PlayTV update adds SD upscaler Comments by Tom Bramwell

How about a freesat version of PlayTv?

How about an Australian version of PlayTV?

Still no series record, without that I will never be able to justify it as a replacement for WMCE box + 360.

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.

Useless without a Conditional Access Module.

What about a cable or satellite version? Then I'd be interested

I must be thick or something, unless the update isn't up yet.

They really should shut up about the HD thing or UK customers are going to be pretty upset when it completely fails to work, for the reason stated above.

@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.

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

Yeah, it's not up yet.

@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.

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.

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.

@mcwildcard

Had it since day of release knew that it wouldn't do HD when I bought it. Not bothered about lack of HD and would buy a HD version. Just wish Sony would come clean and be done with it

Awesome update.

PlayTV is incredible, I use it every day. It by far has the best TV guide system Ive ever used.

Good news. It is nice to have as a quick replacement for each and every time my Sky HD fucks up.

That and it was only £40 for PlayTV, I don't mind getting another if they release a HD compatible one at the same price.

not up yet aghh!

Good news, love my playtv.

How about they release and update to get mine to fracking work!

/grumble grumble

Nice. The image quality is already very good, this should push it well in to awesome.

So is it out yet?

it still needs Series Linking tho'... c'mon can't be that difficult surely.

come on already!!!

Has series link even been implemented by freeview broadcasters yet? Last time I read about it ( admittedly a while ago ), it was mooted as part of a new standard but was yet to be implemented.

Any PVR with the Freeview+ symbol will have a series link capability

Does the PlayTV have AVC support? Ireland is adopting DVB-T with AVC encoded content there are even test broadcasts happening around my region right now. It would be nice to buy the adapter and be able to watch them.

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.

@drxym: If it did just dump signal data to the HD and decode it in the PS3, then they could just update the software. But if this was possible, why haven't they jumped at the chance to shout from the rooftops that PlayTV is future proof?

"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.

God damn it, why is this still not up yet? Bloody Eurogamer, you made it sound as if the update was live now.

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.

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.

Update still not there..... maybe it's a late April Fool :)

AusFreelancer - the UK PlayTV works fine here in Australia, with the exception of SBS. Works with HD too.

I'll probably get the Aus one if they sort that out and ever release it here.

The update isn't there yet. Still 1.02.

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?

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.

I would've thought it would have an upscaler anyway. But nice that it *does* do that.

Still no update. How about announcing releases when they are actually released?

How does everyone know it's not DVB-T2 compatible? My Bravia manual states it's DVB-T but it contains a DVB-T2 decoder but for some reason Sony don't advertise this in the UK.

why doesnty sum1 just open the play tv box up and see what chips arstalled dunno if u could tell anything from this just a thaught tho...

@wayneh
There were no commercial use DVB-T2 tuner chips in existence anywhere in the World when PlayTV was released. The only ones that existed were expensive programmable ones being used for transmitter tests.

@fiddie
I'm going to one day. As long as the chip numbers haven't been scrubbed it might point to an answer.

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.

Has the update shown up yet?

Nope, its still not up.

Jesus, how about reporting on something that actually exists?

Yeah, so it isn't just me, noone has found this so called update...

This ticks me off. If it was a day off the original announcement that would be ok. But this is ridiculous.

Where's the update then EG? Anyone?

its live now