, 2009 @ 1:41 am

69. The update is now out (1.10), works well I like that they have added the swap channel feature and picture upscaling works well to, picture is now sharper and colours are brighter. Now all it needs is series link, record 2 channels at the same time and faster start up time.

    
    Comment by DAN — Apr 7, 2009 @ 3:04 am

70. The Update is now out in the UK, it’s 1.10

    although personally I don’t see any difference with the SD upscaling, and there is no option to turn it on / off?

    Rob.

    
    Comment by Rob Williams — Apr 7, 2009 @ 6:24 am

71. D/L’d update this morning at 05:00.

    24Mb and complete in 1 min including install.

    
    Comment by Lloyd — Apr 7, 2009 @ 7:00 am

72. its here, waited all weekend and yesterday.this morning didn’t expect it to be here but tried the download software icon and ….wa la…update 1.10 is here.downloaded it and love it.c’mon whats taking you so long update now already…….ha ha lol

    
    Comment by warchylde — Apr 7, 2009 @ 7:16 am

73. I live in Denmark and use the PlayTV daily. Features I would like are:

    - Option to get rid of the overlay everytime I forward/rewind/still or do anything. I know my options after a year of use (has it been that long). I don’t need a full third or quarter of my display to be plastered with a popup menu guide anymore. And the circle button to get rid of it is REALLY annoying if you hit it too late, you go back to the menu. Please give me a setup option: No popup menu.

    - Single frame stepping.

    - Chapter (or time skip).

    - Split of files greater than the FAT32 limit, so that I can save files on an external medium.

    - Use the twin tuners when recording 2 programs next to each other (time wise) but on different channels. For now I have to choose between one or the other. I don’t buy the argument from Andy (64) why twin recording won’t work. Why is it possible to see another signal then while recording another. Makes no sense, watching and recording is the same to the PS3.

    - A nice to have would be editing a recording, actually just being able to cut of the beginning and/or end.

    - Please make MPEG-4 encoding ready for November, as Denmark will start then. Also HD option as at least one channel will be HD.

    
    Comment by Anders Vejen — Apr 7, 2009 @ 8:58 am

74. [...] Link: PlayStation (via ThreeSpeech) [...]

    
    Pingback by Sony PlayTV gets HD upscaling | Tech Blog — Apr 7, 2009 @ 9:54 am

75. How do I go to the last channel? Which button is it on the remote?

    
    Comment by Si — Apr 7, 2009 @ 10:37 am

76. Ok anyone in New Zealand with playTV done the firmware update?? check the last post on this forum, PlayTV seems to be now working in France on the HD channels (MPEG-4!!!!!) can anyone confirm this.

    http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=bANZ_PS3_general&thread.id=85&page=41

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 7, 2009 @ 10:58 am

77. [...] watch a run through of the new update, click here. Share and [...]

    
    Pingback by PlayTV 1.10 patch released | PS3 Attitude — Apr 7, 2009 @ 11:34 am

78. Hi playtv guys, if you’re reading this!
    Love your little black box, but since you’re asking here’s something I’d like. Can we have background downloads? It’s annoying to have my PS3 on all day for watching TV and then getting back to the menu and seeing that a Demo is still only at %1. I’m kinda surprised that no-one else has asked for this.
    And the idea of chopping the recordings appeals to me as well. Sending stuff directly to my PSP over the USB is a no-brainer also, wireless coneections are obviously a lot more freely available where you guys are!
    And for Ronesh, who asked for a sleep mode, your PS3 has one already! Can’t exactly remember where it is, but my PS3 is set to sleep after 3 hours inactivity, and it does the job perfectly! Shame I can’t find the function on my ACTUAL tv! Well, thanks for listening, please keep up the good work!

    
    Comment by Mr Mistri — Apr 7, 2009 @ 2:30 pm

79. First I would like to say thanks to the PlayTV team for this great product. I got mine on launch day last summer and are still using it everyday. I have a few comments for further improvements thou.

    1. Series link, it’s the single most important function which is missing when compared to other top PVR’s. The current repeat option is just no good.

