SCEJ's torne TV PVR: v3.50 Brings PlayStation Vita Support

[Shin-Ra]

www.torne.jp



SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN TO INTRODUCE “TORNE™”
A SET OF DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TUNER AND APPLICATION FOR VIEWING AND RECORDING DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING ON PLAYSTATION®3
“PlayStation®3 Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Recorder Pack,” featuring PlayStation 3 with 250GB Hard Disk Drive and “torne,” Will Also Become Available as a Limited Offer Concurrently with the Release of “torne” in March,2010

Tokyo, January 14, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. responsible for business operation in Japan, today announced that it would introduce “torne™” for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, a set of digital terrestrial tuner and application on Blu-ray™ Disc (BD) for viewing and recording digital terrestrial broadcasting on the PS3 system. “torne” will become available in Japan in March, 2010, at a recommended retail price (RRP) of 9,980 yen (including tax). Users can enjoy watching digital terrestrial broadcasting and record them on the hard disk drive (HDD) of the PS3 system*1 by simply connecting the digital terrestrial tuner to the PS3 system using the attached USB cable and installing the application from the BD. Release date will be announced at a later timing.

To accommodate users who wish to record TV programs in high-definition on PS3 and store a lot of high quality entertainment content already available on PlayStation®Store including games, anime, movies, TV dramas, music videos and more, SCEJ will also introduce a “PlayStation®3 Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Recorder Pack,” that comprises the PS3 system with 250GB HDD, the largest HDD capacity in existing models, and “torne.” The special bundle pack will become available in March, 2010, concurrently with the release of “torne,” and will be a limited offer at a RRP of 42,800 yen (including tax).

Features of “torne”:

● Easy to use interface
Applying the expertise acquired from game development, “torne” offers a user friendly interface, allowing users to swiftly and intuitively operate the application using a DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller*2. Users will be able to search through the electronic program guide or play back recorded content comfortably as if they were playing a game.
The colorfully designed 24 hour TV program guide can be zoomed in or out by pressing L1/R1 buttons, allowing users to easily find and select their favorite TV programs by a simple touch of a button.

● Recording and playback
The TV program search function can sort TV programs by genre or by keywords and will instantly list the results for users to simply select and record. Additionally, “torne” will automatically start recording pre-programmed content even when the PS3 system is in Stand-by or when users are playing games or using applications on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) such as the Blu-ray/DVD player*3. Users can also connect an external HDD*4 via USB cable to record TV programs directly on to external storage instead of the PS3's internal HDD. Additional useful features include quick playback and scene search for viewing recorded TV programs.

● Connectivity with PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)
Seamless connectivity with PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) allows users to transfer recorded TV programs to its Memory Stick PRO Duo™ (Mark2)/Memory Stick Micro™ for high quality viewing on the go*5. By using the Remote Play feature of the PS3 system, users at home*6 can connect on to their PS3 system using their PSP and remotely access the application to view or record TV programs.

● Various Online features
“torne” also offers online functionalities, such as the Internet browser which can be used simultaneously with the application, and unique “Toru-Miru feature” which can display the number of users who have pre-programmed TV programs*7 through “torne” as well as a user trend of which programs are being watched the most.

SCEJ will deploy various measures to further expand the platform to offer attractive interactive entertainment experiences only available on the PS3 system.

*1 BS and CS broadcasting are not supported. CATVs are supported for “Pass-through” type only.
*2 Separately sold BD Remote Controller (CECH-ZR1J) can also be used.
*3 To use the feature, users will need to activate it through setting. The “torne” application may not function properly depending on what software title or peripheral users may be using simultaneously. Application will not record TV programs when users are playing PlayStation®2 games on the PS3 system (for CECHA00/60GB model and CECHB00/20GB model only).
*4 Conventional USB supported HDD can be used. Please ask each manufacturer for the support of “torne”.
*5 Can be transferred to all PSP model including PSP-1000/2000/3000 and PSP®go (can be transferred to internal flash memory). Digital terrestrial broadcasting cannot be recorded directly to PSP system.
*6 Remote Play via Internet is not supported. Users must be in close proximity to the PS3 system when using the Remote Play feature. The connectivity range of the Remote Play feature will depend on user environment.
*7 To enjoy online functionalities, users must have broad band Internet connection and PlayStation®Network account. “torne” uses its own unique system to estimate the numbers. The provided information and its accuracy are not guaranteed.

[BluHavik]

I wish they would bring this out in the US. Could save me $15 a month from renting a DVR from the cable company. Or does digital terrestrial tuner mean it only does over the air?

