Play TV - Features

Features

LiveTV: The Live TV feature allows access to free-to-air (unencrypted) channels in the widely available DVB-T network (known as Freeview in the UK, Australia and New Zealand). While using the Live TV option, live programming is cached as it is displayed, so that users can pause, rewind and fast forward through any recently-viewed material, as well as record and turn subtitles and audio description on/off. Screen size can also be changed. PlayTV allows users to watch one programme while recording another. Live TV also has a now and next bar enabling users to scroll through live TV and see what is on other channels and what is coming on next.

Guide (Electronic Program Guide): The software features a 7-day electronic program guide. PlayTV allows users to set recordings and change channel from the Guide; also selectable is a Favourites guide which is a list of a user's favourite programmes. The Guide shows a full description of all programmes. While setting recordings, users can set whether they would like to repeat the recordings daily or weekly for up to 26 times but lacks Series Link.

Library: The PlayTV Library is where all the recorded content is stored. The content can be viewed in a list view or in a thumbnail view. Its also fully sortable by date, channel and name. The library is also where content can be exported to the PlayStation 3's main menu to be stored with the rest of the user's video files. While playing back the recorded content, users can pause, fast forward, rewind, skip to/from and turn subtitles and audio description on/off. Screen size can also be changed.

Schedule: The schedule feature allows users to edit their future recordings. It is also fully searchable.

Find and Record: The find and record feature allows users to search the next 7 days worth of TV programmes by searching with a key word in the title of the programmes and/or the description of the programme. Find and record also lets users set manual recordings using the channel, date and time that you wish to record.

Mobile TV with PSP: Wi-Fi connectivity with a PlayStation Portable allows for portable viewing of live or recorded television programming. By using the Remote Play feature of the PlayStation 3, owners can use a PlayStation Portable to access their PlayStation 3 console from anywhere in the world via the Internet. The Remote Play feature has the ability to 'wake up' the PlayStation 3 from stand-by mode, allowing the user the ability to watch live TV, set recordings and watch previously recorded content anywhere in the world direct from their PlayStation 3 to their PlayStation Portable via the internet. The new Sony Ericsson Aino has been confirmed to link up to a PlayStation 3 and will use Remote Play which allows users to watch PlayTV on their phone.

Manuals: PlayTV displays an on-screen manual. This acts as a quick reference to the various functions of a controller, Blu-ray remote control and remote play using a PlayStation Portable.

Settings and other features:

  • Turn Subtitles on / off
  • Turn Audio Description on / off
  • Set whether you would like live TV to always be recorded or just when paused for trick mode.
  • Screen Size settings
  • Game play recordings on / off (See below)
  • Parental Lock
  • HDD Size: PlayTV can only record to the PlayStation 3's own internal hard drive. Recorded video can then be transferred to an external storage device in some regions.
  • Codecs: PlayTV supports MPEG2 SD. AVC/MPEG4 is now available with the latest PS3 firmware update. (UK manual only states MPEG2 in the supported codecs under technical specs)
  • Twin DVB-T tuners (one dedicated to recording, the other to live viewing). Tuners are HDTV capable in areas with HD DVB-T broadcasts.
  • PlayTV can be controlled using a PlayStation controller or Blu-ray remote control.
  • Antenna input only. No antenna output.

Sony previously stated that PlayTV would be able to record TV while playing PS3 and PS1 games, the code for the function has already been incorporated in the version 2.41 firmware update. To use the product however a 5 GB install is required from the disc provided with the PlayTV device.

Sony has stated that PlayTV is incompatible with the UK Freeview HD, as it uses the DVB-T2 standard.

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