General FAQs
Got a question about Twonky? Chances are, we've got the answer. Here you’ll find troubleshooting tips and instructions for setting up and running Twonky. Contact us to submit a question for inclusion in this section.
Why Twonky
TwonkyServer Mobile FAQ
Glossary
Why Twonky?
Why would I want Twonky?
What do I need to use Twonky?
Which Twonky product should I get?
How do I get started?
Why would I want Twonky?
If you have an extensive media collection stored on your computer or mobile phone, or you want to share an online photo, video clip or mp3, Twonky lets you transport digital media to your network-connected TV, stereo or digital photo frame. Without Twonky, your devices couldn’t access media files properly and you wouldn’t benefit from the fun and convenience of a truly connected home.
Twonky products enhance your media experience. Whether it’s sharing your photos, music or videos with a large group of family and friends or just enjoying your media on the optimal device, Twonky gives you greater control without sacrificing quality.
What do I need to use Twonky?
You need a broadband Internet connection (DSL or cable) and a computer. To really get the best Twonky experience, you will also want at least one other device connected to your network. This could be an Internet Radio, a digital photo frame, a mobile phone or a TV.
You have a lot of flexibility with the devices you use with Twonky. You don’t need a new TV that connects directly to the Internet. You can use something called a digital media adapter to add your TV to your network, or you can connect it through a gaming system like an Xbox 360® or a Playstation® 3.
The easiest way to know if something will work with Twonky is if it carries a UPnP™ or DLNA® symbol. Devices with these symbols meet a set of standards that ensure they will communicate well with each other. Hundreds of companies follow these guidelines, including popular brands like Samsung, Cisco™, Sony and Yamaha, and thousands of products already carry the DLNA or UPnP symbol.
Which Twonky product should I get?
Twonky works with all computer systems and Android™-based mobile phones.
TwonkyServer is our most versatile software, since it works with Mac®, Linux and Windows® operating systems. We even have TwonkyServer Mobile for Android-based mobile phones.
If you have a Windows PC, you’ll want TwonkyManager. TwonkyManager incorporates TwonkyServer, but also offers an easy-to-use media management program that includes many additional features.
If you have a Mac or a Windows PC, then you can also use TwonkyBeam™. TwonkyBeam is a free add-on for your Internet browser. Mac users can download a Firefox® version, while Windows users have their choice of TwonkyBeam for Firefox or Internet Explorer®. TwonkyManager includes TwonkyBeam.
We have more Twonky apps coming for Android mobile phones, so be sure to check your app store for new apps from us. We will work with the iPhone® in the future.
How do I get started?
You'll need a home network with a broadband Internet connection and a WiFi router or Ethernet. Your media should be on a computer or storage device connected to the home network. If you're running a firewall, you'll need to check your settings to make sure Twonky isn’t blocked. If you have multiple computers you want to access, install Twonky on each one.
The best way to get started is to download the trial version and get it working on your own system. If you have questions, please check our support area. Once you've seen what Twonky can do, come back for a full license to the product.
TwonkyServer Mobile
What are the system requirements for TwonkyServer Mobile?
How do I download and install TwonkyServer Mobile?
What can I do if I’m having download problems?
Where can I find a list of products that work with TwonkyServer Mobile?
What formats does TwonkyServer Mobile support?
Why don’t I hear audio when I try to play a video taken on my phone?
How can I copy media from my computer to my phone?
Can I run TwonkyServer Mobile in the background while I talk on the phone?
Can I use TwonkyServer Mobile with TwonkyManager?
Where can I go to find more information about this and other Twonky products?
How do I receive support for TwonkyServer Mobile?
What are the system requirements for TwonkyServer Mobile?
- Android 1.5 or later OS
- 320 x 480 (or higher) resolution display
- Requires 10MB available disk space
- Requires access to a Wi-Fi network
- Requires one or more UPnP or DLNA-certified media players connected to your network
- Requires music, photo or video files on the phone
- May not work on some unlocked phones without data plans.
How do I download and install TwonkyServer Mobile?
1. First, click on the "Market" icon on your Android phone.
2. Next, click on the "Search" button or magnifying glass and type in the word "Twonky".
3. Click on "TwonkyServer Mobile."
4. Now, click on the "Install" button.
5. To download this free app, click on the "OK" button.
6. If you don’t see a download progress indicator on your phone, click back on "TwonkyServer Mobile" or click on "My Downloads."
What can I do if I’m having download problems?
- If the download doesn’t start in ten seconds, try going back and starting the download again.
- If the download progress bar never moves and you’re trying to download while connected to a Wi-Fi network at work, you may have to temporarily disable Wi-Fi to force your phone to download over the 3G network.
- If the can’t find this application when you search for the word "Twonky," you may have an unlocked phone. Currently, only phones that are unlocked and don’t have a two-year agreement can download this application. We’re working with Google on a solution to this problem.
