[ubuntu-uk] Wireless Networking question: Ps3 or Xbox 360

[Rob Beard]

javadayaz wrote:
> I mean primarily to view stuff/media thats stored on the ubuntu pc! 
> sorry should have made that a bit clearer
Yeah no problem.

Well I don't have either console (I have an original XBOX, PS2 and 
Wii).  I know the PS3 has Linux support and I'm pretty certain there is 
a version of Ubuntu available (if I'm right it's the PowerPC version 
that runs on the PS3) so you could run your media that way with 
something like MythTV.  I'm not sure if the default operating system on 
the PS3 (XMB is it?) can connect to Samba shares but I believe it does 
support uPNP which I understand there are servers available for this on 
Ubuntu, I've also read it supports Divx video files.

With regards to the XBOX 360, I really don't know.  I know it can 
connect to a Windows machine which is running Windows Media Centre and 
play stuff from that, and I would assume it can play WMA/WMV files 
(being Microsoft format files) but as far as connecting to a Samba share 
or uPNP server I just don't know.  Doing a quick Google search pointed 
to a post about someone running Windows XP Media Centre edition in 
something like VirtualBox.

If you haven't got either though you may also want to consider something 
like the Popcorn Hour device which plays a wide variety of media formats 
(I believe it also does Makrosa video files) and connects to a network 
plus IIRC also has space for a hard drive.  I believe it supports 
standard definition and High Definition content with a pretty good 
variety of connections (HDMI, Composite, Component Video etc).  I did 
see a review in a Linux Format magazine not long ago, and I think it 
retailed for something like £150 or so.

Hope this helps.

Rob