PS4 doesn't read avi. Multimedia functions of PS4: playback of various content on the console. PS4 media player - multimedia combine with support for DLNA media server
Sony spent a large amount of time developing a powerful piece of entertainment hardware with the PS4. One of a multitude of features available is the ability to stream from PC to PS4. Multiple PS4 media client apps currently exist on the market. A quick look and them and it"s easy to see howPS4 distinguishes itself as a leader in entertainment. Setup is a quick process and will work almost instantly with most server clients. Forget about clogging your limited Sony hard-drive space with movies, music , and game data, just use anyone of the programs below to stream your media content from your PC [. Read: ]
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Stream from PC to PS4
Here at htpcBeginner, we have taken the time to put together some of the best options for streaming everything inducing movies, television, music, and photos from a PC onto your Sony console. Multiple PS4 media client apps exist on the market, many are free and some offer premium streaming content and features.
Plex
Photo: windowscentral.com
Probably the number one media app for the PS4. Plex offers a wide variety of options, features, and content, while simultaneously acting as a means of accessing network media on PS4. It is intuitive and easy to use. Plex offers a simple design, easy navigation and intuitive interface. Some of its more advanced features include the ability to share files across the network and even adding .srt files to media content requiring subtitles. It is good for those not overly technical, and want a quick, organized means of accessing content.
Subscribers gain other feature including access to cloud storage. There is a big limitation of services offered for free users, however, the cost of Plex a month is minimal and well worth it. Paid content aside, Plex comes with enough basic features to keep PS4 users happy. Its primary purpose as a streaming content provider does little to interfere with its power as a media server. [ Read: ]
Emby
Emby is a media client app of distinction and another strong pick. Users who are looking for more than just a simple media server will enjoy the programs wide range of features, while the more technically savvy users will enjoy the advanced options.
It also offers mobile access to stored media through the Emby app on your phone, tablet and mobile device. Its interface seems somewhat cluttered at times but is more than capable of managing thousands of files as needed. Simply download Emby onto your PC.
Like Plex, it there is premium content and features available for a monthly subscription fee. However, the free version is more than capable of media management and does allow users to stream from PC to PS4. All around a good choice when looking for more than just a media server. [ Read:
Universal Media Server
Photo: Universalmediaserver.com
Universal Media Server is a veteran program when it comes to streaming content to PS consoles. Built from the PS3 Media Server application, this version remains true to the original. It is a simple looking, bare bones and utilitarian system, it does one thing well, stream media from a PC to PS4.
It uses a UPnP media server created for the newest models of PS4. The server is compliant with DLNA standards. Currently, PS4 Media Server only functions with a PS, but its predecessor for the PS3 was quickly expanded to work across platforms. The server is often updated to keep out the bugs that come with streaming content. Users should have no problem when looking to access network media on PS4. Universal Media Server is a media server capable of serving videos, audio, and images to any DLNA-capable device.
It is free, regularly updated and has more features than any other media server, including paid media servers. Universal Media Server streams to many devices including Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation 4 (PS4), Microsoft Xbox One and 360, many TVs (Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Vizio, LG, Philips, Sharp), smart phones (iPhone, Android, etc.), Blu-ray players, and more.
Madsonic
Photo: Madsonic.com
Madsonic is an open sourced web-based media library manager and media server for the PS4. It uses Java and is compatible with Windows, MacOS, OSX, Linux and Unix variants. Unlike many other options for media servers, there is Bandwidth control for those who have to take that into consideration but for audio only. The bitrate of streamed music can be lowered. Madsonic will then automatically scale down the music to a suitable bitrate.
It offers a few other fun features, like its much-touted jukebox mode, but all around is just a basic media server. All around a good working program. Its drawbacks mostly stem from being a web based application. There are some consistent problems with maintaining the servers connection and lagging, which has it falling behind other PS4 media client apps.
Having at your disposal a home media server for Windows, you significantly expand the possibilities of using your information.
This can bring maximum benefit if you have several computers and modern TVs at home.
Although the server will also simplify the use of information on mobile phones, laptops, game consoles and tablets connected to a common network.
Thus, each family member can watch videos and photos, as well as listen to music, using any suitable device.
What is a home media server?
A home media server is software that makes it possible to exchange information between various devices on a home network - for example, a computer, a smartphone and a TV equipped with the appropriate technology.
It uses the DLNA streaming standard and free software such as the UpnP, DLNA, HTTP Home Media Server application.
All devices can already be networked using wired connections, although setting up a home network in this case will be quite complicated.
But this option allows you to transfer fairly large amounts of information at high speed (up to 1000 Mb/s).
Still possible wireless connecting devices via a Wi-Fi router that supports quality standards of up to 100 or up to 300 Mb/s.
Although with this type of connection, when watching high-quality video (1920p or 4K), the image may freeze.
But such a connection is much easier to set up - you just need to set up a router (and, preferably, set a password) and connect all computers, TVs and phones to it.
As a rule, users choose wireless networks due to the ease of connection and the absence of wires throughout the apartment.
