2008 November 12 2008
My analysis of Play TV: flipping with the gadget.
Play TV is even better pileup of what I expected after a few weeks of use. The trouble, as you know and if I am here to inform you, it has not yet emerged because the SGAE in Spain, those great friends of culture, want a good piece of cake. For my part, I purchased play.com for 83 euros, free shipping and cheaper than it goes on sale in Spain, about 100 euros. The trouble with asking so it took almost 20 days to arrive and when it has had more hits over that Poli Diaz, but fortunately it works like a charm.
Play TV is an encoder of DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) passing the HD signal and using the PS3's hard drive to record programs, so you turn your console into a deTV recorder with hard drive. Play TV is a black box (see photo) that connect the antenna to the TV and leaving the TV signal to the console via USB. Before proceeding, check out the video:
Program recording
Although you can watch TV through this unit, it really interesting is its recording function (see the TV through the PS3 seems unnecessary energy expenditure). The apparatus uses the guidance of DTT so you can easily record programs. Just browse through and select the program you can burn it without problems, also leaving up to 10 minutes of recording before and after if it takes longer than expected. Record and is very simple, but of course you also have manual recording in which you yourself can define all the parameters, which also include the possibility of doing daily or weekly. The trouble with the guidance of DTT is not perfect, many channels still do not have it and the rest is not as accurate as it should and also comes with many days in advance, though, as I say, you can always go Yahoo! TV, watch and record what's on hand.
From the menu, in addition to the guidance and the ability to watch TV directly, there is also a section where you can see everything you have scheduled to record. In this section you can make changes at any time. In the library you have everything available that you've recorded. Play TV in general is so simple and visual as promised.
It also has the option to record what is being seen to pause and rewind what you're seeing it live. It also operates luxury but I fear Play TV makes too Gigas reserves for this purpose. If you're watching a football game or similar, I recommend not activate it.
The recording also works while playing or watching movies, but you must activate it explicitly because recording can cause slowdowns and worst gaming experience.
Question of Numbers
After receiving the device, and with a 60 GB PS3, I barely had space facilities because of games and recorded games, which, to my surprise, take an egg and some of the other. After formatting I was with 47 GB Installation Play TV software just takes up 310 MB and a half hour of recording, which incidentally has an unsurpassed quality, 1.4 Gb is also true that the odd jig used for buffer recording what you are seeing live, but this option can be disabled.
Great news also can be updated as updates the console and can also bring Wifi Senar your PSP and watch your recordings on any part of your home, although I have not tried this because I sold my PSP ago a long, long time.
Unpacking and setup
The impression when unpacking Play TV is very good. Although crushed wine trip, everything inside comes to your location. The box, very attractive, also brings the device, a USB cable to connect to the PS3 and blu-ray disc with the software. The only catch is you need an antenna cable is not provided and it takes to receive the signal.
Play TV settings is, following the general trend, very simple. Just pop in the disc, specify your place of residence, time of day and little else. It is very important to start well when the console, since it is used to record, so before you install, make sure it is properly grounded.
Another new highlight of Play TV is that it needs its own power supply and is capable of running with the flow it receives from the console.
Conclusions
I have the remote control for Blu-ray, but I honestly do not recommend it. Everything is controlled very well with the command of the game, which also lets you save on batteries. I have not found great fault with Play TV. Great recording, updated, you can watch one channel and record another, let set, find programs through the guide, words ... The program also handles the console on and off as needed ... Well, that has fulfilled all my expectations.
My suggestion is that the mess now standard on PS3 redesign that surely are already preparing behind the scenes to improve the size of the console and save costs. Play TV is the last straw that makes the PS3 is the great center of entertainment in our lounge, beyond all other consoles in this regard. Now the console plays DVDs, DivX, blu-rays, records ... can not ask for more, but because of its price and that most games are better on the Xbox 360 will not be my first choice if I am not much interested in this aspect multimedia.
Among the bad, might note that the device does not have a great design, lightweight and seems little thing in hand. Is a typical device that hide behind the PS3 or TV. Also, do not bring the required antenna cable, which is a nuisance and, of course, after seeing the possibilities that open, 60 GB hard drive (which is 47 Gb actually) fall short. I paid 500 euros for my console and now for less money, others get even 160 Gb If I really need more try to put a new hard drive to console myself, because it seems it is not difficult.
* Update: I read in an article whose Spanish Edge main ideas on Play TV are:
- It is more expensive than DTT encoder, but much cheaper than a tape recorder. To watch TV is not worth, their advantage is as a recorder: Absolutely.
- They say the only low quality recording while playing: No I tried it, honestly.
- Since you turn the console until you watch TV spend at least 30 seconds: True, you have to selccionarlo the menu and takes a few seconds more. Again, to see the tdt is worth, I just use it as an engraver. It's his big black spot.
- We need another antenna connector. As only has one, forcing them to use a thief or dealer. Also, connect via USB is not very aesthetic: Right. Fully confirmed.
- Play TV does not integrate well into the PS3 experience: I do not give me that feeling, although it is true that new updates may solve certain problems of accessibility in the XMB.
Related Articles:
" I have my PS3 Slim. First impressions.
" How would you improve the PSP?
" PSP Slim & Lite: Well, but we want more
My analysis of Play TV: flipping the gadget ...
Play TV is even better pileup of what I expected after a few weeks of use. The trouble is that not out yet because the SGAE in Spain want a good piece of cake. For my part, I purchased play.com for 83 euros free of charge d ...
1.4GB per half hour? Unsurpassed quality say, based on the crappy resolution that has the tdt in this country, unsurpassed quality let me hesitate.