[Shin-Ra]

Over the air only.

The box looks so much sleeker than PlayTV's and the green slash power indicator's a nice touch. I hope we don't have to wait too long for higher res pics of the UI.

edit:

[BluHavik]

Sony should look at a DVR type attachment. It would sell a ton and not that much to upkeep. You could pay high school kids minimum wage to update listings.. more then likely they could automate it and not pay anyone. If I do the math I pay $180 a year to have a DVR. Even if they charge $300 for it up front, it'd be in my interest to buy one.

I'm just dreaming for now but I can see the PS4 having a CableCARD slot in it. And being the DVR for your house.

[richieb1971]

Thats the point, you US guys are using subscription TV packages because your country is just too big to have an OTA service that suits everyone.

I'm personally waiting for HD compatibility, since the UK playtv does not accommodate HD because the UK decided to change system that the rest of Europe is using. When the updated box eventually releases I'll buy it then.

The JP version does look slicker and nicer overall. I don't like that it uses USB slots though, since new machines only have 2 USB's.

[Shin-Ra]

There isn't really any option but USB.

[Shin-Ra]

Trailer, Q&A and Feature breakdown added to the official site.

Nice UI apart from the font in a few places.

[Cplhicks]

Man, I wish we could get something like this in the US.

[ussrelativity]

I agree. We really need something like this for use in North America.

Sony has two other regions covered. We desperately need something like this here. For the US market not to have this is frustrating.

[Shin-Ra]

Boxshot of the 250GB PS3 Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Recorder Pack:



March 18th has been nailed down as the exact day of release for standalone torne and the 250GB PS3 pack.

[joeorc]

well this may be a good sign
for the US getting a version of this device.

example:

NTSC-J is an analog television system and video display standard for the region of Japan.

While NTSC-M is an official standard, "J" is more a colloquial indicator as used in Marketing definition (below) but not an official term.

what's the other thing:

It is based on 'regular' NTSC, but is slightly different. The black level and blanking level of the NTSC-J signal are identical (at 0 IRE), as they are in PAL, another video standard, while in American NTSC, black level is slightly higher (7.5 IRE) than blanking level. Because of the way this appears in the waveform, the higher black level is also called pedestal. Since the difference is quite small, a slight change of the brightness setting is all that is required to enjoy the "other" variant of NTSC on any set as it is supposed to be.

so the real hurdle is this:

The over-the-air RF frequencies in use in Japan do not match those of the US NTSC standard; there are also international differences in the frequency allocations for other services such as FM radio. The encoding of the stereo subcarrier also differs between NTSC-M/MTS and the Japanese broadcast standards.

so does the box contain both set of RF frequencies?
if so that would be a great thing for Gamer's to import because that does offer pretty good added function to the PS3, yea it may not work on Cable but over the air does have some quality program's ESP. program's from "MYTV" 6-2 some of the old movies they show are pretty cool bring's back warm memories.

[Shin-Ra]

Engadget's Tim Stevens can't read! "After a suite of delays and a confirmed launch in May" Sorry Tim, it's always been March, the previous story he links (also by him) even says March in the body of the story.

Better still is how this one made up delay is a "suite of delays" don'tcha love that BS?

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Engadget's Tim Stevens can't read! "After a suite of delays and a confirmed launch in May" Sorry Tim, it's always been March, the previous story he links (also by him) even says March in the body of the story.

Better still is how this one made up delay is a "suite of delays" don'tcha love that BS?

yea
so shin what do you think about my Q: do you think since the playstation 3 is region free is there a slight chance that this device could indeed have the FrenQ included that could work on the united states NTSC standard.?

[Shin-Ra]

I very much doubt there's compatibility.

[Cplhicks]

With analog signals dead in the US now, I believe so is NTSC, is it not? That was the old analog broadcast standard here. Now we're on the digital standard. Japan hasn't switched yet.

[Shin-Ra]

Released in a couple of days now so maybe we'll get some hands-on coverage?

[jibucha]

Hello

Without the ATSC Standard; it is utterly useless.

Sad!

Thank You

[Shin-Ra]

Apparently Famitsu rated this 37/40 10, 9, 9, 9 but is there any reason to believe they're more trustworthy for non-gaming products? But at the same time it's not such a high profile release you'd expect monetary pressure to be applied!

[AranhaHunter]

This looks pretty neat, EU has a DVR thing, now JP and Asia have one while America is behind.....

[Uxi]

I really wish Sony would revisit the PS-X concept of an all-in-one unit. The tech is there now that wasn't before. A couple 3.5" HDD bays... integrated AV-in and out. mmm.