Sony BDP "DLNA Direct PC File Access

[shukerr]

If you look at this link to the Sony BDP-S590 you will see a new option to Directly access files on your PC.

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/blu-ray-disc-player/bdp-s590

I assumed the player would now be able to access SMB shares via a UNC path and bought one.
However, in the device there doesn't appear to be this capability (that I can see) and I know see from the technical specs that it now reads as "DLNA Direct PC File Access".

This would suggest that the player can use DLNA without the need for transcoding for a considerable range of files.
However, I switched transcoding off in Mezzmo and I couldn't play one of my MKVs and I also couldn't play a .M4A AAC music file.

I've used Mezzmo for a long time and I wonder if anyone on the forums has any ideas about these advertised features from Sony.

Any info would be much appreciated.

I attach the getprotocolinfo from Intel Device Spy if that is useful for anyone.
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[Skippman]

This mirrors questions I've had in my thread (http://forum.conceiva.com/showthread.php/3086-Is-Mezzmo-Right-For-My-Needs-(Oppo-BDP-83-PS3-X-Box-360-Sony-BDP-S590)). I plan to install Mezzmo tonight and play with it to see if it will fix my issues I've had with Serviio.

I think this is a limitation of the Sony player as I've heard similar complains on AVS forum. It's one of the few things that's made me consider returning it for a Samsung or LG instead.

[JohnM]

Here is a link to the official Sony guide to supported formats.

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId=C1017936&fes=true

[Paul]

Any device that has DLNA playing capabilities has a fixed list of video, audio and image formats that it can support. And within each video, audio and photo format that it supports, there will be various limitations (e.g. up to certain bitrates, certain profile levels, up to certain resolutions, etc.). So the reason that your Sony BDP could not play one of your MKV files is probably that it is beyond the capabilities of the firmware within your Sony BDP. That's why DLNA servers like Mezzmo really help. They have device profiles for your devices so that all your files can be played (either via direct streaming or via transcoding on-the-fly).

[shukerr]

Any device that has DLNA playing capabilities has a fixed list of video, audio and image formats that it can support. And within each video, audio and photo format that it supports, there will be various limitations (e.g. up to certain bitrates, certain profile levels, up to certain resolutions, etc.). So the reason that your Sony BDP could not play one of your MKV files is probably that it is beyond the capabilities of the firmware within your Sony BDP. That's why DLNA servers like Mezzmo really help. They have device profiles for your devices so that all your files can be played (either via direct streaming or via transcoding on-the-fly).

I completely agree with the benefits of Mezzmo, I've been a very happy user for years now.

I just think it's a bit misleading of Sony to post on their website that you can directly access the files stored on your PC.
That implies using a SMB share. Also given that the player supports a far larger number of video files via USB than it does via DLNA then again it is a misleading claim!!

Hey ho, well this is why we all need Mezzmo.