teach this dummy the PS3 like he was a 5 year old

[mike c]

ok, I just discovered fire (thanks caveman)

seriously, I can now connect to the internet via wifi on the ps3. weee! (or wii)

now my questions:
1) since I don't play games, the built in hard drive is barely used (actually, not at all) how can i stuff it with my music, pics and vids? can i do it through wifi or do i need a hard connection?
1a) can I access the ps3 for example from my PC? or can the PS3 access my shared hard drives on the PC?
2) can the ps3 display pics and play songs at the same time?
3) if the ps3 can play your music in mp3 or wav or whatever, why not use a ps3 as a music system (source)?

 

[Davemcc]

All good questions for which I have no answers. Since I got the PS3, I've used mostly as an oddly shaped upconverting DVD player. I'd also like to get more functionality out of it. I'm going to pick up a Logitech Mediaboard this weekend which should make browsing less of a chore.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Woo. Finally something I can help in!

1. You can save files (music, pictures, videos) via the wi-fi from your media server or with a hard connection. Same thing. You'll need to setup the media server on your pc via Windows Media or another program. I'm running Tversity. (Free download at www.tversity.com). Windows media is not able to stream xVid files, so Tversity is probably the better bet.
1a. You cannot access the PS3 from your computer, but you can access media files on your compter from the PS3.
2. The PS3 should be able to play music and pictures at the same time. I haven't done this before, but try playing a music file, hitting the PS Button and navigating through the picture menu.
3. In regards to using the PS3 as a music source, it's definitely viable. However, I prefer streaming the files over my wireless network. This way, I don't have to waste the space on the harddrive of the PS3. I have 300GBs of storage on my PC and an external 1TB harddrive. The other reason is that I don't want to duplicate my music/video files - it'd be a hassle to have to copy it all over when u can remotely access it all anyways.

One function I have become absolutely infatuated with on the PS3 is how it links to the PSP handheld system. The single coolest feature I have seen in a long time is called Remote Play.

Basically, using a PSP, you can link wirelessly via internet or homenetwork to remotely turn on your PS3. From there, your PSP will act like the screen for your PS3. You can do just about anything you can do on the PS3 on the PSP at that stage except play PS2/mostPS3 games, watch DVDs or BDs.

However you will have access to your video, music, pictures and PS3 browser. If you have your PS3 connected to your media server, you can also access that as well.

Ever since Sony added this feature in the 2.10 update, I always keep my PSP in my car. If I'm at a coffee shop, I'll bring it with me and connect to their wireless hotspot, and watch a movie or listen to music or show friends my photos from my computer at home. Definitely very, very cool. In fact, that see this as the next new wave of technology - no need for tons of storage on a portable device if you can retreive your files from home anywhere, anytime.

Oh, another thing is that you can play any PS1 game via remote play as well. There's a bit of input lag, but it's still pretty neat.

Just think of the PS3 as a media conduit - it does pretty much everything - including playing games.

If you want more PC-like functionality from it, you can install Linux, and it will be just like a computer in your theater room.

Apparently, they're trying to add PVR-like functionality to the system in the future so that you can record TV, but I haven't heard any news on that lately.

Oh - and games. Get a good game or two. You'll be amazed at how far games have come since the Pong days.

 

[mike c]

thanks bloodstriker. i've installed tversity.

i've loaded test files and pics. and they can be accessed from the PS3 (wow! who needs apple tv!)

but the new folders that I loaded aren't being displayed (i've tried loading the entire drive or specific folders or files) but the PS3 doesn't "see" the new folders I've uploaded.

i've tried turning the ps3 on and off, refreshing the media library on tversity and logging on and off on the PC.

also, is tversity transmitting via wifi straight to the PC, or uploading to the net and back down to the PS3? (im guessing the former)

 

[mike c]

i think i've got it. I loaded too many drives, i think it was still loading. instead of full drives, I chose folders instead.

i tried to load my three hard drives 320gb each ... no wonder it wouldn't work.

 

[mike c]

i can't believe the ps3 can do all this! i mean, blu-ray player, apple tv, game console for a fairly small amount! wow!

and since my receivers and players are all behind me, the bluetooth remote/controller is actually ultra cool!

if a cool dedicated player comes out, i'll buy it and move this to the bedroom! (who needs apple tv!?)

 

[mouettus]

What I find bogus on the PS3 is that once you copy your files over on the PS3's HDD, you lose your directory structure. All mp3s goes in the "music" folder. So what I did is I've bought a Seagate 250gb external hdd (90$ on sale at BB) and copied all my music files in it. That way I keep my directory structure. All I have to do is copy new music over once in a while. I've also partitioned it so it acts as data backup for my computer. I don't have wifi at home cuz it always bugs with every piece of hardware I buy (tried 4 different products) so an external hard drive is my stearway to heaven.

Didn't know you could access your files on the ps3 via the internet with your psp though. That's pretty neat.

Glad that you found the ps3. I was amazed the same as you when I found out about all of it's cool features. That thing is a pure toy.

 

[skads_187]

What I find bogus on the PS3 is that once you copy your files over on the PS3's HDD, you lose your directory structure. All mp3s goes in the "music" folder. So what I did is I've bought a Seagate 250gb external hdd (90$ on sale at BB) and copied all my music files in it. That way I keep my directory structure. All I have to do is copy new music over once in a while. I've also partitioned it so it acts as data backup for my computer. I don't have wifi at home cuz it always bugs with every piece of hardware I buy (tried 4 different products) so an external hard drive is my stearway to heaven.

Just wondering, your external hard drive, you must have plugged it via usb. How did the ps3 detect it? automatically? That's a pretty good idea, I want to do the same. However, is it worth the money to get it, or should I just stream via wireless?

lastly, which brand of routers did you try? Right now I have my ps3 plugged in directly to the router. but once I move out, ill have no choice but to go wifi.

 

[mouettus]

Just wondering, your external hard drive, you must have plugged it via usb. How did the ps3 detect it? automatically? That's a pretty good idea, I want to do the same. However, is it worth the money to get it, or should I just stream via wireless?

lastly, which brand of routers did you try? Right now I have my ps3 plugged in directly to the router. but once I move out, ill have no choice but to go wifi.

1. two possible reasons. I. when you go over your drive, press triangle and then select Diplay all (or something like that). II. Your hard drive is formatted in NTFS format used by windows but incompatible with the PS3. You must reformat it as a FAT32 drive for compatibility. Sure thing, FAT32 doesn't allow you more than 32gb of space and has some file size limitations. Supposedly swissknife (free software) can format a FAT32 drive with unlimited size restrictions. Haven't tried it yet though but I'm pretty confident it can. Anyways, I only have about 20gb of music so it's not worth it yet. I use the 220gb left for data backup.

2. If you can stream via wifi, then why not. I've tried with windows media player only but there is another neat software called tversity I think that works quite well too.

3. For routers, I've tried linksys (1), Netgear (1) and D-link (3). All with the same results: great at first but after a couple days, you constantly lose connection and have to do a hard reset every time, several times a day. Unacceptable. I can live without wifi with my ps3 and my girlfriend used it for her laptop so now if she wants the net, she takes my pc.

 

[skads_187]

hmm, thats what I am afraid of as well. When my ps3 was in the basement it was working ok with my linksys router, but it happened a few times where I had to do a reset and I hated that. Right now it's plugged directly to the ps3. But once I move out I will have no choice to go wireless. I hope it goes well.