Plugin: PlayOn in Online Services (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon VOD, etc.)

[gplasky]

So the basic functionallity is PlayOn software is a UPnP digital media server and browser that pulls RSS feeds from content providers, and presents them to DLNA-compliant networked media devices.

I think the plugins are attempts of pulling the video that is NOT being presented as RSS feeds. And the Scripting Engine plugin allows you to write plugins in lua which for some developers is easier. The scripting engine is basically a plugin for plugins.

For the Southpark plugin, Southpark website uses rtmp for the videos so that is why a plugin is required.

Gerry

[gibsonpa]

Originally Posted by Vettenstein

Here's my properties files for the Spike TV plugin. Free to use if you like, however the 4 listed shows are getting 'No videos were found'. Even though I can see the episodes through UPnP Inspector.

The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate SPIKE Girl Finale
Jesse James is a Dead Man
Fast Machines with Funk Master Flex

All the other shows work fine, so not sure what I'm missing. Same format for each feed.

This is the exact issue that started happening to me last week. I had Spike, Food, HGTV, and MTV working perfectly. Then around last week...it stopped working with "no video's found"...even though I see them using UPnP Inspector. I have tried many things...but have not gotten to the bottom if it.

[dinki]

This plugin is wonderful! So much so that I am considering buying a faster machine to run PlayOn on. I've been using it a lot and am wondering if improvements can be made of the 'Online Services' gui? A list view would be really cool or just general restructuring of the data displayed.

[Suntan]

Originally Posted by matt91

XP 64-bit can't run playon in service mode or you get that error (for netflix). Stopping the Playon service, and then pressing Ctrl + "Start" in the playon control panel will start playon is user mode.

Matt

I was just made aware of this new functionality this morning. Good stuff! I’ve been jones-ing for hulu and netflix capability through the extender for some time.

Anyway, as my Sage Server will not have the muscle to transcode for Play On, I’ll have to run that on my new computer (parts are shipping in from Newegg as we speak.) It is going to be a Win7 64bit install. As I was not intending this PC to be used for any media purposes, I really wasn’t planning to have it “automated” into any of my remotes or anything. Realistically, I can envision the common scenario being that I would have to go down to the basement and turn it on before watching any hulu/netflix on the extender upstairs.

My question, if anyone can fill me in, is: If you can’t run Play On as a service on 64bit machines, can you at least set it up to auto-start during bootup and will it just automatically start working without having to actually execute/configure anything each time you use it? I’d much rather just have to power the PC on, without having to turn the monitor on and click something, to start the Play On server.

-Suntan

[gplasky]

I'm running Playon on my 64bit Windows 7 machine with no issues whatsoever. Everything plays on HD200 extenders and PC clients. I think the limitation is more XP 64 bit than other OSes.

Gerry

[Suntan]

Originally Posted by gplasky

I'm running Playon on my 64bit Windows 7 machine with no issues whatsoever. Everything plays on HD200 extenders and PC clients. I think the limitation is more XP 64 bit than other OSes.

Gerry

So you don’t see any issues with my scenario of just powering the Play On pc and leaving it to start up by itself?

-Suntan

[gplasky]

No. That's what I do. The Playon service starts when I power up my Study PC. I turn it on when I get home and then watch Netflix or Hulu in the living room on the HD200 with the plasma HDTV. No issues.

Gerry

[petereader]

I do the same thing as well with my bedroom PC. It runs Playon on Vista 64bit. Turn it on when I get home and watch shows from Netflix/Hulu. It will go to sleep after an hour of inactivity, just how I set it up. No problems at all.

[pjpjpjpj]

Excellent news in the posts above, as this is what I am intending to do. My server can't handle PlayOn but my laptop can (2.4Ghz Core2Duo, 4Gb, Vista 64-bit; it lives in the Study, while the Sage server is in the basement). Another question: I see in the PlayOn requirements that a remote machine running PlayOn should be on the same router/switch as the media device (Sage server PC). Could the PlayOn server (i.e., my laptop) be connected wirelessly (wireless N)? Or would it have to be hardwired?

Specific example: my setup currently has a wireless router (with 4 ports on the back) and a separate 8-port switch. The router has the "in" from the ISP DSL modem, and one port being used for a cable to the switch (and, of course, wireless-N to my laptop). All the other Sage-related cables are on the switch (HDHRs, server PC, HD extenders). So if I just unplugged the cable (from my server) to the switch and moved it over to the wireless router, would/should this work?

