PS3 to Mac Networking
   
         
 

FRIDAY MAY 4th, 2007

Hi. It's mcloki.

You may have seen me post on such blogs and sites like Ars Technica, 1up, Subtraction, Joystiq, Engadget and my usual haunt PS3blog.net. All of which are great sites and actually have nice posters on it. Except joystiq which seems to have lost the plot. This site came about one bleary January night when someone online asked how to transfer files to the PS3 on the pc. I have a mac so necessity being the mother of invention. I got the info in a furious Google session and found the information. Then I thought, why don't I just post this on my site, I'm sure that other people would like to know how to do this. And a web page was born.

At the time I just put up a quick text document and left it at that. I didn't think much about it until a few days ago where I got a nice e-mail from a satisfied user, and that made me feel good. It's nice to know I helped someone else. And then the kicker was when Henning of PS3blog.net mentioned me in an article. Thanks by the way. My first reaction was that's great. My second reaction was one of "Oh damn! Company's coming over. Quick everybody clean up the place it's a mess". So the old type layout had to go.

Here's the result. So far. And I do mean 'SO FAR". After the end of this paragraph below is just a copy of the last site that I will slowly be updating. I thought i would add a few screen captures of the control panels to make it dead easy. I also have been fiddling around trying to get podcasts, namely "The 1up show" transferred to my PS3 to watch. I hate sitting in front of my computer watching my monitor when I could be lounging on my couch watching it on my 40" Samsung. Note to PS3 users. GET A1080p HDTV, You will not regret it. Those people who tell you 720p is enough either don't know colour or can't calibrate a monitor. Your Bluray movies will love you for it.

 

 

Transferring files to your PS3 can be done with sneakernet but on a Mac it's easier to just hook up a network connection.

First thing is you need a network connection. I have my Mac and PS3 hooked up to a Linksys router that is hooked up to my cable modem.

ON THE MAC

Open up the System Preferences on the Mac. You'll need OS X
Open up Sharing
Click START on Personal Web Sharing
When it's started up at the bottom you will get a line that states
View this computer's website at http://XXX.XXX.X.XXX/ or your personal website at http://XXX.XXX.X.XXX/~username/
NOTE: Remember the last forward slash. It's important and should stop you from having about 20 minutes of frustration.
Now on your Mac there should be a file called Sites in your user folder. Usually it's right at the bottom and you'll notice the folder because it has a little yellow running man icon in the blue folder. This is the folder you put stuff into that you want to transfer to your PS3.
To Make it neater. Make a folder called PS3 in your Sites folder.
Place what you want into the folder.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT PUT IN a index.html file, It will display instead of the directory.
I'm still discovering what I can put into the folder at this time, but photos look stunning in HD. and I was even able to transfer over a few podcasts music (mp3) and video podcasts(1upshow) after I converted the file with VLC. More on that later if requested.
Now onto the PS3
ON THE PS3

Open up the PS3 internet browser.
Type in this address. http://XXX.XXX.X.XXX/~username/PS3/.
NOTE: THE XXX are your numbers. The tilde (~) is really important to put in front of your name and so is the last forward slash.
Remember that last forward slash. No really! it what stopped this from being a 5 minute procedure the first time I did it.
In your browser window should come up a directory file. That directory will be the contents of your PS3 folder on your Mac. Click on a file and the PS3 will either download it or ask where to put the file.
Using a keyboard is faster, but not necessary. Once you do it though, bookmark the link in the PS3 web browser. So you don't have to type it in again.

Explanation of what you're doing.

Since I was always taught that you should have some idea of what you're doing. I'll try to explain as best I can what you are doing.

Essentially by starting up Personal Web Sharing you are starting up a program called Apache Server on your Mac OS. It's part of the Unix underpinnings. The URl that you type in directs the PS3 browser to your Sites folder which is acting like a web page server. A nice directory pops up. And from there you can download files to your PS3 by clicking on them. The PS3 will handle the housekeeping. Files that the PS3 does not support will not allow you to transfer them

I hope this will you help out. And if there is interest I'll try and update it as well. Supported files and the like. I'm still discovering what I can put on my PS3. I'm going to try and Handbrake a DVD to see if that'll work. If PS3Blog .net wants this info, please post it.

If you need you can contact me at "martin at cinzar.com"

Just trying to stop the bots.

Sorry this was done at midnight Monday Night. I'll try and spruce it up a bit later.