A lot of equipment simply does not have suitable connectors for inclusion in a single network - on many smartphones, tablets, older models of set-top boxes, and even on some photo frames with WiFi, you can only use a wireless network.
It is advisable to use a wired connection only for transferring information between stationary PCs.
Creating a DLNA server
In order to create a DLNA server, first of all, you should download a suitable program from the network and install it on your computer.
Now for all Microsoft systems starting with Windows 7 and later (there may be problems with Windows 7 Home Edition), you should follow these steps:
- go to the home group (through the “Control Panel” menu, from which you can enter, respectively, through the “Start” button);
- use another option for moving to a group - through the Network Connections Center, which can be opened by right-clicking on the connections icon in the tray;
- after that, you can see the inscription “Homegroup” at the bottom left.
If a homegroup has already been created, a list of currently connected devices will appear on the screen.
If there is no group, you need to select “Create a home group” by opening the “Creation Wizard”.
Now you need to specify what information from the main computer will be available to other devices.
To work with general documents, select the appropriate item; To watch a movie from your computer’s hard drive, you should select “streaming to all devices” (Fig. 5).
The same item will be needed to create a DLNA server.
During the process of creating a home network, a password will be automatically created, which will be used to provide access to information and protect against entry into the group from unauthorized devices.
You can view it in the “Show or print homegroup password” item, and change it in the menu with the corresponding name.
The text of the message about creating a group will contain instructions for joining new devices to the home group (however, this information applies to wired devices running Windows OS).
Server settings
After the group and, accordingly, the DLNA server have been created, you can select the name of the library.
The server itself will be designated by the same phrase.
The streaming options menu will indicate devices that are currently connected to the network, working and supporting a connection to the server.
If the administrator wishes, using DLNA he can provide access to video and music to home computers and any suitable equipment.
Advice: To connect a set-top box, TV or multimedia player, you should configure this option in the items SmartShare or AllShare, depending on the manufacturer and model of the device.
To get quick access to server settings, you can use the standard Windows Media Player menu.
To use it, you need to open the app on the computer that is now your home server and enable streaming for your homegroup.
As a result, on a TV connected to the group, you can even watch movies whose format is not supported by the device - for example, mkv.
Although to do this you will have to keep the player turned on while playing the video.
Configuration programs
In addition to using standard system tools, a DLNA server can be created and configured using third-party applications.
Home Mediaserver
For example, using the Home Mediaserver program, which is quite simple to work with and can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
Many equipment manufacturers allow you to download their applications for working with DLNA servers from official resources, simplifying system setup.
We present the most popular of them:
Plex
Plex is a fairly convenient option for any user. The server runs on a PC, and control is carried out either from the application menu or directly in the browser.
According to consumer reviews, the program works without errors in 90% of cases;
Fig. 12. Serviio application.
XBMC
XBMC is a free software program originally designed for the Xbox, but now works on other devices and most operating systems.
Results
Using easy-to-install and configure software or even built-in Windows tools, you can link all your home media devices onto a common network.
This can significantly simplify your leisure time: on a regular TV you will have access to channels with the television company’s service package, and to any information on the Internet, and to the contents of your computer, open for viewing.
Thematic video:
Sony has finally added a separate media player to the PlayStation 4, as they announced on their blog before the E3 press conference began. The application supports many different formats, including MKV, AVI, MP4, MPEG3, MP3 and AAC - very convenient for playing files downloaded directly from torrents. Perhaps Sony is thereby hinting that they have come to terms with piracy and will no longer create serious obstacles, as they did before.
PS4 Media Player app in action
For many Sony fans, it has always been strange that the PS4 initially did not have a media player, but still, the device was positioned from the very beginning as a game console, and not a media hub. Microsoft's Xbox One, for example, began supporting various file formats, including MKV, back in August. In order to play the desired files through the PlayStation 4, you need to connect a home media server to the console or simply plug in a USB flash drive.
- Visual: MPEG4 ASP, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2
- Audio: MP3, AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital)
- Visual: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2
- Audio: AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital)
- Visual: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2, MPEG2 Visual
- Audio: MP2 (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2), AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital)
Photos
- JPEG (DCF 2.0/Exif 2.21 compliant)
PS4 Music
- AAC (M4A)
PS4 Media Player – Installation & usage
The PS4 Media Player button should show up directly on your PS4 screen. If it doesn’t, search for “Media Player” in the PSN store. The download is pretty straightforward (just like any other app on the PS4).
Once installed, you will need to connect either a USB storage, or have a Media Server up and running on your network.
- If you press the PS button while music is playing, you can start a game, the Internet Browser , or other applications while continuing to listen to the music in the background.
- While music is playing in the background, you can pause playback, adjust the volume, or change other settings on the screen that is displayed when you press and hold the PS button for at least 1 second.
- Background music is not included in video clips or broadcasts.
- Some languages are not supported in Media Player.
- For details on connection methods for media servers, refer to the instructions supplied with the device you use.
PS4 Media Player – Limitations
The PS4 Media Player only accepts FAT formatted usb drives. So long for my NTFS disk…