I'm not spending € 83 to record the trash TV that give all televisions. If you record makes up for Big Brother and the series of boobs for happiness.
When I say unsurpassed quality, I mean you can not overcome, that the recording is as good or as bad as you want to see, as the original signal, which does not lose quality. In any case it is not because of pileup.
And I assure you I do not stop to record Big Brother, but I like to record Insert Coin, sports I can not see because they've been working and half ashamed confess, also the pressing catch.
Hi, after watching countless forums that this product is not sold in Spain, I have to say, if it is sold. I've seen in the MediaMarkt and the gamestop, and 99 €, so you can buy it already in your country, and not have to wait.
A greeting
Ya ya, it has recently come
Anyway on play.com still costs 83 and shipping is free.
Good!
Jorge, thanks for the article to support deck that we are interested in PlayTV
I have a question about what you call black ¨ ¨ PleyTV point. According comment, really serves to record, not to watch TV. What do you mean by that? What looks bad on TV when we use the PlayTV?
So, what do you suggest? No, I do not see changing the cable and antenna that comes from the wall when I want PlayTV to record TV and when I want to just watch TV Is this what you would have to do to avoid that ¨ ¨ no black point?
Thanks and best regards,
Temax.
Hey.
Maybe I have not explained well, serves well for both recording and watching TV. The problem is that I think is a waste of energy have the PS3 turned on to view DTT. The logic is that the tv and bring him or be installed with a decoder that does not spend too much energy.
No, do not change the cable to do both.
Regards, George M
I would like a little thing I will confirm if you can. From what I read around, the Spanish version of Play TV not by any means that allows recorded video to be removed to an external HDD. However, the import version if you can export them or access them from the XMB and then take them to any hard drive (FAT32, of course) to use them on your computer, edit them, etc..
I'd appreciate me will confirm this, as I am thinking of buying one in blahdvd (which is 50 pounds) and without this possibility no longer interest me much.
Thank you very much!
I did not edit because I can. In play.com is the same price and Free shipping
.
The truth is that I have not made it because I have not had the need to export video, but it is assumed that the Spanish version is "capada" by SGAE. Anyway I read in the EDGE was not difficult to draw the video. Search around and sure to find how.
Incidentally, in the Play play.com TV is already at 64.99 euros without shipping: http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStation3/4-/3595202/PlayTV/Product.html?cur=258
How often you can record TV Play PS3 games you're playing or just used to record TV?
Only serves to record TV. The games also use the hard drive, but go the other side.
can someone please tell me if you can use with digital plus? we would have bought but did not manage to find the channels if you have not connected well if alguin know how to do and if it works with digital please explain it to me. thanks
isabella digital is one thing and digital terrestrial TV and sotrs ke only have in common are the name xd digital so you can not tune ke so
Hello, I've heard that for the new PS3 Slim, Play TV does not work is that true?, Because if so go bitch.
A luxury works for me with the PS3 Slim
L or bad is the program, which is a joke
in play tv can record videos of ps3 games? if so you will be able to see through the play 3?
I know you can not, at least I have not seen anywhere is an option for
I need to know if the tv play DTT broadcasts in high definition as I am of Murcia, and our regional TV "7 region of Murcia" broadcast in HD and I am particularly interested in the quality offered in the league and champions. I hope to answer, thanks in advance.
YES, it is Freeview and DTT channels pudes see in high definition, buy the import aprato, Spanish is castrated ...
A few clarifications:
Play TV works equally well on the PS3 slim fat as in, I was of 60Gb, now I have the slim and does the same function as in the fat.
With play tv can see a TV channel while recording another (great for sports).
Play TV is simply not a TV DECODER, you can not record images of the game when you're playing.
If, play tv is a high definition decoder, that is, you need to have the HDMI cable and a high definition TV.
Besides luxury of being the signal LD (low resolution), more and more strings that are broadcast in HD, now Tele 5, Antena 3, IB3, TVE 1 and Teledeporte are emitting their signals in a frequency for high definition.
Play TV is not castrated. I myself have recorded movies, soccer games, summaries and other events (such as the World Cup final in South Africa) and I got everything I wanted an external hard drive with your computer then burn to DVD without any problem.
The sound quality is high. If issued a film or a documentary in 5.1, just use the digital optical output of the console to enjoy surround sound.
If you have the console in the lounge, I recommend it, and do not have to go with multiple controllers to use Freeview, TV and the console, you just need to turn on the tv and go. If you want to watch TV tv put the play up, if you want to put the game play, if you've finished playing and want to watch TV do not have to go changing control to change the input of the TV and decoder use the "normal" that connects to the TV, just exit the game and you play tv.
I have it since it came out in Spain and my experience is VERY GOOD:
It is not castrated.
I have a recorder, a decoder and a game console in one command.
I can move the recordings to the pc and put them on a DVD.
I can watch a game while I record another something else.
I can make scheduled recordings leaving more than a week in advance.
I can play while I record something from tv.
Recordings can be programmed to be repeated monthly, weekly or daily.
If half of a program I need to call or go to the toilet or any other problem, I have only to give the "pause" and when you are finished talking on the phone or do anything I can continue watching the program from where you I stopped.
The only drawback I see is ... that does not have teletext but teletext who needs to have internet to see the "lottery" and a decoder with television news a month in advance?.
I recommend it 100%
Hello, I just bought the PlayTV and find the problem discussed above in the forum on the program guide. It takes almost nothing about the schedules of most of the channels, let alone the next days. Anyone know if this is what it is or no way to fix it.
However, the Sony Bravia takes 5-6 years that I have perfectly all schedules.
Of course you know if you can record directly from the tv to the ps3?
Thank you.