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PS3 media server.


Aftrunner

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Streaming is the best form of data transfer since it is fast and effortless( Once only to setup the whole thing). I download lots of my stuff and watch it on tv only. I use rather old Nero Media software but it is fun.

 

 

Streaming would be good, I would wanna try out, jus wondering which media server to check out first, allthough getting an external hdd, and transfering stuff from the comp and then hooking it to the ps3 and watching is tried n tested, but would definitely like to chek out video streaming, I have actually played a video on my comp hdd, on my sisters lappy, it did pause at a few places, but was ok, music on the other hand thro winamp worked like a charm.
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See bro,

 

You dont only stream video but you also stream pictures and music also. You can setup your whole home theatre with you tv and you can use it to the maximum. Try copying everything on pen drive and taking to ps3 and one day you will lose your intrest in this

 

What's the point of streaming stuff? Can't you just connect your TV to your computer?

 

The only thing I can figure out is that it would be useless if you have your computer in one room, and the ps3+TV in another, and use WiFi to stream the media, rather than use pen drives etc. every time.

 

Is there any other use for it?

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Great stuff man!! This is the best thing to use

 

I do get all the partitions of the hard disk on the LAN like any other shared folder and I can access them from any PC (even through internet) but PS3 can't see it exactly as a hard disk because PS3 cannot browse shared folders (can it?). However, the router also has a media server built in which serves all the media lying in some particular folders to PS3. On PS3 I can browse these folders/files under my router's name (which it gets after scanning for media servers). And I can stream whatever I select.
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See bro,

 

You dont only stream video but you also stream pictures and music also. You can setup your whole home theatre with you tv and you can use it to the maximum. Try copying everything on pen drive and taking to ps3 and one day you will lose your intrest in this

My point is no that. Of course streaming is better than physically copying the files!!

 

My point is: How is streaming from your PC to your PS3 better than simply connecting your PC to your TV?

 

AFAI can see it, stream has the advantage of connecting when the PC is far away from the TV. But there is also the disadvantage that you have to have your PS3 on every time you want to watch a movie, see a picture, or listen to music.

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My point is no that. Of course streaming is better than physically copying the files!!

 

My point is: How is streaming from your PC to your PS3 better than simply connecting your PC to your TV?

 

AFAI can see it, stream has the advantage of connecting when the PC is far away from the TV. But there is also the disadvantage that you have to have your PS3 on every time you want to watch a movie, see a picture, or listen to music.

Yes, that is the biggest advantage and I think that that would be true for most homes that PCs are far from TV.

Anyways, apart from that, to connect PC to TV, you need to buy a separate cable (and that too if your PC supports TV out, otherwise you have to buy a card as well)

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If you want to watch everything on tv, then you need a way to do it. One is streaming to PS3 wired or wirelessly. In both case PS3 will be on. You have other ways like connecting PC to TV, buying a digital media reciever etc etc.

 

There is no other advantage of doing it through wifi except for cosmetic reasons.

 

My point is no that. Of course streaming is better than physically copying the files!!

 

My point is: How is streaming from your PC to your PS3 better than simply connecting your PC to your TV?

 

AFAI can see it, stream has the advantage of connecting when the PC is far away from the TV. But there is also the disadvantage that you have to have your PS3 on every time you want to watch a movie, see a picture, or listen to music.

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There is no other advantage of doing it through wifi except for cosmetic reasons.

i really dint get ur point. what's wrong with just keeping ur ps3 on for as long as u watch the movie ? it's not gonna get RROD'd or something.

and streaming the videos, songs and stuff like that is a very useful feature and i use it extensively.

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i really dint get ur point. what's wrong with just keeping ur ps3 on for as long as u watch the movie ? it's not gonna get RROD'd or something.

and streaming the videos, songs and stuff like that is a very useful feature and i use it extensively.

 

:roflroll2: Maybe he's is a guy who's just sticking to playing games on the PS3 than utilizing its full potential. But dude, well said, RROD!

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My point is no that. Of course streaming is better than physically copying the files!!

 

My point is: How is streaming from your PC to your PS3 better than simply connecting your PC to your TV?

 

AFAI can see it, stream has the advantage of connecting when the PC is far away from the TV. But there is also the disadvantage that you have to have your PS3 on every time you want to watch a movie, see a picture, or listen to music.

 

Its better egonomically. Not everyone wants to put or can fit a bulky PC under the TV. And do you really think you are going to use the PC for work/internet on a 32+ Inch screen. How about using a mouse and keyboard? Not everyone sits two feet from the TV. Move too far with a wireless K&B and you will have problems typing and doing any other stuff that requires up close view. What about pestering relatives who want to watch the TV while you need to use the PC? Infact unless you are building an HTPC the best option is to keep the TV and the PC separate. Which is why you stream stuff, its better because its a more elegant solution.

