Wireless PC to PS3 streaming now easy as pie
by Jem Alexander 
{ Jan 12th 2009 at 2:30PM }
Display Share will set you back $50 and is currently only available for PC, though a Mac version is apparently in the works. Gaming is not recommended due to a substantial amount of lag, though this causes no problems for video files. It sounds like a decent application, even if the price tag is a little high. For anime fans looking for a solution to the PS3's lack of .mkv support, however, it could be a God-send.
[Via Ars Technica]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ice @ Jan 12th 2009 2:40PM
use ps3 media server from google apps, numbnuts
Mo @ Jan 12th 2009 2:40PM
interesting indeed.
Stuart @ Jan 12th 2009 2:49PM
I think it's far more than interesting. Last night I wanted to watch some episodes of The Office on my HDTV. I don't own the DVD set, so I went on Hulu.com through my PS3 browser. Problem is, the PS3 was freezing up trying to stream. My PC doesn't have a problem, so this software could be the answer. I'll have to do some more investigating, but it's pretty cool!
Submerge
http://PS3Trophies.com
Ayman @ Jan 13th 2009 2:20AM
I have a Laptop (Vista), PS3, and a Wireless router
and I enabled media sharing in both the PS3 and Vista
I stream video, music, and pictures perfectly
and IT'S FREE
Mo @ Jan 13th 2009 2:46AM
but, its vista :-/
MizzDiva @ Jan 13th 2009 4:00AM
@ Ayman, yeah I pretty much have that same setup, plus I use TVersity to give it that added bit of variety (plus, that's free too. Frankly, nothing really sounds all that spectacular about this program that would make me throw down $50 for that some good network configuration knowledge and a couple of free apps (like TVersity) can't do for you. and for you Mo, come off the 'but it's Vista' mess that's almost as bad as hearing the same ol' rhetoric about the 'PS3 doesn't have any good games' bit....
Mo @ Jan 13th 2009 10:45AM
@mizzdiva,
no, im terribly sorry, but im an IT Director for several sites across the country, I've been in IT professionally for about a decade now and can say from my personal experience, as well as experience of my colleagues and friends that vista blows chunks. Im beta testing windows 7 now, which is much better (which isn't saying much) and feels like it is what vista should be. I have downgraded EVERY computer i own to winXP sp2 (not sp3) and for very good reasons.
The playstation 3 on the other hand is an extremely well engineered, well crafted, sexy beast and its game lineup is quite satisfying for me. I find myself completely amazed by the ps3 and the things it offers me right now, and excited to see what lies ahead. I see a fantastic life ahead for my piano black console while vista is pretty much dead already. (was it EVER alive?? Aside from people who were locked in it, or not smart enough to realize that they weren't locked in it on their new computers who really went out and bought it??)
no disrespect but don't put me in a box.
as far as tversity, it works okay, ive played with that as well for a long time. the real time transcoding while it sounds awesome on paper to me it just hasnt been that practical. it jumps and skips and you can forget about scanning ahead to your favorite part or rewinding. not to mention the extra file space it takes up with all the transcodes. something that could live stream to the ps3 with sounds would render my 35 foot HDMI cable uneccesary and I would have one less thing to switch from ( PS3 / DVR ) as opposed to now where i switch from (PS3 / DVR / PC )
k?thxbi
rubAdub72 @ Jan 13th 2009 11:46AM
TVersity doesn't work very well, at all. I rather bring my notebook to the tv and plug the HDMI cable directly.
Mo @ Jan 13th 2009 12:04PM
thank you... people act like tversity is the best thing ever. for me its been subpar at best. WIP definately.
amen brother testify!
drdre74 @ Jan 12th 2009 2:44PM
I have a mac and I use eyeconnect. Works good enough for me and its free if you know where to look. :)
kentuckyfried @ Jan 12th 2009 3:29PM
Thanks for all these useful comments...i don't currently have streaming set-up, I've been meaning to toy with it so i don't have to keep copying files back and forth to my portable hard drive.
