CES: PSP LocationFree TV details

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 5th 2006 at 3:30PM }

Sony was on-hand at last night's Digital Experience, again focusing on LocationFree TV--highlighted during the keynote. If you're interested in turning your PSP into a portable TV/DVD/DVR player, you'll have to first cop the LocationFree base station ($349; $299 with current rebate). The base station features a NTSC tuner with RF input, 2 video inputs (1 S-video), 3D digital combo filter, Ethernet port, and IR blaster.

With v2.5 firmware (now v2.6) you can control your LocationFree TV experience with an on-screen universal remote. Users can watch hometown cable programs, and then power-on the DVD player and watch a movie from any wireless hotspot in the world. Theoretically, you could use the LocationFree technology to turn your PSP into a semi-portable monitor for your home consoles. That is, you could watch (but not control) your PS2 on the PSP's screen--you'd have to have the base station and PS2 nearby to control the game.

Until WiFi hotspots are introduced into every nook & cranny on the planet, LocationFree TV has a limited range. Still, it's a fine technology for homebodies that are serious about television. With this setup, you'll never miss a second, even during trips to the kitchen or bathroom breaks.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fan @ Jan 5th 2006 4:07PM

I thought th PS3 was supposed to work as a base station. If it does this is cool news.

If it doesnt this is stupid. WTF wants to pay 300$ so you can watch simpsons on the nearest park wi-fi on a screen witch really cant be used outdoors.. Stupid megacorps ffs.

Grudge @ Jan 5th 2006 6:11PM

I don't remember hearing that, but I also didn't get a PSP until recently, so I'm paying a bit more attention now.

If that's true, and the PS3 does indeed act as a base station? Hate to whip out a corny Matrix reference, but: Whoa.

One_noc @ Jan 5th 2006 6:24PM

This sounds freaking awesome. Alright, 300 is a little expensive. But being able to watch TV/DVDs/Tivo from (largely) anywhere is amazing. I live in an urban area, so pretty much everywhere I go has wi-fi. I love the idea of being to kick back on my lunch break and watch a couple episodes of Family Guy or whatever else I Tivo-ed from Adult Swim the night before.

Its like the future is here: right now!

Abraham Borq @ Jan 6th 2006 3:36AM

Once again Joystiq's poor reporting does little to inform its readers, let me clear up a few things in regards to the PSP and LocationFree connectivity. NO I DO NOT WORK FOR SONY!

*Sony was on-hand at last night's Digital Experience, again focusing on LocationFree TV--highlighted during the keynote. If you're interested in turning your PSP into a portable TV/DVD/DVR player, you'll have to first cop the LocationFree base station ($349; $299 with current rebate). The base station features a NTSC tuner with RF input, 2 video inputs (1 S-video), 3D digital combo filter, Ethernet port, and IR blaster.*

Some what true but actually it costs $300 and a $50 rebate would make it $250, also integrated into the base station is wifi so while in range you can connect directly to the base station.

*Theoretically, you could use the LocationFree technology to turn your PSP into a semi-portable monitor for your home consoles. That is, you could watch (but not control) your PS2 on the PSP's screen--you'd have to have the base station and PS2 nearby to control the game.*

Ah... no this is rediculous, why even mention such a stupid idea, there is obviously a bit of lag (time varies due to connection of course) which would make playing any PS2 or other console game for that matter horrible, no one in there right mind would do such a thing and besides why would you want to when obviously you would have to have a controller right next to you so you wouldnt be too far from the base station in the first place duh!?!?

In regards to the lag I mentioned this does not affect tv watching, comparing the PSP to my TV showing a NBA game with about 3-4 seconds of delay which is pretty damn good for what its worth.

*Until WiFi hotspots are introduced into every nook & cranny on the planet, LocationFree TV has a limited range. Still, it's a fine technology for homebodies that are serious about television. With this setup, you'll never miss a second, even during trips to the kitchen or bathroom breaks.*

This comment right here really shows your lack of understanding, wifi is every where my friend! I can just about connect almost every where, cable and telco services give out wifi modems now, they sell wifi routers at target and walmart, in a large amount of urban areas the downtown districts have free wifi access, malls, libraries, business offices, etc. etc. I can just about walk down my block and connect to a hot spot on the side walk, not to mention how easy it would be to buy a usb wifi dongle and plug it into a non wifi enabled pc and thus share the connection, my point being it is very common and more so then finding yourself a ethernet socket to plug into.

I have been using the LocationFree unit for about 2 months now with fantastic results, I have the unit hooked up to cable and mediaportal pc so I can watch live tv and also my movie/tv show collection and even schedule for the pc to record tv from the psp and then later that day watch it! It is a brilliant piece of gear which does what no other can (besides slingbox) which is stream to a PSP not just a PC which I might add you can also do! Bundled together is PC software that you can use to connect to the base station remotely with wired or wifi. I actually have the PC software installed on my wifes little sub notebook so she can have tv on in the kitchen when shes cooking.

Anyway, I guess LocationFree PSP is too smart for the average user (or even 95% of the user base) people are just dumbfounded by its purpose and possibilites, do a search and you'll find only a small handful of brief reviews and almost no real info (case in point!) which is too bad.

P.S. I also heard rumors that PS3 will use this technology along with the PSP!?

