Sony to Add TV Tuner, DVR to PS3 255
pjhenley writes "Sony has announced that they will add digital TV and DVR capabilities to the PS3 in Europe. TV can also be watched on a PSP using 'remote play' over WiFi or via downloaded recordings. 'The new box will feature two 1080p tuners, which utilize the European Digital Video Broadcasting system (DVB-T) -- which should dash any US hopes for the time being. The system will allow you to store recorded broadcasts on your PS3 drive, and also transcode and transfer the saved files to your PSP.'"
Before anyone starts to complain (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
but as for US VATs, what are normal VAT rates? wikipedia suggest between 0-9.75%, typically 8.5%
which still ends up being less then half the VAT of what we pay here, so we still get screwed
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
but as for US VATs, what are normal VAT rates? wikipedia suggest between 0-9.75%, typically 8.5%
We do not have VAT in the US. We have a sales tax, which is different. Merchants selling to other merchants items (or components like hard drives for inclusion in a computer box the second merchant sells) for resale are not subjected to sales tax. Sales tax isn't applied until it gets to the consumer. VAT is applied at each exchange.
which still ends up being less then half the VAT of what we pay here, so we still get screwed
Don't blame Sony or anyone else on that, blame it on the policies of the silly countries you live in. This is why the VAT needs to be removed before you do any such compare.
Re:Before anyone starts to complain (Score:4, Informative)
But can be claimed back by VAT registered companies, so it all works out the same in the end.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure I get the difference. Your definition of US sales taxes match the VAT one exactly. VAT is not included in any exchange between merchants, and, if it is, it is refunded at the end of the fiscal year. So the balance is 0 for the merchants and no one has paid taxes while echanging goods. At the end of the day, VAT is charged to the consumer only.
Re:Before anyone starts to complain (Score:4, Informative)
While at first, that may sound lower, the difference is that VAT is added into the sales price, Sales Tax is not. Therefore, while the unit is $699 in the store, you then add on top of that the 8.25% sales tax. This, in my area, brought the total of the PS3 to $756.67 Of course, the advertised price is $699. Very few places in the US add tax to their advertised prices, i think the exception is when advertising gasoline prices, and a few mom and pop stores.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Before anyone starts to complain (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Before you start complaining about the US price vs the European prices, always remember to remove the VAT from the European prices. Why can't Europeans bother to remember such a simple thing? List prices in the US do not include tax.
Fair enough, but taking the highest state sales tax [taxadmin.org] and the price of PS3 [ebgames.com] we top out at $535 USD max. This is still much cheaper than what you get in Europe.
Not quite there... (Score:2)
It's common for counties to tack on a percentage point or two to the state sanctioned amount.
Still not close to VAT levels, but it all adds up nonetheless.
Re:Before anyone starts to complain (Score:5, Informative)
Fair point but Amazon is offering the PS3 60GB version for $499 in the USA and £399 in the UK.
Take 17.5% off £399 and you get roughly £340 which, according to xe.com, is $683.
You're looking at $680 vs $499 for exactly the same product - even without the VAT, we have every right to still complain.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Before anyone starts to complain (Score:4, Insightful)
The exchange rate that ought to be of interest here is that against the yen, Sony being a Japanese firm. If the dollar is unusually strong against the yen at a time while the pound is weak, then we should expect Americans to get a good deal and Britons to get a poor one. But the contrary is true: at present the dollar is weak and the pound is very strong. If anything, the PS3 should be substantially cheaper in Britain.
The truth is that Sony will charge whatever the market will pay, and the market in Britain is well-known for its tolerance for blatant rip-offs.
Re: (Score:2)
Before you start complaining about the US price vs the European prices, always remember to remove the VAT from the European prices. Why can't Europeans bother to remember such a simple thing? List prices in the US do not include tax.
Well, USA is so great, everyone should do the same and think like us!
Including deceiving people on prices by never including taxes. Actually, you know what? VAT is on every european price as to make sure everyone is aware of the real price of things. But companies in USA are
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Including the VAT in the list price makes more sense to me, at least for consumer goods.
Then I know what I have to pay.
Re:Before anyone starts to complain (Score:5, Funny)
You should be paying Euros for the PS3, not USD.
What's this about!!! (Score:5, Funny)
Why aren't we getting it first?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Sony doesn't want to have another sales disappointment in the US. People will just get their DVR from there CATV if they want one that will just work however feature limited it may be. For those that want more features and are willing to do the work to get it working then TiVO will be the product of choice.
