PlayTV gets better standard-def upscaling

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 November, 2009

Plus DVB-T HD support in some countries.

Sony has updated its PlayTV software to version 1.21, which introduces support for DVB-T freeview HD recordings.

Sadly that doesn't mean that people in the UK will be able to use PlayTV to record in HD, because the UK has decided to go with DVB-T2 for freeview HD, which hasn't launched yet anyway. But judging by Wikipedia it's good news for people in various parts of Europe.

On the more general plus side, everyone should benefit from improved upscaling of standard-definition signal. Sony now reckons SD pictures will "look as good as they possibly can".

Finally, version 1.21 introduces support for remote play via the Sony Ericsson Aino mobile phone, so enjoy that, both of you.

No idea what PlayTV is? Why not read our review?

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #1 2 years ago

    I still use PlayTV as my primary way of watching TV! So, happy days.

  • CosmicFuzz #2 2 years ago

    Me too! Will check out the improved picture quality when i get home.

  • Johnsters #3 2 years ago

    Have heard lots of playback quality issues since the update.
    Though I have noticed an increase since my update yesterday.
    Seeing as PlayTV including the DVB-T compatible HW was about £60-£70, I wont be too upset to pay a similar price for the DVB-T2 tuner.

  • el_pollo_diablo #4 2 years ago

    How much HDD space does a half hour programme take up?

  • Johnsters #5 2 years ago

    @el_pollo_diablo

    29min episode of the US version of the office was 0.6GB.
    1hr52min film (The Decent) was 2.5GB

    I put a 250GB drive in, and I have about 30 TV episodes and about 12 movies that I have to get round to watching. THere is 78GB left and I have about 25 downloaded demo/games installed too.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 10:43

  • Paulie_P #6 2 years ago

    How does Play TV work - is it through an aerial or broadband connection?

    Ever since Digital TV had to be reformatted in September I have been able to get less tv channels with my digi box and aerial combo. I can get E4 + 1 but I can't even get E4 for gawd's sake!

  • Sonic_D #7 2 years ago

    Play TV is my primary way to watch TV too. It's the fastest Freeview PVR I've ever used, as it should be given the horsepower behind it. Recording is easy and picture quality is good.

  • Mayernator87 #8 2 years ago

    I've changed to numerous other boxes, but allways come back to PlayTV. Hopefully this update will prove why.

  • SL33PY #9 2 years ago

    Unfortunately completely useless in countries where DVB-T isn't used among others Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, etc

    I wish they would make a cable version of PlayTV

  • siro #10 2 years ago

    DVB-T is being used in Germany though.

  • el_pollo_diablo #11 2 years ago

    Cheers Johnsters.

    Oh, sorry one more thing - do the programmes just get saved as standard, play anywhere AVIs (or MP4s)? You can copy them onto other things too, right?

  • septimus #12 2 years ago

    Good good. PlayTV already had the best SD TV picture I have seen so far, so if it is a noticeable improvement that is very impressive.

    Yes they get saved as MPTS. Just rename to .MPG for playback anywhere.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 12:30

  • elephant_stone #13 2 years ago

    PlayTV is my houses primary TV tuner and It is a fantastic application! Its pretty well supported too thankfully.

  • Johnsters #14 2 years ago

    Actually, I am very happy with PlayTV.
    If I am being picky it could do with another tuner(for dual recording) and series link.
    The later I think is to do with the BBC omitting the capability from the free-view standard.
    Maybe the DVB-T2 standard will include series link - not an expert on the subject so only speculation.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 13:57

  • ShinMegami08 #15 2 years ago

    With Remote Play, PlayTV is fucking brilliant. The interface is also very polished

    Just wish they would bring out a DVB-S version for satellite reception (which much more people could use in the world!!).

    Just sad, that in Switzerland you only get four channels (the official swiss ones). Probably this is going to change in a couple of years.

  • Lee_Morris #16 2 years ago

    This update has been out a week. I don't know why it took em so long to put somat up on the blog.

    I love the system though. It is mile and away the best TV ui that I have used.

    The only thing that is lacking from it is series record and access to HD. I doubt we'll get either now though as it has been out so long now and if they haven't implemented series record by now, they probably never will. We will need a whole new box for HD and it would only be any use the UKers so that is probably won't happen either : ( I would gladly spend another £60 for a PlayTV HD box.

    If all you have is a freeview box you should upgrade to this as it really is the bees knees (thin and hairy!?!)

  • Johnsters #17 2 years ago

    @Lee_Morris
    As I said in my earlier post, it's not the makers of PlayTV's fault that there is no series link, its down to the broadcast(ers).
    But I agree, I doubt we'll get it :-(
    I doubt other freeview boxes "series link" because of it.
    I'm pretty sure they will produce a DVB-T2 tuner, maybe next year as I think it's another tick in the 'all-singing-all-dancing' HD platform they tried to market when PlayTV first came out. Also, there are other countries in Europe may/have adopt that standard.

    Looking at the latest dates only Granada and the Crystal Palace regions will get HD freeview this yr.
    Here is a rough timetable taken from radioandtelly.co.uk
    Granada (Winter Hill transmitter) - 2nd December 2009
    London (Crystal Palace transmitter) - December 2009
    Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford and Newcastle - By July 2010
    Wales, Scotland and the West Country - 2010
    Central, Yorkshire, Anglia and Meridian - 2011
    London, Tyne Tees and Ulster - 2012


    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 16:14

  • TitianWarrior #18 2 years ago

    I have a Humax PVR and it does have Series Link. How well it works is very much dependent on the broadcaster. Channel 5 is rubbish (it records the repeats even on other channels), the BBC's works pretty well.

  • callum9999 #19 2 years ago

    @Johnsters: It's nothing to do with being missed out of the freeview standard. Every freeview recorder I've seen (including mine) has series record - and it is actually a requirement for using the "Freeview+" branding I believe.

    PlayTV looks good and I've almost bought it on several occasions, but the lack of a pass-through for the aerial, the lack of series link and its limitation of only recording one channel at a time rules it out. If they release a DVB-T2 HD tuner when Freeview HD launches, hopefully they will fix those issues and it would be the best box in the country.

  • drxym #20 2 years ago

    I wish Sony had stuck a USB port at the back of the new slim. Peripherals like this look really silly sticking out of the console.

  • Johnsters #21 2 years ago

    Hmm, was not aware of series link being possible on Freeview.
    Glad to be proved wrong, so there is no reason for it not being introduced into PlayTV.

  • parablax #22 2 years ago

    Re - the SD upscaling.

    Just got play tv and downloaded update.
    SD picture looks significantly worse than the SD picture produced by the upscaled freeview produced on my panasonic.

    Also with no aerial cable pass through and time it takes to boot-up software, it really is for die hard ps3 junkies (luckily I fit that profile).