Orb media streaming?

itsjustmeee · Nov 6, 2009, 11:44 AM

I see that Orb for Mac just came out and now it is possible to stream content from your home computer to the iphone (with the Orb media app). From what I can tell, you do have to be on wifi to make this happen .... is that correct? I would love to be able to stream my media from home using 3G. Does anyone know if Orb only works with wifi?

itsjustmeee · Nov 6, 2009, 12:14 PM

Ah, just found that you can stream with 3G.

lemonademaker · Nov 6, 2009, 12:34 PM

Not familiar with orb: is this kind of like the Slingbox Hardware you attach to the Cable Box?

itsjustmeee · Nov 6, 2009, 02:34 PM

They just came out with a version of their software for mac os. Basically, you install this program on your mac, point it to any folders that have media content, buy the iphone app (orblive), and then you can access any of the media from your iphone ..... and with 3G. I just tried it with the free version of the app (you can just access a few files with it) and it seems to work great .... so far.

lemonademaker · Nov 6, 2009, 02:47 PM

wow sweet! i'll try it out...
I have the slinbox pro hd (love it) but can't use it over 3g..... do you think this is something that some how flew under the radar and apple/ATT will pull it soon because of the 3g access?

thanks

itsjustmeee · Nov 6, 2009, 08:21 PM

Update ...... it looks to me like the mac version is VERY buggy. I've tried installing it on 2 different macs and when I try to index my media, it just crashes. I'm seeing that on the Orb users forum others are having the same issues.

Mr. Gates · Nov 6, 2009, 09:14 PM

I've had this program for a long time with my PC and only use it for music ( 700 Gig's ) the ability to access my Music library from anywhere was the selling point for me. The other features are not very strong. The video is very poor quality, photos I can do without, and for Viewing Documents I would rather use Evernote ( editing - QuickOffice )
By FAR the best App for streaming Video is " AirVideo"

BUT,......For Music, this is a great little tool. Looking forward to the next update.It has been a while.

GADeputy · Nov 6, 2009, 10:41 PM

I've been using Orb for almost 2 years now. It's by far my favorite app. I use it to stream documents, music, pictures, and all of my movies from my home computers to my iPhone. The video is actually pretty good when your on wifi. You can change the settings in the app from edge to wifi so the video will stream better. If you set it to edge the video won't be as clear but it will stream faster. Setting it to wifi is much clearer but should only be set to that setting it you are actually connected via wifi. If you happen to have a TV tuner card in your computer Orb will even stream live TV to your iPhone.

Skengman · Nov 7, 2009, 06:49 AM

Installed it last night on my imac, took two attempts to get it to work but now it is brilliant.

Streams to my iphone perfectly and I have backgrounder which makes it even more useful. I haven't noticed any bugs yet, but I will check out the support pages on their website.

So far it's exactly what I wanted, although I'm yet to try streaming to my 360/PS3.

Any one have any experience with how well that works? I'm hoping to be able to replace PS3 media server (not too bothered about the xbox as it's in the same room as my imac).

itsjustmeee · Nov 7, 2009, 11:39 AM

I'm finding that it's crashing a lot and more importantly it doesn't seem to be able to add folders other than what's in itunes. If I click on "advanced" and try to add the folders where most of my media is, it either doesn't see it or the program just crashes. It would probably work better if my entire mp3 and mp4 collection was in itunes, but they are all on other drives.

mgamber · Nov 7, 2009, 10:32 PM

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with the mac version. If you don't have a PC, Orb is pretty worthless. If you DO have a PC, however, it's very nice as it's the only app available that can stream live tv over 3G without having to jailbreak the phone. Plus it can stream media on your hard drive, transcode many other internet based streams and, using a couple extra apps, it can stream Sirius and XM content if you have an account with either. I use it constantly. Note that you also need a PC with some real horsepower. A weak laptop running Windows XP probably won't cut it.

Nov 6, 2009, 11:44 AM	#1
itsjustmeee macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	Orb media streaming? I see that Orb for Mac just came out and now it is possible to stream content from your home computer to the iphone (with the Orb media app). From what I can tell, you do have to be on wifi to make this happen .... is that correct? I would love to be able to stream my media from home using 3G. Does anyone know if Orb only works with wifi?

