How To Quickly Turn The PS3 Into A Great Media Center

The PS3 has been a hot topic recently with the introduction of 3D gaming, and also with the Playstation Move being released the device has become an even more impressive machine. One of the features that I’m surprised is often left out in the advertisements is PS3’s media center capabilities. What I plan to show you here is crash course on how to setup the PS3 as a media center to get the most out of your PS3.

I have tried numerous media center applications and the easiest to get up and running in my opinion is PS3 Media Server which is programmed in Java and can be downloaded here for PC or Mac.

So let’s get started:

1. First make sure your PS3 is connected to your home network. In the PS3’s main menu, navigate to Settings – Network Settings – Internet Connection, press X on your controller and select Enabled. Then go to Internet Connection Settings (also under Network Settings), and select your network name (SSID). Enter the network password if you have one.

2. Then install PS3 Media Server.

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3. Next run PS3 Media server and go the Navigation/Share Settings Tab.

4. From here add the folders you would like the PS3 to see by clicking on the add folder icon to the lower left.

5. Once added click the Save Icon at the top of the PS3 Media Center Application.

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6. Now fire up your PS3 if not on already and the application should recognize the device. You can check this by clicking on the status tab of PS3 Media Server, as shown above.

7. Once the PS3 has been found and recognized you can navigate to your media on the PS3 with your SixAxis controller to either the Video or Music tab depending on the media you want to play.

8. You should see a PS3 Media Center Icon once in these tabs and you can browse your media by pressing X on this icon and scrolling through your shared media.

9. Once you navigate to your media simply press X and enjoy the show.

Even though the PS3 can handle most media types with ease you may come across videos the PS3 does not natively support.

One of the great things about PS3 Media Center is it can transcode the videos to make them playable through the PS3.

This can be done by navigating to the #–Transcode–# folder of your shared media with the PS3 and playing it through there instead.

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Note: Transcoding video is somewhat of an intense application for a computer to run so results may vary depending on your computer setup. Also there are settings you can play with in the Transcode Settings tab of PS3 Media server that may help with streaming over wifi if you find you are having issues with video playback or stuttering.

If for some reason you feel PS3 Media Server isn’t you your liking and would like to try other software here is a comprehensive list of known DLNA-Compliant and UPnP media server applications:

Windows

•         Allegro Media Server
•         Cidero Internet Radio Station Server
•         Cyber Media Gate
•         Cyberlink Digital Home Enabler Kit
•         Fuppes
•         Mezzmo
•         Musicmatch Jukebox
•         Nero MediaHome
•         On2Share
•         PS3 Media Server
•         Rhapsody
•         SimpleCenter
•         TVersity
•         TwonkyMedia
•         Winamp Remote
•         Windows Media Connect

Mac OSX

•         Allegro Media Server
•         Cidero Internet Radio Station Server
•         Cyber Media Gate
•         Elgato Eyeconnect
•         Nullriver MediaLink
•         PS3 Media Server
•         Rhapsody
•         TwonkyMedia

Linux

•         Cidero Internet Radio Station Server
•         Cyber Media Gate
•         Fuppes
•         Geexbox
•         GMediaServer
•         MediaTomb
•         MiniDLNA
•         MythTV
•         PS3 Media Server
•         TwonkyMedia
•         uShare