Windows/Mac/Linux: Streaming music or movies from a computer to a set-top box, TV, receiver or any other device in your home entertainment system isn’t difficult, but finding a media server with great features that’s also easy to use can be tricky. Universal Media Server gets the balance right.
Universal Media Server is based on the old PS3 Media Server, one of our favourite media-serving tools. The original developer dropped us a line a while back to let us know that he’s redirected his efforts at this new, better iteration, and sure enough it packs in features that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in a lighter application. Not only does UMS support virtually any DLNA-compatible device (there’s a huge list of specifically supported devices at the link below), it also does on the fly bitrate adjustment to adapt to your home network, automatically streams in the maximum available sound or video quality, features a web interface for easy use if your destination doesn’t support DLNA, works with subtitles and subtitle files (and can even download subtitles for your video), transcodes to H.264 on the fly, and even does frame interpolation for motion smoothing if you want it to.
UMS also supports plugins for external services like Google Play Music, GrooveShark, and tons more. It’s free (and the dev says it will always be free), and cross-platform, just how we like our media tools. Hit the link below to learn more, or check out this feature comparison table to see how it stacks up against your favourite.
Comments
8 responses to “Universal Media Server Streams Music And Movies To Almost Any Device”
It’s actually open source not just free. https://github.com/UniversalMediaServer/UniversalMediaServer/
Holy shit, this is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Something that can actually transcode to the Chromecast!
This sounds awesome. I’ve often extolled the features of Plex but this makes Plex look like child’s play.
I’d like to know what useful features this is going to have over plex that you don’t get already. Childs play? It’s got some extra green boxes which in my opinion are for mediocre improvements….
I might give this another go soon. When I last played with it I was pretty underwhelmed with it in comparison to Plex. Looks like there has been some good improvement though!
any instruction on how to stream it to chromecast ? … doesn’t seem to detect my chromecast
This looks like PS3 Media Server.
*edit* should read first lol
Some of the features are quite appealing. Does it support syncing of media with portable devices for off-line viewing?