So I have been doing some web searching about the PS3 and media streaming and the answers at times are confusing and difficult to understand (especially to a lunk like me!)so I decided to ask my questions in one shot here:
If wanting to stream video from my PC to my PS3 via network which program is best? Does the program need to be running at all times? Can you simply just get into the media via the PS3 XMB? Is there a special folder in my PC I need to put files I want to stream?
Regarding audio content: Is there a program or upgrade that allows me to play my music wether stored on the PS3 HDD, or on an external HDD or streamed from my PC while I am playing games (in other words, jamming to my tunes while playing MAG and using my headset to communicate with my team) ?
The whole media thing is the most confusing to me. I know tat these are probably questions answered all throughout the forums but after some time of looking my head is satrting to hurt. And besides if it weren't for dumb noobs like me you guys would probably just get bored out there! LOL
1.) TVersity and PS3 Media Server seem to be the most popular for the PS3. PS3MS seems to have the most compatibility, whereas TVersity is the most stable. (This is all hearsay, of course. You'd have to try it out for yourself.)
2.) Your PC needs to be on at all times, as does the streaming program. (It can probably be left running in the background; again, I'm not certain.)
3.) The PS3 has a "Search for Media Servers" icon that you can click which searches for any connected media servers. Once you find the media server you want, it'll always show up in the XMB if the PS3 can detect it. And yes, you can access the media directly from the XMB.
4.) There's no "special" folder that you need to put your files, but it certainly helps to keep things organized. You'll have to point your media server towards the folder(s) where the media is stored.
Audio:
1.) MS copyrighted or otherwise protected that feature, so you can't do it directly from your PS3. Some games allow you to play music directly off your hard drive - though only from the PS3's internal HDD, I believe - but it's up to the software developer whether to put that feature into the game or not.
I myself have Windows 7, so just use Windows Media Centre to watch my videos on the PS3 Again you have to set it up using Windows Media Centre, and have your PC on
You can also do "streaming" by using a HTTP server app (like Apache) to serve a "website" that is just links to media files on your hard drive...you have to use the internet browser for this, but it allows for a lot more control over organization and appearance...and the movies play full screen just like if you played them from the internal drive.
