According to Sony Computer Entertainment Australia, the PlayStation3 is evolving from a gaming console into a multimedia box that can bring entertainment straight into any living room.
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Sony PlayStation Network
Sony’s Playstation Network (PSN) is a subscription-free service that gives a user the ability to play online with gamers from around the world, send messages to contacts, and download free or premium content via the Playstation store.
SingStore and My SingStar
Casual gamers, particularly SingStar fans, can also access SingStore, an online store that allows you purchase, download, and sing to new tracks saved on to your PS3. Users can also share their SingStar photos, videos, parties, and performances by logging on to My SingStar Online, an in-game community for SingStar users.
Network Support
The PlayStation3 is also Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) enabled, allowing users to stream videos, photos, and music files from any DLNA-enabled device connected to the home network.
Blu-ray Live Support
The recently launched software update 2.2 for the PS3 enabled it to support Blu-ray disc Profile 2.0 (BD-Live), making it the first Blu-ray player with that specific functionality. Discs that support BD-Live provide users with ‘fresh’ content generated by the studios and may include ringtones, wallpapers, latest movie trailers, and in some cases, exclusive content only accessible to owners of BD-Live enabled discs.
PS3 PlayTV
Sony has also mentioned that its PS3 PlayTV will allow users to watch, pause, and record free-to-air TV when connected to the PS3 console. PlayTV can record one TV programme while watching another, record an entire series at the touch of a button, or watch programmes on the go via Remote Play on the PSP. The seamless PSP connectivity allows a user to set recordings, watch live and recorded TV programmes remotely on the PSP via a wireless connection or transfer video files to your PSP via USB cable. The PlayTV is expected to be available in Australia Q3 2008.
The PlayStation Portable also joins the PS evolution as it now comes with messaging capabilities, Skype functions, Internet radio streaming, and Remote Play functions.
The Go! Messenger for PSP allows for text chat and video/audio messages. Users can call their friends on their PC as well as on a PSP so long as the PSP is connected to a wireless network. The Skype function is also available for the PSP (Slim and Lite), giving users free Skype to Skype call and affordable landline/mobile calls anytime. Users can also choose from thousands of stations and stream audio with its Internet Radio functions.
Finally, the PSP can now link up to a PS3 using any wireless access. This feature allows users to access files stored on the hard disc drive of their PS3 and listen to music files, view photos and videos, and even watch recorded TV shows (with PlayTV function).
See: au.playstation.com
