Sony Takes Aim At The Apple TV, Announces Its Own $99 PlayStation TV Set
by Joe White
June 10, 2014
We might have questioned whether the Apple TV should become more like a games console, yet now one games console maker is set to enter the TV streaming market with a dedicated product. During E3 on Monday, Sony unveiled its "PlayStation TV," a $99 set-top box that offers users a TV streaming solution while maintaining a strong focus on gaming.
The news reached us from AppleInsider, which explains that the product offers users the ability to stream video, music, and play PS Vita, PSP, and PlayStation One titles.
More impressive, however, is that Sony's upcoming "PlayStation Now" service will also allow its PlayStation TV to handle PlayStation 3 games. Plus, as AppleInsider adds, through connecting with Sony's current-generation PlayStation 4, the PlayStation TV will make it possible for users to "extend the gaming experience onto other televisions in a household."
Though the PlayStation TV's spiritual successor, the Vita TV, has already launched in Japan, this revamped offering is expected to retail in the United States and Canada later this year. It'll carry a price tag of just $99, making it a rival of Cupertino's similar-priced Apple TV product.
All of this means Cupertino is continuing to sell its Apple TV in a market that's becoming increasingly crowded with similar products which offer support for gaming.
Besides Sony's upcoming product, Amazon's FireTV also allows users to play games through their television set, and it even offers a dedicated gamepad in order to make the gaming experience all the more enjoyable.
An Apple TV refresh has been rumored for some time, and since WWDC came and went without a TV-related announcement, we're expecting news concerning a next-generation set-top box to appear during Cupertino's iPhone event or its iPad event.
Though Apple's product offers the best experience in terms of iOS connectivity, it seems as if gaming is becoming a feature many are going to expect from the next-generation Apple TV.
We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.
In the meantime, see: AppAdvice International: Canada To Get Wi-Fi Calling, Price Hikes In South Africa, Apple Publishes A Video Highlighting ‘The New Look Of OS X Yosemite’, and Apple’s Omotesando Tokyo Retail Store Is Opening Its Doors On June 13.
