I have a music collection on my computer that is in excess of 30 GB and tonight I discovered a way to access it from anywhere. Orb streams songs straight from your PC to nearly any Internet-connected device -- including some mobile phones. This free service turns your PC into a media server, streaming not only songs, but also video, photos, and even TV, to just about any Web-connected device. That means you can tap your music library from your work PC, your Palm Centro, your Nintendo Wii, or your iPhone -- to name just a few of the supported gadgets. Orb is also compatible with all major gaming consoles -- the Wii, PS3 and Xbox -- so you can now enjoy your media on your TV screen as well!
The Orb software client requires Windows XP or later and a broadband Internet connection. (If you want to add TV to the streaming mix, you'll need a TV tuner as well -- check Orb's FAQ page for a list of supported models.)
Once Orb is installed, configure the software to monitor the system folders containing your music (and, if desired, photos and videos). The software will also help you sign up for an Orb account, which requires nothing more than a user name, a password, and an e-mail address.
With the Orb client up and running, you're ready to stream. The hitch, of course, is that you'll need to leave your computer on at all times. To listen to your tunes, fire up the Web browser on the device you're using and then head over to mycast.orb.com.
When you install the software and create your account, your content is indexed on your personal Orb page. It is then accessible anywhere that has an Internet connection; you simply log in and access your files. After downloading the software, it took about half and hour for my whole collection to be available online. Orb even lets you invite friends to share your collection and you can blog on the site. A very cool tool indeed!
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