My streaming to PS3 has been broken since the firmware update to 2.5.3. I reported it here;

http://www.pogoplugged.com/forum/thread/14526/Firmware-Upgrade/?page=4#8017

Brandon C, Lead Moderator, informs me that he had already reported this to the pogoplug developers.

I'm currently awaiting resolution.

Perhaps we should each raise a formal support request to ensure speedy resolution.

http://pogoplug.zendesk.com/anonymous_requests/new

Remember, its not what life does to you, but what you do with what life does to you, that matters.

Hi guys. I thought I'd let you know I got this reply from Pogoplug support:

Thank you for contacting Pogoplug Support. You were recently upgraded to the newest firmware (version 2.5.3) and we are aware that this causes some buggy behavior when streaming to PS3 devices. We are currently working to resolve this, and a fix will be incorporated into an upcoming firmware release. I have no information regarding an estimated release date. I apologize I don't have a better answer for you at this time.

glad I found this post before I spent too much time trying to solve this same issue. Here's hoping they fix this soon.

We're working on a minor firmware update for the PS3 streaming issue that will be automatically updated and available soon. Thanks for your patience.

The current workaround for the transcoding issue you're seeing is as follows:

1. attach your drive to the Pogoplug

2. wait for the drive to show up on the general settings page of the website

3. go to the media settings page and if you have the setting 'Allow Pogoplug to optimize videos for playback' set to never, then change it to 'auto-generate preview', then click re-scan, then change the same setting to 'never' and click re-scan

4. this will stop the transcoding process and the media processing queue should be idle

If you continue to see anything strange, feel free to contact us at:
http://support.pogoplug.com/requests/anonymous/new

I'm having exactly the same problem.

I have openpogo installed with samba working. My workaround was to install ps3 media server on my laptop, and stream my videos through pms via the samba share.

So I'm going Pogo->Laptop->PS3

Hardly ideal, but it works for now.

Hi Adam. Thanks for chipping in and letting us know you guys know about this problem and are working on it, but the workaround is not working for me either.

Sorry to say it, but this episode has reinforced the view that Pogoplug is a nerd's toy, rather than a mass market device (and yes, I'm including myself in that description). Would Apple ever issue a firmware update which screwed an important element of functionality in any of their products? Well, ok it's not impossible, but if it did happen, those responsible for the ****-up would be hung out to dry!

I absolutely agree - it's the compulsory aspect of the updates which is causing the problem. If there was a "roll back" option then the techies could solve the problem without undue pressure from angry Pogoplug users....

Graeme said: There really should be a way for us to downgrade, because as it stands, my pogoplug is next to worthless.

Yep, I've seriously thought about putting mine on ebay, and I've only had it a couple of weeks.

As I see it, the device is mainly about media sharing, but there are enough drawbacks on that front to make you wonder whether it is worthwhile. The quality of still images is downgraded in the web browser to such an extent that you may have second thoughts about whether you really do want to share them. You have no control over the quality (although this may change with future firmware upgrades).

Another thing which I've noticed: if you simultaneously invite several friends to look at some images, your broadband connection slows up significantly as they all try to get access to your hard drive attached to your Pogoplug at the same time. As for movies, unless you and your friends all have superfast broadband, they have to be heavily downgraded in quality to make sharing possible. And the need to transcode your movies to mp4 is just a pain. And you can't back up media from your PS3 to a Pogoplug / hdd etc etc etc

I agree. This transcoding problem is very frustrating. The suggested workaround implies that you are sitting nest to the drive and you see the activity ... not really useful if you are traveling and trying to access the Pogo while you are away (and your Pogo is burning up the dirve motors of the attached 2TB drives busily transcoding files you expressly asked NOT TO TRANSCODE)

Well this is all a little embarrasing for Pogoplug.

Somehow i don't think i'll be voting for Pogoplug in the Mashable Awards as adverstised on the home page.

Ahhh the irony.