This little gem of a free program has been out for a while and with the latest revision: version 1.72, this has become a truly great piece of tech.
So you've got a console. You've probably also got a big screen to use it with. These days if you've got a console you've usually got a computer too and you're probably hoarding all kinds of media on there.
What PS3 Media Server allows you to do is make the most out of your big screen by turning your computer into a media server. PS3 Media Server was originally designed to be able to stream content from your computer over Wifi to your PS3. It does support the Holy Trinity of Operating Systems so whether you have a Mac, Linux, or Windows computer you're covered.
More tech savy people may say 'well I've already got a NAS box that I can stream content from'. Well good for you. But you could of saved yourself £50+ or even a couple of hundred if you just used your computer's hard drive with PS3 Media Server instead.
PS3 Media Server is really easy to use and adheres to the DLNA and UPnP standards which means it is extremely versatile and not just limited to the PS3. The website has a list of supported devices which include Xbox 360, Android devices, Wifi enabled TV's and more so you could even stream content to your tablet or your smartphone. The Interface is really simple as you can see from the screenshot. It has three big buttons for main operations at the top and tabs with lots of streaming options to fiddle with if you so wish. The main things you may want to do are to disable thumbnails or lower the bit-rate which can help to have a smoother stream.
So far I've installed the Mac version of PS3 Media Server and streamed a Pulp Fiction DVD rip from my external drive connected to the Mac. The whole process couldn't be easier, it took 5 minutes from the moment I started downloading it to begin streaming and the stream was quality. Of course this whole operation will depend on having a good internet connection so make sure you take your bandwidth into consideration before you start trying to stream a blu-ray file! I had no problems with 4.5mbps.
No more connecting my computer to the stereo, fiddling with cables or going to and fro with usb drives for me. PS3 Media Server is the way to go. Download the program and try it for yourself here. Before you get started watch this helpful 'how to' video.
Good Tech.
