[bbasra]

Hi,

I currently use an XBMC for streaming media in the bedroom and my Sony Z laptop connected to my TV via HDMI to stream Media to my Samsung 46".

All the media files are stored on my QNAP TS 209 II Pro.

I am thinking of getting a PS3 for playing Blueray, Streaming Media and some gaming. I'll also then be setting up a Virtual Machine with tversity installed on my ESX Server to play the unsupported media formats.

Is the only reason that people don't use a Ps3 for streaming is that it plays limited formats and you need a 3rd party add on i.e. Tversity?

Is this setup okay or am i better of getting a Pop Hour or something?

[achapman14]

I have a PS3, and yes I use tversity to stream from my computer to the PS3. This is mostly for the codec issues. I still have problems streaming about 0.5% of things as they say data not supported. However I can stream in through the WII. The popcorn is a more versitile system and being they say you can play anything may be better suited. However though if you are looking to play Blu Ray and want a games console well the obvious choice is get a PS3 :D, as it is 3 things in 1.

[Sephiroth0000]

I have used my PS3 for streaming and have never had a problem. Alot of it does come down to codecs I agree but if you intend to use a PS3 for streaming just make sure the files fall in the right line up of codecs for the PS3.

I have manged HD DVD, BluRay & DVD file backups being streamed to my PS3 with full picture and 5.1 audio with no problems whatsoever.

[bbasra]

Originally Posted by achapman14

I have a PS3, and yes I use tversity to stream from my computer to the PS3. This is mostly for the codec issues. I still have problems streaming about 0.5% of things as they say data not supported. However I can stream in through the WII. The popcorn is a more versitile system and being they say you can play anything may be better suited. However though if you are looking to play Blu Ray and want a games console well the obvious choice is get a PS3 :D, as it is 3 things in 1.

What types of media won't play on the ps3 (using Tversity)?

Streaming on the WII! have i missed something, when did this happen? I have a WII... off to the search button.

[achapman14]

to do it on the WII (have to say the pic quality is errr yes less said the better, it is very pixulated)

Here is a detailed way of doing it hope it helps

Setting up TVersity with your Wii « Dan Gross

As for my PS3 I have looked at the media it cannot play and I am still baffled why as everything down to the bitrate is the same as others that can play!!!

[Bob]

I used to use the PS3 for streaming but found it was a bit hit and miss regarding which files worked and which didn't.

And of course there is the problem with the 4gb limit of FAT32.

[Kieron]

Same here, got fed up of having to convert MKV's etc etc so ended up buying a Popcorn hour.

Since then - absolutely no problems.

[KyleS1]

Popcorn A110 all the way for me. I did consider the PS3 but didnt want the hassle of having my PC to run tversity or transcoding any files. Popcorn box plays everything. Very impressed with mine.

[Buffo]

In my opinion, ps3mediaserver is the best pc application for streaming to a ps3.

[WhatTheManSaid]

Originally Posted by Buffo

In my opinion, ps3mediaserver is the best pc application for streaming to a ps3.

Seconded, I've stopped using TVersity & mkv2vob. The Popcorn A110 is certainly playing files well, but I do get regular crashes.

I also have XBMC boxes. Apart from not doing HD it is in a different class the the PS3 and PCH.

So far no perfect HD player, though PS3 & PCH aren't bad - certainly not perfect. Perhaps the new PCH firmware will help.

[gz5ztg]

Originally Posted by WhatTheManSaid

Seconded, I've stopped using TVersity & mkv2vob. The Popcorn A110 is certainly playing files well, but I do get regular crashes.

I also have XBMC boxes. Apart from not doing HD it is in a different class the the PS3 and PCH.

So far no perfect HD player, though PS3 & PCH aren't bad - certainly not perfect. Perhaps the new PCH firmware will help.

Why is ps3mediaserver better then? Does it transcode and wouldn't that be worse quality?

That said I do often have problems with my PS3 seeing TVersity, I usually have to reboot ps3 and restart tversity once a day - drives my wife mad.

[gz5ztg]

Originally Posted by kyleseager

Popcorn A110 all the way for me. I did consider the PS3 but didnt want the hassle of having my PC to run tversity or transcoding any files. Popcorn box plays everything. Very impressed with mine.

Oh and I never have to transcode anything really, just use mkv2vob to put mkvs into a different container, only takes a couple of minutes even for a HD file.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by Twadger

I used to use the PS3 for streaming but found it was a bit hit and miss regarding which files worked and which didn't.

