Hi guys, just wanted to let you know that there is a great new upgrade available for PlayTV out now.

If you already own PlayTV then you now have the chance to get your hands on some really exciting new features, exclusive to PlayTV on the PS3.

These fantastic features include

• Series Link*: Never miss your favourite series with the addition of series link to PlayTV in the UK. (*Not available in Australia or New Zealand)
• Live Chat with friends while watching TV: Enjoy your favourite shows together with this unique new feature. Set up your own chat room or join an existing one and text chat to your friends or anyone on PSN without interrupting your TV Viewing. Up to 64 people can be in a chat room at a time and you can choose if you want your chat room to be open to your PSN friends, everyone on PSN or just the people you invite.

• Recommendations: recommend programmes to Facebook and PSN friends. Share your favourite shows, films and soaps with your friends and get them involved. Send a recommendation to your Facebook wall with your own comments or recommend it to any of your PSN friends. PSN recommendations appear as a message to your selected friends with your own message and a link for them to record or watch the show automatically.

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Hi guys, you may have heard in Andy House’s speech at gamescom that PlayTV is set for some pretty interesting extra features before the end of this year, so just wanted to run you through the new features with you on here. Although I’m in Cologne giving demos of PlayTV, I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have.

Just in case you haven’t heard much about this great gadget for your PS3, here’s a really quick look at the basics.

• PlayTV is the little black box that lets you watch, pause and record free-to-air digital TV on your PS3.
• Pause, rewind and record Live TV, watch one channel while you record another and even record programmes while playing games.
• PlayTV features an easy to use programme guide to help you easily plan your viewing.
• If you have a PSP, VAIO laptop or Sony Ericsson AINO phone, you can take all these great features with you, wherever you go. Remote Play enables you to watch live television in superb quality, access previously recorded programmes and organise your media library anywhere in the world. All you need is a wireless Internet connection.
• PlayTV also lets you upscale your Standard Definition TV programmes.

Now, check out the new features that will be coming to all current and new PlayTV owners, later in the year.

• Play TV is going to become an interactive experience with the great new ‘Chat TV’ feature. Text chat with friends and other PlayStation Network users while watching live TV, and without interrupting your viewing. This feature is a great way of interacting with friends while you watch TV, and especially great during the football as you can banter with your mates without taking your eyes off the action.

• The next new feature for PlayTV is a new premium programme guide (from ‘tvtv’) that lets you Plan your TV viewing 7 days in advance. You can also find tonnes of information on programmes and movies, as well as discovering new things to watch by searching TV listings by genre, actors, directors, producers and more. (standard PlayTV programme guide in Australia)
• You will also be glad to hear that PlayTV will be getting the much awaited feature in the UK, Series Link. Never miss an episode of your favourite series again. (Only available in the UK)
• Following on from the community theme of the new PlayTV features, you will be able to send recommendations for your favourite shows to your Facebook wall and also any of your PSN friends. People will be able to comment on your Facebook recommendations or even set a recording for the show directly from the PSN recommendation.

• The final new feature coming to PlayTV is designed to give you some added inspiration with ‘Community Favourites’. This feature lets you see what your friends and the PSN Community are watching and enjoying. So if you’re ever stuck for something to watch then just check out what everyone else is watching. (Not available in Australia)

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Hi, Just wanted to let you know that the guys at Cambridge studios are working really hard to develop some great new features for PlayTV. The next update for PlayTV is due later this year but testing of some of the new features has already begun.

I don’t want to give too much away and spoil the surprise but a little hint to one of the new features is that PlayTV will have links to the worlds most popular social network site, Facebook. Other great enhancements to PlayTV and brand new features will also be included in the update.

As soon as these exciting new features are ready for you I’ll give you all the details here on the blog.

Hope you are enjoying your PlayTV on your PS3. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to add them and I’ll be back on here on Monday to answer as many as I can.

I look forward to getting this update to you later in the year.

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Hi Guys,

We have now released the latest PlayTV software update (1.21) for you and here’s what it will do -

• Play TV now lets you Watch, Pause and Record High Definition TV for DVB-T standard broadcast. In countries that are launching free digital HD channels you will now be able to both watch and record them through your PS3 with PlayTV.
• Aino remote play support. If you get the new Sony Ericsson Aino mobile phone with PS3 remote play features, we have optimized the user interface of PlayTV for the mobile phone screen so that you get the best mobile PlayTV experience possible.
• Update of the PS3 to System Software 3.0. The update 3.0 for your PS3, if you haven’t done it already, will make sure that you have the mobile phone function in the remote play settings. You will need this if you want to experience PlayTV on the go with your Aino mobile phone.
• Better standard definition upscaling. We have managed to improve the SD upscaling feature of PlayTV so when you are watching SD channels on an HD screen they will look as good as they possibly can.

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Hi Guys, just wanted to give anyone who has PlayTV a heads up that on the 30th Sept you will need to re-scan your channels to make sure you can still receive all the digital channels through your PlayTV box. Simply go to ‘Settings’ choose ‘Set-up’ then ‘Channel-scan’ and your done.

PlayTV recently won the prestigious 2009 Pace/DTG “Best Contribution to Digital TV in the UK” award, which was previously won by Sky HD and Freesat. So if you haven’t got your hands on the award winning gadget that lets you watch, pause and record digital TV through your PS3, what are you waiting for?!

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