 

As for the second point turning on a PS3 or a 360 takes 3 seconds. Really not a bother.

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Its better egonomically. Not everyone wants to put or can fit a bulky PC under the TV. And do you really think you are going to use the PC for work/internet on a 32+ Inch screen. How about using a mouse and keyboard? Not everyone sits two feet from the TV. Move too far with a wireless K&B and you will have problems typing and doing any other stuff that requires up close view. What about pestering relatives who want to watch the TV while you need to use the PC? Infact unless you are building an HTPC the best option is to keep the TV and the PC separate. Which is why you stream stuff, its better because its a more elegant solution.

That makes sense. I wasn't criticizing people doing it. Was just trying to understand why people were doing it.

 

 

As for the second point turning on a PS3 or a 360 takes 3 seconds. Really not a bother.

My concern wasn't the start-up time of the console. (Especially since you can start the ps3 with the wireless controller which is golden). It had to do with keeping the console on for a long period of time. I guess I have been tempered with believing that consoles are pretty delicate things, after having so much trouble with the ps2 and lens failure problems (and I know, i know, streaming doesn't involve the lens). And the 360-RROD thing sort of supports that belief. The ps3 however seems to be a more durable machine. But durable as it may be, I still believe in using it only when really needed (i.e. to play games). I would still rather use my PC for movies, pictures, music. But then again, my ps3 is connected to my 24" computer monitor, so for me it's a no-brainer.

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I think that if you stream stuff, the console would be running under minimal load. There is no media being read, no CD or DVD to heat up the system or to break the lens down. Proccy, RAM and GPU usage would be a fraction of running a game. In fact you are putting the system under considerably less strain than you would if you were gaming. 1080p videos might strain it a bit but that would be it.

 

Still I can understand the paranoi. Esp with the 360.

 

The biggest reason to do this is simply screen real estate. I have a 19" monitor and a 32" HDTV. Obviously I prefer the HDTV to watch anything so this is the way to go.

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One of the main reasons for this is to have all the media stored at one place, like a media server, not exactly the PC, but collections in a hard drive and that device which supports the media server capability and inturn has wireless and internet capability. So you can connect to it from anywhere, from home via wireless. Ideally I would like a HDD storage (or a device liks Asus WL-500W, just like someone said here) sitting at some corner, which has connectivity, wireless and wired and supports media server, and you have all devices/gadgets which support the same. Just imagine how life would be easy, download/listen to any video, pictures, music, on your DAP, phone, PDA, laptop or PS3, life becomes simple :naughty: Soon we will have all (there is already a lot of them) devices supporting it.

 

I see a big difference, when I connect the laptop to HDTV via VGA at 1920x1080 and when you stream the same movie from your PC to the PS3 and then to HDTV. I connect the PC/laptop via ethernet, coz at 1080p the wireless router (atleast the BSNL one, which gives only 5 MBps throughput is'nt sufficient, unless its a 720p cartoon movie). Some of the HD videos gets streamed at 70 Mbps or more (depending on codec, resolution, A/V compressed to what level), even the 802.1g router (I have netgear) with full capability (unlike BSNL, which says 54 Mbps (PHY), but supports 5 Mbps (chipset) only) also doesnt work, so you need an 802.1n to make it wireless and enjoy without glitches..!!

 

Cheers!

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Just thought of listing down a few media servers i tried with PS3 and how they worked out.

Media Server -- Serving Platform -- Comments

1) ushare -- Asus WL-500W -- Works after some configurations but video is jerky

2) Mediatomb -- Asus WL 500W -- Works on installing statically compiled build and minor configurations but excellent performance

3) XBMC -- Ubuntu Hardy Heron 64 bit -- Crashes as soon as it is started

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So this is an interesting concept. I tried this with my 360 and the results were quite good. Only problems were

 

1 Having a constant cable between the 360 and the PC is not viable and I am not going to fork over cash for the MS wirless thingy

2 I used WMP 11 to share stuff and the problems were mostly limited codec support.

 

But on the PS3 there seems to be a rather neat work around, ran across it on EG.

 

http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/

 

Dont have a PS3 ATM, although I am contemplating getting one (what with the price drop and all). So I am wondering if someone here can try it out and report back.

Alternatly if someone has tried Tversity on 360 and can let me know if its worth it?

 

BTW if you are wondering what the thread is about or how to go about setting one up google is your best friend. For people who are into HTPC stuff its a godsend.