    2. When deleting recordings the selector jumps to top of the page. So it can take ages when trying to delete old files.

    3. The EPG always wipes clear after 12pm, and then takes ages to re-populate. Odd!

    4. Finally the more performance improvements the better, the last 2 updates really helped with this (and the EPG) but recorded video can still jump loads.

    Thanks for all the hard work and please keep the updates coming!!!

    
    Comment by Ryan — Apr 7, 2009 @ 3:34 pm

80. Thought of something else:

    5. It world be fantastic to have the option to search thou a recording with visual frames as you can with normal ps3 video files or on the psp.

    Thanks again!

    
    Comment by Ryan — Apr 7, 2009 @ 3:45 pm

81. Ok you heard it HERE first, just made contact with a friend who imported PlayTV into New Zealand back in September not knowing it was MPEG-2 only……until now, he has just done the 1.10 firmware update. now all working, have just got off the phone with him, he tells me ALL channels perfect picture but he only has sound on TV3 (could be due to TV3 being in AC3??) he has not had much time to play yet but I have asked him to do the following tests:

    1- How far ahead can you see the EPG?

    2- Are there other audio options in the menu like AAC etc (this could be turned off)

    3- Can you record HD content, say CSI on TV3 etc?

    4- What is the recorded content like?

    This is all very good news for us…..

    If suprises me the “Mark Bunting” video released a few days ago said NOTHING about MPEG-4 etc

    Will give you more updates as they come

    Mike

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 8, 2009 @ 3:28 am

82. To Mr Mistri,
    cheers for ur advice about the sleep mode but i have already tried this. Because PlayTV is on, the PS3 doesn’t consider itself to be inactive so will never turn off. the sleep mode will only work on the ps3 when in the xmb menu as far as i know, and not when PlayTV is activated. Thats the problem i have, because i have to physically wake up again to turn playTV off, and then i can’t get back to sleep again for ages!

    It would be brilliant if they did incorporate a sleep mode into PlayTV.

    
    Comment by Ronesh Amin — Apr 8, 2009 @ 1:08 pm

83. To Ronesh
    Really? It’s not working that way for you?
    It does for me, I have it set for 3 hours, and when I wake up in the morning my PS3 is off.
    Just for reference, I’m using a Japanese 60gb and using the controller connected via USB. I thought that the timer measured wether the pad was being used or not.
    Well, it does definitely work. For me that is.
    Does that mean my downloads stopping is exclusive to my console? Curioser and curioser!

    
    Comment by Mr Mistri — Apr 9, 2009 @ 11:02 am

84. Oh why have you done this!? My PlayTV used to look quite acceptable on my 1080p Sony LCD screen, now with this update the SD upscaling looks AWFUL!

    It’s blocky, colours clash, blocks of colour flick on and off and as soon as there’s any motion in the picture it blurs badly. At least you could have given us an option to turn the upscaling off! How do I roll back to the previous version? Let me guess, I cant. Great. The MotoGP season starts on Sunday and I’m stuck with poor picture quality after this update…….it looked twice as good before!

    I do not recommend this update until the issues are addressed. I am not the only one with problems.

    
    Comment by Samuel — Apr 9, 2009 @ 8:40 pm

85. PLEASE include an option to record ingame material.
    lot of my friends would buy play tv if we could record our 1on1’s in warhawk.
    AND as already said include an editing function to cut out advertising……

    
    Comment by Sunburn — Apr 10, 2009 @ 6:04 am

86. include an option to record ingame material
    AND as already said include an editing function to cut out advertising…..

    
    Comment by Sunburn — Apr 10, 2009 @ 6:06 am

87. Hi,
    - very sad that there´s no support for HD TV channels ( there are two here in Czech Rep. )
    - no support for external burner that can record or backup recorded stuff… with such accesories you can make more money

    I agree with all comments from “Vitek”
    Please, try to finish your PlayTV idea to the best.

    Filip
    Prague, Czech Rep.

    
    Comment by Filip — Apr 10, 2009 @ 4:21 pm

88. To Mr Mistri,

    In the “Power Saving Settings”, do you have to turn on the feature “Turn Off System Automatically Even Under Special Circumstances”?

