yet another PS3 question - this time related to linux

[BarthelloSylph]

I searched the forums and didn't see this discussed yet... if I'm wrong, please link me to the other thread and lock.

So, I'm trying to find a way to play television shows such as The Office and LOST on my PS3. Unfortunately, PS3's Flash functionality is sadly lacking, so it can't play stuff directly off of hulu or nbc.com

1) Is another option installing linux, downloading firefox, and installing the flash plug in?
2) If so, can anyone recommend a version of linux to me?

Thanks

[Mizango]

I searched the forums and didn't see this discussed yet... if I'm wrong, please link me to the other thread and lock.

So, I'm trying to find a way to play television shows such as The Office and LOST on my PS3. Unfortunately, PS3's Flash functionality is sadly lacking, so it can't play stuff directly off of hulu or nbc.com

1) Is another option installing linux, downloading firefox, and installing the flash plug in?
2) If so, can anyone recommend a version of linux to me?

Thanks

Are you comfortable with Linux or have you ever used it? There are countless versions of it, that is why I am asking. You can try using Ubuntu if you are still kind of new at it. I don't have any trouble with it, as a matter of fact my 7 year old daughters uses one of my Ubuntu boxes and she can stream shows from disney, Nick etc... without issue and without help. Just a thought until we get more details, hope that helps you nonetheless.

Unless the site is being totally lame and "restricts" you to either be a Mac or Windows user. I'm not sure about NBC.com though, but Hulu is compatible with all OS'. Networks piss me off most time for this very reason so I just TIVO the hell out of shit.

[BarthelloSylph]

Thanks for the quick reply. Here's some more information.

I've never, ever used Linux. So I'm kinda terrified of installing it on my PS3 and using it. But I do want the ability to watch TV on the PS3, and until PS3's browser stops sucking or it adds TV downloads to PSN, this is my only option.

Do you still recommend Ubunta? Is it available for a free download?

[BarthelloSylph]

I just read that the newest versions of Ubuntu don't support PPC processors... I think I read the Sony PS3 was based on a derivative of this chip... so I don't think that would work...

[Mizango]

I just read that the newest versions of Ubuntu don't support PPC processors... I think I read the Sony PS3 was based on a derivative of this chip... so I don't think that would work...

No it wont work, it was my mistake. I read the OP as if you were forced into throwing Linux on a spare box you had around. That was my mistake. For the record, yes, Ubuntu is really simple to use and yes it is free distro like all other versions of Linux. Unless you want the CD of course, then you could purchase it from numerous places generally for around 10-15 bucks total (Estimated guess). We pay $5.00 for our distros at a discount, when we aren't just downloading it for free, so I assume my price figure is not that far off. The last one I purchased was Mandrake for 7 bucks brand new about 10 years or so.

Sorry for the confusion and talking your head off lol but if you think of anything else I will be happy to help you or anyone else.

[Krandor]

The best version of Linux to put on a PS3 is Yellow Dog, but, it costs around 70 bucks.

http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/products/ydl/

[BarthelloSylph]

Yellowdog seems to offer free downloads... perhaps I'm missing something.

Besides, it says it requires component cables or HDMI cables hooked up to a HDTV... I don't have an HDTV so I guess that rules it out for me.

Any other options for PS3 linux?

And I even correct in thinking that this would work?

[Cephius]

The PS3 does have streaming ability. If you can download the shows you want to your PC, then share them via windows media player, you can play them from your TV. I do this all the time, but it does require you to actually download the shows so obviously this won't work if you're talking specifically streaming shows from the internet.

[Jefe]

Too much trouble, not worth the effort. You are better off going to a swapmeet and get a box for $50 bucks. OR you can google tvlinks and watch w/e episodes you want from your PS3 i.e. use its intraweb bowser. I just tested it with no problems etc.

[BarthelloSylph]

Where are you downloading shows from? NBC.com gives you an option to DL shows, but you have to use their viewer.

[Doombear]

I use TVersity for media streaming for my 360 and PS3. I haven't ever had any issue with it, but of course you would need to have the media already downloaded on your PC for you to be able to use it.

I also use it for music since i can just stream the music from my PC rather than save them all to my 360 or PS3. The setup was very simple.

[BarthelloSylph]

Yea, I've tried TVersity and SimpleCenter... I've got two problems with TVersity. One, it feels trashy (since it's a flash program). Second, I have no clue how to add playlists to it... any help there?

SimpleCenter has no ability (that I can see) to add internet feeds like TVersity, plus its a CPU hoooooooggggggggggg

[Tyche]

I use media player file sharing

[BarthelloSylph]

I cannot get WMP to work WMP sees the PS3 and I allow it to connect, but the PS3 does not see the server... I am on XP SP3...

[netz]

I just read that the newest versions of Ubuntu don't support PPC processors... I think I read the Sony PS3 was based on a derivative of this chip... so I don't think that would work...

The very latest released this April (8.04) doesn't work, but 7.10 does.

[Dmitry]

How much space would you guys recommend allocating for linux on the PS3? Also, would upgrading the HD to one with a lot more space be worth taking the time to back everything up?5

[netz]

How much space would you guys recommend allocating for linux on the PS3? Also, would upgrading the HD to one with a lot more space be worth taking the time to back everything up?5

The base installation is pretty small (under 5 gigabytes, more realistically closer to 2-3) for most Linux distributions. Depending on where you're going to be storing stuff, you probably won't need to allocate more than 20gb. I'd say 10gb would be okay if the majority of audio/video you'd want to watch is gonna be streamed over a network connection.

[Vaspinne]

Why not try another option? Xvid and DivX both work on PS3, so you could download the episodes that use those codex, put them directly on your PS3, and watch em whenever you'd like. The nice thing about this is you don't have to waste time waiting for the video to load and stream (well, in my case anyway =/), and usually the quality of the downloaded video is better then the stream anyway.

I suppose the downside to this is that if you wanted to randomly watch a particular episode that you didn't already have downloaded, you would have to go through the hassle of downloading it first. But if you were just interested in the newest episodes, then it works great.

You could also try to find streaming sites that use Xvid and DivX and just use those. There are plenty of sites out there that I'm able to stream on my PS3's web browser just fine. The only issue I have with these though is that the quality isn't really that good, or I have to give it a while to load so I don't have to stop every 45 seconds (that just might be my own internet speed on my PS3 though. For some reason, it's perfectly speedy on my PC, but my PS3 just slows down so much).

Or you could do what I did and that's just getting yourself a portable HD (250GB is the size I have), format it so that it's PS3 recognizable and store ALL your media on there and have it readily available for both your PS3 or home PC.

[Kazen]

Or you could do what I did and that's just getting yourself a portable HD (250GB is the size I have), format it so that it's PS3 recognizable and store ALL your media on there and have it readily available for both your PS3 or home PC.

This ^ ftw.

[BarthelloSylph]

Where do you find TV episodes like that? For example, I want to watch the Office - I only know of two websites where you can do that - Hulu and NBC.com...