1080P HD Streaming from Mac Pro to PS3

[fridgeymonster3]

So, I've been perusing the forum today and I've found various discussions within other topics for streaming rips, but many didn't involve 1080P MKV files. Since I couldn't find it, I'd figure I'd post my questions here.

My wife and I recently moved from LA to Philly and we dumped the majority of our stuff in storage temporarily; therefore, I've been transferring our blu-rays to my Mac Pro's HD via MakeMKV or AnyDVD/tMuxer/Handbrake so we can avoid clutter. I now want to stream all those MKV files from my Mac Pro to my PS3. I tested out PS3 Media Server last night because it's the only thing I've found that handles the MKV's. Medialink doesn't support MKV. So here are my questions:

1. Anyone have any experience with 1080P MKV streaming to a PS3 via PS3 Media Server?

2. Any alternatives to PS3 Media Server that people recommend - maybe something with a little more polish? (preferably for Mac OS X - although I do have Windows Vista installed also on my Mac Pro).

3. Any other suggestions for watching the movie's on my HDTV's via my mac pro HD? I do have a DVI to HDMI cable I could use to hook the Mac Pro directly to my TV or Receiver and play the movies through Plex; however, I don't have a remote or anything to control the movies that way (which is a huge hassle) and my MP isn't very close to the TV (30 ft dvi-to-hdmi cable).

I'd rather not buy anything else presently, but feel free to suggest some setup you have that works for this kind of situation. Stuff available to me to use is my MP, PS3, Xbox 360. I really wish I could just somehow access my content via my Comcast HD DVR, kinda of like their On Demand service, but I know that's a complete pipe dream.

Thanks for the help and suggestions!!

 

[gdeusthewhizkid]

sir try plex for ya mac osx it plays 1080p mkv files on ya mac pro.

or XBMC. for xbox 360.

since you have a iphone you can download the airmouse app & rowmote app and be able to control ya mac pro with those apps thru wi-fi. follow the onscreen instructions for both. as far as streaming to ps3 im not sure how you would do that other than using vuze.

 

[taeclee99]

I know you said that you did not want to purchase anything but I'll list these two options anyway.

Both work fine for mkv playback on a tv as well as nearly any other file you throw at them.

wd tv live $119

seagate freeagent theater plus $ 139

 

[fridgeymonster3]

I know you said that you did not want to purchase anything but I'll list these two options anyway.

Both work fine for mkv playback on a tv as well as nearly any other file you throw at them.

wd tv live $119

seagate freeagent theater plus $ 139

Do you have an experience with either? I was looking at the WD and it looks like it would fit my needs. Pretty good price too.

 

[taeclee99]

Do you have an experience with either? I was looking at the WD and it looks like it would fit my needs. Pretty good price too.

I have the wd tv live. Works great with mkv's. My only real gripe is that when you play back iso's, you don't get the familiar dvd menu structure, the iso just plays.

I have not had a chance to play with the seagate yet. From what I have read online, it is pretty comparable to the wd tv live in specs.

Read the link below if you want a comparison of all the major media players:

http://gizmodo.com/5397986/hd-media-player-battlemodo-apple-tv-killers

 

[kage207]

Honestly, I'd just hook up your MacPro do your TV and use AirMouse, that's what I use on my media center. Works like a charm.

Solution cost: $1.99.

 

[crazytrain]

Do you have an experience with either? I was looking at the WD and it looks like it would fit my needs. Pretty good price too.

Just to give another "thumbs up" for the WD live - bought this recently and just hooked it up to my system last night. Played a host of mkv files flawlessly. Had been looking at the original WD system but I don't have a surround sound system so it wouldn't play the DTS sound. However the new (live) WD system decodes the DTS perfectly. Thoroughly recommended! The menu system isn't perfect (but hey, what is if you're comparing it with Apple?!) but it's by no means difficult to use. I have a number of blu-ray discs backed up on a large external drive and plan on just transferring a few over at a time to a portable hard drive to attach to the WD (thats what I tried last night and as I said it worked just fine - the portable drive is powered via USB from the WD).
Quality of playback is outstanding for such a cheap device!

 

[fridgeymonster3]

From people who have the WD, how's the video quality? I used Plex to play a blu-ray rip last night from my mac pro to my HDTV and I had to play with the damn settings to get a good picture. Also, the PS3 Media server doesn't really allow for fast forwarding that much. How's the WD at fast forwarding streaming HD MKV's?

 

[crazytrain]

From people who have the WD, how's the video quality? I used Plex to play a blu-ray rip last night from my mac pro to my HDTV and I had to play with the damn settings to get a good picture. Also, the PS3 Media server doesn't really allow for fast forwarding that much. How's the WD at fast forwarding streaming HD MKV's?

I don't have the WD hooked up for streaming, just a HD directly connected so can't tell you about that I'm afraid. As regards FF the way I have it set up, TBH it isn't fantastic, although I've only had it out of the box once to try and then it's been put back (Christmas present for the children), so I don't know if the speed changes if you press the FF button more than once. You can skip chapters via the options menu if that helps?

Oh, and the video quality is outstanding, at least to my eyes. I confess I am not a complete picture quality nerd. I have a 40" Sony 1080 Bravia and as far as I could tell it looked the same as a Bluray in terms of quality.

 

[latafairam]

I don't have the WD hooked up for streaming, just a HD directly connected so can't tell you about that I'm afraid. As regards FF the way I have it set up, TBH it isn't fantastic, although I've only had it out of the box once to try and then it's been put back (Christmas present for the children), so I don't know if the speed changes if you press the FF button more than once. You can skip chapters via the options menu if that helps?

Oh, and the video quality is outstanding, at least to my eyes. I confess I am not a complete picture quality nerd. I have a 40" Sony 1080 Bravia and as far as I could tell it looked the same as a Bluray in terms of quality.

And what format is the hard drive formatted?
Can you play mkvs that are larger than 4GB? even 8GB on this WD system?

I bought a PS3, and I am very disappointed with the file playback limitations. I have had little success streamming to my PS3. I heard its the best Blu-Ray player in the world. But I have a "cheaper " sharp aquos BD player that plays everything I throw at it, even PAL DVDs. PS3 won't play these.
Even the upconversion looks bad.

 

[crazytrain]

And what format is the hard drive formatted?
Can you play mkvs that are larger than 4GB? even 8GB on this WD system?

I bought a PS3, and I am very disappointed with the file playback limitations. I have had little success streamming to my PS3. I heard its the best Blu-Ray player in the world. But I have a "cheaper " sharp aquos BD player that plays everything I throw at it, even PAL DVDs. PS3 won't play these.
Even the upconversion looks bad.

Mac Journaled, mkvs of upto 25GB so far - I used to have it formatted to play on the PS3 and I know what you mean about the file size limitation of 4GB - a real pain as it definitely affected the quality and took forever to reformat the mkvs into PS3 playable files!