STV Import: NetFlix for SageMC (v2.1) 28-Feb-09

[setherd]

installed all the latest tweaks. I can play movies fine but can't manage my queue at all (like everyone).
Search doesn't work for me. I can search for something but it always returns a blank screen.

just passing this along in case it helps.

[sorrowstyr]

Morgan welcome back! I hope life gives you a chance to breathe for a bit.

Originally Posted by brainbone

I think all accounts have been transitioned to silverlight, but the way you used to do it was simply by following this link:
http://www.netflix.com/silverlightoptin

Yeah, I just spoke with Netflix support today, and everyone is / has been converted. Even if you wanted to use the old method, you cant, its disabled on the accounts.

Up until then, the netflix plugin from Feb09 has been working like gang busta's. I have installed IE7 and the silver light plugin, and through IE I can see the videos. The netflix plugin doesnt work though, even though the netflix player has been set to silverlight. Selecting a movie, only causes the video to flip to the loop back device. No browser or movie player is shown just a couple of video flickers..

Will installing the Silverlight Control v.9 fix my issue? Or is it something bigger?

-Gary

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by sorrowstyr

Will installing the Silverlight Control v.9 fix my issue? Or is it something bigger?

Use V2 test 9 from this post: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...postcount=1144 , Overwriting the files from the feb 09 netflix plugin.

When on a title page (where you can see the watch now button), go into the options menu (right click, or whatever you set it to), and select "silverlight" as the player.

[sorrowstyr]

Hey Brainbone,

I have installed new silverlight control binary and restarted SageTV. I have made sure that the player option is set for Silverlight. (it seems to be the only option that responds since Netflix change my account)

Unfortunately, all I see when I hit watch now, is my desktop on my loopback device.

I have opened up task manager, and it looks like Netflix_control_silverlight.exe is being called, and running the whole time until I hit stop. I have also manually tried running netflix_control.exe first, leaving the big green H in the corner and trying to start up an netflix movie, but it is the same deal.

Any ideas ?


Btw thanks for the hard work with the ghost event scripts.
-Gary

[gplasky]

Have you run Internet Explorer and confirmed Netflix works on that machine?

Gerry

[sorrowstyr]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Have you run Internet Explorer and confirmed Netflix works on that machine?

Yeah, and that works.

I have also tried leaving IE open and trying out the netflix plugin, but no luck.

-Gary

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by sorrowstyr

Yeah, and that works.

I have also tried leaving IE open and trying out the netflix plugin, but no luck.

-Gary

Don't use netflix_control.exe.

Before selecting "Watch Instantly", make sure no other windows are open, sans SageTV.

[brainbone]

I have a proof-of-concept script for forcing the use of the Vista Media Center (VMC) hosted Netflix player in IE that needs some testing to see if it could eventually become a viable option for use with SageTV.

Notes:
- This will NOT currently integrate with SageTV.
- This will NOT directly allow you to control the Netlflix player with your remote. (more glue needs to be written for that).
- While testing this, Netflix WILL be broken in SageTV.
- This works by modifying your "hosts" file in order to intercept and filter communication with netflix.
- Scripts are provided to make the necessary changes to both install and remove redirection to this filter, but I make no guarantee that they will work correctly. As with any software testing, this is not without risk.
- You will be asked to install the redirection; restart your computer; run the filter application; open Netflix in Internet Explorer; try some Watch Now titles; Paste some javascript into the address bar to test some of the control script; report back on if the VMC netflix player is used in IE or not; uninstall the redirection; restart your computer; make sure everything has returned to normal. (The install/uninstall scripts must be run with administrative privileges)
- This should NOT require VMC to operate. (Netflix hosts the player)
- I don't have a Vista/7 64bit system up and running at the moment, so I'd be interested in seeing what issues those systems bring to the table.