Too bad really. This combined with a PSP is pretty cool. You could watch TV anywhere in your home even out in your garden/backyard and tanscode it
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Why aren't we getting it first?
I know you said that i jest, but there is a reason: Europe is much further along in its conversion to digital TV (including HDTV) and the tuner they use in a DVB-T, the european norm.
US use the ATSC norm for over the air digital broadcast and penetration is not nearly as good.
Although, on this one, your are getting f***ed quite deeply
US has more fanboys...? (Score:2)
I gotta say (Score:5, Insightful)
So why do I still very much prefer my 360 over my PS3?
Games. The fucking games.
Come on Sony. We all know that it's a powerful beast of a machine, we know it can do a lot of cool shit...but how about investing in some more quality GAMES? My 360 gets FAR more playtime than my PS3...why?
BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO PLAY, SONY.
Re:I gotta say (Score:5, Informative)
Now, if there aren't lots of quality games to choose from by this time next year, there will be problems without a doubt.
Re:I gotta say (Score:5, Insightful)
Now look at what is coming to the PS3 in the next year.
I gotta say, just looking at what is on the schedule to be released in the next year, unless something unannounced comes out, it appears my 360 will continue to be putting in overtime while my PS3 takes vacations for months at a time...
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Ace Combat 6, Beautiful Katamari, Fable 2, GoW 2, Kengo: Legend of the 9, Mass Effect, Too Human, Viva Pinata: Party Animals....
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Another reason why is because I really do like the system. I like the graphics, I like the "feel" of it, I overall enjoy the system. I just don't have much in the way of games that I can enjoy it with.
Re: (Score:2)
Yep, certainly do hope that this time next year there are lots of worthwhile games for the PS3. I do have hope as Sony has never failed on that in the past...alas, there is a first time for everything...
Re: (Score:2)
There were MORE games on PS2 that I enjoyed and considered games every gamer should play, however my FAVOURITE games from last-gen were for the most part on Xbox. In addition, the Gamecube had some FANTASTIC games on it as well, but didn't have the same amount of quality or same number of titles that got me excited as either teh box or the ps2.
I think the reason why the PS3 is bothering me so much...I LOVE having a wide swath of games
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
The 360 has been out over a year longer than the Wii and yet the Wii has passed it in console sales. The first party games Nintendo is offering for the Wii (and the ones about to come out this holiday season) are their BIG games. Mario Kart, Metroid, Mario Galaxy.. Nintendo's going to start pulling away and it's not just because of their lower price or the
Re:I gotta say (Score:5, Interesting)
From a gamer's perspective, I'm a bit puzzled by the way everyone seems to love console wars. Personally I dislike exclusives. If they're on a console I own that leaves some of my friends unable to share in my enjoyment of the game. If they're on a console I don't own that's just annoying.
The Wii's great for gaming in general, because it reminds people in the industry that actual gameplay matters. Unfortunately there are downsides too - by making what would once have been a custom peripheral into the standard controller, Nintendo ensure that most Wii games will never appear on other platforms. That's bad news for game studios, because it means less revenue per title. And anything that reduces the profitability of titles is ultimately bad for gamers too.
But there is one lesson I really, really hope the other manufacturers take away from the Wii's success: keep the costs down!
Re: (Score:2)
You do realise that the number of games on a system, and the quality of games on a system is directly related to the number of systems sold. I would think that you have a vested interest in seeing more systems sold, for that simple reason.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I'm sorry...that statement alone makes me not want to even respond to your question any further.
Re:I gotta say (Score:4, Insightful)
And odds are by the PS3 makes sense, it'll be cheaper to have bought a 360 or wii today and a PS3 then, rather than buy a PS3 today and twiddle your thumbs in the interim. Gamers like games. They don't gain anything by denying themselves games in some odd form of platform loyalty.
That whole 'fan' thing is just silly.
It used to be XBox fans defending claims that their console has a worse selection of games with lines like:
'but it's more powerful!'
'b-b-but A/V quality'
'its doing better than the PS2 did at the same point in its release!'
and
'just wait until A and B killer titles release'
And now it's almost perfectly reversed.
Proving once again that people who talk about platforms and potential rather than games are only useful as comic relief.
Re: (Score:2)
If history repeats itself, the PS3 will be a success, and I'll likely buy one then. If it doesn't...then it doesn't. But anyone that already bought a PS3 and is ticked or surprised that there aren't a ton of games yet really shouldn't be surprised.
