iTunes Media Server for PS3

[cherno]

Not sure if this is the right forum or not, but sure a friendly mod will move it if not....

A friend told me that he set up his PC to be a media server and connected it to his Playstation 3 and streams all his stuff to the PS3. He said he uses Windows Media Player, but some of my investigation out there shows there are other pieces of software, free and cost, that also do it, including Nero, Tversity, twonky. So...

1. If I set up a media server on my PC can it play my itunes content, video and audio.
2. Does it have any problems with the Protected AAC files?
3. Is WMP11 a good enough server or should I look for other software? What are the advantages to alternate software packages.
4. Anything I am noting knowing enough to ask right now?

Help a newb!

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by cherno

1. If I set up a media server on my PC can it play my itunes content, video and audio.
2. Does it have any problems with the Protected AAC files?
3. Is WMP11 a good enough server or should I look for other software? What are the advantages to alternate software packages.
4. Anything I am noting knowing enough to ask right now?

I am probably the best person to ask about this since I've dabbled in it a ton.

First of all, WMA/WMV from my testing are the best formats to use for streaming. They are actually designed to stream over networks from the get-go and can be encoded to be optimized for this delivery method. Windows Media Player 11, or even better the new Zune software are both by far the best media servers out there in terms of output quality and streaming capabilities. However, in your case you are using the PS3 so this probably isn't your best bet, these are a better match for XBOX 360... Mainly because some of the more neutral codecs like AVC are not streamed as robustly via these tools as WMA/WMV are.

Streaming iTunes can be a problem for protected AAC files, you need to buy a DRM license from Apple and most companies do not want to do that - I am not sure where the PS3 stands on this issue, but I know the 360 can read AAC but not protected AAC. You can stream iTunes, but it is a much more difficult affair and Apple basically wants you to buy their proprietary wireless bridge hardware in order to do so. It is possible, but it takes a lot more setup work to be compatible with all platforms.

As a result of all this and being that you have PS3, my recommendation would be buying Nero 8 Ultra Edition for your media server. It has a lot of "format neutral" tools including a media server, DVD -> AVC converter, music streaming, etc. It's not as polished nor as efficient as the Microsoft media tools, but it may offer more flexibility for formats based on the console you plan to use as the client. Plus you'll get the best burning software with ability to burn BD discs if you ever get a BD burner in the future.

http://www.nero.com/enu/nero8-features.html

[Mr. Furious]

I still prefer MP3 for formats due to the universal ability to move them from PC to PC, to iPod, Zune, and the car. No other format has that flexibility and they stream just fine in my experience (I have done it fairly extensively).

[cherno]

Thanks for the info, it isn't that I don't prefer MP3, but I use itunes and thus the songs come in protected AAC for the plus tracks are.... aac.... I think... This isn't something that is a super big deal for me as the theater setup is mainly for Watching movies and playing PS3 games. I just thought if it was something simple to turn on and be able to browse my itunes library of songs and videos and have them show on my TV or speakers that would be great.

Saying apple's proprietary options, are you talking about (apple symbol)TV?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by cherno

Saying apple's proprietary options, are you talking about (apple symbol)TV?

This is what I'm talking about for iTunes streaming:
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

Though Apple TV obviously works too.

The $99 Airport Express would work fine if the only thing you want to do is stream iTunes. If you want to do anything more, like stream AVC videos, transcode DVD to AVC for streaming and storage on media server, etc - get Nero 8 Ultra Edition. Probably the most neutral piece of polished media server software you could get. Microsoft's stuff is geared toward MS formats, Apple's towards Apple formats. So Nero will give you the best neutral media server experience for use with your mix of devices IMO - it should work great with PS3 as the client.