A playback device comprising: a processor: a memory readable by the processor; and instructions in the memory that when read by the processor direct the processor to: - Receive a token associated with shared media content from another playback device; - generate a request to stream the shared media content shared with the playback device by the other playback device where the request includes device capability information of the playback device and the token associated with the shared media content; - transmit the request to a content server containing a plurality of encodings of the shared media content transcoded by the content server upon upload of the shared media content server by the other playback device, where the plurality of encodings include assets to provide the shared media content in a plurality of alternative streams, each alternative stream having at least one of the group consisting of a different resolution, and a different frame rate, where at least one of the plurality of alternative streams can be provided in response to a request for the shared media content based on device capability of the requesting device; - receive a top level index file that includes information for assets that can be used to obtain the shared media content to the device based upon the device capability information for the playback device; and - obtain an encoding of the plurality of encodings of the shared media content using the information in the top level index file. a memory readable by the processor; and instructions in the memory that when read by the processor direct the processor to: - Receive a token associated with shared media content from another playback device; - generate a request to stream the shared media content shared with the playback device by the other playback device where the request includes device capability information of the playback device and the token associated with the shared media content; - transmit the request to a content server containing a plurality of encodings of the shared media content transcoded by the content server upon upload of the shared media content server by the other playback device, where the plurality of encodings include assets to provide the shared media content in a plurality of alternative streams, each alternative stream having at least one of the group consisting of a different resolution, and a different frame rate, where at least one of the plurality of alternative streams can be provided in response to a request for the shared media content based on device capability of the requesting device; - receive a top level index file that includes information for assets that can be used to obtain the shared media content to the device based upon the device capability information for the playback device; and - obtain an encoding of the plurality of encodings of the shared media content using the information in the top level index file. - Receive a token associated with shared media content from another playback device; - generate a request to stream the shared media content shared with the playback device by the other playback device where the request includes device capability information of the playback device and the token associated with the shared media content; - transmit the request to a content server containing a plurality of encodings of the shared media content transcoded by the content server upon upload of the shared media content server by the other playback device, where the plurality of encodings include assets to provide the shared media content in a plurality of alternative streams, each alternative stream having at least one of the group consisting of a different resolution, and a different frame rate, where at least one of the plurality of alternative streams can be provided in response to a request for the shared media content based on device capability of the requesting device; - receive a top level index file that includes information for assets that can be used to obtain the shared media content to the device based upon the device capability information for the playback device; and - obtain an encoding of the plurality of encodings of the shared media content using the information in the top level index file.