No transcoding?!

Depending on the video file resolution/format the transcoding is or isn't possible with Ultra2 Plus. Most probably not possible, regardless the dual core processor.
Real-time transcoding is extremely hungry stuff.
There is a SW for ReadyNAS that can do the transcoding, you can give it a try. The SW is called Plex Media Server. Here is a link for more info:
http://www.readynas.com/?p=5523
Quote from here:

Because Plex Media Server will do real-time transcoding, you will need to run it on a super fast CPU, and there’s no faster desktop NAS to do that than the ReadyNAS Pro

I also have a PS3 with Ultra, but I didn't give transcoding a try because I am almost sure the processor is too weak for this in the Ultra/Ultra2.

Note that Plex does not support the PS3

dudeeg wrote:
Depending on the video file resolution/format the transcoding is or isn't possible with Ultra2 Plus. Most probably not possible, regardless the dual core processor. Real-time transcoding is extremely hungry stuff.

I agree with dudeeg. I don't think the Ultra 2 Plus has the horsepower to handle on-the-fly transcoding. I tried Plex on my Pro-2 (same specs as the Ultra 2 Plus) with poor results but I was also trying to transcode 1080p and 720p rips to my iPhone.

Thanks for your answers on this question!

The problem goes a little deeper though...

Ive sucessfully transcoded videos on the fly with my old PC in the past using "TVersity". That crappy old PC i a single core AMD 1.2Ghz, 512 RAM and a slow memory-bus that runs in only 330. That old PC did it for me. Problem though is that is sounds as a vaccum-cleaner, for that reason I really want the NAS to manage it right, Its the future...
Ive never tested 1080p material on my old PC but 720P worked fine. Ive recently read about a transcoding test thats works on a far slower NAS than mine. The important thing seems to be to do the transcoding in the right way. Many old-style transcoders just converts the whole file and creates a new one on the fly and that takes alot of horsepower. A modern way of transcoding is just to swap the container on the file (example from avi to mpeg) and let the rest just slide by in the stream. The diffrence in CPU usage is huge and the technique is not hard to manage or exotic in any manner.

I just hope that someone will solve this problem...

That only works if the video & audio stream formats are directly supported by the client - Plex, for example, does this when streaming to mobile clients. But it does not work in all instances and is of course heavily dependent on client capabilities.

I know..

I just think that the media server that came with the nas should be more powerful and stable. Havin a NAS is really a whole new world and I hope that the software becomes better soon. If you´ve ever tested TVersity you´ll know how simple it should be to stream media from a NAS...

I have high hopes for the future though, I´ve seen that "Super Poussin" is making a crack at improving the "Playstation media server". Its really godd with guys like him that does this om their free time but I hope that Netgear themselves wakes up and sees the potential in this now and devotes some resources in a stable software with some powerful functions incorporated.

Johan

Runningfree wrote:
Ive never tested 1080p material on my old PC but 720P worked fine.

there is a pretty huge difference in the amount of processesing required between 720p and 1080p...

480p = 338,000 pixels / frame 720p = 922,000 pixels / frame 1080i = 1,037,000 pixels / frame 1080p = 2,074,000 pixels / frame

over double the number of pixels just in one frame alone

Many old-style transcoders just converts the whole file and creates a new one on the fly and that takes alot of horsepower.

this is the only way transcoding happens.

A modern way of transcoding is just to swap the container on the file (example from avi to mpeg) and let the rest just slide by in the stream. The diffrence in CPU usage is huge and the technique is not hard to manage or exotic in any manner.

this is called re-muxing, and while yes it is alot different cpu usage, its not the same as transcoding, and as already mentioned, the CLIENT has to support/understand the data stream inside the container (the container is mostly irrelevant).

I see this as more of a PS3 problem.

For example, there is absolutely no technological reason that the PS3 can't play MKV containers. It plays H.264 AVIs no problem, but the second it sees the MKV file extension, it goes all "UNSUPPORTED FILE FORMAT" on you. The device is totally capable of playing damn near any format natively, but for whatever reason, Sony has opted not to incorporate that functionality.

For comparison, I have a cheap Lacie LaCinema box that will play every single movie format I have ever thrown at it without a hiccup, and new ones are added all the time with every firmware update.

I think it is quite simple. Everyone -including Sony- knows that the most of the illegal HD content (eg BluRay grabs) is distributed in mkv format.
Why would they support this? Sony is a 'publisher', it is not okay for them to support pirate mkvs.

Hi Johan

How well do your PS3 compatiple HD Movies play over the wireless network using the ReadyNas? From experience, wirlesss streaming to the PS3 is not very good. I'm curious to know how it is performing for you.