PSN to expand to cameras, TVs next year?

By Oli Welsh Published 26 June, 2009

Sony workin' day and night to get ready.

Sony is planning to use the PlayStation Network as the basis for a broader online service that will connect a wide range of its devices, including TV sets, cameras and phones. This network might launch as early as spring 2010.

The news comes via an extensive Fortune article on the future of the Japanese technology giant.

"It is a kind of omnibus web-based software platform that will use the power of the Internet to connect the company's rich library of content and devices, creating a multimedia experience for customers that actually rewards them for buying multiple Sony products and services," the article says.

PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai told Fortune that the service "will overlay the backbone of the PlayStation Network but will be broader and more open". It would allow you to download movies direct to a TV, as well as making it easier to share photos between devices and friends, display and edit video, store media and so on.

Hirai said the "first glimpse" of the service would arrive next spring, but it would be a gradual process. "It's now a matter of what all the services need to look like for each device, and coming up with a rollout plan," he said. "It's like city planning here, and we can start small. We don't need to build New York City overnight."

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • Gurgeh #1 3 years ago

    No surprise, here comes Sony's version of the Internet...

  • Vice.Destroyer #2 3 years ago

    Somebody is dreaming of consumers having only Sony-branded electronics in their home. Sorry, but I am living in a credit crunch world. Sony products have always had a slight premium over comparable goods and it has been a long time since the Sony brand was a guarantee that you were buying the best product of its kind.

    When it comes to cameras, phones, TVs, laptops, radios, etc, buying Sony does no longer mean that you are buying the best. Very nice idea, but why does this have to be a proprietary system? Why not announce this scheme to be open to selected other manufacturers in a partnership? To force something like that through, Sony-san, you have to be a Yokozuna in all of electronics. And Sony is that no longer.

  • DFawkes #3 3 years ago

    Feels a tad desperate to me, but if it meant I could use Skype or something similar to take to people on their phones, it could be nice.

  • sneetch #4 3 years ago

    "It is a kind of omnibus web-based software platform that will use the power of the Internet to..."

    The power of the internet compels you! To buy Sony.

    @Vice.Destroyer
    Somebody is dreaming of consumers having only Sony-branded electronics in their home. Sorry, but I am living in a credit crunch world. Sony products have always had a slight premium over comparable goods and it has been a long time since the Sony brand was a guarantee that you were buying the best product of its kind.

    Very true, there's little to justify paying an extra 100-200 bucks on a Sony TV these days; it's just for the badge. Sony's "aspirational products" strategy will take a pounding in the coming years.

  • InternetRed #5 3 years ago

    It's a nice theory though. I mean imagine taking a shot, and having it uploaded or shared before you even get home... (or at least done as soon as you walk through the door, I have shots from my holiday from Feb on my DSLR that haven't been pulled off yet).

    However it's still a little bit of a dream as Vice said. I prefer Nikon and Canon cameras, and ok the TV and PVR are a Sony Brand, it's only because they were on offer, and they gave a 5 year guarantee with their products.

    Saying that though, I loved my SE K800i, and currently don't like my Nokia 5800. Soon as it's upgrade time, if SE have got a decent touch-screen phone out, I'm switching. SE make good phones IMO.

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #6 3 years ago

    "a multimedia experience for customers that actually rewards them for buying multiple Sony products and services"

    £ £
    >

    \__/
    Edited by 1 at 26/06/09 @ 11:07

  • _LarZen_ #7 3 years ago

    Sounds interesting! Bring it on Sony!

  • Bealsy #8 3 years ago

    I take it every caption is going to include a Jacko song today then? HAHHA

  • ardamillo #9 3 years ago

    I am enjoying the themed captions. Keep it up!

  • NickDude #10 3 years ago

    but psn sucks

  • ronuds #11 3 years ago

    @ Doom

    That's nice, but what does it have to do with the article...or the comments made here?

