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How to Use a PlayStation 3 as a Media Center

Your Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console allows you to play the latest video games but it is also a powerful media center: You can watch Blu-ray movies or stream your own audio and video files from a personal computer. The firmware built into PS3's helps stream large amounts of data across a Wi-Fi network in your home. The PlayStation 3 supports a multitude of file formats which can be stored on your personal computer or a storage device, such as a thumb drive.

Things You'll Need

Wireless Internet connection

Instructions

- 1
  Navigate to the "Settings" menu and then "Network Settings," using the directional and "X" buttons on your wireless controller, on the PS3 main menu.
- 2
  Press the "X" button on the controller to display the "Network Settings" menu.
- 3
  Use the down button to highlight "Internet Connections." Press the "X" button to select "Enabled." Press the "O" or circle button to move back to the menu. Move down to "Internet Connection Settings" and press the "X" button. Select the name of your network (SSID). You can scan for your wireless network or enter the name.
- 4
  Enter the network password, if one is required.
- 5
  Use the left button to navigate back to the "Network Settings" menu. Press the "X" button and select the "Media Server Connection" option and select the "Enabled" option. This will allow the PS3 to detect any computers running a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) server.
- 6
  Open Windows Media Player on your computer by double-clicking the application shortcut on your desktop or taskbar. Right-click the "Library" option and select "Media Sharing" from the drop-down menu to launch the Properties dialog box.
- 7
  Click on the box next "Share My media to:" and select "PlayStation3" or "Unknown Device." Click "Allow" then "OK."
- 8
  Navigate to the "Photo," "Video" or "Music" directory on your PS3's home screen and then scroll down until you spot your computer on the external drive. Press the "X" button once you find a video, audio or photo file you would like to open. You can also search for multimedia servers from the Multimedia menu.
- 9
  Connect a removable media device, such as a thumb drive, into your PS3's USB port --- located on the front of the PS3 --- if you have files you wish to open from that device. Navigate to the "Photo," "Video" or "Music" directory, search for the drive's name and press the "X" button to select it. Select the photo, video or music you want to see or hear.

PlayStation 3