Want to play the movies on your PC on a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or smart TV without copying them? PS3 Media Server is a free, Java-based DLNA server that streams your folders over the home network and converts formats the console can't play on the fly. It has not been updated since 2014; its fork Universal Media Server carries the project on.
Choose folders to share
Select the folders that contain the movies, photos, and music you want to reach from another device. PS3 Media Server makes the selected content available over the local network, so the files stay on the Windows PC while a console or TV browses them.
Open the server on a console
Keep PS3 Media Server running, then look for its media source from the console. When a PlayStation 3 is on, the program can detect it automatically. An Xbox 360 can also access the shared media; compatible DLNA TVs can browse the server as well.
Stream the media you want
Browse the shared folders on the receiving device and select an item to start playback. Videos stream from the PC, and files in formats the device can't play are transcoded on the fly with bundled tools such as FFmpeg and MEncoder. Photos and music stored in the same shared folders are available through the server too.
- Choose a movie from the console's media browser.
- Open shared photos or music from the same PC library.
Pros
- Streams PC media to consoles without copying files
- Can detect an active PlayStation 3 automatically
- Shares videos, photos, and music from selected folders
Cons
- Discontinued; no updates since 2014
- Newer TVs and consoles are not supported
Do files need to be copied to the console?
No. The console streams them from the PC over the network.
Which devices can use PS3 Media Server?
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and DLNA-compatible TVs and players.
Is PS3 Media Server still developed?
No. The last release came out in 2014. Universal Media Server, a fork of it, is actively maintained and supports newer devices.
Does it need Java?
Yes. It needs a Java runtime installed on the PC.