Orb: A Review
Orb is a free (but not open source) program that allows a user to place-shift any video or music present on his computer. Access to the video and music is available through any device that can access the internet (including the iPhone – but you have to buy an iTunes App for live tv streaming).
How Does it Work?
Orb requires a download and a free account. The download is basically a server that connects through the Orb servers. Then with the free account, you can login from anywhere to access the media files on your computer (and more). Orb calls it MyCasting. Basically, it is place-shifting your media. Wherever you are – so is your media.
Setup
The install takes you through the steps necessary to install the resident program that connects your computer to the Orb site. In addition, Orb asks where to look for your media files and which directories to include. Orb placeshifts numerous types of media.
You Tell Orb Where to Look for Media
Movies, photos, music, documents, games, and live TV. Yep, you read that right, live TV. Set Orb up to work with your TV tuner and when you are on a business trip you can watch your home TV.
Orb will transmit to any device that has internet capabilities – Windows Media Player (v 9 or higher), Realplayer, or flashplayer.
Real World Testing
I used Orb over my laptop and Samsung Blackjack II. Keeping in mind Orb does NOT promise HD quality mycasting – the service worked exactly as promised. The streaming feature is dynamic. In other words, depending on the connection you currently have access to – the stream will improve or degrade in order to keep the video, music or whatever from choppy playback or halting.
Over both the laptop and Blackjack the service worked very well. I did experience some trouble with my ATT DSL service as it would seem that ATT would somehow modify my DSL connection requiring a reset of the modem. I blame ATT for that, not Orb. Your experience may differ.
I streamed or MyCasted video, audio, and documents. Each time, it worked very well. I now have Orb as a favorite in my Blackjack’s internet explorer. Even though I have plenty of music and video on my phone, I often use Orb to listen to other music, just for some variety.
Orb Lets You Browse Your Music - From Anywhere
I don’t own an iPhone, but they do have an app that is available for a price. There are quite a few screenshots for iPhone (or iPod Touch) on the site, some of which have Apple Safari as the mode of access. To stream saved video you need to ensure the video on your computer is in mp4, m4v or 3gp formats. Audio is streamed through the Quicktime player. Again, Orb keeps its promises and delivers acceptable sound over the internet. An iPod touch with access to Orb means that you don’t have only 32 megs of storage (for the most expensive player) but as much storage as your desktop.
Conclusion
Give Orb a try. At worst – you’ll have to uninstall the small Orb program. At best – you’ll have an inexpensive (FREE) way to access all the media on your desktop no matter where you are.
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