War Machine @ Jan 13th 2009 1:18AM
I was using medialink for streaming media from my Mac to the PS3. I like it because it's very intuitive and simple to use, and no configuration whatsoever:
http://www.nullriver.com/products/medialink
drdre74 @ Jan 13th 2009 9:15AM
The only thing I hate about my eyeconnect is that I get a pop up message every 2 min at the top saying network error and a number even though its playing the movie just fine.
Jerses @ Jan 12th 2009 2:45PM
one word. rapidshare
Surfaced @ Jan 12th 2009 4:17PM
amen
Mo @ Jan 12th 2009 4:30PM
is it up?
xjonx @ Jan 12th 2009 6:39PM
rapidshare!?! I didn't see anything on the sites main page to indicate that it was nothing more than a file warehouse. Do they do real time conversion too?
nightfawx @ Jan 13th 2009 11:56AM
was that a serious answer?? xD
Tyson @ Jan 12th 2009 2:45PM
That's cool. I can't wait for the Mac version to be release (apparently I only own Mac's), and I defiantly can NOT wait.
mindshed @ Jan 12th 2009 2:46PM
Interesting... so everything will play as it should (5.1 surround, full HD quality, etc)? No loss at all? Right now I mux to mpg with mkv2vob and stream over tversity, but DTS needs to be coverted to AC3, so some sound quality is lost (although apparently not much). Also, my method generally does not play well with 1080p files.
Stuart @ Jan 12th 2009 3:06PM
I'll have to give TVersity a shot, thanks!
Submerge
http://PS3Trophies.com
Nebberoo @ Jan 12th 2009 8:53PM
Don't TVersity and PlayOn for the PC already do this? As long as you set those programs to use the local codecs to decode the video, they should stream just fine.
http://tversity.com/ - Free
http://www.themediamall.com/playon - $30 after 2 weeks, includes Netflix, Hulu, Youtube channels.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 12th 2009 2:51PM
$50!?!?!
TVersity works fine for me thanks.....
NukeAssault @ Jan 12th 2009 2:53PM
Ditto!
Eric E @ Jan 12th 2009 3:25PM
yeah tversity uses the codecs on your computer to make the video work on the ps3 if it doesn't already. (it encodes as it streams so the computer gets hit and the transfer is a little slower but it works)
free ftw.
Surfaced @ Jan 12th 2009 4:18PM
what? Then How come none of my MKV files work when I use TVersity?
Mo @ Jan 12th 2009 4:28PM
Tversity is alright... it gives me grief at times
JoeTheBlow @ Jan 12th 2009 4:31PM
Unpackage mkv files with mkv2vob first.
MKV's are just packaged avi files usually, that tool just "unwraps" them very quickly and leaves you with the raw avi ready for playing.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 12th 2009 4:36PM
@Surface........dunno......my .mkv files work.......the only thing is I cant get the languages or subtitles to work.....
Steven @ Jan 12th 2009 5:38PM
No, mkvs are a container format like avis.
They generally hold h.264 video.
Ty @ Jan 12th 2009 6:28PM
@Aggie, I use a program called AviADDXSubs and it works like a charm.
Boye @ Jan 15th 2009 1:44PM
Well, you lose the ability to kick start anything from the PS3. But all in all, it is a good idea.
fuddy @ Jan 12th 2009 2:53PM
don't pay for this. go to http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/ it's free plus it super easy to use and there is really no setup. and the guy is french so you know its sexy.
El @ Jan 12th 2009 2:55PM
you can get a better program for free at: http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/ it's
free plus it super easy to use and there is really no setup. and the
guy is french so you know its sexy. anyone with half a brain can have this up and running smoothly.