    If so, does it affect your recordings when your controller is off? I.E, if you are recording a film longer than an hour and your controller is turned off, does it turn off (assuming you have set your power save option to 1 hour?

    
    Comment by Ronesh Amin — Apr 10, 2009 @ 6:49 pm

89. I have just downloaded the update.
    The volume feature may be there but where is it on the blue tooth handheld?

    
    Comment by prosco50 — Apr 13, 2009 @ 5:01 pm

90. Now PlayTV supports MPEG-4, here is a list of improvments to fully support MPEG-4 New Zealand Freeview HD

    - AAC HEV2 support (the Playstation it’s self supports it but not PlayTV)
    - AC3 5.1 (PlayTV only supports Dolby Digital 2.0 at the moment, the PS3 does support DD5.1)
    - MHEG5 Freeview New Zealand EPG support.
    - MPEG-4 recording from PlayTV
    - Master volume control via BD remote
    - Single button jump to PlayTV from XMB

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 21, 2009 @ 11:28 pm

91. I think its great but series linking is top of my list. I had sky and I miss it and would def use it all the time on this box.

    
    Comment by Robert — Apr 22, 2009 @ 10:49 pm

92. PLEASE can we have an ability to switch off the upscaling, or roll back to the previous version?

    I am now totally reliant on Play TV, and whilst the picture has improved greatly since my last post on 9th April, watching the football the other night it was utter garbage. The pitch was pulsating and blocky, couldnt’ even read the numbers on players shirts let alone their names. How can it be that the match broadcast looked worse than a picture you’d expect 25 years ago, yet when the adverts came on they appeared superb?

    
    Comment by Samuel — Apr 23, 2009 @ 11:01 am

93. WE NEED A SERIES LINK FUNCTION…

    
    Comment by Mike — Apr 27, 2009 @ 8:29 pm

94. If anyone is reading this please ability to play the files on PSP, its madness we cant do this directly. Of course you can convert the files but this takes time. Join up your strategy and stop trying to be one step ahead of your loyal fan base. By the time you eventually start sharing this stuff every other games manuafacturer will be ahead of you or some third party will give us the portable solution we all want and we can leave PS3/PSP for good. Your trying to be to clever stop it, release the update now.

    
    Comment by Hedge — Apr 29, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

95. Hi - Would it be possible to develop an iphone app like sky have produced? I would like to be able to schedule a recording using my phone (for those times that I am not at home).

    Thanks,
    Damian

    
    Comment by Damian — May 10, 2009 @ 5:19 pm

96. {{Hi - Would it be possible to develop an iphone app like sky have produced? I would like to be able to schedule a recording using my phone (for those times that I am not at home).

    Thanks,
    Damian}}

    It is coming see http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/sony-ericssons-saito-and-aino-get-handled-remote-play-makes-th/

    
    Comment by Mike — May 29, 2009 @ 4:18 am

97. Please allow two recordings at once I understand playtv only has two tuners but it would be great to be able two record two programs at the same time if i’m out.

    
    Comment by kev — Jun 17, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

98. I’ve used Play TV for about a year now, and really find it useful…..However I record the music chart’s top 40 off of the radio for my girlfriend to listen on her MP3 player.

    Has anyone else noticed how long it takes to transfer a radio recording from the library to the XMB? A TV recording takes about 7-10 secs. and could be 3gb in size, while a radio recoding can take from 25 mins to well…..all day to transfer and only be 0.7gb! Any way of speeding this up?

    
    Comment by mnky75 — Jul 29, 2009 @ 11:57 am

99. Series Link Essential…. Had Playtv since out and as Tivo owner, I still use my Tivo to record series and and Playtv for live tv, for the higher picture quality.

    Also, would prefer it dropped older recordings rather than break on new recordings when runs out of disk space. I find there is too much management of recordings required. If I miss something after a week because run out of disk space, was not top of my must watch if have time list. Tivo allows to mark recordings as do not delete if required.

    
    Comment by John — Aug 16, 2009 @ 7:58 am

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