PS3 DVR, PSP messenger services announced

After years in development, Sony's console-based answers to TiVo and iTunes will finally arrive in Europe in 2008; IM and VoIP services also planned.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2006, Sony executives announced that the company's Connect service would bring music and video downloads to the Playstation Portable in two months. That didn't happen. March 2006 came and went with no sign of Sony's would-be iTunes launching to its multimedia-enabled gaming handheld.

Then, earlier this month, an Australian executive hinted that Sony was readying a digital television service for the PlayStation 3. Speaking with a New Zealand-based newspaper, he outlined a TiVo-like service which would allow the game console to be used as both a TV tuner and personal video recorder (PVR).

Today at the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany, Sony officially announced its multimedia plan for both the PSP and PS3. Collectively called PlayTV, the service will indeed imbue Sony's console with PVR and TV tuner functions, allowing users to record and store live television shows on the PS3's hard drive. The high-definition TV tuner will be two-tiered, allowing users to watch one show while recording another in resolution up to 1080p. Programs can then be transferred onto the PSP for viewing on the go, or viewed remotely via the PS3-to-PSP streaming functionality. PlayTV will also have a seven-day electronic program guide that can be navigated via the Sixaxis game controller.

While there's little doubt PlayTV will likely appeal to PlayStation owners worldwide, so far it has been announced only for five countries in Western Europe: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Sony has not yet announced any North American or Asian plans. Sony's Leipzig announcement also studiously avoided any mention of cost, raising the possibility that, like the PlayStation Network, PlayTV could be totally free of charge.

Sony also used the sprawling Games Convention--which has become Europe's top game-industry event--to announce a new messaging service for the PSP. Launching in 2008, Go!Messenger will be installed in PSPs via a firmware update, and allow text-based instant messaging via the portable's built-in wireless Internet connection. The update will also give the PSP an all-new keyboard system to replace the current predictive text input format.

Perhaps even more importantly, Go!Messenger will allow PSP owners to engage in voice-over IP chatting via a headset. Also, with addition of the PSP's camera peripheral, it will allow for full video chat wherever wireless Internet access is available.

No pricing has been announced for Go!Messenger. Codeveloped by UK telecom giant BT, the functionality will launch in January 2008 in Europe. Like PlayTV, no North American or Asian plans for the service have yet been announced.

222 Comments

  • Sonicgod

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 10:02 pm GMT

    TV is free unless you pay cable,. and recording is free as done By the hardware.

    If you are paying for DVR service they are over charging you to keep track of the TV guide and make sure you show gets auto recorded.

    That Is why I do not pay and I get the same Video recording as DVR service with a small PC with 4 500gb harddisk connected to MY HD cable. (2 terabytes in Raid array bigger than PS3 and most tivo boxes.)

    and since you can do this with a PC and have more space this makes the PS3 one near worthless it will not hold that much unless you Buy a huge hard disk.,

  • packernation31

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 10:37 am GMT

    This is crazy how are they gonna make tv viewing and recording free?

  • megamega777

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 5:58 am GMT

    Every month it's funny, when ps3 does a price drop, 360 follows.
    When 360 makes Internet TV, ps3 follows. They just rip each original idea off from one another. Soon or later, the question to buying a console is "Do I want to get $200 more to get Blu-ray or not?"

  • zero-G1080

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 5:14 am GMT

    too little too late sony, im selling my psp before the new one comes out in the UK. PStunes is good and all but i bought a psp to play quality handheld games and im quite dissapointed with the result. If sony wanted to bring this out rather than more good games then they should have sold me a video ipod not a games console

  • panteral3

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 6:56 pm GMT

    WHAT ABOUT THE DAMN GAMES?!?!?!?!?!?

  • Space-Q

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 6:35 pm GMT

    I'll believe it when I see it ...3 years from now...two and a half years after XBL does it.

  • digitalheadbutt

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 6:32 pm GMT

    I use it for movies as much as I use it for games so i would be happy if this came to North America. They do need more good games, but that isn't something they have complete control over. External developers need to get comfortable with the tools so they can make games that play to the consoles strengths. I don't see any first party SCEA titles coming; like an ICO2, Shadow of the Collossus2 or God of War 3, coming any time soon so waiting is what we will do. That or go get a 360 which I am unwilling to do. Sad times, no Mass Effect for me.

  • digitalpro

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:46 pm GMT

    When will Sony realize that they need to get better games out rather then bring out things like DVR on the PS3. I play my game console for ...wait you might be surpise to my aswner.... GAMES!!!!! Not watch movies. Or all the other things they want them to do.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:22 pm GMT

    Bring it to the US and Asia! We'll buy it for sure!

    Sony is definitely going to win the system wars!

  • lancezmfa

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:41 pm GMT

    USA ALL THE WAY!!!

  • juareza

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:25 pm GMT

    Bring it to the USA!!!!

  • Floms

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:04 pm GMT

    cant wait for it Playstation Rocks

  • dunny55

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:00 pm GMT

    i hate Europe now.

  • NDegree

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:30 pm GMT

    Record television shows in full 1080p resolution and free of cost. Video & voice chat on your PSP awesome.

  • EcoJak

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:17 pm GMT

    sweet

  • random-bob

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:14 pm GMT

    "This sounds kewl. lucky Yuropeans. They always get everything first!"

    What??? we never get anything: PS3 was 4 months late

  • pdurie

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:09 pm GMT

    Franwex, when has Europe got anything first, we had to wait months later before the PS3 even arrived and games are the same!

  • The_Tay-Man

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:06 pm GMT

    Reporter: "So I guess this is one step closer to delivering your promise of being the one stop media center."

