Xbox vs PS4 and playing vids from network share

[noobsrevenge]

Hey folks,

I have been very head in the sand on this gen of consoles. I bought a raspberry pi to hook up to my TV to do extremely basic video playing to my TV from network shares on various PC's in my household, I was dissapointed with the performance.

Now I decided to buy one of this gens consoles to do the same, do Xbox one and PS4 both do this very easily? Stream the file formats listed below from a simple network share, and play them without jumping through any hoops? Is one easier or better for doing this than the other?
Common formats I would need the console to support:
mp4's, mkv, avi's etc.

Reading srt files (subtitles) compatibility is also important !

 

[noobsrevenge]

I guess also of interested would be web browsing on the XBOne and PS4.

Thanks for any input !

 

[sze5003]

Xbox one does this through plex and usb sticks or drives. Ps4 needs an update to do this still.

 

[TeknoBug]

XB1 does, PS4 not yet but probably will.

 

[mmntech]

The Xbox One handles DLNA streaming. PS4 can't stream or play back local video at all.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I should note that I have some anime files that the XB1 cannot play natively. I think Plex may play them and it's available on the XB1 but only if you pay for their service or whatever. It's not free. The web browsers are about as useful as the one on your phone. In other words it's so basic it would never replace a desktop/laptop.

 

[sze5003]

I should note that I have some anime files that the XB1 cannot play natively. I think Plex may play them and it's available on the XB1 but only if you pay for their service or whatever. It's not free. The web browsers are about as useful as the one on your phone. In other words it's so basic it would never replace a desktop/laptop.

What type of files are they? I've had no issues using free plex and playing avi, mp4, and the other video format, might be mvi or something. I think even xvid files work too although I don't think I have any files like that.

 

[cmdrdredd]

What type of files are they? I've had no issues using free plex and playing avi, mp4, and the other video format, might be mvi or something. I think even xvid files work too although I don't think I have any files like that.

It's an mkv with embedded subtitles. It might even be hard coded subtitles in the video I haven't looked. The audio will play but the video does not on the XB1.

 

[sze5003]

It's an mkv with embedded subtitles. It might even be hard coded subtitles in the video I haven't looked. The audio will play but the video does not on the XB1.

Yea it's missing the video codecs. I've had that happen on the pc too and had to use xvid player to download the codecs and play them. Would be cool if they have an xvid app for the Xbox.

 

[noobsrevenge]

Awesome! Thanks for the replies, I did not the the PS4 was so deficient when it came to video playback.

I purchased an xbox one today, thanks all.

 

[dagamer34]

Also, Xbox One natively supports MKV, unlikely PS4 will ever do so due to their movie business.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Keep in mind you'll need a DLNA server installed on any device from which you'd like to stream to the x1. If you're looking for something for your raspberry pi to do, I've turned mine into a DLNA server (using miniDLNA) and attached a 1tb usb drive to it to turn it into a media server. The x1 streams wonderfully from it.

NOTE: both devices are hardwired to the same router.