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A couple of weeks ago, my DVR decided not to record one of my shows (I refuse to admit user error…ok, it was user error). Since Jack Bauer on my 15.1″ screen just isn’t the same, I booted up the PS3 with the hopes of pulling up Hulu on the PlayStation browser. Apparently I’ve been under a rock.
Back in November, Netflix brought streaming video to the PS3 making it the only Netflix-friendly device that allows for gaming, streaming video on demand, and Blu-Ray capability. But the ability to stream Hulu to my HDTV from my PS3 all of a sudden became more important.
Then I found PlayOn — developed by MediaMall Technologies — which allows you to watch all your favorite, shows, movies and sports with a networked PC and a Wii, PS3, XBOX 360, or other compliant device.
I downloaded the 14-day free trial, which was the hardest part…because it took the longest. With my PS3 on the “Video” category, the PlayOn icon suddenly appears in the menu of options. If it doesn’t appear after a several seconds, choose “Search for Media Servers”. Now you have the ability to watch videos from Hulu, Netflix, CBS, ESPN, CNN, YouTube, and Amazon VOD in full screen (and in most cases) HD-like goodness. Thankfully Hulu videos don’t look artificially zoomed. And YouTube videos vary greatly depending upon the quality at which they were uploaded. I found the same result for CBS videos as well.
PlayOn settings allow you to personalize your channels
The “Channels” option in the PlayOn settings allows you to personalize your channels for Netflix, Hulu and Amazon VOD. And it allows for multiple YouTube channels…add your subscriptions here. While I have not yet explored that realm, additional content is available through a handful of third-party apps (channels) that can be downloaded to your PC.
PlayOn minimum requirements are limited to PC for now — sorry Mac users — but my 2 year old laptop just passes the test. My other hardware includes the PS3, a Sony BRAVIA HDTV, and a Linksys WRT610N Dual-N Band wireless router.
Buffering is pretty consistent, but expect some short pauses and choppiness on occasion. After fiddling with the PlayOn settings, I found that unchecking the “Always Process Entire Video” in the General Settings tab helped my setup run much smoother. Most of the PS3 control options are available including 1 minute interval scene search, rewind, fast forward, and super duper fast forward. I found the latter to be less of a control…more of a nuisance.
If after your 14-day free trial you want to continue using PlayOn, you can purchase the software for $39.99. The video below sums it all up nicely.
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