PlayTV

[Ace-Jury]

here is a little info on the pay tv situation in NZ. i assume our aussie situation may be similar

they mention before the end of the year, so there is still hope.

http://buttonmasher.co.nz/2009/03/30/no-play-tv-until-late-2009/

its not much but its something

[Mr_Oz_]

Tivo advert on TV last night.

Sony are going to start to loosing sales!!!

[Dr_MoShen]

About 10 months ago I finally caught on that PlayTV was another of Sony's string-alongs.

I purchased a Beyonwiz P1. Couldn't be happier with it. Very easy to use, excellent PQ and combined with icetv it's fantastic.

As an added bonus it seems that the Beyonwiz plays the avi files that the PS3 won't and vice versa.

I'd look carefully before buying the Tivo, rembering that you are at the mercy of the whims of 7 (you can't even opt out of firmware updates). 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/digital-life/home-entertainment/articles/tivo-users-cry-foul-over-upgrade...

[MartinPrague]

You say PlayTV in the UK is still SD. You mean hardware or software? I hope the hardware will be still the same and only new 1.03 software update will bring the possibility to watch the HD broadcasting. Is it right? 

I bought the PlayTV from UK but using it in Czech republic. It works well for SD. We have two freeview HD terestrial channels here so I would appreciate the HD release asap.

[onewa]

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MartinPrague wrote:

You say PlayTV in the UK is still SD. You mean hardware or software? I hope the hardware will be still the same and only new 1.03 software update will bring the possibility to watch the HD broadcasting. Is it right? 

I bought the PlayTV from UK but using it in Czech republic. It works well for SD. We have two freeview HD terestrial channels here so I would appreciate the HD release asap.

---

Yes, the hardware will remain the same - I say this with 99% confidence. You can use PlayTV hardware on your PC and record HD right now (if you have the right software and drivers). PlayTV already records HD in Australia (unofficially, it's not on sale yet), it's just that it is using MPEG2 for HD  and not MPEG4. So all we're waiting for is a PlayTV software update.

Welcome to the waiting room!  :-)

Message Edited by onewa on 02-04-2009 12:29 PM

[wilt64]

Here is a small update, not a lot but interesting. Could be worth while keeping an eye on this blog!! I may try and get hold of Mark Bunting may beable to get some updates off him.

http://www.threespeech.com/blog/

[CharlieWW]

HD is only in France and Spain!!!!!! What about, Italy, Czech Rep, Poland, Ireland, Sweden, Norwary, Denmark, Australia AND NZ!!!!!!!!!

[wilt64]

Sent this off to Mark Bunting...will be interested if I get some form of reply!!!

http://threespeech.com/blog/2009/04/playtv-gets-software-update/

Dear Mr Bunting

Here in New Zealand we have been promised PlayTV a whole year now (since we got Freeview HD 1st April 2008) and there has been delay after delay, 1st we where told April, then June, then August in September PlayTV (MPEG-2 version) was released in Europe and we where promised New Zealand and Australia would follow a couple of months later, then Dave Hine Marketing manager of SCEE New Zealand announced in a local magazine "PlayTV will be released by Christmas 2008" .....no cigar, in the mean time Dave Reeves announces "we have PlayTV lined up for January/February 2009....still nothing. I have sent Dave Hines a number of emails, he seems to be just as frustrated as us.

Just check out these forums, PlayTV here in New Zealand and Australia is a HOT topic (just look at the amount of hits on the forums)

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/forum/index.php/board,1.0.html

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1159251

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board?board.id=bANZ_PS3_general

So PLEASE give us some form of idea when PlayTV is being released in New Zealand and Australia.
Here in New Zealand on Freeview terrestrial we use MPEG-4 with MHEG5 EPG, EIT EPG only works up to 2-3 hours advance, audio is AAC and AC3 on the UHF platform.

This whole delay debacle has been a public relations nightmare here in New Zealand/Australia and someone need to step up and make some form of public announcement.

If Sony Computers delay this any longer I believe they are going to loose major sales as other PVR units are being released soon.

PlayTV will be a major winner here so lets get the ball rolling........

I all look forward to your reply

Kindest regards

Mike Foubister

[mrgeneric]

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wilt64 wrote:

Sent this off to Mark Bunting...will be interested if I get some form of reply!!!

http://threespeech.com/blog/2009/04/playtv-gets-software-update/

Dear Mr Bunting

Here in New Zealand we have been promised PlayTV a whole year now (since we got Freeview HD 1st April 2008) and there has been delay after delay, 1st we where told April, then June, then August in September PlayTV (MPEG-2 version) was released in Europe and we where promised New Zealand and Australia would follow a couple of months later, then Dave Hine Marketing manager of SCEE New Zealand announced in a local magazine "PlayTV will be released by Christmas 2008" .....no cigar, in the mean time Dave Reeves announces "we have PlayTV lined up for January/February 2009....still nothing. I have sent Dave Hines a number of emails, he seems to be just as frustrated as us.

Just check out these forums, PlayTV here in New Zealand and Australia is a HOT topic (just look at the amount of hits on the forums)

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/forum/index.php/board,1.0.html

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1159251

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board?board.id=bANZ_PS3_general

So PLEASE give us some form of idea when PlayTV is being released in New Zealand and Australia.
Here in New Zealand on Freeview terrestrial we use MPEG-4 with MHEG5 EPG, EIT EPG only works up to 2-3 hours advance, audio is AAC and AC3 on the UHF platform.

This whole delay debacle has been a public relations nightmare here in New Zealand/Australia and someone need to step up and make some form of public announcement.

If Sony Computers delay this any longer I believe they are going to loose major sales as other PVR units are being released soon.

PlayTV will be a major winner here so lets get the ball rolling........

I all look forward to your reply

Kindest regards

Mike Foubister

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Well done. Wish they would just come out and say what the problem is e.g. technical this or that should be resolved by end April or whatever. People will usually wait quite patiently if they're kept informed and updated.

Anyone have any news on AUS release date?

[Iceman_BJM]

Good email wilt.

i have about 2 weeks of waiting for an annoucement left in me then the K-Rudd's "fiscaling of my package" will be used for a PVR. lol.

seriously though, mid april i want a PVR or a SCE Aust./NZ annoucement. Preferably a SCE Aust./NZ announcement.

In saying that - the track record of SCE press annoucements says that in 2 weeks i won't be regularly checking this forum in hope of a release date & this will probably be my last post.

Good luck with your entertainment odessey!

Ben.