Netflix Streaming

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by koan00

They can't. A simple configurable "launch URL" button would suffice.

I don't think that would fly well with users not frequenting the forums. Users expect the interface to respond to their remote control.

[Rich A]

"I don't think that would fly well with users not frequenting the forums. Users expect the interface to respond to their remote control. "

The remote control thing is a good point.

BUT as I said, they already have an option to access a web site now. And that remote question obviously isn't a problem there.

In my case (admitantly not main stream) I use a Harmony remote which currently controls everything in my home theater. All I want is the ability to access the Netflix Web site from BTV.

A simple instruction during initial setup could instruct users that

"BTV contains options to access the Internet using your default browser. To do so you must have mouse and/or keyboard capability."

Not a big deal really. (famous last words)

[koan00]

I would hate to overestimate the user, but I wouldn't really think a user would assume a web browser they normally use would some how be automagically remote operated simply because it was launched from BTV.

Maybe I could see the argument if BTV was a full Media center app, but it's not. Its simply a TV watching application. It appears that is all it will ever be. That is why personally I think trying to integrate things *into* BTV is approaching the issue in the wrong fashion. I think you will have more success using a real front end application and then integrating BTV into it.

[MarcP]

And this is where BTV will fail to compete against other products. If Snapstream decides to implement a half-baked feature (such as suggested) in an attempt to offer something for the sake of offering something, I can't see how this will work in their favor compared to competing products.

[koan00]

They dont care about competing in the consumer space. They have stated this many times.

[MarcP]

Then why bother with implementing what is being suggested? I mean... they don't care, right?

[koan00]

Right, they wont. Which is why I was advocating integrating BTV into a 3rd party front end that will allow said functionality.

[Rich A]

My own "needs" may be unique, which is why I even mentioned that the functionality seems to be in place.

Here's what is in place now.

If I want to go to the SS web site (buzz) to check out who is recording what, and see the listing of most popular shows etc. is to simply

1. Go to the proper BTV menu and click my remote.

2. When done, I just close the web page and I'm back to my BTV menu. Simple and easily done.

I DO subscribe to NetFlix. And I DO like to watch Netflix streaming movies in the home theater on occasion.

BUT watch a Netflix movie now I have to:

1. Leave the BTV view scape (minimise it)
2. Open my web browser
3. Use my bookmarks to find and open the Netfix web site.

4. When done, I have to close my web browser
5. Then maximise my BTV viewscape.

The point being that I just thought to save myself a few extra steps, it would be nice to have "Netflix" available in the BTV menu, just like the BTV "Buzz" option that already exists.

Lately a lot of companies have been adding Netflix capabilty to their hardware devices. LG TVs, Roku, Xbox, Playstation, and Tivo are a few. Tivo is a dedicated DVR. Much like our BeyondTV. The only difference is BTV uses a PC as a server while TIVO is a dedication hardware STB DVR.

Adding NetFlix to BTV's menu costs nothing for licensing (AFAIK) to SS. The users pay the monthly fee to Netflix.

My point is that this "new feature" could be implemented (IMHO) very easily and would be very welcome to some of our BTV users (like me). My BTV server was built to replace TIVO and other DVRs. And TIVO has Netflix capability. So why not keep up with the TIVOs?

[bnflaherty]

Thanks for the idea Rich...

Since I really don't access the Community page via BTV.. but I do use Netflix..

May not be perfect -- but have access without leaving Link now

At least until I finish my Living room PC redux...

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by bnflaherty

Thanks for the idea Rich...

Since I really don't access the Community page via BTV.. but I do use Netflix..

May not be perfect -- but have access without leaving Link now

At least until I finish my Living room PC redux...

Well I'm all ears. Care to share how you are doing it? Since I also use Beyond Media, I was simply going to add Netflix to the Beyond Media main menu .. like you can with other executable programs. But I'd probably have to devise some sort of "script" to open my browser and logon to NetFlix.

I'd much rather just stay in the BTV environment (Since the new HTPC build I haven't added BM back yet anyway)

[kandlg]

If you set up the Netflix instant que as your IE home page, if you open IE it will go straight to it. Once you have logged into your netflix account once on a computer and tell it to remember you, you don't have to log in again. So, it is as simple as adding a shortcut to IE in your BM menu.

[Rich A]

Hey thanks for the information. Guess I'll have to finally get around to re-installing my Beyond Media now. I'm using a "unique" setup for my Beyond TV environment show recording and wanted to run this for a few months with nothing other than BTV running for testing purposes. It's worked out fantastic so it's on to the next step.

I would of course rather access Netflix from my BTV menu. But the BM thing will do fine for now.

[kandlg]

I'm not sure how you have your harmony remote set up, but if you have a free button or IR code and are using something like eventghost, you could just have it open up internet explorer. You will have to use a mouse to select the show you want to watch and then make it go full screen, but once a movie is started you can use "space" to pause and restart the movie and you could do that with the remote. Selecting the show is the one weakness in this approach.

[rugby]

I just use Vista MC as a front end and get Netflix streaming no problem. I use BTV for tv.

No problems at all.

[bnflaherty]

Originally Posted by Rich A

Well I'm all ears. Care to share how you are doing it? Since I also use Beyond Media, I was simply going to add Netflix to the Beyond Media main menu .. like you can with other executable programs. But I'd probably have to devise some sort of "script" to open my browser and logon to NetFlix.

I'd much rather just stay in the BTV environment (Since the new HTPC build I haven't added BM back yet anyway)

I simply adjusted the URL for the Buzz site and replaced it with the NetFlix link..

Not a perfect solution -- but effective.