  • EvilBob_leeds #12 3 years ago

    I think you've got your troll filter on too high Ronuds - he was replying to the comment above about PSN

  • rhubarbandcustard #13 3 years ago

    PSN is a superb service, almost as good as XBLA. Still some catch up there.

    yes, Sony's product range carries a premium price but the quality is worth it. I would never buy a piece of electronics by another company if Sony have something similar in their product line.

    Cheap crap breaks and cheap crap is unpleasant to use.

    Sony all the way.

    *** this sony advertorial was brought to you by rhubarbandcustard***

  • ronuds #14 3 years ago

    :D

    Troll filter. I like it!

    But, yeah, missed that comment. Sorry, Doom!

  • EvilBob_leeds #15 3 years ago

    At the end of the day, there's plenty of people where I work who will buy a phone based on UI features they know that the manufaturer will provide, and because the menu structure, texting interface and everything else will be much the same as they're used to. The hardcore camera geeks are much the same - most of the Nikon guys wouldn't touch a Canon and vice versa. Sony offering some kind of common UI/account experience does kind of make sense. Will it help them shift a lot of units? Probably not. Will it help them shift a few to technophobes? Seems plausible.

  • Skooch #16 3 years ago

    Sony products irritate me. They persist with trying to push their own particular format of things, even when there is a common convention; I bought a Sony surround sound box only to find that the speaker connections require their own special 'Sony' connectors, I also bought a Sony Cybermax digital camera only to find it uses 'special Sony MagicGate' memory cards that cost many times more than the standard SD cards all other cameras use. I will probably never buy another Sony product again.

    Also, in regards to their ability to deliver, I highly doubt they will deliver anything soon. Look at their history with the PS3; either it is late or they lie. Being Japanese makes them culturally disadvantaged to move quickly in a fast paced environment. Yes, they can develop cool tech, but decision making in Japanese companies is painfully slow due to the fact they require complete consensus of opinion before moving forward, which often takes a very long time.

  • makeamazing #17 3 years ago

    So Sony are working on a product that they are trying to sell to people...no really..wow. Seriously why are people giving Sony grief for making products. If you dont like them or think they are too costly, thats fine...

  • EvilBob_leeds #18 3 years ago

    @Skooch

    I find it pretty ironic that someone who owns an Xbox would take this line of reasoning. MS have made a living out of creating software loaded with proprietary technology which either pays lip service to interoperability or disregards it all together. Their entire business model for years hinged around locking people into their products. Look up the whole OOXML saga for a more recent example of MS trying to foist a lousy proprietary format on the public in order to perpetuate the current status quo.

    "Being Japanese makes them culturally disadvantaged to move quickly in a fast paced environment. Yes, they can develop cool tech, but decision making in Japanese companies is painfully slow due to the fact they require complete consensus of opinion before moving forward, which often takes a very long time."

    I'm sorry mate, but that's just slightly racist guff.
    Edited by 1 at 26/06/09 @ 13:37

  • chubster2010 #19 3 years ago

    @ Gurgeh

    'No surprise, here comes Sony's version of the Internet... '

    As opposed to Microsofts version of the internet? With a 360 that doesn't even have a web browser and that can only access the services that Microsofts allows? Hmmmm?

    Edited by 1 at 26/06/09 @ 13:35

  • onyxbox #20 3 years ago

    @Skooch

    Sony's products are pretty open in my experience, they push their memory standard because they can but my PS3 support all sorts of things, SD, Flash etc. USB Memory, any bluetooth headset... i think it will even use a std. web cam.

    My Sony MP3 player doesn't need any special software (like iTunes)... just file system drag and drop.
    You can even install a different OS on PS3 and it supports open standards by having a Web Browser built in.

    PSN is Sony's version of Mircrosoft Passport/Live etc. and as I'm sure Google, MS, Apple etc.. they will try and support their system within their own products (why shouldn't they).

    So I'm sorry I don't share your opinion... and just as a side note... if you bought a Sony speaker system why would you want to change the speakers?

