tversity.com
There are many services out there that are not intended to be a cord-cutting alternative. Media servers such as Tversity are designed to help you watch local content along with streaming online content. However, they cannot replace a cable, satellite or premium streaming service. Sure, you can watch streaming services such as Hulu or YouTube via Tversity, but you can't subscribe to live feeds.
What is TVersity?
TVersity is an online media streaming service that allows users to watch local content and also stream online content. Users can view content on compatible platforms by using TVersity. If the device on which you want to stream isnât capable of handling the stream, TVersity will transcode and adjust the content to be able to stream on that device. TVersity works with a wide range of platforms such as PC, TV, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.
History
TVersity began its journey back in 2005. The first version of the software was released on May 10, 2005. At that time, TVersity was well-known for offering real-time transcoding of personal media and web media. For instance, Xbox 360 is known for not supporting most codecs. Under these circumstances, Tversity would transcode the video on the PC and make it compatible with Xbox 360. This might not sound like a big deal in today's time but it was massive back in the day.
Why should you use TVersity?
There are many reasons why you should use TVersity. First, this amazing audio-visual compliant server makes viewing media very easy. All you need to do is to install the application software on your Windows PC and you're good to go. Here are several reasons why you would love Tversity:
The main reasons to use TVersity are its ease of use and the many benefits it provides.
Digital Content Hub
Tversity creates a digital hub that stores all of your digital content, including TV shows, movies, music albums, images, and podcasts. Once set up, accessing this content is easy from any device. This makes it easier to find the information you're looking for and eliminates the hassle of having to search through individual hard disks.
Automatic content channeling
Regardless of the content's location - local or online- Tversity streamlines the entire content streaming process. The media server saves all your preferences and various channels that you want to access, and stores it on your server. Even if a particular file is difficult to parse because of the codec issue, it will help solve the problem. With Tversity, you get various platforms such as YouTube, NBC, CBS, and Flickr in one place for all your entertainment needs.
Bug & Lag-Free
The reason I included this point is that there are many free software programs available which come with adware, malware, and spyware. Thankfully, Tversity is not one of those. Not only does it come with clean software free of any malicious activity, but it also provides an efficient media management tool that helps enhance your content viewing experience. And do not forget that you have complete control over this server. So you can add and remove content based upon your preference.
Speed & Performance
An amazing feature of these downloadable software applications is that they do not have many performance issues. Your hardware and network speed are solely responsible for the performance. Additionally, Tversity is one of the best free software for media servers I have come across. We have all experienced the nightmare of sharing media through Windows Media Player and thus once you start using Tversity, there is no looking back.
Commendable Flexibility
Tversity is easy to use and configured. If you have a stable network with a powerful host PC, you are not going to face any issues. Even if certain audios and videos aren't in the same format as supported by your viewing device, the encoding will get the job done. If you have a PC with decent spec, this shouldn't be a platform at all. And we do need to give credit to Tversity for being such a flexible home theater media sharing platform.
Setting up TVersity
Usually, setups are not a part of the review. However, many people who are just starting out find setting up to be complicated. Thus, you can follow the steps below to ensure that you can set up Tversity in a hassle-free manner.
System Requirements
To run this software efficiently, you need a processor with a 2.8GHz clock speed and the latest version of Flash, Firefox or Chrome. Additionally, a multi-core system is required for real-time transcoding of HD videos; therefore, 1GB of memory is the minimum requirement for the CPU. In today's time, all of it should come with any basic entry-level PC or laptop.
Third-party filters
You need several third-party DirectShow filters in order to meet the basic requirements. These include codec packs for video transcoding such as ffdshow tryouts. Once you add these packs, make sure you reinstall the software.
Installation Process
If you meet all of the system requirements, and have added third-party filters to your mix, installing Tversity shouldn't be problematic. You can get the software from the website, click on download, and once it's done start installing it. At the end of the installation, you'll get a pop-up suggesting that the installation has been completed. Remember, if your PC does have its own codec pack, you won't need ffdshow but if it doesn't and you can try installing the software without it, you'll get a notification suggesting ?ffdshow was not found?
How to access TVersity?
If you want to access Tversity, there are two ways you can do it. You can either search for the term "Tversity" on the internet or you can look at the screenshot of Tversity on the left. If you have read the steps above and know how to download and install software, accessing Tversity would be a very easy process for you.
Design
TVersity does not have an especially modern or attractive design. It looks dated with its fancy banners and dual option body section. However, the design is not bad and can be easy to use.
Header
The header section has a logo on the left and five main icons - Home, Download, Buy, Support, and Blog - towards the right. There are also search bar options if you want to learn more about specific topics on the website.
Hero Section
Beneath the Media Servers heading is a box that reads, ?You can share your screen with other devices by using our media sharing feature.?
The hero section has a banner with a headline that reads "TVersity Media Servers - Media Sharing and Screen Mirroring?" Three CTA buttons are below the headline: "Free?", "Buy?", and "Learn More?" As you scroll further, you'll find "Media Server?", and "Screen Saver" and short descriptions under each of these points. Beneath the Media Servers heading is a box that reads, "You can share your screen with other devices by using our media sharing feature."
Body
The body section has two main elements: Tversity for iPhone and Tversity Pro for iPhone. Beneath these CTAs are featured sections with logos of the websites where the platform has been recognized. These include TechCrunch, PCMag, and Gizmodo among many others.
Footer
The footer section has three options: About, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Use. The left side has icons for Facebook and Twitter, and the right side has icons for sharing on social media. In the center is a Facebook and Twitter button so you can like the platform with a single click.
Desktop/Mobile experience
I had a great time using the Tversity program guide to browse through all the local files and find all the popular US-based content, like NBC's Meet the Press and CBS News' podcast. One thing you need to know is that not all content is available in the free version. If you want to access channels like BBC and other premium networks, you need to upgrade to TVersity Pro. The best part about the free version is that you get access to YouTube.
I never considered online streaming to be the biggest strength of these media servers. I?ve always used them for managing media. The library, customization options, easy access and organization of media are why I love Tversity. It is a perfect platform to set up your audios, videos, and images so you can stream them later. Apart from local files, you could even have content from Flickr (Images) and YouTube (Videos).
Once you have configured the library, you can stream all of the content on various devices on your network. These include TV, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, PS3 and PS4, Smart TV, Android and iOS devices among many others. You don't even have to worry if the device doesn't meet the requirements because Tversity will transcode media to suit the device which will automatically make it compatible. How awesome is that?
Plans & Pricing
There are two offerings from Tversity: the Screen Saver and the Media Server. The Screen Saver is a free trial with a limited time period, and the Media Server has a free software version with additional features available for purchase at $14.99.
Suggestions I have for TVersity
Despite the website working perfectly fine, I must admit that there were a few glitches. For instance, when I added my YouTube account it only showed the videos that I had uploaded and could not browse the platform. I hope this issue gets fixed soon as on PlayOn this feature seems to work fine.
Conclusion
The Tversity Media Server is a great media management hub if you want to have your own server. It has amazing flexibility and performance, which make it a must-have. The media center allows you to combine your local and online media sources, helping you keep everything organized.