Streaming from Mac Pro

[gslrider]

I'm currently using Playback on my Mac Pro to stream media content to my PS3. The setup is very easy (pretty much plug and play), and works pretty well. Unfortunately, the PS3 is limited to the file types it can read, and it doesn't play nice with Cinavia protected files (it's a Sony thing). Normally, for these files, I would just switch to my Xbox 360, as it does not get affected by Cinavia. But the Xbox is very finicky with file formats. Even for the files it CAN read. ie. mp4. So it's becoming a bit of a pain streaming video content from my Mac.

I've had some people suggest Boxee or WD Live TV HD. Anyone use either of these with their Mac? Is it easy to connect? Any other suggestions for easy streaming from Mac to tv? Much appreciated.

 

[thefredelement]

Have you thought about an Apple TV? I have one and actually don't stream anything from my Mac but I've read it's well within it's capabilities to stream your iTunes library.

 

[ybz90]

Try Plex Media Server. It has compatibility across OSes as well as mobile devices in addition to DLNA devices like the PS3.

 

[gslrider]

Have you thought about an Apple TV? I have one and actually don't stream anything from my Mac but I've read it's well within it's capabilities to stream your iTunes library.

I actually have an Apple TV 3. Got it as a gift. Sadly, it doesn't do what I want it too. Your stuck with the limitations of iTunes to gain access to your media files. For many, some of these files are quite abundant, and too much work to set it up on iTunes. With my PS3 and Playback on my Mac, I have dedicated folders that show up on the PS3. No hassles. The least work, the better. If the PS3 can do it, I'm sure there are others that can as well. Just not the Apple TV. Too bad, it has a lot of potential.

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Try Plex Media Server. It has compatibility across OSes as well as mobile devices in addition to DLNA devices like the PS3.

I've heard of this. It's pretty much the same as Playback, Connect360 and PS3 Media Server. My problem is the media player that receives the stream. In this case the PS3 or Xbox 360. But as I mentioned, PS3 won't play Cinavia files (it's a Sony thing, so any Sony products will never play Cinavia coded files). And the Xbox gets finicky with files, so it doesn't play half my stuff. Even though it suppose to be able to read mp4 files, and every other device I have can read the files it can't.

I'm going to look into the WD Live TV HD. Check it out. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=330 I just want to make sure it's an easy set up with the Mac, just like my PS3 is.

 

[hyeg35]

http://www.nullriver.com/products/connect360

if you have a xbox 360, that's what i use and it works great. unfortunately they don't support the xbox one yet

 

[crjackson2134]

I have the WDTV Live (Newest model) and I love it. Works great for me...

 

[costabunny]

I actually have an Apple TV 3. Got it as a gift. Sadly, it doesn't do what I want it too. Your stuck with the limitations of iTunes to gain access to your media files. For many, some of these files are quite abundant, and too much work to set it up on iTunes. With my PS3 and Playback on my Mac, I have dedicated folders that show up on the PS3. No hassles. The least work, the better. If the PS3 can do it, I'm sure there are others that can as well. Just not the Apple TV. Too bad, it has a lot of potential.

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I use Air Video HD server on the MAc pro and the app on the iphone. That way I can stream to the iphone via Air Video HD and then just airplay from the iPhone to the Apple TV - Works a charm because Air Video Server transcodes the media files on the mac as it streams (unless they are mp4 in which case they just go direct).

With VLC Installed on the system, the Air Video server will pretty much play any and every format you could possibly think of.

No iTunes needed and no need to change formats of your media library (mine is a mix of avi/xvid/divx/mp4/mkv/mov/wma etc),

I have been using this setup for a long time now and I've yet to find a media file that it struggles with (including my 1080 Blueray backups)

Worth a look .

http://www.inmethod.com/airvideohd/index.html

 

[gslrider]

I have the WDTV Live (Newest model) and I love it. Works great for me...

Easy set up? Or did you have to find some workarounds for connecting to your Mac?

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I use Air Video HD server on the MAc pro and the app on the iphone. That way I can stream to the iphone via Air Video HD and then just airplay from the iPhone to the Apple TV - Works a charm because Air Video Server transcodes the media files on the mac as it streams (unless they are mp4 in which case they just go direct).

With VLC Installed on the system, the Air Video server will pretty much play any and every format you could possibly think of.

No iTunes needed and no need to change formats of your media library (mine is a mix of avi/xvid/divx/mp4/mkv/mov/wma etc),

I have been using this setup for a long time now and I've yet to find a media file that it struggles with (including my 1080 Blueray backups)

Worth a look .

http://www.inmethod.com/airvideohd/index.html

Interesting. I've never heard of this. I'll have to check it out. Thanks.

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http://www.nullriver.com/products/connect360

if you have a xbox 360, that's what i use and it works great. unfortunately they don't support the xbox one yet

That's what I'm currently using to connect my Xbox to my Mac. But Xbox sucks for file compatibility issues. Even from files it's suppose to be able to read.

 

[LorenK]

I must be dense but I don't understand this set-up. I've had my MacPro connected for several years to my receiver for playback using HDMI and TOSLink. I use VLC and iTunes and never have any issues watching movies or listening to music. I have a PS3, but running media files through a player when I can watch everything directly seems pointless. What am I missing?

 

[gslrider]

I must be dense but I don't understand this set-up. I've had my MacPro connected for several years to my receiver for playback using HDMI and TOSLink. I use VLC and iTunes and never have any issues watching movies or listening to music. I have a PS3, but running media files through a player when I can watch everything directly seems pointless. What am I missing?

Yours is just another way to set up streaming. But for me, that's more cumbersome like. I'm guessing your have your Mac close to your tv. Mine is in another room. Hence why I use a powerline system to connect a secondary router, which I hardwire my PS3, Xbox, and AppleTV to. Pretty much just plug and play. You can use VLC to stream, but it requires several steps to set up. And from what I recall, you can only access one movie at a time. You have to go into VLC to load up another movie. And it's not as versatile. With iTunes, you have to have ALL your media in iTunes, which means you'd have to convert all your video files to put in iTunes Library. As I mentioned, I prefer to have a dedicated folder(s) or drive for all my media, and just have it accessed. No mess, no fuss. No extra stuff on your computer like a bloated iTunes Library.

The PS3 set up is great with Playback. I've been using it for years. Playback launches automatically on startup (runs in the background), I indicate in Playback what folders or external drives are accessible, select ALL DEVICES (as in all devices it can find on the network to access media files), turn on my PS3 and voila. Those folders and subfolders, with all it's contents are right there for me to choose which files I want to watch. ie Pics, Videos, Music files. It even has an option to access iTunes and iPhoto. I only access music through iTunes. Because that is the only thing I use iTunes for. As well, whatever you do to those folders, gets automatically updated through the PS3. It's the more recent Cinavia issue that I'm trying to bypass. If it weren't for that, I'd stick with my PS3 setup.