Sony Consumer Electronics Japan has released full details regarding its firmware upgrade for the DVD recorder-cum-TIVO-cum-PlayStation 2 hybrid, the dazzlingly stylish PSX. This follows a significant proportion of the machine’s functionality being ripped out just weeks before the PSX hit Japanese stores last December 13.
Sony has made a good attempt at restoring the original spec of the machine, with the upgrade made freely available to adopters in DVD format. The upgrades - made available yesterday in Japan at retail - are as follows:
Improved Hard disc to DVD dubbing sped up from 12X to 24X;
TIFF image support;
Playback CD-R and MP3 music;
Storage of MP3 files on Hard disc;
Expanded recording options;
Increased video-skip speed to 15X;
USB keyboard support;
Bug fixes – Various.
A second disc is in development that will seek to expand the PSX’s functionality even further, and is set for release on March 12 in Japan featuring at long last DVD+RW support, GIF file recognition, enhanced CyberShot Digital Camera compatibility and, interestingly for gamers, PlayStation Broadband Unit support.
With the PSX widely expected to be made available in the US and Europe later this year, it will be interesting to see if this retrospectively-applied functionality will be made available out of the box on day one.
Sony has made a good attempt at restoring the original spec of the machine, with the upgrade made freely available to adopters in DVD format. The upgrades - made available yesterday in Japan at retail - are as follows:
Improved Hard disc to DVD dubbing sped up from 12X to 24X;
TIFF image support;
Playback CD-R and MP3 music;
Storage of MP3 files on Hard disc;
Expanded recording options;
Increased video-skip speed to 15X;
USB keyboard support;
Bug fixes – Various.
A second disc is in development that will seek to expand the PSX’s functionality even further, and is set for release on March 12 in Japan featuring at long last DVD+RW support, GIF file recognition, enhanced CyberShot Digital Camera compatibility and, interestingly for gamers, PlayStation Broadband Unit support.
With the PSX widely expected to be made available in the US and Europe later this year, it will be interesting to see if this retrospectively-applied functionality will be made available out of the box on day one.
Companies:
Sony
Read More Like This
Comments
config 27 Jan 2004 19:16
1/5
The big question still remains...
Will PSX be able to change the channel on my Sky box, or cable, for that matter?
I'll bet it won't, so why bother when I can keep my PS2 and upgrade to Sky+ :(
Will PSX be able to change the channel on my Sky box, or cable, for that matter?
I'll bet it won't, so why bother when I can keep my PS2 and upgrade to Sky+ :(
Soong 28 Jan 2004 11:00
2/5
Why does that matter?
Would you really make a decision on whether you're gonna buy one on not based on that?
Would you really make a decision on whether you're gonna buy one on not based on that?
more comments below our sponsor's message
Doop! 28 Jan 2004 11:28
3/5
Soong wrote:
>Why does that matter?
>
>Would you really make a decision on whether
>you're gonna buy one on not based on that?
mmm good question, if i was spending £700 on a PVR i don't think i'd care if it worked or not.
People obviously will be buying it for it's PVR capabilites rather than because it plays PS2 games. If it can't change the channels on the STB it's not much use is it?
>Why does that matter?
>
>Would you really make a decision on whether
>you're gonna buy one on not based on that?
mmm good question, if i was spending £700 on a PVR i don't think i'd care if it worked or not.
People obviously will be buying it for it's PVR capabilites rather than because it plays PS2 games. If it can't change the channels on the STB it's not much use is it?
DoctorDee 28 Jan 2004 11:32
4/5
>People obviously will be buying it for it's PVR
>capabilites rather than because it plays PS2
>games. If it can't change the channels on the STB
>it's not much use is it?
Agreed, in the end that was why I got rid of my TiVo and bought Sky+
I'd rather have a PSX - for the DVD recorder, and the one less box in the lounge. But unless it could flip channels on Sky effectively, I wouldn't be tempted. And now I have Sky+ I prolly wouldn't anyhow.
Oh, what am I talking about? I'll buy one!
choi 28 Jan 2004 13:38
5/5
Soong wrote:
> Why does that matter?
Yes!
> Would you really make a decision on whether
> you're gonna buy one on not based on that?
Yes! Otherwise, I'd just buy the SKY+ box to sit along side my PS2.
IMO, the single most essential function of a PVR (aside from recording and playing back video) is the ability for it to change channel for me. This is the twenty first century. I don't want to have to set up my video recorder AND check the channel is set to autoview. That's just so 90s.
> Why does that matter?
Yes!
> Would you really make a decision on whether
> you're gonna buy one on not based on that?
Yes! Otherwise, I'd just buy the SKY+ box to sit along side my PS2.
IMO, the single most essential function of a PVR (aside from recording and playing back video) is the ability for it to change channel for me. This is the twenty first century. I don't want to have to set up my video recorder AND check the channel is set to autoview. That's just so 90s.