Sony's PlayTV doesn't do HD TV--and it never will!

Several months ago, Sony revealed the launch dates for its PlayTV personal video recorder, a new accessory that promised to turn the PlayStation 3 into the ultimate home entertainment center.

With two built-in digital tuners, the new product should allow gamers to record one digital channel while watching another--or even record live TV during gameplay.

This pair of tuners was--apparently--to be compatible with both Standard Definition and High Definition free-to-air digital channels.

Unfortunately, however, some of the first users to get their hands on one discovered that the PlayTV isn't actually compatible with HD.

And, despite rumors circulating on the web suggesting that Sony was on the point of releasing a firmware update that would allow the PlayTV to access HD content, it seems that this product is just not HD-compatible--and it never will be.

The manufacturer plans to put in place a refund program for any disappointed customers who no longer find the PlayTV an attractive option.

This incident comes just a few weeks after a similar event in which Samsung was caught out including 'HD' in the model numbers of TVs that weren't actually HD.

Both show a worrying lack of communication inside these global companies.

We've argued for a long time that the sea of different standards and logos that adorn the packaging of today's gadgets is just too much for most consumers to take in, but it seems even the manufacturers themselves are getting a little lost ...