FireLord91 @ Jan 12th 2009 3:03PM
I agree. That software works best for me (i watch anime mostly) while I have loads of encoding issues with TVersity. For those wo don't know TVersity is afraid of mkv files and crashes itself when you try to watch one.
bigred @ Jan 12th 2009 4:52PM
Absolutely! This FREE java based program is a gazillion times better than TVersity. Uses less resources, plays more file types, loads quicker, video thumbnails, etc, etc... I HIGHLY recommend using this over TVersity.
advil @ Jan 12th 2009 3:01PM
Wow, what a rip off...
there are so Many options out there that do this for FREE.
I was using TVersity, but since switched to Linux on the desktop I'm checking out 2 or 3 others.
TVersity so far has been the best...
I guess for the non-technical person they could waste their money on this. But at least we're seeing support for the PS3 from 3rd party developers!
jeff @ Jan 12th 2009 3:45PM
I have a linux webserver in my house and installed mediatomb ( http://mediatomb.cc ) on it...it's worth a shot too
rgoff31 @ Jan 12th 2009 3:01PM
TVersity or DVI-to-HDMI out of my PC directly to my TV.
I suppose if my PC weren't right next to my PS3 it might be an issue.
Evan @ Jan 12th 2009 3:16PM
I watch my subtitled-mkv-hd-anime on a Popcorn Hour. This little $179 box plays more codecs than a PS3, and can play from any Linux or Windows shared folder. It's the next best thing to hooking a PC directly to the tv.
I suppose there are licensing reasons for the PS3 to exclude mkv and other files, but I don't understand why the PS3 forces you to use DLNA-compliant media server software instead of simply connecting to any shared folder like the Popcorn Hour, and I don't understand why the PS3 doesn't let you browse through all files on an attached USB drive.
Robobagins @ Jan 12th 2009 3:44PM
Exactly. Media streaming is fine for grabbing things from the internet, when your systems aren't doing the serving. But in LAN? It takes up far to much network and system resources. SMB shares are the way to go! It's why I still rely on my Xbox with XBMC to watch media in HD(XBMC can output 720p/1080i over component). But it's reaching it's age and I've been thinking of getting a Popcorn Hour or just building a HTPC that will run XBMC.
Nick @ Jan 12th 2009 3:22PM
yeah wtf.......
tversity encodes all my media on the fly from my PC to my ps3. It works great and never lets me down, and its 100% free.
SuperGayParade @ Jan 12th 2009 3:27PM
Um... none of you are reading that this makes your computer's FULL OUTPUT into a video file for the PS3. I've used TVersity and know it can do video streaming, but what if I want my desktop on the television, and not just a video? Other than hooking my laptop straight to the TV, this is pretty awesome.
SuperGayParade @ Jan 12th 2009 3:33PM
Also, writer didn't mention/catch that they have a free trial available on their site. I'm going to try it and report back :)
SuperGayParade @ Jan 12th 2009 4:37PM
Tested it. The delay is bad on my G network. May be better on N but still. It's a start. I'd purchase this if they worked on the quality and delay more. Frame rate was also incredibly low.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 12th 2009 5:23PM
I seen it said that......but if I wanted my FULL PC on my 46" TV I would just hook it up that way.......all I need is video streaming......nothing more.....I'm sure someone would want to use it to play Crysis on there PS3
Tez @ Jan 12th 2009 3:39PM
Seriously, guys? You're writing about this program without even mentioning the many free choices available to do this? Streaming from the PC to the PS3 has been easy as pie for a long time- TVersity in da house.
media_boy @ Jan 12th 2009 4:01PM
Since its your whole desktop, does this mean it will work with itunes (AAC) and my online XM too?
golds @ Jan 12th 2009 4:05PM
no need for mkv files anymore as Dattebayo.com stopped subbing Naruto. Now its going to be released by VIZ media every week on Hulu and joost. so we can watch on the ps3 via hulu.
(or you can pay for a faster copy at crunchyroll)
Surfaced @ Jan 12th 2009 4:21PM
Since when does the anime universe revolve around Naruto?