The PlayTV is a new TV tuner peripheral from Sony that turns your PS3 console into a powerful DVR (digital video recorder) enabling you to view, record and pause live TV.

The PlayTV device is a small black box that connects to your PS3 via a USB cable (no additional power leads or power supplies are required). On the back of the PlayTV box you connect your standard TV aerial allowing you full access to UK FreeView channels.

Once connected, a new menu group appears on the PS3 allowing you to access the following 7 functions :

• Live TV – view the live FreeView signal on your TV via the PS3
• Library – access and organise your collection of saved TV programmes
• Settings – configure the preferences of your PlayTV
• Manual – view the supplied manual on-screen (will save a tree or two…)
• TV Guide – 7-day EPG, featuring the kind of slick interface that you would expect from Sony
• Schedule – at a glance ovewview of future recordings 
• Search – search the EPG based on keyword for matching programmers, e.g. all programmes with the word “Tokyo” in their description, similar to what was possible on the older Tivo PVR systems.

If you also own a PSP, the PlayTV is a must-have device, as with the PSP Remote Play functionality you will be able to control and watch stored programmes on your PS3 via your PSP!

Yes, all your TV content will automatically be available to you remotely via your PSP as long you have a WiFi connection available. If needed, you can also wake-up your PS3 from standby mode to enable these features.

Imagine being on the beach somewhere exotic and watching your TV recordings  on your handheld PSP. The PlayTV makes it possible (although what your doing watching TV whilst on a beach is another question entirely…).

Due to launch in the UK this year, the PlayTV release date has now been confirmed as September 10th 2008.