And of course there is the problem with the 4gb limit of FAT32.

Fat32 isn't a problem if you stream

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by gz5ztg

Why is ps3mediaserver better then? Does it transcode and wouldn't that be worse quality?

That said I do often have problems with my PS3 seeing TVersity, I usually have to reboot ps3 and restart tversity once a day - drives my wife mad.

PS3 media server will transcode anything not natively supported by the PS3 or just play as is if it is.

It also adds a few other features like custom coverart display for streamed videos in the XMB.

MKV2VOB has been updated a lot lately and now supports things like AVCHD folder structure output to retain DTS audio and will also convert MKV's with DTS to PCM audio as well as AC3

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Fat32 isn't a problem if you stream

This is true, the second comment was referring to the usefulness of the PS3 in general, when it comes to watching video.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by Twadger

This is true, the second comment was referring to the usefulness of the PS3 in general, when it comes to watching video.

ah i see.... to be honest yes ideally if Sony added Ext3 or NTFS support to external disks it would be good for files over 4Gb but to be honest there are plenty of ways round it now.

- Streaming
- Split files (MKV2VOB will do that automatically and PS3 has sequential playback option for the split files)
- Copy files over network to the internal disk which isn't fat32

[achapman14]

Originally Posted by gz5ztg

That said I do often have problems with my PS3 seeing TVersity, I usually have to reboot ps3 and restart tversity once a day - drives my wife mad.

I have never had to reboot tversity and I have been running it (mind you my computer is switched off every night) for about 6 months or so without (fingers crossed) a hitch.

[WhatTheManSaid]

I didn't have any problems with TVersity but did have the occasional issue with mkv2vob. I was happy with it until I found p3mediasever which removes the need to run mkv2vob and at the same time provides some level of choice about how the content is streamed/converted/muxed.

In general I prefer to leave orginal media files as they are, and avoid re-muxing (or re-encoding where muxing failed).

Where the original files have additional streams (e.g. subtitles) they stay intact for future use.

Just find a way that works for you (most of the time). No way works 100% unfortunately - maybe when XBMC gets ported to the PS3???

[Evil Engineer]

Would someone kindly explain if PS3 Mediaserver lets you stream Blu-ray rips from a PC.

If so, how does it cope with TrueHD and DTS-HD soundtracks?

And what about native Blu-ray subtitles?

Will it allow you to play Blu-ray .iso images (remuxed without menus) or do you need to extract the m2ts file?

And finally, on a more general note. What's it like to use? Is browsing a large media library easy, difficult or a downright pain in the arse?

Many thanks in advance.

[gz5ztg]

Woooah! Tried ps3mediaserver and it is ace, much nicer than tversity and so far fingers crossed I haven't had any connection problems either.

I tried real time transcoding of a 8gb 720p film and it was jerky, I'll try a smaller file and see how it fairs. Overall very nice though, it will also do the moving thumbnail images for films like the PS3 does for locally stored content. Tversity doesn't do this.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by gz5ztg

Woooah! Tried ps3mediaserver and it is ace, much nicer than tversity and so far fingers crossed I haven't had any connection problems either.

I tried real time transcoding of a 8gb 720p film and it was jerky, I'll try a smaller file and see how it fairs. Overall very nice though, it will also do the moving thumbnail images for films like the PS3 does for locally stored content. Tversity doesn't do this.

Have a look in the Readme ..it does even better than the video thumbnails..it will also do custom cover art

a folder of videos at a time for tv show seasons or individual box art per video

[AnthonyG]

So can I ask does this ps3mediaserver allow you to playback VC1 encoded blu-ray rips on your PS3?

And how about Dolby True-HD audio?

[gz5ztg]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Have a look in the Readme ..it does even better than the video thumbnails..it will also do custom cover art

a folder of videos at a time for tv show seasons or individual box art per video

Aaah ok, does anyone know then how I can scrape IMDB given a folder of videos?

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by Anthony1uk

So can I ask does this ps3mediaserver allow you to playback VC1 encoded blu-ray rips on your PS3?

And how about Dolby True-HD audio?

Not tried myself. Maybe check out the ps3 media server forum

PS3 Media Server • Index page

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by gz5ztg

Aaah ok, does anyone know then how I can scrape IMDB given a folder of videos?

Not easily but to be honest it only took me 1hr to update my 2tb folder of video with coverart using google image search and saveas