If interested in helping out, please let me know via PM.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by brainbone

I have a proof-of-concept script for forcing the use of the Vista Media Center (VMC) hosted Netflix player in IE that needs some testing to see if it could eventually become a viable option for use with SageTV.

Very interesting. Assuming this became fully integrated into the SageTV Netflix Plugin What are the potential advantages/disadvantages of going this route as opposed to the player currently being used?

Any better chance of getting it "to the extenders" without the loopback channel?

If interested in helping out, please let me know via PM.

I want to help, but can't commit at the moment as I'm already over-committed to projects - possibly later. But I'm very interested in this one.

[Peter_h]

Sounds really interesting.

I have the same questions as Brent. What are the advantages of using this? Will it eventually be fully integrated in SageTV?

You have PM.

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by Peter_h

I have the same questions as Brent. What are the advantages of using this? Will it eventually be fully integrated in SageTV?

The advantage is that I can avoid having to stretch and mask the browser window to simulate full screen. I should also be able to avoid the use of mouse emulation to control the player.

I'm also investigating if it will be possible to embed this into the SageTV client somehow (running an IE window in hosted mode, embedded in SageTV like VMC does). This should make the use of the player much more seamless, but still would require a loop-back for use on an extender.

Edit:
To answer Brent's question on disadvantages:
The disadvantages are:

1) Needing to redirect HTTP communication with netflix.com through a HTTP/TCP filter in order to inject jacascript code to force the player into VMC hosted mode. This is a bit of a pain, and I'm not sure if the method I chose will work on all systems, or have unintended side effects.

2) Netflix may not look kindly on the injection of javascript to use the player intended for VMC.

(Thanks Peter, you have PM.)

[sorrowstyr]

Originally Posted by brainbone

Don't use netflix_control.exe.

Before selecting "Watch Instantly", make sure no other windows are open, sans SageTV.

Ok, I closed all netflix_control.exe instances that were left running. I closed all windows, but no luck.

Brainbone, are you saying to leave a SageTV client open? I have always run SageTV as a service.

Thanks,
Gary

[gplasky]

Do yo have the service check marked to interact with the desktop?

Gerry

[bclenney]

I've seen some people mention IE7 and some mention IE8 since the issues have surfaced. Does the version of IE matter? (I dont even have this customization installed yet, just wondering)

[brainbone]

Both IE7 and IE8 work for me.

[sorrowstyr]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Do yo have the service check marked to interact with the desktop?

Gerry

Gerry you ROCK!!!

Even though this option was enabled before, it wasnt anymore, perhaps an update disabled it. I am back to watching Netflix on all my clients in the house.


Thank you everyone,
Gary

[bclenney]

I set up this addon last night. First the good: Streaming works, I can watch previews. Now the bad: I use the 45 button hauppuage remote and it keeps losing focus or something. It quits working and I can't stop the video (or fwd fast or rewind, etc). The second issue I'm having is I can only pull videos up using the browse categories - I cant view lists of movies with any other options (they come up blank).

So: 1) Any idea on what is going on with my remote?
2) Any idea why I cant browse?

I'm using the latest Silverlight, IE8, Netflix addon and Silverlight control test 9

Sorry, Browse Categories should read "Browse Channels"

[tahoetim]

Issues with this plugin have been reported since page 52 or 53 of this thread.

[bclenney]

Originally Posted by tahoetim

Issues with this plugin have been reported since page 52 or 53 of this thread.

I'm not seeing a lot of people posting about not being able to browse (though I do recall 1 person mentioning that they cant search, which I can not do that either), thereby making this nearly worthless - unless I happen to want to watch a "top watch instantly".

So, I'm still asking if anyone has any ideas? It's not the account configuration because I can use watch instantly and view previews of the things I can get to.

Separately I notice that when I pull up a video it initially has the plot summary but by the time all of the information loads many times the plot summary disappears.

[brainbone]

If you can't see your Instant Queue then you likely do have account settings issues. Check that you've correctly entered your "ID", as I've described here.