"i've made a huge mistake" (i think)

[stevemiller]

for the longest while i've been using my g5 tower as my media player connected to my tv. it sorta got the job done, but it takes up a bunch of space, doesn't really handle hd material very well, and osx isn't really an interface designed to be used from the couch.

so i started to wistfully consider the "it only does everything" marketing of the ps3. i don't have a blu ray player or a modern gaming system (last i owned was super nintendo, yeahh!!!), and it sounded like it could also replace the clunky functionality of the g5.

after finally deciding to splurge on one over the holidays, i'm finding that i'm having some buyer's remorse, but i'm not sure if its just because i'm not doing things properly. here are my issues:

-the web experience is *awful* - i don't know how apple can be slammed so much for eliminating flash from their devices when almost every video site i visited on the ps3 was non functional... from vimeo, to an hd-less and horribly low-bitrate version of youtube, to any network sites that would have streaming episodes of their tv shows just showing a black screen where video content would have gone.

-netflix is useless in canada (this is less a ps3 issue but definitely detracts from its value). i knew their selection was limited, and $8 is pretty cheap for all you can watch, but there's not much there i *would* want to watch.

-streaming downloaded content from sources like other computers is terribly limited. i was fortunate enough to have a western digital mybook world that has a build-in media server which works well enough, but from the sounds of things accessing content from a macbook or even the g5 would be a headache and might require paid software.

overall i don't want to slam the ps3 as i'm sure its a great game system and blu ray player, and maybe those will be reason enough to keep it... i had just hoped for more in its media streaming capabilities, and i don't know if i'm overlooking some good work arounds, or if sticking with the g5 for those tasks really is the better solution.

 

[Cuddles]

Ps3 has a crappy browser. I heard they may be updating it to something like firefox, but have nothing right now.

Sorry about the Netflix, that' a pretty big loss. Streaming media, I think, works better with xbox and windows.

Check out some ps3 games. Interested in any?

 

[-SD-]

Yeah, the PS3 browser is terribly *****.

The best software for streaming media to your PS3 is PS3MediaServer, which is free but Intel only. So unfortunately you can't really use your G5 as the media server. The PlayStation requires a uPnP server for streaming and if your MyBook jobbie is connecting and doing the trick, then you're halfway there. The best thing you can do is rip all your files to a format the PS3 likes with Handbake on your Mac and load it all up on the WD HDD.

We don't get Netflix in the UK, but LoveFilm has started a streaming video service which is about the closest we're ever going to get. We do however get shortcuts to BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and 4oD on the XMB.

Oh, and sign up for a PSN account. Download WipEout HD Fury and have a blast at that. You've got a decent machine with good games. The Blu-ray player is great, so we just need to get your media streaming sorted out.

 

[stevemiller]

thanks so much for the replies. i gave the ps3mediaserver app a try and the results were better than i expected. i was worried that on the fly transcoding would degrade video to webcam quality or something! hopefully between that and the wd nas, i'll have a decent set of options for downloaded content.

and fingers crossed that either a more competent browser or a better canadian netflix selection will show up on the horizon someday.

in the meantime i just looked at the trailer for wipeout HD fury, @-SD- you have a surprising insight into exactly the type of game that i'd enjoy, thanks!

 

[sarcosis]

PS3 Mediaserver is a great solution. I've got it hooked up on my network and use my i7 PC to stream media to it. For streaming media, I usually go for Netflix, which in the US, has a pretty good selection, especially if you are into TV Shows. Sorry about the not so great selection. Hopefully it will get up dated soon. The best solution outside the PS3 media server is to convert everything that the PS3 likes using Handbrake. As a media streamer, i would have to agree with everyone else that it's kinda half baked but works well enough.

Where it shines is as a Blu-Ray player. That's one main reason I use mine and it's fantastic. I've also converted to getting all of my games on the PS3 since I'm afraid my 360 will crap out.