Where can I find a list of products that work with TwonkyServer Mobile?
You can find a list of digital media players that work with TwonkyServer Mobile here: http://www.dlna.org/products. TwonkyServer Mobile works with a wide range of popular devices including Internet-ready TVs, networked stereo receivers, game consoles, digital photo frames, PCs and low-cost digital media adapters.
What formats does TwonkyServer Mobile support?
TwonkyServer Mobile can stream the following file formats:
Music: MP3, WMA, WAV, 3GP, M4A, MP4, LPCM, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MP2, AC3, MPA, MP1, AIF
Photo: JPEG, PNG, TIF, BMP
Video: MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG2-TS, MPEG4, AVI, WMV, VOB, DivX, 3GP, VDR, ASF, MPE, DVR-MS, Xvid, M1V, M4V
Why don’t I hear audio when I try to play a video taken on my phone?
Most DLNA-certified TVs only play a few video file formats. If you want to play videos taken on your phone, you may to have to first convert them to MPEG-2 or another video format that your TV can play.
How can I copy media from my computer to my phone?
1. Plug your phone into a PC with media you want to copy.
2. Swipe down the menu bar at the top of the phone until you see a USB menu. Click on it.
3. Now, click on the "Mount" button.
4. A message should now appear on your PC that asks you what you want to do. Click on "Open folder to view files".
5. It’s a good idea to create separate folders for music, photos and videos and then drag media from your PC into those folders. It’s OK if you have your music in separate folders for each artist and album. TwonkyServer Mobile will still find everything.
6. When you’re finished, swipe down on the menu bar at the top again and click on "Turn off USB storage." It will remind you to disconnect the USB cable. You may be asked to click on "Disconnect" again.
Now, launch TwonkyServer Mobile. After the new media is scanned, you should notice the number of tracks, photos and videos has increased. You’re now ready to share these files with devices on your network.
Can I run TwonkyServer Mobile in the background while I talk on the phone?
Yes. You can serve media to devices in every room of your house, while you run other apps on the phone — or even take a phone call. The media should continue to stream without interruption.
Can I use TwonkyServer Mobile with TwonkyManager?
Yes. TwonkyManager provides an easy way to "push" selected media to a desired media player in your home, or just play them locally on your PC. If you don’t already have TwonkyManager, you can download a trial version here.
1. After installing TwonkyManager, select "TwonkyServer Mobile" from the drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
2. You can browse your media by music, photos or videos. Notice that TwonkyServer Mobile is providing thumbnail images of all your photos. This makes it easy to quickly find the photos you want from your phone.
3. To playback any selection, just highlight the item from the menu and double-click it. By default, it will playback in the TwonkyManager PC application, but you can also click and drag a selection to playback on a device you see in the "Play Here" section.
To learn more about some of the features in TwonkyManager, click here.
Where can I go to find more information about this and other Twonky products?
You can link to product descriptions from our Twonky Suite tab.
How do I receive support for TwonkyServer Mobile?
There are two ways to get support for this product:
1. Refer to this FAQ.
2. Visit the TwonkyServer Mobile section of the Twonky Forum.
Glossary
Twonky: Twonky is a family of software and applications for your PC, Mac® or mobile phone that finds all the digital media in your household and shares them with PCs, TVs, stereos and other devices connected to your network.
Connected Home: The Connected Home refers to anything that links to your home’s Internet connection. In addition to your computer, TVs, gaming systems, mobile phones, digital photo frames and many other devices can hook up to the Internet through either a wired or wireless connection. Once connected to the Internet, these devices can access some of the files stored on your computer, as well as online content.
Even if you have an older TV that doesn’t directly connect to the Internet, you can use a gaming system, like an Xbox 360® or Playstation® 3, or a special device called a digital media adapter specifically made to connect your TV to your broadband feed and give yourself a connected home. Watch our videos on YouTube to see how to set up some popular devices that work well with Twonky.
DLNA: The Digital Living Network Alliance is a consortium of the world’s leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile companies, who have joined together to ensure that you can enjoy your media throughout the home. DLNA created guidelines to make sure devices can work together — no matter what brand. DLNA helps ensure that your music, videos and photos aren’t stuck on just one device; you can share them throughout your network. The DLNA website has a list of all DLNA-compliant devices. The DLNA website features a Search & Match section, where you can select a particular product, to see a list of other products that work with it.
UPnP: UPnP, or Universal Plug n’ Play, like DLNA, is a set of standards that enable interoperability with the devices in your network. Learn more on the UPnP forum.
Beam: Beaming is the ability to send digital information, such as a music file, over a network for playback on different devices, without having to actually store the information on that device. UPnP: UPnP, or Universal Plug n’ Play, like DLNA, is a set of standards that enable interoperability with the devices in your network. You can learn about the UPnP Forum on their website.
Server: A server provides the connection between where you store your digital media files and where you want to play the media. Without a server, you couldn’t share media files across your home network.