Heck, what was there for killer
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
The reason why the ps2 did so well wa
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I gotta say (Score:4, Insightful)
First, you don't buy games based on the percentage of all games that are over 80, you buy games that are over 80 (assuming that means good). So 360 has the most games over 80 - 3 times as many as PS3.
As a more complicated evaluation, you should not necessarily include cross platform in evaluating 360/PS3 unless there is a substantial difference in the games. This is what is bringing the 360 down - the cross platforms average higher than 80 - so if you remove them, PS3 will have even less games over 80 and possibly a lower percentage over 80.
The crux of this is the number matters, not the percentage. There was a massive amount of shovelware for the PS1/PS2 - remember? But that didn't detract from GTA, etc.
The reasoning (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
No, Sony is working to make it a fully assed Blu-Ray player [vnunet.com] to compete with the HD-TnA format.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
From what I understand, it's a very good Blu-Ray player. It's being a game console it's half-assed (or at least overpriced) at.
It will be crippled (Score:2, Insightful)
I just ordered a DreamBox DM7025 (waiting for it in 2 to 3 weeks) with two DVB-S (satellite) tuners. This one run with VDR and Linux. It can't do HD video but, well there are so few or interrestings ones in here...
And the DreamBox is will not block anything. If I can view a channel, I can record and broadcast it to my LAN via standard protocols and codecs to use with VideoLan.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You can capture unencrypted QAM channels on your cable. All the network TV stations like ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, etc are available in unencrypted QAM. In my area, even PPV content including pr0n is available! just buy this [silicondust.com] and use it with MythTV or MCE
almost worth the price (Score:2, Redundant)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Blame it on comcast... (Score:3, Insightful)
CableCard addons could have worked but comcast would have to certify the whole PS3 video recording "chain" and that would take so long the product would never reach the consumer in time for it to make a difference.
PS3 or not, i wish more devices could have DVR functionality. I want consumer cablecard in my MediaCenter/360 combination as well but that won't happen unless i re-buy my media center and bullocks to that! I also don't want Comcast flagging my content either.
OTA FTW
So what is the PS3 again? (Score:5, Interesting)
Even as a non-Sony fanboy (I'm a Nintendo fanboy), I do wish Blu-Ray wins against HD-DVD, if only because this isn't a Sony-only attempt at pushing their own crap (Memory Stick, miniDisc, ATRAC, etc) but it's even better than HD-DVD in capacity (especially future potential capacity).
And next week... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:And next week... (Score:4, Funny)
I'm going to go play some games on my Sega Genesis/32X/CD. Ah the simple days when a console was a console.
US doesn't have real standard yet? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:US doesn't have real standard yet? (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm actually really interested in whether anyone has some genuine insight into that, as I've often wondered the same thing myself. Why is it that the US, which is one country, apparently has so much more trouble to deploy some decent standards than Europe, which is a pretty loosely held together bunch of countries which couldn't be more different from each other?
Re:US doesn't have real standard yet? (Score:5, Insightful)
Because the EU isn't afraid to regulate when the market fails its citizens?
Completely off topic but... (Score:2)
Anyways, in order to make this post slight ON topic:
Before anyone starts bitching about how stupid it is to add PVR functionality to what is supposedly a game system, just remember the PSX (not the be confused with the original PlayStation). It was a PS2/PVR released in Japan a few years ago that sold surprisingl
One more reason... (Score:2)
Look at my precedent comment [slashdot.org].
Now you don't need a STB in the last line.
Both companies struggle for the dominance in the living room. Except that MS is torn between its internal divisions: they get most of their money by licensing software to hardware companies and with the XBox also are a hardware company competing with their licensees... I wonder if they're not limiting themselves with the XBox to not lose these licensees...
it slices, it dices (Score:3, Interesting)
Seriously, though. I like having discrete devices because stuff breaks and I like to:
1. amortize the impact (cost, etc.) of a breakage by having less expensive components
2. get components that do fewer things, but do them better
3. have a DVD on while playing a game. PiP, you know.
and several other reasons i'm forgetting just now.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Then you get an equipment rack like mine, which easily has ten devices in it.
How often does your stuff break? I know asking people to take care of their stuff or asking them to not buy garbage is hard. I couldn't convince my sister to NOT buy an APEX DVD player, she bought one and it died a year later, even with vent holes added to keep it cool. Maybe in the last ten years, I've had one of my AV components die on me.
Re: (Score:2)
I also don't see the market for discrete devices as mutually exclusive of integrated devices. Just because integrated devices are made doesn't mean that discrete devices are going away. This is true, even cell phones. People seem to whine a lot that there aren't any that aren't j
So.. Different SKU I assume? (Score:2)
(and maybe they should get around to finalizing the Bluray spec first?!)
