PS3 to have DVR capabilities in 2008
We like the PS3, but we've often thought that it would be vastly improved if we could use it to figure out what sort of girl Bret Michaels goes for or if we were, in fact, smarter than a 5th grader. It appears that Sony has heard our prayers, with one marketing exec claiming that the system will receive a digital tuner that will allow the box to serve as a digital video recorder (a PS3-Vo, if you will) next year.Warwick Light, who runs marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment in New Zealand, set the beans to spilling in The Press, saying "We're also hoping next year – about the same time that Freeview launches its terrestrial broadcasting service (expected to be in March) – to release a digital tuner for the PS3, turning it into a programmable TV recorder." When can you expect to hear more? Well, we're just guessing, but we've already heard we can expect some fireworks from Sony at Leipzig. Also, Microsoft's been talking about offering this sort of service this fall, so the timing would make sense.
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jack of No Trades @ Aug 1st 2007 10:37AM
This is F***in great. Good job Sony!
whosmav @ Aug 1st 2007 11:04AM
Yeah!! Now I gotta get a PS3! Aw yeah! Thats hardcore!
DVR beyatches! We on the right track now!
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 11:05AM
Hey Jack...I would assume that you like Tool? If so, have you ever heard of a band Corporate Avenger? Musically they have very little in common...but politically, they are very similar. The lead singer for CA is the brother of Daddy X.
Bong tokin alcoholics....
Jack of No Trades @ Aug 1st 2007 11:38AM
Hard Gay
I will have to check them out.
Alex S. @ Aug 1st 2007 10:40AM
wasn't this a touted feature originally with the PS3? I could've sworn I read about it somewhere a while before release...
crazyyellowguy @ Aug 1st 2007 10:41AM
ps3 to have dvr compatibility...... for $300!!!!
Crono @ Aug 1st 2007 11:19AM
If anything, this is further proof that Sony intends to sell the PS3 for its entire lifetime at 500 to 600 dollars.
Don't hold your breath for price drops, just clearance sales.
Brian @ Aug 1st 2007 11:30AM
@crono
Seems more to indicate they intend to sell a $600 PS3 SKU for the entire lifecycle of the system, but its completely ludicrous to think they'll make this the only available system.
Crono @ Aug 1st 2007 12:01PM
@Brian
This is sony we're talking about. Its completely ludicrous to expect your target market to work 2 jobs to afford your product, or to buy a games console without any games, or expect them to mistake CGI for in game footage, but they did it.
This will be the next SKU after the 80 runs its course. After the 60 gb sells out, the 80 will run at 600 dollars until PS3-vo is announced, probably with a much larger HDD as well. Then, PS3 80gb will get discounted to 500 dollars until it sells out, and PS3-vo will hit the market at 600 dollars.
Now to be reasonable, a combo Blu-Ray/Media Center/Game Console/Cable Box/DVR is definitely worth the 600 dollar price tag (as opposed to BR/Media/Game Console, currently). The PS3-vo will not sell for less than 600 dollars. It may well be the last extra SKU they make.
Jacob P. @ Aug 1st 2007 10:41AM
It actually seems like Sony is taking the PS3 into more of a...home entertainment device, rather than a game console.
Which I really have no problems with...If I'm ever looking for a Blu-Ray player/TiVo, that also happens to play games, I'm sure I'll pick a PS3 up.
Curmeo @ Aug 1st 2007 10:44AM
a very welcome accessory for the PS3.
DVR capabilities on the 360 in its current state, im not too sure about. only 67,000 360 Elites have shipped/sold. the 20GB HDD isnt ideal for DVR capabilities, not to mention the RRoD issue.
Billiam247 @ Aug 1st 2007 1:19PM
Microsoft will never release a DVR add-on for the 360. They're trying to push Media Center PCs, and honestly, I'd rather have a Media Center PC with a 360 as an extender.
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 1st 2007 10:44AM
hope it works better than the terrible DVR i got from Comcast. I swear that thing locks up all the time
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 11:08AM
Screw Comcrap! Get Direct TV, in September the new HD sat. will start broadcasting more HD goodness. And the HR 20 (not the best either) is way, way, better than Comcrap's DVR.
Not to mention...Sunday Ticket in HD
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 1st 2007 11:35AM
the only reason I have comcast is they are the only cable internet provider in my area, and I cant go back to dsl since I use vonage for my phone. damn comcast.
copa @ Aug 1st 2007 10:46AM
The PS3 is attempting to position themselves as a high-end media machine to justify the price. If they offer a DVR service, it has to support High-Def programming.
In the States, that means CableCard support. Freeview ain't going to cut it.
When one of the high-end consoles provides a CableCard DVR service, color me very interested. But I'll pass on YouTube Deluxe.
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 10:48AM
Why is this a surprise? Sony has said all along that the PS3 is a digital entertainment device NOT just a games console. I remember reading an article in the now defunct OPM in early 2005 and in that said article it was stated that the PS3 will indeed have DVR functionality and also movies and music digital distribution.
The interviewer stated in his opinion that this is one area where the PS3 will have not equal.
