If you’ve ever wished you could find everything you need to start your day on your PLAYSTATION 3, Life with PlayStation give you one more reason to do so. This free service delivers a new way for you to utilize your PS3 to instantly access real-time news and information like weather updates from over 60 cities around the world.
Life with PlayStation provides a stunning interactive globe, a 3D world map that you can twirl around to see live cloud movement courtesy of the University of Wisconsin, combined with up-to-date weather information from the Weather Channel, top news headlines provided by Google news, and live web cam images via the Earth Television Network — all localized to the select city. And why not have your favorite soundtrack playing in the background while you go through your morning ritual (just think, no TV commercials and teasers to find out if you need to bring an umbrella to work)? You’re on your own for your morning caffeine fix.
For those following the progress of Hurricane Ike throughout last week, we were able to track the storm’s real-time movement from Life with PlayStation. (See the screenshots below)
We’re also really excited to share that this new lifestyle service is running in parallel with our Folding@home project. Essentially, this means that while you’re taking a stroll on Life with PlayStation, you’re automatically helping Stanford University to work towards curing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and various types of cancers. For those familiar with Folding@home, we’ve made some enhancements for more advanced simulations of protein folding and support for wider variety of simulations, in addition to adding a unique ranking system showcasing top contributors from around the world.
I’ve also put together a quick video demo to make sure you’re checking out all the new features here:
Life with PlayStation is now available for download by selecting the Folding@home icon under “Network” on the XMB. Give it a whirl, we look forward to reading your feedback.
@Onna76_NL…
oh well,,,few fixes here anyways…glad to help..
Just people need to relax a bit, before taking it out on Sony….wow !
Most likely it’s the USER not the application.
Remember it’s new…there are bound to be a few bugs.
Heck, if anyone wants to be a Beta tester, expect these things to happen.
It seems to run very smooth, but I would like to see more customization, like being able to see the weather in my city.
Anyone else remember when a game console was a game console? I’m sorry “Life with Playstation” is pointless, I have a computer to get that information, I also have a tv, radio and other devices that’s sole purpose is getting me information like this, and usually comes with out me needing to turn on a system and wait for the boot up (my pc is always on, and it’s quicker to grab info on that since it also gets me my email, and I can get further information from the sources I choose.)
I still wait for the day that I can just turn on my Playstation and play games like I do with my other game consoles. Sadly the only two games I’ve played on the system this year is MGS4, and Disgaea 3, both excellent games, but I’m not seeing any games until next year that I really want to play.
YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D
@304
So the problem isn’t lack of games it is your taste in games.
Maybe you should have looked at the upcoming releases before buying the PS3 then?
Sony Rocks? Sorry, Sony, your producers suck. How could you implement a program for a device that you want to dominate the media living room and not put a zoom feature in the browser? (A feature that is already available in your PS3 browser.) Because of this oversight, the news section of this application is completely useless. You’ve got to get those QA testers away from their expensive HD workstations and plant them 10 feet away from an HDTV to evaluate your interfaces. This is a real bush league effort and if I was running software development, I’ve have the producer of this thing in my office, NOW!
Here’s another reason that Nintendo is kicking your ass. Their news service has the intelligence to reformat the text to suit the Wii’s lower-rez display and, as a result, the display context of most users.
You have a terrific piece of hardware. I love my PS3, but you’ve got to get some professionals on your in-house development team, boys. This is shameful.
Don’t know about the display problems.
I have a 5 year old 44 inch Toshiba DLP tv and I see everything just fine…perfect resolution.
It’s a bit small, but I still can read it..
Maybe zoom is the next update ?
It’s awesome! But how do u zoom into the news articles? the txt is too small can’t read it sitting away from my 32″ tv have to get up close to read it.
Xenophon said:
for I am surrounded by rabid Nintendo “fanboys”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lol you do realize you’re on a PS Blog? :-D
Have the client update from within the program, don’t have it kick back to the XMB, for some of us our routers reset when it does that and needless to say this was a pretty frustrating download.
Personally I think they should have kept f@h separate, hopefully in future updates I will like this program more but as of right now I don’t see what the delay was about…
Great app! Only a few Problems! Can’t read Web do to no Zoom function also wold like to zoom on live shots!
Actully, my original diagnosis was that I didn’t care because it works fine for me. Trust me; I was right.
