PS3 Experiences - Non gaming.
Discussion
Okay so the games are cool but really I'm here to let you know a few things about the PS3 that make it a very interesting proposition.
For some time now I've been thinking about how I make best use of my lovely HD 32" tele, a massive catalogue of photos and videos and figuring out how best to keep my music collection. When my wife suggested a PS3 as an xmas present I didn't think it would address these issues but it does.
So first you get a blue-ray DVD player. The PS3 has the option to send audio via HDMI or via digital audio out so it all works nicely with the suround sound and TV rig.
It's wireless and fast wireless as well, I'm not sure of the spec on this but it downloads demos etc very quickly and is also very stable.
Bluetooth works nicely with keyboard etc.
The onboard Internet browser is easy to use and works very nicely even with tricky stuff like outlook web access. It zooms to fill the whole screen on 32" 1080i and looks great. It's a full functionality browser as far as I can tell so far.
This is where it gets good.
You can use an internal or external hard drive, there are three media sections, music, video and pictures each of which can accept input from a USB stick or other HD. The speed with which it displays pictures is stunning, it's like what apple want to do with the Apple TV but this actually does it. It can throw the pictures into a slide show or change from portrait to landscape is milliseconds. It really is cool.
Also because the PS3 is designed to work on teles the colour and definition of the photos is superb. No recalibration required, full screen used at every opportunity. Anyone trying to get a PC or Mac working with a HDMI/DVI cable and the odd resolutions will know what I mean.
Music can be imported in a variety of formats, organised reasonably easily into playlists. The iTunes cleverness of getting track names and stuff is all there it's just seems more fluid on the PS3.
Video works nicely too. In common with the photos and Music you can set up a media server in seconds even with a mac (twonky media server). streaming photos or music to the PS3, the networking of the media server share is instantaneos reliable and fast.
This machine is really capable of becoming your digital hub and at under £300 I can't think of a cheaper or faster way of doing it.
I commend to you the PS3...
For some time now I've been thinking about how I make best use of my lovely HD 32" tele, a massive catalogue of photos and videos and figuring out how best to keep my music collection. When my wife suggested a PS3 as an xmas present I didn't think it would address these issues but it does.
So first you get a blue-ray DVD player. The PS3 has the option to send audio via HDMI or via digital audio out so it all works nicely with the suround sound and TV rig.
It's wireless and fast wireless as well, I'm not sure of the spec on this but it downloads demos etc very quickly and is also very stable.
Bluetooth works nicely with keyboard etc.
The onboard Internet browser is easy to use and works very nicely even with tricky stuff like outlook web access. It zooms to fill the whole screen on 32" 1080i and looks great. It's a full functionality browser as far as I can tell so far.
This is where it gets good.
You can use an internal or external hard drive, there are three media sections, music, video and pictures each of which can accept input from a USB stick or other HD. The speed with which it displays pictures is stunning, it's like what apple want to do with the Apple TV but this actually does it. It can throw the pictures into a slide show or change from portrait to landscape is milliseconds. It really is cool.
Also because the PS3 is designed to work on teles the colour and definition of the photos is superb. No recalibration required, full screen used at every opportunity. Anyone trying to get a PC or Mac working with a HDMI/DVI cable and the odd resolutions will know what I mean.
Music can be imported in a variety of formats, organised reasonably easily into playlists. The iTunes cleverness of getting track names and stuff is all there it's just seems more fluid on the PS3.
Video works nicely too. In common with the photos and Music you can set up a media server in seconds even with a mac (twonky media server). streaming photos or music to the PS3, the networking of the media server share is instantaneos reliable and fast.
This machine is really capable of becoming your digital hub and at under £300 I can't think of a cheaper or faster way of doing it.
I commend to you the PS3...
Edited by Olf on Monday 31st December 08:58
allgonepetetong said:
Very interesting, good write up!
I'm looking to utilise some of these functions with my PS3 and PC. Can you tell me if photos that I have stored on my PC hard drive can be accessed by the PS3 in the photo browsing application, and if so, how did you set it up?
thanks
Pete
I've only had the machine a few days but so far I could see two options:I'm looking to utilise some of these functions with my PS3 and PC. Can you tell me if photos that I have stored on my PC hard drive can be accessed by the PS3 in the photo browsing application, and if so, how did you set it up?
thanks
Pete
1. Set-up your PC as a media server by bringing the PS3 into your home network (wired or less). Pretty sure windows can do this out of the box. Instruction available online. If not Twonky is available for PC too which is shareware and very easy to use. PS3 will then be able to browse folder you share and display contents.
2. Just copy them onto a DVD, USB Stick or external HD and let the PS3 suck them off. This gives you a back-up as well ofcourse.
Edited by Olf on Monday 31st December 11:24
PS.
If you do this make sure that the PS3 is not in the DMZ of your home network i.e. make sure it is within your firewall.
