Personally I'm in love with the also open-source and cross-platform Subsonic web media server, which recently added two new features: a flash player... and the ability to control the playlist via your local music player.
[subsonic.sourceforge.net]

So yes, I can use my keyboard shortcuts in Winamp while at work to switch between tracks streaming off the media server at my house.

The How-To Geek

I love my SqueezeBox. One of my favorite tech items for sure. I'm very impressed with the software as well. I didn't know about the netvibes method... nice.

UnStatusTheQuo

For the PC and Mac I like a program called MyTunesRSS [www.codewave.de]

isewise

It takes a little work to get running, but I'm a big fan of kplaylist. It databases all of your music and gives you a nice web interface to log into and search your music.

[kplaylist.net]

mofojones

I just started using Winamp Remote (which is a rebadged version of Orb, I hear...).

Can someone explain the benefits of this over Winamp Remote?

jesterpb

Does anyone know of any software (open source or commercial) that supports the streaming of videos as well? I have been looking all over for this. Oh, and subsonic rocks.

jprater1209

Jprater: Winamp Remote, mentioned above also supports the streaming of videos.

I also wonder what the benefits are as opposed to Winamp Remote. The great thing about Winamp Remote is that even a two year old can set it up. The web interface to your music is accessed through winamp.orb.com and not through a web server on your own computer, which means you don't have to open any ports on your firewall at home..

sirdaf

Why would you bother running your own music server? The electricity alone i going to cost you $50+ a year not to mention all the hassle of leaving a computer on with latest virus checkers, etc! This is about as smart as recommending everyone setup a power generator in their home. Even if you did that you still could never match what the power company could do for you.

A better option is get a free music locker at MP3tunes. Then you can not only listen to your music from any computer but ALSO from your Tivo, Wii, PS3, etc. (none of which is possible with slimserver).

Gotta go. I got some wheat I'm growing in my backyard which needs tending to cause I need some bread....

mykillmykill

@mykillmykill:

If you already have the computer running, say, in your basement as a file server, then why not add more features to it? I keep a low-power computer running with mirrored hard drives so I can store all of my music, photos, etc, and have it backed up automatically.

mofojones

@mykillmykill:

"leaving a computer on with latest virus checkers, etc!"

if you don't use the computer (ie. its a file server) then why does it need a virus checker if you are behind a firewall?

Darkmatter91

I've used several different audio stream tools but SlimServer has one stand-out feature that the others have not. There is a java based audio player called SoftSqueeze that accompanies SlimServer. If you install SoftSqueeze on multiple computers that are on a local network, you can sync the players together. With the players synced together the streaming music plays on all the computers at the same time. This works great if you have computers in different rooms throughout your house. You can walk from room to room and never miss a beat of the song that is playing. I have used that feature several times when I host parties so that I have the same music playing on both floors of my house.

eagleeye2e

It would be nice if you can host say, Jinzora on a web server, but have the music source directory set to your Amazon S3 bucket.

Mythokia

I just started using Winamp remote and I think its the easiest to use. Very little user set-up besides username and password, has a share feature and also allows you to configure whether it plays your music via flash player or on your computer's media player.

geraldam