RSSNew Google gadget makes you the 'media server'
By Michael Hatamoto | Published June 27, 2008, 12:33 PM
Google recently launched what it's calling a media server gadget, a new Windows-only application designed to send videos and images from a user's computer to any universal plug and play (uPnP) device.
Typical uPnP devices include the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360, and the number of uPnPs available to consumers is growing dramatically. Google Media Server should auto detect all uPnP devices connected to the computer, so users should only have to install and briefly configure the gadget before it works on its own.
The Mountain View-based company designed the gadget to work with version 5 or later of its Google Desktop software, which lets users launch applications and files with single keystrokes, easily find information in e-mails and documents, and search computers.
"Google Media Server is a Windows application that aims to bridge the gap between Google and your TV," reads a blog post yesterday from Google software engineer David Garcia, who may be using that term "TV" a little loosely considering that not all TVs have UPnP. Along with sharing pictures and videos, Garcia said it's also possible to watch YouTube videos streaming from the Internet directly to the display device.
The Google Media Server control panel allows the administrator to set up permissions for the device so any device or only selected devices have access to the server.
Since the gadget is still very early in its development, users may find bugs in the software, and Google has a feedback page so users are able to share their thoughts on what they like and don't like about Media Server. So consider this an unofficial beta.
Of courts, there are a number of other, more mature programs available for users to connect their PCs and TVs together. Furthermore, more users are simply using a DVI or HDMI port to connect their PC directly to the TV so they can use their TV as a glorified monitor to watch movies and share images. Google hopes to compete with these services because its software is free, and it also should be easier to configure than some of the more complicated software solutions already on the market.
Well, I'm currently using WMP for my upnp needs, but it certainly is lacking. I used to use MediaTomb on my Linux box, and it works very very well. I haven't been able to find any real documentation on Google's upnp server however. Does anyone know what formats it supports/transcodes etc?
WMP does a pretty good job, but it can't handle a lot of the movies I download.
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|Google's answer to Windows Media Connect/WMP 11 Network Streaming.
And very unfortunate, it requires Google Desktop.
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|Not sure where Google are trying to go with this, media player has upnp enabled for ages now, its free and works with any xp or vista without any problems.
Now, if they were to release upnp for linux and mac os, then it maybe noteworthy, but As such, its just another poor excuse for a media streamer.
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|Not everyone uses Media player, nor likes its interface...
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|Not everybody uses google, nor likes its interface...
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|yeah shame it's tied to google desktop. I won't ever touch that POS again.
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|And why would i want to run google desktop?
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|of courts
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|I can't use it because I'm using Vista Ultimate 64 and Google Desktop only runs on 32b Vista :((
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