Anything else out there like PlayOn?

[sdsean]

I have a lifetime account for PlayOn, and it's pretty nice to integrate with SageTV, but I'm wondering if there are other services out there like it?


The recording of streams is probably the thing i'm mainly interested in. . .PlayOn seems to go back and forth on support levels for the various services and so things like Disney+ are not available.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by sdsean

I have a lifetime account for PlayOn, and it's pretty nice to integrate with SageTV, but I'm wondering if there are other services out there like it?


The recording of streams is probably the thing i'm mainly interested in. . .PlayOn seems to go back and forth on support levels for the various services and so things like Disney+ are not available.

Have you tried their cloud recording for Disney+?

[sdsean]

I didn't think you could do that, i thought it only worked on the channels / sites they normally support.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by sdsean

I didn't think you could do that, i thought it only worked on the channels / sites they normally support.

I just checked my PlayOn Could account (I brought 100 recordings when they were on sale.) They have support for Netflix and Hulu. And there is a support request in for Disney+. So, maybe in time they will add it.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I just checked my PlayOn Could account (I brought 100 recordings when they were on sale.) They have support for Netflix and Hulu. And there is a support request in for Disney+. So, maybe in time they will add it.

That never happing on Disney

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by SHS

That never happing on Disney

I just checked my PlayOn desktop account and they have support for Disney+.

I just recorded a show, so I know it works.

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I just checked my PlayOn desktop account and they have support for Disney+.

I just recorded a show, so I know it works.

Cool. Now let's see how long that lasts.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I just checked my PlayOn desktop account and they have support for Disney+.

I just recorded a show, so I know it works.

I also use Playon to record DRM xfnity channels.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I just checked my PlayOn desktop account and they have support for Disney+.

I just recorded a show, so I know it works.

That odd I'm kind of surprised being how hard nose Disney is on piracy even there DVD/Blu-ray can be a major pain in butt to rip.

[RonBoyd]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

Cool. Now let's see how long that lasts.

Perhaps not very long. <chuckle> I tried to record "The Mandalorian." It recorded but I could not access any controls -- Closed Captioning, for instance. The same was true even in "Play" mode.

This may be Disney's problem, however. I could play the show with a Browser (Edge) but could not make the CC stick... when closing and restarting the show the CC had to be reset. In any event, the lack of controls within PlayOn is a problem.

[egeller]

I like PlayOn, with some caveats.

The first is that it is flakey. They do a screen-scrape thing, and when the content owners change anything, Playon quits working. I do like the attention that PlayOn Support gives in trying to resolve problems.

I have learned not to record from the SageTV interface, but rather from the Windows PC (VM in my case) running Playon. When I record from SageTV, I get a 720x404 MPEG file. When I record from the Windows instance I get a 1280x720 MP4 (preferred). I only record from SageTV when it is something I know I will throw away.

[KryptoNyte]

I bought a Playon lifetime membership a while back. Since then, I have installed it numerous times and enabled Amazon Prime Video, and every recording has failed. I just reinstalled it, and enabled Amazon and D+, and all recordings failed.

I keep seeing folks talking about how great this is, what am I missing?

[RonBoyd]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I bought a Playon lifetime membership a while back. Since then, I have installed it numerous times and enabled Amazon Prime Video, and every recording has failed. I just reinstalled it, and enabled Amazon and D+, and all recordings failed.

I keep seeing folks talking about how great this is, what am I missing?

Let's start with what is it you mean by "failed"? Troubleshooting is easier when an issue is clearly identified.

[KryptoNyte]

I don't know why. This notifications screen is attached and it always fails for the same reason - no reason indicated, at least nothing that I can see. I have checked and re-checked my logins both in a web browser (without playon involved) and inside playon itself, verifying the logins are functioning.

[NetworkGuy]

Make sure that you have the most current version of the desktop software.

PlayOn Cloud is also having a sale right now on the recording and storage plans. They also have 200 recordings for $29.99.

I brought 100 recording a while ago just to try it.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I don't know why. This notifications screen is attached and it always fails for the same reason - no reason indicated, at least nothing that I can see. I have checked and re-checked my logins both in a web browser (without playon involved) and inside playon itself, verifying the logins are functioning.

From in the app, just request support and they will respond in a day.

If it works for me and not you, you may need to update your browser.

[RonBoyd]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I don't know why. This notifications screen is attached and it always fails for the same reason - no reason indicated, at least nothing that I can see. I have checked and re-checked my logins both in a web browser (without playon involved) and inside playon itself, verifying the logins are functioning.

Hmmmm. I have two thoughts.

1. Have you logged/setup into your Amazon account with the PlayOn "Settings/Channels" menu? (from the "Gear" in the lower left.)

2. Sometimes its just easier to follow the instructions <grin> and contact PlayOn support. I have found them to be very responsive no matter what I have asked of them. Do this in the Settings/General option by clicking on "Support." This will send a Log file so they know exactly what took place.

Good luck and keep us informed.

[RonBoyd]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

you may need to update your browser.

PlayOn actually uses a "special" version of Internet Explorer (they will explain it if they suspect that is the problem). Your installed browser is not used by PlayOn.

[VCRUser]

They also supply a small utility (if you ask), called "visible.mmt." It will show on screen what PlayOn is seeing. In some cases, then,m you can see error messages that might point the way to a fix. For example, I've sometimes seen messages about needing to update Silverlight, and after doing so, things worked again. I normally don't use it (rename the file), but when I need to troubleshoot, I rename it back and see what it can show me.

[tmiranda]

I bought a lifetime subscription to PlayOn when it was offered several years back. I haven't used it since migrating my server to Linux.