In the UK you'll need a TV license (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Emacs! (Score:5, Funny)
Can it record while you play online? (Score:2)
If it cannot record, than its utility as a recording device is much more limited. My current PVR will let me record the shows I like while I play a console title simply by virtue of being a separate piece of hardware. Otherwise, they would be better off trying to add some sort of background torrent streaming so it can download programs
This is a great feature (Score:2)
The one concern I have is how this plugs into the PS3. I ass
Re: (Score:2)
I think the UK will get HD as the analogue stations are turned off. Sky is not in a strong position to complain about this. Besides, even an SD twin tuner costs something like £150.
Two 1080P Tuners? (Score:2)
But, with the horsepower of the PS3, it could make a nice DVR. The cell processors can be utilized to dec
So what's the market? (Score:2, Flamebait)
- Game console
- Blu ray player
- PC (I believe it was suggested at some point)
- TiVo
Now which one is it successful at being at? There is nothing worse than losing focus and at least with a PC you can do whatever you want with it.
Re: (Score:2)
Suggested? It's a supported function of the thing, called Install OtherOS.
It's not a zero sum game. Having Blu-Ray player functionality doesn't affect it's gaming stuff. (In fact games come on Blu-Ray) Being able to run Games doesn't mean you can't run Linux and do whatever you want.
Still Missing... (Score:2)
Seriously. If a game console can do DVR and Tuner stuff, then just add a CableCard slot and the days of the proprietary cable-co. box are numbered. Microsoft, are you listening?
Then again, if they can manage to get the price-point down a tad, maybe they can just make an OEM deal with Comcast or Cox, and be done with it. It would have to be better than the POS boxes they're using now.
Just wait... (Score:3, Insightful)
"sony" -- Webstr explains (Score:5, Funny)
1. To anger one's customer base in a flagrant manner. Ex: "2KGames really Sonyed us with that SecuROM stuff."
2. To desperately seek relevance in a market in which your success is dwindling. Ex: "Did you hear that Sony's going to add a TV Tuner and DVR to the PS3?"
No burner? (Score:2)
It's amusing to see how Sony has jumped the fence since the Betamax days. Now that it's big into music and movies, it suddenly doesn't seem quite so aggressive about marketing devices that can duplicate copyrighted materials.
additional features (Score:2)
For me to poop on!
no clear direction (Score:2)
if i were a game developer, i would no longer develop for the ps3. by making the people spend time with the ps3 as a pvr than a game console, my potential sales will be lost.
i just see it as,
father: i want to watch the show i missed.
son: i want to play.
father: sorry you should have gotten a wii. haha!
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Even if Sony did add this to the US models, you'd have some other silly reason for not purchasing the PS3. You have no intention of buying a PS3, no matter what Sony does.
Re: (Score:2)
What are you, psychic? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
One would think they'd only have to look at the Wii to figure out it really is still about the games. The Wii is old hardware, doesn't do anything very special, has some new controller mechanisms and is great fun to play...for many different groups of people (including non-gamers).
I'm tempted to get a 360, because it's got some cool games that I'd like to
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
draw seems to have lessened in recent years though since the new consoles are coming out on faster and faster release cycles (with the new advent of releasing 'better' versions of the same console during the console's release cycle - see the 360 elite as an example of this),
Actually, developers have complained that the multiple SKUs on the 360 have caused them to always default to the lesser SKU - they can't count on ha
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Yes. Which is why Nintendo is kicking ass and taking names in the marketplace, while making more profits at it than either of their competitors ever have.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
And you mentioned the price as being appealing, but I think it's actually the problem. Nobody wants to pay extra for their syrup. You
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
So yes this isn't useful for premium services and pay per view where the broadcaster insists on a secure path but there is a
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
How would 1080p make existing HDTV STBs obsolete? Didn't they get implemented with the full DVB spec? At least in the USA, TV tuners are required to support the full ATSC standard, which has 18 basic formats (and 18 more for the 1000:1001 frame rate versions).
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
However, when I now look at one of the specs for one set-top box, it says "MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 HP@L4" which would mean it could support 1920x1080 in 30 fps at max 25 Mbps if I read Wikipedia correctly. But it would output it in 1080i probably.
So probably I was wrong then.
Re: (Score:2)
Dear Anonymous Coward;
Install Linux, use XMMS, Enjoy. Works on a Playstation 2 with a Linux kit installed too.
SCEfoo