Personally its pretty bland right now but I’m sure it will get better over time. Needs better browser tools, more options for localization like being able to input your zip code to get REAL local weather and whatnot
@313 (EvoAnubuis):
Nah, the multiple posts you made showed that you really DO care. :D
Unfortunately, the lack of informative feedback contained therein confirmed that you really didn’t have a clue. ;P
@304: Also a personal problem. There are so many games coming up that I don’t know what to play next!
@315: Whatever does it for you. Bottom line; it works for me.
Life with Playstation is pretty slick, but useless to me until they add Dallas as a city.
Finally! I can’t wait to try this out.
Well, nice start, but this app needs some finishing.
– Font size is tooo small, i am unable to read any news on my 46″ flat
– Hello ? No Zurich or Bern ? Well I guess that’s the fault of the black hole at the “cern” *lol*
– What about other news sources (maybe even in german for the poor folks who are unable to understand english…
– What about a possiblity to configure rss channels to specific cities?
– Weather forecast please! not the current weather (i can look out my window to see what the weater’s like)
– Remote Play is nice, but same problem as before … font’s much to small
Sony, as i said, nice work for starters!
BTW: Perfect hardware support in switzerland (replacement for hdd enclosure!!!)
@Razorback…
I may have found what you’re looking for….when you do get back home….on Life…if you click ABOUT..
For PSP remote I see:
‘To use remote play for the first time, you must first register (pair) the PSP system with the PS3 system. For setup details, see the Remote Play section of the Playstation 3 System Software users guide’
If you already did that with Folding…it may just have to be paired again as now we have Life and Folding (you change the Channel function to see each).
Like others, I think it would be amazing to have the ability to add your own city and others by zip code, etc.
I also read a comment mentioning the ability to see your online friends, that would be amazing as well. With the option of sending them messages/game invites, I think it would make LwP the best application out there.
Ohh! this sounds cool! a new update for folding@home, not bad i finished to install the update and im trying life with playstation right now but… what is this??
how is it possible?? i check and theres no info, no data anything about MEXICO!!! im mexican and i want to know the wheater in my country with my PS3 what are u going to do sony? MEXICO has important cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, why you didn’t incluided them?? are you going to fix this PROBLEM with and UPDATE?? then are you going to READ my message???
ooh!! amazing isnt it? a new free download to your ps3!!! but it doesnt icnluides all the MOST IMPORTANT cities around the world!! you missed Mexico cities!! are you going to do anything to fix this?? are u going to read my message??
@ austindriver13
ya know, I had thought that would be a pretty cool feature as well. it wouldn’t have to only be those that are running LWP (thought his could potentially be the only way, hell if I know) but like you said, those who are online at the time. it would be interesting to see your friends (or even all PS users) within LWP. wouldn’t really provide any real functional use but it would be a pretty cool feature IMO
@Kinglink
Amen. I’ve already got state of the art hardware for all the other stuff they keep half-arsing onto the PS3. Every time they implement yet another myspace/facebook feature on the PS3 it only reinforces the notion that Sony wants out of the gaming industry and is trying to obsolete the video game.
PLEASE add more cities mainly Savannah GA for my local weather. This is so great you guys. I know this may be weird, i kinda want to see a hurricane show up on the map because that real time tracking just sounds so cool, I hope it will be one that doesnt effect anyone though.
I´ma afraid I´m not yet the owner of a 100 inch screen as all Life programmers are.
Text is unreadable even in my 52 inch plasma.
Great addition and something I’ll be using more and more of.
As the first step in this program you guys have really outdone yourselves, especially for something that’s free.
If I could make a few recommendations:
1) Incorporate a feature on the newspage where the user can zoom in/zoom out or adjust the text size. News picking needs a bit of work but that will undoubtedly come with time.
2) Not only incorporate more cities but perhaps more streaming/webcam video into the program from places around the world. Realtime video from places such as Times Square, Trafalgar Square, Shibuya, or even the Live African Watering Hole (excellent cross promotion with the game ‘Afrika’) would just help to make the community that much more tight knit.
Like I said above you guys have more than delivered with this program. The LWP platform is absolutely solid and the potential of adding more and interesting content to the foundation is what makes me excited as a PS3 owner.
Thanks!
@thefurycobraunit
That’s because Califorña, D.F. is part of Mexico now.
Great stuff guys! As always Sony delivers.
-How about you add more cities? Like at least one city per country? Maybe every capital city in the world should be a part of LwP.
