Streaming video over internet options.

[flashbacck]

I'm looking to see what options are available to stream videos from my htpc over the internet to any pc. I have been using the built in streaming in nielm's webserver, but it's kinda annoying that files have to be played from the beginning each time and I keep experiencing drop outs that end the stream.

The features I'm interested in having are:
* adjustable quality according to available bandwidth.
* jumping to any point in video
* watching video as it's being recorded by Sage

Just from browsing around, it seems like Orb and TVersity might be able to do these. Any opinions on those?
Thanks.

[reggie14]

I just use the Placeshifter. I have a USB drive I carry with me everywhere that has a copy of the Placeshifter and a JRE. Like you, I wish the VLC streaming in the webserver was a bit more functional, which is why I use the Placeshifter.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by reggie14

I just use the Placeshifter. I have a USB drive I carry with me everywhere that has a copy of the Placeshifter and a JRE. Like you, I wish the VLC streaming in the webserver was a bit more functional, which is why I use the Placeshifter.

I agree. Placeshifter. It is the main reason it was created.....

[flashbacck]

Hmm. I haven't tried Placeshifter yet. I guess I figured if it was a stand alone program, it was probably more complicated than was necessary. In my mind, I was imagining something like just a flash app that comes up in a browser and starts playing.

What does placeshifter reecode to? Can it do h264?

Also, I'm a cheap bastard and always look for the free solution first.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by flashbacck

Hmm. I haven't tried Placeshifter yet. I guess I figured if it was a stand alone program, it was probably more complicated than was necessary.

I'd say the Placeshifter is probably the easiest solution for you. It's a little less convenient to have to pop in a flash drive and open a program, rather than just opening a browser window, but I wouldn't call that complicated.

Still, it would be nice if there was a Java applet version of placeshifter. I thought Sage actually had a prototype of that long ago, but apparently nothing ever came of that.

What does placeshifter reecode to? Can it do h264?

I think it transcodes to mpeg4 asp (divx). At least, I'm pretty sure it's not H.264. You can play back H.264 files though. It just transcodes those too.

Also, I'm a cheap bastard and always look for the free solution first.

I think it's well worth the $30 to avoid having to set up a separate program and hack together a solution. With Placeshifter you can do almost everything you can do with a regular client (except, notably, DVD playback). That includes watching live TV, and skipping commercials (if you have comskip or SA up and running on your server).

[sainswor99]

Originally Posted by reggie14

I think it's well worth the $30 to avoid having to set up a separate program and hack together a solution. With Placeshifter you can do almost everything you can do with a regular client (except, notably, DVD playback). That includes watching live TV, and skipping commercials (if you have comskip or SA up and running on your server).

Another benefit of purchasing a Placeshifter license is that it's a concurrent-usage license which can be shared with the extenders (should you ever choose to go that route).