While there is a network jack available (if needed) in the router, I would like to walk in the study, turn on the laptop, and leave, as others above are describing, and not have to plug in a network cable to the laptop every time I want to use PlayOn through SageTV.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by dinki

This plugin is wonderful! So much so that I am considering buying a faster machine to run PlayOn on. I've been using it a lot and am wondering if improvements can be made of the 'Online Services' gui? A list view would be really cool or just general restructuring of the data displayed.

I'm working on something, PM me if you want to be included in the "beta program". It's functional now, but not very polished.

[matt91]

Originally Posted by gplasky

I'm running Playon on my 64bit Windows 7 machine with no issues whatsoever. Everything plays on HD200 extenders and PC clients. I think the limitation is more XP 64 bit than other OSes.

Gerry

The playon support ticket that I opened for this issue specifically said "XP 64". So I think, just as you have verified, it's an XP issue.

Is your PC an XP 64-bit OS? If so, the Netflix player encounters a DRM error when run as a system service. Pleaese run
PlayOn under the following mode to work around it:

1) Stop the PlayOn Server in PlayOn Settings
2) Press the Ctl button on your keyboard while clicking the Start Button in PlayOn Settings
3) Try again to play the video through PlayOn while running in this "User Run" mode

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

Another question: I see in the PlayOn requirements that a remote machine running PlayOn should be on the same router/switch as the media device (Sage server PC). Could the PlayOn server (i.e., my laptop) be connected wirelessly (wireless N)? Or would it have to be hardwired?

What they're basically saying here is that they all need to be on the same subnet. Wired or wireless will work understanding the caveat that wireless is not going to support streaming as well as a wired connection. YMMV.

Gerry

[corwiniii]

Originally Posted by Suntan

My question, if anyone can fill me in, is: If you can’t run Play On as a service on 64bit machines, can you at least set it up to auto-start during bootup and will it just automatically start working without having to actually execute/configure anything each time you use it? I’d much rather just have to power the PC on, without having to turn the monitor on and click something, to start the Play On server.-Suntan

You can set playon to start with Windows. That is how mine works. I'm using Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit and it all works flawlessly. Worst case you can setup Windows to "wake on LAN" or something and/or use Remote Desktop Connection to hit the box in the basement without having to go down there.

[evilpenguin]

Originally Posted by gibsonpa

This is the exact issue that started happening to me last week. I had Spike, Food, HGTV, and MTV working perfectly. Then around last week...it stopped working with "no video's found"...even though I see them using UPnP Inspector. I have tried many things...but have not gotten to the bottom if it.

I've been too busy to take a look at those issues lately, once I get the auto-feed updates working I'll have more free time to track down other issues.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by gplasky

So the basic functionallity is PlayOn software is a UPnP digital media server and browser that pulls RSS feeds from content providers, and presents them to DLNA-compliant networked media devices.

I think the plugins are attempts of pulling the video that is NOT being presented as RSS feeds. And the Scripting Engine plugin allows you to write plugins in lua which for some developers is easier. The scripting engine is basically a plugin for plugins.

For the Southpark plugin, Southpark website uses rtmp for the videos so that is why a plugin is required.

Gerry

OK, that makes more sense. Thanks.

[mayamaniac]

NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO!!!!

just when we finally got Hulu to work with SageTV, now news of Hulu's Free Glory Days Are Officially Numbered

Here's the money quote from NewsCorpian Chase Carey, so there's no confusion:

It's time to start getting paid for broadcast content online. I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value. Hulu concurs with that, it needs to evolve to have a meaningful subscription model as part of its business

Oh well, I guess netflix will get my money, at least I get a DVD in the mail.

[evilpenguin]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

just when we finally got Hulu to work with SageTV, now news of Hulu's Free Glory Days Are Officially Numbered.

Eh, I don't read that as the sky is falling, in fact quite the opposite.

I doubt they would alter what they offer for free *that* much. Just having the last 2-4 episodes available for a show is pretty bare bones already and I imagine helps drive the shows ratings by letting people stay caught up.

What i'd like to see is premium tier of service, on par with Netflix's monthly pricing model ($10-15), that offered higher quality streams and a bigger archive of content (perhaps the entire season to date in addition to a bigger and more complete selection of old content). I'd happily subscribe to that.

[mihooper]

i'd happily pay $10 bucks a month for that

Ditto

[simonen]

Especially if they offered a service like netflix where it will let you continue where you left off.

[Zippster]

If I was paying anything, I would surely expect some higher quality video.