Chris @ Jan 6th 2006 7:33PM

Abraham Borq thankyou for your informative comments, I too heard (although quite some time ago and certainly nothing new in the last 6 months) that PS3 would indeed feature LocationFree TV Technology. I sincerely have my fingers crossed for this to be implemented, especially as although tempted by the online community promises of the XBOX 360 I have held on for the PS3 + PSP dream. Let just hope Sony get the online strategy right this time rather than just the after thought for the PS2

For those of us living in the UK can I understand peoples lack of knowledge regarding WIFI, it has only just begun to hit the general publics attention here. I am of course excluding any seasoned gamers / PC / laptop / PDA users from this statement :-)

Best wishes

Chris

boo @ Jan 7th 2006 1:57PM

You don't have to be in range to watch video from your LocalFreeTV device. You can use the internet anywhere there is a hotspot. They demostrated it on Gamespot. Someone had the PSP in the studio and used the wireless internet to watch vids from his LocalFreeTV which was at his home.

I can't see SOny adding the tech to the PS3, its adding more cost to it. Unless the cost is very little for Sony

Adam @ Jan 8th 2006 9:52PM

I bought one of these and it was crap. The whole product design of the Location Free is flawed. Sony should have used a Wireless adapter in the product instead of the Wireless access point. This product requires you to have ethernet next to ur cable box.

JRM @ Jan 9th 2006 12:45PM

that's all great, but you still can't watch TV on the subway, the bus, the train, or the car trip to Grandma's. You have to be glued to a wireless signal, and usually those hot-spots already have a TV perched up in the corner--or you're at home!

bluvan @ Jan 9th 2006 4:05PM

What is really cool about this is that I could rig up a security camera at home and then be able to keep tabs on my pad when I'm on vacation or at work via the PSP. Or if you have pets at home or kids or whatever you could monitor them or whatever from afar.

Toby Udstuen @ Jan 9th 2006 6:46PM

This Location Free TV product from Sony is a complete and total SCAM!!! Sony has taken a page from the Microsoft Media Center play book. Sony completely blocks the PSP from playing streaming media over the wi-fi link from the web. So now you have ponied up the $250 bucks for the PSP, then Sony adds this location free tv feature, great, right! Then Sony hits you up for another $300 bucks for the wireless tv base station that in reality is a completely usless bit of hardware when an informed customer looks at the alternative products availible for wireless tv viewing. I have been running ORB TV software on an old 2.4 ghz desktop pc for 6 months now. Orb needs a tv tuner card installed which cost me $130 bucks for a dual tuner tv card from Hauppauge. Then you download ORB's software and create an ORB account. As long as ORB is running on your desktop pc you can literally view/record live tv, photos, and videos from anywhere that has a high speed internet connection using any pc, laptop, pda, or EVDO windows mobile phone. The best part is that the ORB software is free! So lets see 300 bucks for the Sony base station which only streams to the PSP or the ORB setup using your desk pc and if you have no tv tuner requires the purchase of a minimum 40 dollar investment for a tuner card. I have been floored by the great quality of the ORB TV software it has allowed my to watch my local news programs in realtime or schedule recordings while I am on the other side of the country flawlessly and I have also watched recorded video's over the web on a friends pc that uses a 56 kbs modem and found the stream surprisingly good if a little small. This whole product line from Sony is their way of SCREWING their PSP customers. This whole thing is just like when Microsoft started marketing their MCE software. Microsoft from the beginning decided that the MCE operating system was not allowed to be sold to users unless these users purchased an entire MCE pc through an OEM costing literally thousands of dollars, now after poor sales Microsoft sells the MCE software individually! This is exactly what Sony will find out after they find that no one will shell out 300 bucks to watch wireless tv on a PSP's 7 inch screen and by next year after poor base station sales Sony will release a firmware that allows the PSP to view streaming media content from any source not just Sony's solutions.

Dave Thomas @ Jan 10th 2006 1:24AM

I installed my Location Free TV on my PC and PSP in about an hour. It helps to watch the DVD first. The picture and sound are great. The remote from my PSP controls my cable box without any problems.

Simon Boyce-Maynard @ Jan 10th 2006 7:00PM

I went to best buys and bought one of the location free base stations to test out the player on my psp. It was cool to watch TV on it especially in bed but the $349.00 price sticker and the fact that I already have a sling box made me take it back. I hope the PS3 supports this feature or can someone just port the sling player to the PSP?

Yong @ Jan 12th 2006 5:06PM

2 words:

slingbox &, ORB

SONY, shame on you for blocking playing back streaming media from the browser link. But being SONY as you are, wuddaya care?

Eric @ Jan 15th 2006 12:03AM

I just looked at the requirements for streaming your content over the internet to your laptop when you are away from home. Does Sony realize that there aren't even any 4.1 Ghz laptops out there??? Is that a typo in the minimum system specs or is that serious?

Johnny @ Jan 22nd 2006 9:02AM

I am thinking of buying the location free base station, but i am a little weiry. I just have one question. Will i be able to watch live tv if i am at a hotspot. If so that is great i need no more. DVD's i can slap on a memory stick or watch them on my laptop. Now am i just able to watch local channels or every channel i have at home. I have pretty much every channel at home. I also have DVR at home. I would like just to be able to watch the news and things like that at work or around my work area. Their hotspots in that area.