    Sony: "That is true, we are very happy with our progress, now with home, messenger a Blu-Ray player and PlayTV we are the one stop shop for entertainment in the living room -Puts on a big fake smile-."

    Reporter: "What about some new games for your console?"

    Sony: "Ahh no comment"

    Reporter: "What about some new IP's? What after MSG4 and FFXIII?"

    -Sony rep runs off-

  • Neo1O1

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:02 pm GMT

    This will come stateside in due time. Because Sony knows damn well than to shaft the U.S. market.

  • franwex

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:48 pm GMT

    This sounds kewl. lucky Yuropeans. They always get everything first! Sounds expensive too though.

    I want teh DVR!!11

  • PSLinux

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:41 pm GMT

    that seems like a champ idea

  • Zazalon

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:00 pm GMT

    huzza it's coming to the UK! hahahahaha

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:27 am GMT

    how would this not apply to US and Asia, those are their biggest markets. Just give it time I want this to work well ... not be rushed into the US because everyones going "Great news! please let us have it in the states asap."

    Sony take your time on this one, any more big bums or bummers and this could be costly indeed.

  • pleaseblowdisma

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:30 am GMT

    Sony please let us get this in the U.S. OF A. THIS WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT FEATURE AND WOULD BE ONE GREAT FEATURE OVER XBOX YEA THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DOWNLOAD MOVIES BUT TO BE ABLE TO RECORD TV OHH YES PLEASE BRING THIS TO THE STATES

  • ericblue21

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:12 am GMT

    Great news! please let us have it in the states asap. @ c_rake what's your point to post a comment like that here? not everyone has DVR at home and it is great for ppl who own a PS3, I can record tv shows or baseball game that I wanted to watch but can't because of work or other reasons. To many PS3 owner this's a great feature to have, and we just love it.

  • c_rake

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:00 am GMT

    What's the point of having a video recorder for the PS3? There's already a lot of ways to record TV shows, do we really need another one?

  • blackace

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 9:23 am GMT

    My only question is, "How much is all of this going to cost?" Why is Europe getting this first instead of Japan or N.America? Hehe. Europe actually gets something first for a change. I do like that you can copy a T.V. show from you PS3 to the PSP. Video chat using the PSP will be cool as well, especially if it'll work with Yahoo, MSN and other video messaging services.

  • corbula

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 8:53 am GMT

    clyde46 absolutely we (UK) are always left to last

  • johnnyboy232

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 8:40 am GMT

    Man, I really want this to come to N. America.

  • nikefreak

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 8:22 am GMT

    sigh... Sounds like the PSPs LocationFree device, which Sony wanted 200+ for, to stream audio/video and live tv to PSPs over the inet, from a PC, etc. However, www.orb.com is able to do it for free, as such Sony locked down the PSPs audio/video streaming through the browser capability. This just sounds like more repeats of those fumbles, with their eye mainly towards raising revenues through additional hardware and services. Still sticking with the 360/PC/Zune solutions, but good for PS3/PSP owners who cant yet do this.

  • clyde46

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 7:46 am GMT

    at least we (UK) get something before our friends across the pond

  • ocdog45

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 7:28 am GMT

    all this stuff is crucial but not yet appeals to me

  • SetsuOkun

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 7:19 am GMT

    mmm europe was last on too many things now they'r first....guinea pigs? test subject to see if the game/service needs and where repairs/adds?

  • blackspyda

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 7:09 am GMT

    can't wait for play tv to get to america

  • OrianaDorta

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 6:58 am GMT

    Go!Messenger? that sounds cool!

  • sanjt

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 5:48 am GMT

    Will definately look into this when i pick up a psp lite.

  • Reetesh

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:41 am GMT

    The Streaming to PSP thing is a very futuristic and cool thing!

  • BewilderedRonin

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:12 am GMT

    A DVR? Hmm. That is a very smart move for Sony. I'm starting to rethink my position on Sony and the PS3. Though I still think Sony got off on a very lousy start.

  • jamalnos

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:10 am GMT

    Ha ha ha, amazing.

  • jacob-goodlich

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:09 am GMT

    all good things come to those who wait!, the future looks really good for playstation 3

  • KillerJamJam

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:53 am GMT

    All they need know is a keyboard that can be attached to the Ps3 controller. Start providing exclusive on line content were you can download movies and games and music. And perhaps even call the service Ps3 Live ... oh wait.

  • naveenkumarv

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:43 am GMT

    cant wait to try it out

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:39 am GMT

    this is good as I want to get a 26" hd tv for my room and with the ps3 I can watch tv and record it. and for long journeys I can put tv shows on my psp! though is this going to be analouge or digital. if it is free I would expect digital free view tv which is stil really good as there are a good number of channels on that.

  • Doolum

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:36 am GMT

    cant wait for that one to be operational.see how it does

  • onlineps2player

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:15 am GMT

    PlayTV looks pretty cool...

  • heretic92

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:38 am GMT

    hey devvy chances are well get it first in australia since we get stuff basically at the same time as europe normally

  • Simsyas

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:19 am GMT

    As for the people whining about the lack of games, didn't you see Wipeout HD on the goddamn front page? Wipeout always kicked ass and it will stay that way.

  • Devvy01

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:06 am GMT

    so we'll probably get it here in australia in 2010 after the ps3 has been super seeded by something else

  • blackhawk21012

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:04 am GMT

    I really like this feature thats going to be coming out on the consoles in awile. xbox 360 has a service too with iptv that was announced at CES 07
    it will really be cool because i dont have tv in my room but not for long. heres some info
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0GijX9SSjU

  • Petergeist

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:47 am GMT

    Wow, Sony just keeps getting better! I can't wait to get my PS3.

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