Sony has a huge amount of music and movies that they own and of course will NEVER be on the 360.
So, as the future rolls on.....the PS3 will have the biggest selection of DL movies and music....and to top it off it will function as a DVR.
I cannot wait to put BSG in HD on my PS3 Hdd.
This is a marathon...not a sprint and Sony is in this for the long haul. They cannot implement everything they want to do at once if they want to make sure the quality is there.
2008 will be the year of the PS3...Home, DVR, Music and Movie DL, LBP, Killzone2 and I could go on and on.
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 10:50AM
no equal
Joshua @ Aug 1st 2007 10:56AM
Hard Gay, yes...
This is great news, though. I need something to replace recording on VHS and DVD. This would be so much easier.
I just hope it doesn't cost too much...
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 1st 2007 10:57AM
I'm still only buying one as a game console. maybe bluray movies, but i dont watch enough movies, really.
give me entire seasons of tv shows on one disc though, man oh man.
blooh @ Aug 1st 2007 10:49AM
is this going to be new hardware or come default with the system or what
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 10:51AM
Most likely it will come in a firmware update. And they will offer bigger Hdd's.
TJ @ Aug 1st 2007 10:56AM
And how would firmware get you TV channels? freeview doesnt quite cut it....and if you read the article....it says the ps3 will get a tuner...as in hardware tuner....I dont know where i would plug in my antenna to a firmware update.
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 10:59AM
The firmware update would encompass all of the software needed for the DVR functionality. There will be an adapter that will attatch to a USB port most likely.
oldest gamer @ Aug 1st 2007 10:50AM
Ah the PS3, the swiss army knife of gaming. Truly impressive.
whosmav @ Aug 1st 2007 11:06AM
Swiss army knife of gaming? How? What does DVR have to do with gaming?
Maybe s a k of Blu-Ray players.
Phranctoast @ Aug 1st 2007 11:46AM
swiss army knife of consoles would have been better so some people dont jump down your throat!
FrankTheCrank @ Aug 1st 2007 10:51AM
Wow, this is cool.
I guess I'll have to hold off on that Tivo Series 3 purchase. Sorry Tivo.
It's got to be some sort of USB/cable card adapter.
FrankTheCrank @ Aug 1st 2007 10:52AM
Also, I just threw in a 160 GB drive into my 20GB PS3.
$75 shipped from eBay. Upgrading the hard drive on the PS3 is as simple as swapping ram on a PC.
Thanks Sony!
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 11:00AM
Question...how did you transfer the data from the 20gig?
FrankTheCrank @ Aug 1st 2007 1:45PM
It was simple. You use an external USB hard drive, in my case a 300GB external 3.5" drive and the backup utility in the XMB(the media bar).
You run the backup utility, then slap in the new drive, then run the restore utility found in the same area of the XMB bar, I believe it's in the system area. That's it. It was that simple. Just make sure to purchase a SATA 2.5" 5400RPM hard drive, just like the OEM. IDE will not work and some say the 7200RPM raises internal temperatures, which makes sense.
Also, if your going to sell that PS3 drive on ebay, erase the data, using the format function in the PS3. Your PSN info will still be on there.
Paul @ Aug 1st 2007 10:51AM
IMHO, game consoles are meant to be an extenstion of your media, not a media server. I think Microsoft's strategy of using the 360 as a media center extender makes much more sense. I don't want to have to leave my console running all the time in order to record TV. PC's, sitting in an office or a closet somewhere are much better suited for this type of thing.
I'm also not much of a fan for the 360 IPTV thing. Actually, I think it would be really cool if they could do it without actually storing anything on the HDD locally. Rather, everything should just live in the cloud so when I want to go watch the latest American Idol it can just stream it down live instead of having to record it to my console first. Let the big companies invest in server side storage so every customer doesn't have to invest in hard drives locally.
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 11:03AM
Of course you don't. The RROD would be sure to follow.
The PS3 on the other hand...can be left on indefinently just like a PC. I am all for a single machine that can do it all.
Paul @ Aug 1st 2007 11:08AM
Oh, I am too, but I don't think that machine should STORE the content. That's all I'm saying. Putting a tuner in a game console is silly. That's a job for a server. Let my console of choice display my TV, let a server class service do the real work. The PS3/360 are both powerful, but not nearly as powerful as a building full of high end servers sitting out in North Dakota somewhere...
Grant @ Aug 1st 2007 11:56AM
"Of course you don't. The RROD would be sure to follow."
don't be so sure hard gay,
i've had my refurbed 360 for 11 months now, play on it about 15-20 hours a week, and use it as a media center extender for maybe half as much, not to meantion when i forget it's on and walk away leaving it on all night (well, until the 6 hour idle auto-shutdown kicks in).
i haven't had any problems with it besides that the alignment sensor has never worked on the refurb console, the stupid light constantly dances back and forth.
WiNG @ Aug 1st 2007 10:57AM
Sony's dedication to hardcore gaming is awesome.
In all seriousness this is good. Then again you can get DVR on your PC for about $40. One time fee. With lots of editing software included.