-Video news
-And maybe zoom in options.
Thanks
i played with this last night. it was pretty cool.
the only thing i wish is that you can zoom in on the live cam. its two small to see even on my 60inch bravia. I cant even tell if its live or not.
Sony, a lot of people will just be using this program real quickly/shortly if they even do.
For these quick people(maybe you can track usage) you should give them really small F@H projects or they will just go to waste.
Text is too small to read and my Playstation just hangs when I scroll down the page while reading a news story.
No amount of (O) Cancel button will return me to back to the previous screen. In fact none of the buttons respond except the (P) where I can only quit and reset the console.
Used it twice, hanged twice – not going to use it again until the next update.
I think the developers need to sit back from the 52″ 1080p LCD screens on their desks and start to realise that a lot of these consoles are being used from across the room… on smaller screens… possibly not even HD (shock horror). Go and have a look at Front Row on an Apple or Apple TV, now stand back 10ft and read the text – amazing how it’s possible.
All-in-all very poor, the Wii does it better – legible text for a starter.
N!CE, i love new ps3 updates, thanks SCE
Great… though, living in Florida, it would have been nice to have this when Ike was barrelling straight at me! But, we lucked out here, so no hard feelings. ;-)
@310
I am totally surrounded by nintendo fanboys… in real life. It kinda sucks. I really try to be impartial to each system in terms of “fandom” (I won’t champion a system because I like a company), but I happen to live with a few people could be appropriately called Nintendorks. You know the kind. Buy every mario/zelda/kirby/ect game for the sake of owning it sorts. Posting on this blog would to them label me as a “sony fanboy” of the worst kind. It has gotten better though. Mainly after they played SC4 and warhawk. Ohhhh, they confuse me so.
thanks SONY .
Can someone please tell me how I can fix this problem!
For a while now I’ve noticed that when my PS3 goes idle and F@H comes up it doesn’t seem connected and now the Life is out I can’t connect to the servers! Even though everything else works fine, I’m logged in to PSN and I play online games just fine, but when it comes to F@H and LifewithPS it stays logged off… wtf someone plz help! :(
All I have to say is, THANKS and FINALLY! :)
Ok, I’m going to try to express a little negativity as possible, since this is a free service.
As cc_star mentions above @ 86:
“Why are people moaning, it’s FREE”
Well, I can’t vouch for everyone, but I do know why I’m disappointed…
I simply feel that the use of this program is limited. Although it’s very cool looking graphically and does have some neat features; local practicality is seriously lacking. If the service doesn’t meet the needs of those who use it, then the time invested to create LWP was clearly wasted. This time could have been invested in other MUCH needed PS3 firmware revisions instead.
Hopefully there are near future plans to add additional features, like the many listed throughout this thread.
I was obviously mistaken when thinking this service was to include many more features upon the initial installation.
The need for a local forecast, traffic conditions, street maps like Google maps, map information (like a globe, indicating locations of cities and countries etc.) and the option to zoom like Google Earth are just some of the many ideas I believe to be a necessity. If you don’t plan to include every suggestion you read, as I’m sure you couldn’t even if you wanted….please at least include these ones I’ve listed.
I’m quite sure the cost to include such features is minimal when considering the satisfied user responses that would follow. These are the types of things that separate Sony from any other company, and ultimately contribute to product consumption. Satisfaction creates word of mouth, and thus creates a desire to acquire.
Please heed these words and if needed, forward to those who may place into consideration if they haven’t been already.
I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful, that is not my intention; I simply want to convey my concerns on the matter. I love Sony products and only wish to remain an avid consumer of the best innovations available. It’s my dream that I could one day have the ear of those capable of maintaining #1 status with the help of such suggestions.
Thanks for the free service. I will obviously remain anxious as I watch the progression of this captivating App. It’s an excellent start so far though Sony… Keep up the good work.
Sorry for the length of this post and thanks for enduring it to the end.
Have a nice day!
This is a very nice start Sony. Life With PlayStation is definitely welcome on the PS3. There are a few things that I hope can be worked out. First, the news headlines are a tad too small. Second, the web based method of delivering news is a bit clunky, especially without the ability to zoom in that the PS3’s web browser offers. Lastly, I am not sure why I have to go through a separate menu to access music stored on my hard drive. I should be able to access it via in game XMB. I hope these issues are addressed, and I’ll look forward to seeing even more interesting channels and features in the future.
