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PlayTV update adds SD upscaler News
PlayStation 3 News by Tom Bramwell
Sony has released a free update for PlayTV that introduces an SD upscaler among other new features.
Perhaps most exciting (relatively speaking) is the new ability to go directly to watching TV from the XMB, rather than having to click through menus.
Producer Mark Bunting announced the new features in a Three Speech video blog, adding that there are also new fast-forward and rewind speeds, and new volume controls.
The SD upscaler is "basically magic with maths", he said, providing "sharper pictures" and "improved contrast" to normal TV images.
"One day we want PlayTV to work in high definition," he added, "but we can only do that when free digital TV comes in HD, which at the moment only happens in France and Spain."
To get the update, PlayTV users who haven't done so before should scroll down to the "About" button in the Settings menu and click through to download. Those of you who have previously updated should have a Software Update button on the main menu carousel.
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Ornithophobe
03/04/09 @ 09:01
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Still no series record, without that I will never be able to justify it as a replacement for WMCE box + 360.
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bodypopper
03/04/09 @ 09:09
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The bit about France and Spain is misleading. When Freeview HD arrives the current Play TV box won't be compatible. Considering any new box will need new DVB-T2 chips for Freeview HD, it will probably be a bit pricey too.
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dr.glyndwr
03/04/09 @ 09:39
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@bodypopper, @neilka: "When Freeview HD arrives the current Play TV box won't be compatible."
We don't know that's true, actually. The signal reception bits of DVB-T and DVB-T2 don't differ very much, the main difference is the encoding standard of the bitstream inside the signal. As Sony are probably doing the decode in software, rather than hardware (god knows the PS3 has enough stream processing power), it's possible that a new firmware for the relatively dumb tuner box and new software for the PS3 side will allow PlayTV to receive FTA HD. It's the only explanation I can think of for Sony's confidence; they clearly pushed PlayTV as being HD capable and will pretty much have to issue refunds to everyone if it can't. |
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MaliceMajorE15
03/04/09 @ 09:45
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i dont think this update is out yet cos i cant get it. im anxious to see what this access to live tv from the xmb is, because i thought thats what i was doing, if it means in-game then i will be over the moon
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@dr.glyndwr The points that go against the upgrade the firmware option are that programmable turner chips cost loads more than hard coded ones, which wouldn't be economical for a consumer product like PlayTV. The other point is that their were no flashable chips on the market when Play TV was launched.
The simple answer is that Sony know what chips they've put in the device, they know the DVB-T2 standards so they could very easily announce whether or not Play TV can be upgraded and shut the likes of bodypopper, neilka, the numerous other people saying "its not possible" and myself up once and for all. But they haven't. |
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mcwildcard
03/04/09 @ 10:17
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Wow, well I already have PlayTV, so this is great news.
Sorry for disturbing all the moaners out there, most of whom probably don't even own it, you can continue now. |
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bodypopper
03/04/09 @ 10:17
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There are countless tuners for PCs etc on the market touting HD compatibility when what they really mean is in a general Euro sense (eg it works in France and Spain). It's just confusing people.
Being in the industry I was told only last week that Sony is closely involved in the development of DVB-T2 chips as it wants to get products out quickly. I would say a new box is the way to go. |
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tonynibbles
03/04/09 @ 13:33
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Nice. The image quality is already very good, this should push it well in to awesome.
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Concerning DVB-T vs DVB-T2, my understanding is that the way the channels are transmitted is different. Channel data is interleaved within one digital stream rather than being split into separate streams. If the device is just some braindead dongle that tunes to some frequency and lets the software do the rest then yes it may be that the PlayTV can do T2. If however, there is substantial functionality on the chip then it probably won't. I assume for example that the USB is returning raw stream data so it may be that the PS3 lets the the device tune into the data and it simply cannot work with T2.
Still, I think Sony should be in a position to say whether it would work or not. I'd also wish that Sony would make a satellite version, and perhaps even a hybrid version too. In some countries, not all channels are going to be the same through satellite and aerial and it would be nice if a single unified device could handle them all. |
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MrNyarlathotep
03/04/09 @ 17:02
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"But if this was possible, why haven't they jumped at the chance to shout from the rooftops that PlayTV is future proof? "
Because if anything prevented it happening it would be "OMG SONY YOU PROMISED HD TV, MORE LIES 4TH DIMENSION GIANT ENEMY CRAB" again probably. |
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MaliceMajorE15
03/04/09 @ 17:19
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i always wondered how sites get access to updates b4 us. if indeed they do. on second reading of the article it doesnt say wether they tried it just that it was announced on three speech.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 03/04/09 @ 18:52
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personally i think sony aren't shouting it's future proof because it isn't (by current expected UK standards). i think they decided to release the kit rather than wait for a global standard in HD as there are at present no guarantees where the technology is heading. UK are gunning for one standard while the rest of europe has another. personally i think they were right to go ahead. my PS3 has transformed since i got the kit.
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I don't think anybody really thinks Sony should say its future proof. At the moment the device is interesting but there are far too many open questions that need answers. The PlayTV website hosts an annoying flash app and an extremely vague FAQ. How about some adding some technical meat and potatoes for people who just want to know what it can and can't do, and what its capable of doing?
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AusFreelancer
03/04/09 @ 22:58
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napalm68 - the UK PlayTV works fine here in Australia, with the exception of SBS. Works with HD too.
Yeah, that's the thing, I'd get it mainly to record Top Gear, and that's on SBS...till that's sorted, I doubt we'll see it released here. I'm sure our version will be the exact same hardware as the UK's. |
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Right then.
Have opened up PlayTV box (4 screws hidden under sticky feet if you want to have a look yourself) Inside is a circuit board with 3 chips on it. One of the chips is a USB controller chip the other two are tuner chips manufactured by a company called DibCom The two chips are labelled as 7070PB1 A quick look on DibCom's website (Here) reveals that the 7070P (in fact everything in the 7070 chip range) is a DVB-T tuner. EDIT:Will take and post photos tomorrow.
Edited 4 times,
most recently on 04/04/09 @ 23:03
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