Nov 6, 2009, 12:34 PM	#3
lemonademaker macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In a Van Down By The River! Metro Detroit!	Not familiar with orb: is this kind of like the Slingbox Hardware you attach to the Cable Box? __________________ SE, SE30, PB145, Newton, Duo, 15" Ti, PB17, MBP17 2.5ghz, iPod 5gb, 30gb, 30gb video, 32gb Touch, 16GB Black 3Gs

Nov 6, 2009, 02:47 PM	#5
lemonademaker macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In a Van Down By The River! Metro Detroit!	wow sweet! i'll try it out... I have the slinbox pro hd (love it) but can't use it over 3g..... do you think this is something that some how flew under the radar and apple/ATT will pull it soon because of the 3g access? thanks __________________ SE, SE30, PB145, Newton, Duo, 15" Ti, PB17, MBP17 2.5ghz, iPod 5gb, 30gb, 30gb video, 32gb Touch, 16GB Black 3Gs

Nov 6, 2009, 09:14 PM	#7
Mr. Gates macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Redmond - Washington	I've had this program for a long time with my PC and only use it for music ( 700 Gig's ) the ability to access my Music library from anywhere was the selling point for me. The other features are not very strong. The video is very poor quality, photos I can do without, and for Viewing Documents I would rather use Evernote ( editing - QuickOffice ) By FAR the best App for streaming Video is " AirVideo" BUT,......For Music, this is a great little tool. Looking forward to the next update.It has been a while. __________________ Mattel Barbie PC,90Mhz 64 Mb RAM -128 USB Flash Stick Thingy

Nov 6, 2009, 10:41 PM	#8
GADeputy macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2009	I've been using Orb for almost 2 years now. It's by far my favorite app. I use it to stream documents, music, pictures, and all of my movies from my home computers to my iPhone. The video is actually pretty good when your on wifi. You can change the settings in the app from edge to wifi so the video will stream better. If you set it to edge the video won't be as clear but it will stream faster. Setting it to wifi is much clearer but should only be set to that setting it you are actually connected via wifi. If you happen to have a TV tuner card in your computer Orb will even stream live TV to your iPhone. __________________ iPhone 3G/16GB Firmware 3.0 Jailbroke with Redsn0w Unlocked with Ultrasn0w

Nov 6, 2009, 12:14 PM	#2
itsjustmeee Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	Ah, just found that you can stream with 3G.

Nov 6, 2009, 02:34 PM	#4
itsjustmeee Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	They just came out with a version of their software for mac os. Basically, you install this program on your mac, point it to any folders that have media content, buy the iphone app (orblive), and then you can access any of the media from your iphone ..... and with 3G. I just tried it with the free version of the app (you can just access a few files with it) and it seems to work great .... so far.

Nov 6, 2009, 08:21 PM	#6
itsjustmeee Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	Update ...... it looks to me like the mac version is VERY buggy. I've tried installing it on 2 different macs and when I try to index my media, it just crashes. I'm seeing that on the Orb users forum others are having the same issues.

Nov 7, 2009, 06:49 AM	#9
Skengman macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Essex/London	Installed it last night on my imac, took two attempts to get it to work but now it is brilliant. Streams to my iphone perfectly and I have backgrounder which makes it even more useful. I haven't noticed any bugs yet, but I will check out the support pages on their website. So far it's exactly what I wanted, although I'm yet to try streaming to my 360/PS3. Any one have any experience with how well that works? I'm hoping to be able to replace PS3 media server (not too bothered about the xbox as it's in the same room as my imac). __________________ Whitest boy alive - Golden Cage - Drawn by Geoff McFetridge

Nov 7, 2009, 11:39 AM	#10
itsjustmeee Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	I'm finding that it's crashing a lot and more importantly it doesn't seem to be able to add folders other than what's in itunes. If I click on "advanced" and try to add the folders where most of my media is, it either doesn't see it or the program just crashes. It would probably work better if my entire mp3 and mp4 collection was in itunes, but they are all on other drives.

Nov 7, 2009, 10:32 PM	#11
mgamber macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008	Yeah, I wouldn't bother with the mac version. If you don't have a PC, Orb is pretty worthless. If you DO have a PC, however, it's very nice as it's the only app available that can stream live tv over 3G without having to jailbreak the phone. Plus it can stream media on your hard drive, transcode many other internet based streams and, using a couple extra apps, it can stream Sirius and XM content if you have an account with either. I use it constantly. Note that you also need a PC with some real horsepower. A weak laptop running Windows XP probably won't cut it.

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