PS3 to become a digital video recorder

Sony has announced it is putting out a tuner that will allow PS3 owners to turn their console into a digital video recorder. This new hardware, called Play TV, lets users store digital television shows in their hard drive and then watch them anytime or broadcast them to a Sony PSP over a wireless network using a LocationFree Player. Play TV will be first introduced in the UK, Germany, France and Spain early 2008.

Sony also announced a messenger service for the PSP that will allow users to make phone calls and send text messages. This service, called Go! Messenger, will be released in January 2008.

Both sound like great additions for the PS3 and PSP but I don’t know why Sony just keeps on finding other uses for devices which originally were intended as video game consoles. I know that good games have been a little scarce for both consoles and they have to find other uses for them but in my opinion these efforts should be focused on developing games.

PS3 has been recently touted as a cheap Blu-ray player and now it’s going to double up as a TiVo and the PSP is going to turn into a cell phone or a web messenger. As a PSP owner (one recently screwed by Sony with a cheaper and better version) I would like it to be a great games device first and then whatever gadget they want it to be. Although I don’t have a PS3 now, if I ever get one, I won’t want my Sixaxis controllers ending up as remotes for my entertainment center.

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