Evan @ Aug 1st 2007 11:07AM
They tried the same with the PS2! Remember the "PSX"? It bombed in Japan, and they scraped it even before it was going to be released in North America!
Zeus the God @ Aug 1st 2007 11:08AM
GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES!!!
WHAT DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND?! WE WANT GAMES!
Jesus, Sony has lost their minds.
"Hey, lets make a box that does everything other than do the job the person who payed for it bought it for."
"GREAT IDEA! We can call it the PlayStation 3 to lure in unsuspecting consumers!"
whosmav @ Aug 1st 2007 11:10AM
Exactly
Hard Gay @ Aug 1st 2007 11:11AM
Saysaysay......Patience my friend...in time the games will come. Remember the PS2? Yeah, it had no games the 1st year too.
There are plenty of good solid A and maybe an AAA title in this falls lineup. And 2008? That is the year of the PS3 baby....OOOHHHHKKKKKAAAAAYYYYYYYYY
Brian @ Aug 1st 2007 11:18AM
SONY DOES NTO MAKE GAMES.
for God's sake people, Sony is NOT a game studio and the people working on this would NOT otherwise be working on games. That's why Sony's owns studios like Insomniac and Big dog - to make games which is what they are doing.
This is a totally ancillary project that does nothing to impede the rate of game development for th ePS3 but simply extends what it can do.
whosmav @ Aug 1st 2007 11:22AM
Nah, no one remembers the PS2. I defnly don't remember my two ps2s that crapped out on me. Not at all.
And WHEN will people STOP comparing the PS2 to the PS3?
The game has changed up, deal with it.
The PS3 isn't going to magically start flying off shelves. And DVR isn't going to do a damn thing for sales. Yeah, its a nice perk for current owners but damn Sony, how about a killer app. That is what sells systems.
Captain Jody Anthony XVIII @ Aug 1st 2007 11:37AM
Wii sucks because there is no good games for it now. As for PS3, well just wait till 2008!
kidding, I want a PS3 BAD.
Jake @ Aug 1st 2007 11:11AM
Well, I must assume then that the input would be an adaptor for the USB, since the PS3 currently doesn't really have an input.
If this isn't too expensive (adaptor will cost something), it is a nice feature. You would need a bigger HDD to go hog wild, but even the 20Gb model PS3 would allow you to at least record, in HD, a show or game that you miss once in a while.
If it does HD, that would be much better as I already have a VCR hooked to my bedroom TV in case my gf misses idol or house. But can you do HD over USB???
I have often wished MS would work in some basic TV recording functions into their unit. Even with only a 20Gb drive, I can still record a few hours of HD programming and 4x that in standard if I am missing a Vike's game or something. That's all that I'd use anyways because I am not a huge TV watcher.
I know they are going with some IPTV action, but I almost have to assume that it will be overpriced. Early adoption of new technology, go figure.
FrankTheCrank @ Aug 1st 2007 2:10PM
These console manufacturers know it, 20GB is just too small for their big intentions.
I have a bunch of E3 movies on my PS3, some video podcasts(dl.tv, crankygeeks), pictures, music, games(PSN) and game saves. I went to launch FEAR(PS3) the other day and got barked at because I didn't have 2GB of storage space that FEAR needs to run. Games are storing allot of data on the HDD for faster access.
That's when I decided to upgrade to a 160GB. Point is though, these consoles, if intended to be used as multimedia powerhouses, definitely need allot more space than what they come with.
20GB is laughable, 60GB is OK...80GB is not much more...120GB seems like a good number to start at.
GearsMaster @ Aug 1st 2007 11:17AM
Another addon...I would say useless but I'm sure some people will use it.
I've already got DVR capabilties with my cable box. Why should this interest me?
sony should just go ahead and admit that they plan on the ps3 eventually being a cable box, DVR, "game" console, music player, BluRay Player, and any other type of entertainment/media device ALL IN ONE. I just don't why they created this clusterfuck of addons.
People already have most of these things.
If its free then it isn't doing any harm and its a great additon for ps3 users. However I don't know if it will be free or not.
Crono @ Aug 1st 2007 11:39AM
That is their plan, GearsMaster. This update won't be an add on, I can garauntee it. If you want this functionality, be prepared to buy a whole new PS3 in 2008 at a 500 or 600 dollar price point.
USB is not fast enough to stream HD content in real time. I'd be suprized if it was fast enough to stream the encoded cable signal from the wall.
Repeat, this will not be an add-on. It'll be a whole new SKU.
cc123 @ Aug 1st 2007 11:50AM
@Crono
"USB is not fast enough to stream HD content in real time."
YES IT IS. There already are HDTV tuners that work over USB. Stop making shit up.
Evan @ Aug 1st 2007 12:03PM
USB has plenty of bandwidth to carry the compressed video data:
ATSC digital broadcasts are compressed at 19.4 megabit/second. USB can carry up to 480 megabit/second.
Crono @ Aug 1st 2007 12:05PM
no. there aren't. The only HD enabled cable card devices for PC's are PCI or PCI express, both of which are considerably faster than USB. USB doesn't have the sustained bandwidth for HD content.