Over 10 years after it’s release, Sony has announced that it is shutting down the online services for PlayTV on the PS3. PlayTV was a hardware device and app that allowed users in Europe to watch live over-the-air TV on the PS3, and included the ability to record shows, pause and rewind live TV.
Sony has released a new patch for PlayTV, updating the application to v2.04. The patch, which is 88 MB in size, includes a number of bug fixes to alleviate some of the crashing issues affecting the software. While not all of the issues have been resolved, the app is a lot more stable now.
A new update for PlayTV is now available to purchase from the PlayStation Store. The new update not only adds the ability to record a entire series automatically, it also allows you to chat with friends on the PlayStation Network while watching your favourite show.
PlayTV is set to get a massive update before the end of the year, as mentioned by Andy House at gamescom last week. The update will be available to all existing and new customers later in the year, and will include enhanced social features, better programme guide and more. Check out that the update has in store for you below.
Over the next 12 months, Sony will be releasing further firmware updates in addition to adding 3D Blu-ray playback in September and supporting 3D photos. According to Mick Hocking, senior director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the company is also gearing up for more updates that will add 3D PlayTV playback and YouTube 3D support on the console.
PlayTV hasn’t been updated in a while, but James Thorpe, PlayStation Network Product Manager, as given us a head-up that a major update will be coming by the end of the year. Testing of the new update has already begun but no details about what to expect were revealed except for one particular feature. Thorpe did tease that other “great enhancements to PlayTV and brand new features will also be included in the update.”
Sony is readying a new PS3 accessory that will let owners turn the console into a digital video recorder. The kit, dubbed “Torne”, is set to become available in Japan this March. Torne comes with a digital tuner that plugs into the PS3 via USB and the software required for viewing, browsing and recording programs. The latter comes on a Blu-ray disc and can be installed onto the PS3’s hard drive. Torne works similar to the PlayTV device that was released in Europe back in September 2008.
The PlayStation 3 PlayTV software has been updated to v1.21 today. The biggest change in the 24MB patch is the ability to watch, pause and record high-definition TV, though it’s not clear which countries this feature applies to. Other features include multi-channel audio playback, improved remote play usability, better SD upscaling, and support for Sony’s Aino remote play.
If you live in the UK and are using PlayTV to watch and record you TV shows, you will need to re-scan your channels tomorrow. On the 30th Sept you will need to re-scan your channels to make sure you can still receive all the digital channels through your PlayTV box. Simply go to ‘Settings’ choose ‘Set-up’ then ‘Channel-scan’ and your done. If you own a freeview TV, you will also need to re-tune your TV.
A patch for the
European digital TV add-on, PlayTV, has now been released bringing it
to version 1.10. The patch was announced a few days ago and is now finally available to download. You can update your version by launching PlayTV and selecting the Software Update option from the main menu. The new patch automatically upscales Standard Definition (SD) broadcasts to High Definition (HD). A few sound enhancement have been made too, such as volume control with
the official PS3 Blu-Ray remote and audio normalisation (similar to the
feature added to music playback in firmware 2.70).
You can now also jump directly into TV mode from the XMB, so you don’t
need the hassle of going through the PlayTV menus beforehand. In terms
of playback, other than the sound changes, the only other change is
slightly better rewind and fastforword handling, with new speeds added.
