I've had less than stellar luck when it comes to digital set top boxes. My first one refused to respond unless I waved the controller like a mad axeman a centimetre from the receiver, and when it did pick up that I had pressed a button on the remote, it decided to make its own mind up about which one. My second recorder picked up a less than stellar signal, and my third had an onboard fan to rival a Formula 1 Wind Tunnel. So when it came to trying out Sony's own offering, you can imagine I approached the venture a tad sceptical.
Play tv claims to do exactly what it's name suggests; that is, turn your Playstation 3 into a fully functioning Freeview receiver. Not only this, but it is designed to utilize the onboard hard drive of the console, allowing you to record programmes as well. So, does it live up to its claims? I had to find out.
The unit is less than stellar in the design department (I've seen toilet brushes with more charisma), being a brick - shaped slab of black plastic with the iconic Playstation logo plastered onto its face. Sony could at least have made it the same lacquered gloss of the console itself.
Play(n) Boring: The Play TV Box, as seen on my wall - winner of the uninspired design awards 2008
Happily, though, aside from the drab exterior, Play TV makes up for this in terms of usability and a polished interface. Set up is simple; you insert the included blu ray disc into the Playstation 3 Proper, and are treated to a promo reel of video clips for PlayTV, all the while behind this the install is progressing apace. It took little time for this to be completed, and in the time it takes for a kettle to boil, I was ready to begin my review of Sony's efforts. A regular USB lead such as the type used to charge the PS3 controllers connects the PlayTV box to the USB ports on the front of the PS3 (why they never had one on the back, I don't know. Instead you're left with an unsightly wire protruding out from the front). From here, you simply navigate as you normally would in the Playstation's Cross Media Bar, to the brand spanking new option called, logically, Play TV. The red light on the unit lights up, and we're off.
The interface for PlayTV is simple, and merges the style of the main PS3 Home screen with a more Apple- esque cover flow effect to scroll between options for watching TV, accessing the library, settings, etc. The first port of call though is settings, where you set up the regular bits and pieces, and tune in your channels. This was damned simple, as easy as any other freeview tuner I've tried, and in fact was much better, providing you with more information on the tuning process than most standalone recorders. Once complete, it's time to see how the unit handles those channels.
Providing you have a strong enough signal, the picture quality of the channels looks reasonable. Unfortunately, at time of writing, PlayTV won't upscale the freeview image to near- HD quality, something of a shame given the power of the PS3 could undoubtedly do this if it was programmed to do so. Nevertheless, the image is watchable on my 32 - inch television without noticing any major flaws in the picture. Pressing the square button on your blu ray remote (which the PlayTV package provides a sticker for, for the new television controls) or controller, the Electronic programme Guide springs into life. Compared to EPGs on dedicated Freeview recorders I have had in the past, (one example being the Thomsom Top - Up TV boxes) PlayTV excels. The whole feel is polished, and looks just plain classy. It's easy to navigate. and selecting a programme to watch and record is simple as. One problem I had though, is that the programme information seems slow to load for some channels, though that could just be my own signal causing the slowdown.
EPG Love: By far the best looking Programme guide I've ever seen. If you're into that sort of thing. Ahem.
There are plenty of recording options available at your disposal. The first is browsing the Guide and simply pressing the enter button on your remote and selecting record. The selected programme turned bright red in the EPG just to confirm that you are recording. Another is doing a good old- fashioned Timer record, manually programming in the channel and times. The third option, which I haven't tinkered with yet, is using the search facility on the PlayTV menu to look for specific programmes and then select those you want to record. Recording is smooth, and the built in library is easy to access and review what you have stored. Sony have also added the option to move the video files to the main home menu for easy access, meaning you dont have to go into PlayTV just to watch your recorded programmes.
A downside though, is the system's inability to record two channels at once. Whilst you can watch one channel while recording another, you cant record two, and this really lets PlayTV down. But putting aside this, usefully, PlayTV utilises the PS3s ability to wake itself up, you can leave the console on standby and rest assured that a programme you have selected to be recorded will be, as the system will turn itself on and off with the littlest of fuss. Just don't hit the switch on the back!
Possibly PlayTVs biggest ace up its sleeve is the upgradeability that comes with being part of the PS3. Whilst I doubt we'll be seeing regular updates for the package, I would imagine that in due course, an update will be made available that will enhance PlayTV. Whilst most Freeview recorders can also do this, I've never seen it implemented, and seems far more likely in the case of PlayTV. Though this is just conjecture, of course, it seems logical given the already impressive array of updates made to the console proper. Who knows, we may be seeing upscalability of PlayTV in the future?!
So, to sum up: In my opinion, Sony have made a valid effort in their foray into the world of console Freeview viewing. It's certainly unique, at least until Microsoft unleash their BT vision Xbox 360 content. But for £65.00, is it worth the price? Considering you can buy a dedicated device for a similar price that upscales and records two channels at the same time, I'd have to say no. But, for those who have a PS3 and don't care about High - def Freeview, rarely record two channels at once, and dont want another hulking great big media box or remote control cluttering up their living room, then Play TV is a good buy. I found mine on the good old internet vastly cheaper than the RRP, so I'd advise anyone considering getting one to look here first before the High Street.