Lots of people are pushing the PS3 into the DMZ to get reliable connections to the play station network. This is unnecessary if you have NAT2 and uPnP on you router which allows the PS3 to open the ports it needs to get out.
If you do this make sure that the PS3 is not in the DMZ of your home network i.e. make sure it is within your firewall.
Lots of people are pushing the PS3 into the DMZ to get reliable connections to the play station network. This is unnecessary if you have NAT2 and uPnP on you router which allows the PS3 to open the ports it needs to get out.
Olf said:
PS.
If you do this make sure that the PS3 is not in the DMZ of your home network i.e. make sure it is within your firewall.
Ah networking, something I know very little about.If you do this make sure that the PS3 is not in the DMZ of your home network i.e. make sure it is within your firewall.
How do I ensure my PS3 will stay within my firewall and will I need to have my PC turned on to connect to the web via PS3 to do so?
allgonepetetong said:
Olf said:
PS.
If you do this make sure that the PS3 is not in the DMZ of your home network i.e. make sure it is within your firewall.
Ah networking, something I know very little about.If you do this make sure that the PS3 is not in the DMZ of your home network i.e. make sure it is within your firewall.
How do I ensure my PS3 will stay within my firewall and will I need to have my PC turned on to connect to the web via PS3 to do so?
.
AntonyJ said:
Hmmm, seem to have sussed it by myself, however the PS3 is seeing the folders, but when I try to go into them its saying a DLNA protocol error has occurred.
I also use a NAS freecom drive, any ideas how I can get the PS3 to see this over the Network?
I've got a NAS Freecom drive too. I'll try and see if I can figure it out.I also use a NAS freecom drive, any ideas how I can get the PS3 to see this over the Network?
I would agree with the OP, and a good thread.
I have a PS3 myself and when I tell people about the non-gaming reasons to buy one, they have no idea about the options.
Even at £400 which what it was when I bought mine, it was worth it for the blu-ray player alone. On the reviews I have seen the onboard blu-ray player matches those in the £800 range.
I can quite see how it is reputed that Sony are actually making these as a loss leader and losing money on each one.
The DVD replay is also excellent with the newer firmware updates decent upscaling to HD too. I have matched the performance with my £3000 CD/DVD player and I prefer the PS3!
I looked at the PS3 as a media centre, and although it can be done, it did seem to me at the time a bit of a 'faffy' option. I looked at the Apple TV too, however the main reason I didnt go for that is that it really needs to have the files on another PC/Mac/Drive and wireless the files to the unit. Faffy again.
A few weeks ago I got a Man Mini to do the job. It connects to my TV with the DVI output which you can get an HDMI converter for. My particular reason for switching was to make redundant my CD player. I found that a good 'rip' of a CD and the Apple optical output to my processor is exactly the same quality as the aforementioned CD transport.
I think the difference between the PS3 and the Mac would be that the Mac is indeed a 'real computer' working on a TV. There are two 'killer apps' too. For me with iTunes burning on my 600 or so CDs onto an external drive took a few days.
Further to that the application Front Row is excellent. With the included little remote control, pressing the 'menu' button activates Front Row which does photos, videos and the best for me organises my music by track name, artist, album whilst showing me the track names, times and album artwork on my big screen.
Whilst the PS3 is certainly a great option, if you have the budget I highly recommend the Mac Mini.
I have a PS3 myself and when I tell people about the non-gaming reasons to buy one, they have no idea about the options.
Even at £400 which what it was when I bought mine, it was worth it for the blu-ray player alone. On the reviews I have seen the onboard blu-ray player matches those in the £800 range.
I can quite see how it is reputed that Sony are actually making these as a loss leader and losing money on each one.
The DVD replay is also excellent with the newer firmware updates decent upscaling to HD too. I have matched the performance with my £3000 CD/DVD player and I prefer the PS3!
I looked at the PS3 as a media centre, and although it can be done, it did seem to me at the time a bit of a 'faffy' option. I looked at the Apple TV too, however the main reason I didnt go for that is that it really needs to have the files on another PC/Mac/Drive and wireless the files to the unit. Faffy again.
A few weeks ago I got a Man Mini to do the job. It connects to my TV with the DVI output which you can get an HDMI converter for. My particular reason for switching was to make redundant my CD player. I found that a good 'rip' of a CD and the Apple optical output to my processor is exactly the same quality as the aforementioned CD transport.
I think the difference between the PS3 and the Mac would be that the Mac is indeed a 'real computer' working on a TV. There are two 'killer apps' too. For me with iTunes burning on my 600 or so CDs onto an external drive took a few days.
Further to that the application Front Row is excellent. With the included little remote control, pressing the 'menu' button activates Front Row which does photos, videos and the best for me organises my music by track name, artist, album whilst showing me the track names, times and album artwork on my big screen.
Whilst the PS3 is certainly a great option, if you have the budget I highly recommend the Mac Mini.
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