I do so enjoy this service. It’s awesome and I have been looking forward to it. It’s a great start for v 1.00, but as mentioned numerous times above changes need to be made. I will use this everyday for my source of news and weather but it is a bit lacking.
I really would like Boston to be added though. I live in Mass, so New York generally isn’t the best place for me to get news and considering Boston is a fairly large city it’s not like adding Boston would be the same as adding some really obscure town with a population 3.
Just my suggestion. Keep up the awesome work Sony and other affiliated companies/organizations.
Hey Noam
I just figured I’d stop by and shoot out some feedback for you guys. Although I like the globe concept, it’s somewhat gimmicky. It’s fun to scroll around the globe once in a while for a little bit but take a hint from the Wii and offer a kind of ‘front page’ to news/weather where we can see weather from our home location and pick through news by category.
One good thing I liked about the wii’s news thing was that it had a ‘browse news’ thing where it would jump from topic to topic with a brief description. I would often leave this on in the morning as I was getting ready or in the afternoon while cleaning up or whatever non gaming priorities I had. I would then see an interesting article and click to read. I’ve since stopped doing this mostly because all my time is spent playing my PS3 or watching scrubs/eli stone/Always Sunny.
Don’t get me wrong, I like where this is going, and I DEFINITELY like the ‘channel’ menu since it seems to leave open plenty of potential. The service is a great start but PLEASE keep updating it. This was another reason I stopped looking at news/weather on the wii. They don’t do updates and honestly it’s horrible to watch something like this in the current generation just idle. This should very much be an ever evolving service.
Anyways, thanks for LWP and I hope to hear more about the future plans of it soon(ish)
man people are getting excited and agitated at the same time about this program…
i’m gonna wait until tonight or tomorrow to try it out, it always seems the day of the updates the servers are slammed..
Damn, This is Awesome…i Couldn’t figure out how to find it at first but when i got it was totally worth it!…
Now i wont be watching the News Channel on T.V. Anymore!….Awesome Post…Thanks Guys!
I’m sure it’s been mentioned before (7 x 50 comments) but let me reiterate:
1. Needs a ton more locations. The US barely has a dozen. I won’t even mention Eastern Europe.
2. Needs an “I am here” option with LOCAL weather, traffic, news.
3. Zooming for the browser. Not sure why it got crippled but most text is very hard to read on HDTVs.
4. User-controlled “channels” like RSS feeds maybe? It’d be deluxe to have your very own RSS feeds in Life with Playstation.
I got a SD:TV and can’t see the text really :-( Shame that. Looks really cool tho ;) Most PS3 games have to small text??? Not sure if i need a HD:TV to read them, but been reading a few Comments and it seems even people with HD:TV’s can’t see the text to??? It was FREE so i’m happy erm sort of ;D
Nice update. Like it a lot and will use it, especially if content expands over time (as I’m sure it will).
One suggestion: Could you make it more obvious which city is currently being displayed? Maybe it can pop out more. Paris and London are quite close together, and it isn’t 100% obvious which one is currently displayed (unless you look at the content of course!)
Good start, but here’s what’s missing:
* More cities.
* A five-day forecast… if I wanted to know what the weather was like NOW, I’d look out my window.
* Radar would be nice, particularly since I live in Hurricane Alley here.
* News stories synched to a corresponding region is a good idea, but it’s poorly implemented. You have news about Kenya in the feed for Hanoi, Vietnam.
* The web browser functionality that links to the news story is DREADFUL. I can’t read a dang thing and I’m using a 40″ HDTV here. Not including a zoom function was a ludicrous oversight. Look at the Wii News Channel there, which I’m assuming was an inspiration for this. The text is large and readable, and easy to navigate. I think some sort of specialized Google News RSS reader, optimized for televisions that you sit 10′ from rather than PC monitors that you sit 12″ or so from, would please all parties involved.
hmm. I connected to my PS3 through remote play via my PSP(Fat). I went to the Folding at home icon and pressed X button and upon loading it said there was a newer version of the software. I agreed to the upgrade and watched as it downloaded the update. After wich it asked to restart the software. It closed out and when I pressed X on the PSP to enter the Folding at home icon again. It now states “This content cannot be used during remote play.”
Any clues why? dose the PS3 need to fully restart or am I SOL because I have a PSP(fat)?