 

And if the thread is duplicate of some other floating around the infinite maybe a mod can merge them.

This is how i am making use of the ps3 media server functionality.Credit goes to my elder brother.

 

First install this software in your PC.

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/fuppes/fu...mp;big_mirror=0

 

Its a u-pnp media server, it identifies all media files in your system which can be accessed from ps3.

Well mkv format can be played, reason, this u-pnp server transcode the media file to an appropriate format such that your system plays it.

Finally, follow this instruction.

1. First download the software(link given above).

2. Install it in your c:\

3. there will be a new icon added to your system tray(bottom right of the screen, do you see that).

4. right click on the icon and select "show webinterface".

5. It may open in a webbrowser.

6. In your web browser, click on "configuration"

7. Under "ContentDirectory settings" heading, add path where you video file is, i.e., in the "add object:" textbox, type your video dir path on your computer and then click on "submit query."

8. After doing this. click on "Option" tab,

9. Then click on the "rebuild database".

10. Wait for some time...

 

 

11. After this go to your ps3,

12. Under video xmb, click on search media server.

13. you should be able to see some thing like FUPPES - (...)

14. Now you should be able to access the video files.

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  • 2 weeks later...

PS3 Media Server is really great. I am currently using this software. I run it through Ubuntu Hardy (8.04, I had a lot of qualms with 8.10 >.>) and I can play all my video files (and music and pictures if I wanted to... but those fit on and are compatible while on my PS3...) stored on a 750 GB external USB HDD.

 

Right now I am watching a 720p edition of Wall-E stored on my PC through my PS3. If I wanted to I could instantly switch to one of Bourne Ultimatum in HD, Casino Royale in HD, Troy in HD, Dark Knight in HD, or.... you get the point :wOOtjumpy:

 

It's an excellent piece of software. I have heard many different things about TVersity and have tried it out myself briefly. From what I can tell PS3 Media Server is the best solution because of it's simple GUI, simple yet powerful streaming options, and most of all extremely excellent compatibility. There are great subtitling capabilities to boot as well.

 

The program itself is looks ugly (the GUI is ugly) but it's got everything where it counts and that's in performance and compatibility. Whoever wrote this program is officially one of my heroes XD

 

Only thing that could make this solution better for me is... I wish I had a better CPU in my PC. I have a early quasi-dual core CPU, a Pentium D 820. The only thing I can't stream is my 1080p Dark Knight video because the quality of the video is too high for my CPU to transcode on the fly. Apparently what is necessary for 1080p streaming to the PS3 using PS3 Media Server is a quadcore Intel Processor or equivalent. I can stream 1080p Paprika but I guess the transcoding for this film is okay because it has less minutia (?) and 'text zooming' like straining scenes.

 

Oh ya, and another thing about PS3 Media Server that makes it great.... it's cross platform! It's compatible with Windows, Macs, and like I am using Linux dist's (I'm on Ubuntu b/c I'm nub :thumbsup:).

 

However the best advantage of PS3 Media Server has to be it's compatibility with various file formats. I am able to play OGG files for music if I would want to, AVI, WMV, MPG (of course lol) all the way up to MKV or RMVB or OGM for video.

 

In conclusion: I highly recommend PS3 Media Server. It's customization, from what little I've seen lol, is unparalleled but it is it's performance, cross platform-age, and file format compatibility (for reasons illustrated by the post right above this one) which make it really stand out as the best streaming solution available for the PS3.

 

In the end if you have a good CPU in your PC and you have a PS3... and a router to connect them... you have access to an insanely compatible playback solution which is further enhanced thanks to the PS3's awesome A/V capabilities (a.k.a. it plays videos pretty much better than any other consumer product on the planet).

 

P.S. My original plan after I registered on this site today was to make a thread about PS3 Media Server and proclaim it 't3h best streaming solution in the land!' but I saw this thread so I decided to post here :P

 

P.P.S. Are there any alternate colour options for this forum? And is it possible to make the textboxes not stretch to the window size??

 

P.P.P.S. Is there anyway to view all PS3 or Wii sections as one section (to clarify not PS3 and Wii together, but all things PS3 in one section and all things Wii in another)? Having a Tech, Connect, and Games section feels a little unreasonably compartmentalized. I'm coming from another forum though and I'm just used to having all PS3 related topics in one list.

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^^ It might be just me but I faced a lot of issues with PS3 Media server. It took a lot of time for the PS3 and PC to detect each other, then if i chose transcoding option it just didnt send anything to PS3 although it showed that it is sending, otherwise also it took a lot of CPU for me. BTW I'm on Ubuntu 8.04 as well...

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