Google just announced its odd Google Media Server, a Windows app that finds photos, music, and video and makes it available to DLNA devices like the PlayStation 3, XBox 360, and most Media Center PCs.
Google Media Server is a Windows application that aims to bridge the gap between Google and your TV. It uses Google Desktop technology such as Desktop gadgets for the administration tool and Google Desktop Search to locate media files. All you need is a PC running Google Desktop and a UPnP-enabled device (e.g. a PlayStation 3). At the touch of a button, you can then:
* Access videos, music, and photos stored on your PC
* View Picasa Web Albums
* Play your favorite YouTube videos
This shows that Google is very interested in getting its message out across multiple platforms. With the launch of Android forthcoming, could the Google set-top box be next?
Cool, but I can already do this without Google Media Server. I just setup shared folders and my Xbox 360 finds the content and plays it.
Not sure why I would need this?
Ryan,
because it is from google? There are many people out there who just get everything google/apple build without looking at the options
Streaming video to your playstation 3 was a total pain. I would put mine on apache and just type the ip address of the LAN on the PS3 browser.
I think that this is a very useful app. It’s a shame juggernaut like Google had to release it.
Um it doesnt work with the Wii
It’s interesting that Google always releases a platform or framework. It’s up to everyone to build the stuff on top of it to make it useful. Apple, on the other hand focuses on the user experience, and then makes everything else work behind the scenes to make the experience happen.
Both aspects are necessary, but I’d argue that designing the User experience is a much harder problem to solve, most of the time. I’d like to see more of that from Google.
We (phanfare) offer, and have offered, the same thing for a while. It looks better on the Playstation III than the Xbox for still images. I talk about it here.
http://blog.phanfare.com/2008/.....g-room-tv/
We polled our users. Truth is, while most consumers say they want to look at their content on the living room TV, we find the self-declared interest goes way down when you ask about specific devices that can make it happen like the Xbox and Playstation.
Excuse me, but Windows XP already comes with Windows Media Connect, which is UPnP server. It is built into Windows Media Player 9 now.
Why would I install another one?
I’ve been using TVersity for my PS3.
What will google go after next, I wouldn’t be surprised if they went after real estate next. I love google.
To heck with Google. Why don’t they inovate instead of just becomming the me too player of this decade. Last thing I’d want to see if ad-sense appearing during a movie or a show Seems like they are becomming the MS we all love to hate with regard understanding what you do - when, where, and how….
I can’t wait for the death of the cable television media monopoly.
Getting internet content to our living room television screens is a huge deal.
I want to watch what I want to watch when I want to watch it.
The monopoly media will soon be overtaken by the more democratic internet once we can watch online videos on our television screens.
However it is done is less important than getting it done and making it as easy as possible.
For those of you who don’t own a Windows-Pc, there’s Elgato’s EyeConnect server around for quite a while, which does the job pretty good.
Oh Google, very cool idea. A major problem w/ MS media center is finding content. if you have massive libraries of content it can take forever to pinpoint. The idea of getting results as fast as a Google Desktop search is refreshing. However, i don’t see why MS can’t integrate their desktop search into Media Center. Regardless, this puts the pressure on to improve the living room computer experience.
Is wii DLNA? it’s media center capabilities seem to lack.
wtf is wrong with google?
what are these stupid and odd ‘products’ they release every 2-3 months and we never hear about them again?
to keep the stock price up or what?
Looking forward to trying this… My built in Windows Vista stuff was never able to connect to my PS3. “unknown error” … love those.
my nokia n82 have UPnP build in, does it mean i can access my files now using my phone?
I think google should have a television like msn.Like firefox i can’t join with nokia n82.What’ll be the problem?
TVersity
what’s use of this? google! we already have this technology built in wm9. can somebody be more clear?
I believe this won´t last too long.
This one are where Microsoft kicks google ass.
A couple of months ago Google and Nielsen/NetRatings made a deal, where Google would receive demographic information for its Google TV Ads platform. This was one of the first efforts towards trying to spread their distribution channels.
This article presents the next step, but not the final one. They still are only working around with software but I think the use of some type of hardware is essential.