Sony says it has no plans for revamped XMB, Netflix service

No real surprises here but, in a recent interview with GamePro, Sony's John Kohler said that the company doesn't have any plans to pull a Microsoft and redesign its XMB interface, nor does have any intention to offer Netflix service on the PS3 in the foreseeable future. More specifically, while Kohler says that Sony is willing to make changes "if consumers pound on our door loudly enough," it's not likely to make any "grand-scale changes" to the XMB "because it's something that's been so well-received." As for Netflix, Kohler expectedly shifted the focus to Sony's own download service, saying simply that "our efforts will continue to be there, because our customers want to own the content." Not surprisingly, Kohler didn't exactly invite any door-pounding on that matter, though there's certainly nothing stopping anyone that feels so inclined.
[Via: PS3 Fanboy ]

PS3 Video Store provides more reason to avoid DRM

It took awhile to shake out, but the DRM nastiness associated with the Sony Video Store is becoming an issue now that those tiny PS3 hard drives are beginning to fill-up. Turns out that if you delete purchased video to free-up space then you'll have to place a call to Sony customer service to authorize a one-time only re-download from your PSN download list. Not too horrible, after all, you can just swap out the hard drive yourself and then migrate all your video, right? Probably not -- as spelled out by the terms and conditions of Sony's Backup Utility:

If you perform any of the following operations after backing up, copyright-protected video files in the backup data may not restore correctly.

• Format the hard disk
• Restore the PS3™ system
• Move copyright-protected video
• Download copyright-protected video
• Play copyright-protected video that has a time restriction for the first time

In other words, your PS3 (and up to 3 PSPs) owns the purchased video, you do not.
[Via: Engadget ]

Sony's PlayTV DVR for PlayStation 3 gets unboxed

Time flies when you're having fun, but not when you're waiting anxiously for a new piece of kit -- particularly one that has been delayed numerous times. For Europeans waiting on pins and needles for the release of the PlayTV DVR for PlayStation 3, your time has arrived. Before rushing out to get one, however, might we interest you a short unboxing and a brief overview? No pressure whatsoever, though.

[Via: Engadget ]

How to apply for the US and European PlayStation Home betas

Simple, really. In the US (and yes, Canada), download the PlayStation Home theme from the PlayStation Store and you're essentially submitting your application to be an early tester for PlayStation Home's closed beta set to kick off at the end of the month. In Europe, the PlayStation Home beta selects you. Er, we mean that there's nothing extra for you to do since you've done it already -- SCEE will be selecting (check your eMail) its most active users on the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

[Via: Engadget ]

Life with PlayStation coming this month, not last

So, July ended without the launch of Life with PlayStation as promised during the E3 keynote. The delay is due to "a few procedural matters" causing the launch to push into "August." That means either today or more likely, nearer the 31st, PS3 users will get their hands on Sony's new globe interface for accessing real-time content such as news and weather from around the world. Hoozah?

[Via: Engadget ]

Netflix on the Xbox 360 gets demonstrated on video

Can't wait to understand what Netflix integration on the Xbox 360 will be like? Stop daydreaming and click on past the jump then, as Major Nelson takes you through the entire process on video. We could continue on explaining how easy it looks to navigate to one's Queue, press play and pop some popcorn, but we'd rather let the aforementioned expert handle that.

[Via: Xbox 360 Fanboy ]

Sony's PlayTV begins European rollout September 10th in UK

So much for early 2008 or even July for that matter. Sony's David Reeves now confirms that PlayTV -- the €99 PS3 TV tuner / DVR add-on -- will hit the UK on September 10th. The service will then march onto the continent before completing the European rollout in December -- Australia and New Zealand get theirs in January or February. Notably, the service will in fact record television in the background without interrupting your regularly scheduled gaming regimen thanks to the recent 2.41 firmware PS3 update. Phew, for a moment we felt threatened by a lack of manufactured distractions.

[Via: gamesindustry.biz ]

Microsoft brings Netflix streaming to the Xbox 360 for Live Gold members

After months of speculation and rumors, Microsoft just announced that it's partnering with Netflix to allow Xbox 360 owners to stream movies from their Netflix queues for no extra charge. Microsoft says the 360 will be the only game system that allows Netflix access for no additional cost -- which isn't entirely accurate, since it sounds like only Live Gold members will get access. Streaming movies can also be shared with your Live party, allowing you to watch content together. Users will have instant access to their Netflix instant access queues, but it's not clear what resolution the content will be streamed at -- we'd guess it's roughly the same DVD-quality res that Roku's Netflix streamer is getting for now, but hopefully that'll change when the service launches in the fall with the new dashboard.

[Via: Engadget ]

87% of PlayStation 3 owners watching Blu-ray movies? Survey says yes

Buried under predictions that 2012 will bring dominance for Blu-ray over DVD and breaking news that the PS3 just may have had a hand in winning the format war the Entertainment Merchant's Association 2008 Annual Report on the Home Entertainment Industry holds survey results showing 87% of PS3 owners reported they watch Blu-ray movies on their console. That's a stark contrast to last year's NPD survey indicating 60% of owners didn't even know it played them. We don't know what's behind the jump, be it better marketing/consumer education, or something wrong with how one the surveys were conducted. You can mull that one over during the fast money round while also peeping results that say 22% of HDTV owners think they're watching HD programming, but in fact are not -- not like we haven't heard that before.

[Via: PS3 Fanboy ]

Life with PlayStation in pictures and video

Pictures and video of Sony's new Life with PlayStation service have finally made their way across the Intertubes after yesterday's unveiling in Tokyo. It's pretty much exactly as you'd expect news and weather to be presented on a Cell-powered globe metaphor. Another snap and video courtesy of Digital World Tokyo after the break.








[Via: Impress ]

Microsoft denies Xbox 360 Blu-ray reports yet again

We're beginning to lose count of how many times we've been around this carousel, but just in case you thought yet another rumor would bring the Blu-ray-infused Xbox 360 any closer to reality, Microsoft's out to put the kibosh on your wildest hopes and dreams. Following up on the latest round of whispers that surfaced last Friday, Redmond proclaimed to GamePro: "As we have stated, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360." The statement also noted that "games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available." Right -- which totally explains your prior relationship with HD DVD.
[Via: Engadget ]