  • RexRunti #21 3 years ago

    Sounds like a good idea. However I suspect that if it works or is at all successful Sony may find themselves in front of the European Commission answering competition questions.

  • davisorle #22 3 years ago

    Erm.. As an answer to someone saying about Skype, you can already have skype on your cellphone.

    So you are telling me that according to Sony I would need to buy instead of my Samsung a Sony TV which in quality and durability is a million times better than the Sony crapy TV and also I would need a Sony cellphone ( I have a couple i collect my old ones but wasnt planning on getting another one cause they came out faulty ) and everything else Sony? lol you gotta be freaking kidding me. No way on earth I wouldnt buy electronics from Sony since i rather get me Pionner sound system, a Nokia cell and Samsung Tv anytime. Sony has high hopes for nothing. Sepcially expanding a PSN when the PS itself is going downhills.

    Like i said many times in the past. They really need to focuus on the gamer and their damn console since they seem to be missing the whole freaking point when it comes to gaming ever since they came up with the PS3. I dont know why its so hard for them to understand this. An Uncharted doesnt make a console. ty and hf

  • Ryze #23 3 years ago

    Sony can't 'do' software and network services.

  • nothing14 #24 3 years ago

    all my products are sony ... so I cant wait

  • 4thVariety #25 3 years ago

    As long as Sony has no online video store in most parts of the world, it does not matter how many devices can access the non-existing online video rental place.

  • mkreku #26 3 years ago

    Because of this threshold filter, I'm actually finding PS3-related threads without farticus trolling in them! I love it!

  • the_inchworm #27 3 years ago

    Not that anyone will take any notice, but please don't fall into terrible US-style journalism in an attempt to make yourselves seem more grown-up. Just because the New York Times links nouns together without using conjunctions doesn't make it right. A comma is not a substitute for the word 'and'.

  • Skooch #28 3 years ago

    @ EvilBob_Leeds

    There is a difference between creating the standard and ignoring the standard. Also, if you had ever worked in a Japanese company you would understand my comment. Crying racism is pathetic, ignorant and rude. Accepting there are differences in culture between Japanese and American companies is not racist whatsoever. The fact you ignored my comment about them being able to produce cool technology is telling.

  • EvilBob_leeds #29 3 years ago

    MS have ignored existing standards plenty of times. Javascript for example - Microsoft chose to ignore it and instead to develop and push the greatly inferior VB Script. The OOXML example I quoted was another prime example. In what way is MS's OOXML campaign not a clear cut case of them ignoring an existing standard?

    I'm sorry but claiming that Sony or whoever are incapable of turning around a quick technical decision because they're Japanese is a bit racist.

    If you've worked for a Japanese tech company as a programmer then fair enough, you can speak for that company. If your experience comes from working as a programmer for SCEE themeselves then you're qualified to speak for SCEE and to some extent SCEJ. But certainly not all Japanese tech companies. Personally I've coded for several different companies in England, and my experience of incorporating new technologies and the Prototyping - Developing - QA/Testing - patching/distributing cycle at each of them has been radically different. I can't claim to speak for all English tech firms despite having worked for a bunch of them, being English and having a pretty good grasp of English Corporate culture; far, far less can you claim to speak for all Japanese tech firms.

    The fact you ignored my comment about them being able to produce cool technology is telling.

    It's a pointless comment. Any company, Japanese or otherwise, is capable of knocking out cool tech - it's indicative of the company in questions R&D budget, not some facet of their national character. Truth be told I thought it was a bit patronising.

    And, while I'm here @davisorle

    They really need to focuus on the gamer and their damn console since they seem to be missing the whole freaking point when it comes to gaming ever since they came up with the PS3.

    Both the XBOX and the PS3 are having decent (80% + ) games knocked out for them at roughly the same rate. They're focusing just fine last time I checked and the line up for the next year is pretty tasty.

    I dont know why its so hard for them to understand this

    Yes. God only knows why they don't jump on the ideas of random internet posters who don't own PS3s. It's a total mystery to all of us.