Netflix Streaming

[grazit]

I just saw where Microsoft and Netfix have announced that WMC can now stream Netflix movies. Boy would that be sweet for Beyond TV, Is this possiable or am I just dreaming?

Netflix comes to Windows Media Center - Windows Experience Blog - The Windows Blog

[maqo]

Snapstream seems to have given up on the home user with their new enterprise focus, but does anyone know if this is even in the development queue? I'd gladly pay for a plugin if it means not having to spend $99 on a Roku.

[bnflaherty]

Just speculating ... IMO - not seeing any Non-TV related BTV plugins any time soon.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by bnflaherty

Just speculating ... IMO - not seeing any Non-TV related BTV plugins any time soon.

Of course not, since BTV doesn't expose anything that would allow that in the first place... Now if BTV had been merged with BM, or offered a plugin architecture, it might have gotten more than just addons...

[tmar89]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Of course not, since BTV doesn't expose anything that would allow that in the first place... Now if BTV had been merged with BM, or offered a plugin architecture, it might have gotten more than just addons...

BTV needs a plugin architecture, plain and simple. Then BM can finally RIP and BTV can shine better than ever. Is it not crystal clear to SS yet? *sigh*

[vidiot1985]

Originally Posted by maqo

Snapstream seems to have given up on the home user with their new enterprise focus, but does anyone know if this is even in the development queue? I'd gladly pay for a plugin if it means not having to spend $99 on a Roku.

While I'd agree that it'd be cool to have BTV (and BTV Link) interface with Netflix streaming video, how does having that capability affect whether you spend $99 on a Roku?

If you have a machine capable of utilizing a BTV plugin for Netflix streaming, you have a machine that's already capable of Neflix streaming via web browser. Why would you need a Roku, just to get a remote control to pause, play and FF/RW the stream I guess?

[MickP]

Originally Posted by vidiot1985

While I'd agree that it'd be cool to have BTV (and BTV Link) interface with Netflix streaming video, how does having that capability affect whether you spend $99 on a Roku?

If you have a machine capable of utilizing a BTV plugin for Netflix streaming, you have a machine that's already capable of Neflix streaming via web browser. Why would you need a Roku, just to get a remote control to pause, play and FF/RW the stream I guess?

I guess because people expect these things to be a seamless part of their htpc environment. Snapstream users have never experienced this though I suppose. It would be a good idea for SS to provide netflix integration imho though admittedly I'm not passionate about it as I can't access the service from (here) outside the US.

Mick.

[tanglin999]

For ninety nine bucks, a Roku is a bargain IMO. I love mine, it just works. If it would provide a Tivo-like front end interface to my BTV repositories, I would relegate my BTV to a back end.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by vidiot1985

While I'd agree that it'd be cool to have BTV (and BTV Link) interface with Netflix streaming video, how does having that capability affect whether you spend $99 on a Roku?

If you have a machine capable of utilizing a BTV plugin for Netflix streaming, you have a machine that's already capable of Neflix streaming via web browser. Why would you need a Roku, just to get a remote control to pause, play and FF/RW the stream I guess?

Because I'd rather have one system with an open API that allows the user community to fill gaps such as this one... as opposed to buying a set-top box for every services I want to use. "Open API" is the part SS seems to be clueless about. If they're not getting it by now...

[Rich A]

IMHO this wouldn't be such a big deal to implement. The environment already exists.

Already in place is a feature of BTV that I think can be duplicated to work with NetFlix.

When you install BTV there is an option to enable advanced features. This is where you can share your choice of recordings with other BTV users. And you can have a set number of the most popular recordings that others are scheduling to be added to your own recording Que.

Stick with me now ... as I'm not at home (at work) so my terminology maybe be bad. BUT when you go into the BTV main menu, and you had set up this option, there is a menu option to "view the full listing of the most popular shows" (something like that) If you select that option, you get a "warning" that Beyond TV will now switch to your browser to access the data on the web. It then opens your web browser and goes directly to SnapStream's web area where you can view the listing of the most popular recorded shows etc. And when you LEAVE that web page you are brought directly back to the BTV GUI and menu.

So the point is .. there IS in place the means to exit the BTV view scape and bring up your browser and connect to a web site.

Isn't that all you need to do the NetFlix thing? Personally I think this could be a very easy thing to implement since the "technique" and major coding is already there. Just set up a 2nd option so you have for example:

View users most popular recent recordings (or what ever it's called)
Log on to Netflix.

Of course I'm no programmer. So I could be making a mole hill out of a mountain so to speak. But it sure looks like this potential feature already has the groundwork in place to be enabled.

There shouldn't be any licensing issues etc. All that BTV would be doing is simply putting you on the NetFlix log in page from where you could do your thing. I've been using the Netflix steaming movie feature since it was first introduced. I have a very high speed broadband connection, so my NetFlix streaming movie is as good as a normal DVD playback. And that's on a large 6 foot plus viewing screen.

What I do now is to minimize BTV, (not shut it down) and click on a NetFlix Icon to log in. I've watched movies on Netflix while BTV runs in the background as happy as can be. I've even had 3 or 4 recordings happening during Netflix streaming and have not had a problem.

Since BeyondTV already has in place the code needed to leave the view scape and open your web browser, load the BTV web page, and then put everything back to normal when you leave the web page ... WHY can't they do the same only instead of logging on to the SS community web, log into NetFlix ???

[Rich A]

Here is what I mean. Obviously BTV has the ability to launch a web browser seamlessly built in. How hard could it be to make a 2nd option to open up the NetFlix web site? This would be a great selling point too!

[Rich A]

If I may point out .. I think I'm sort of in error about this. BTV does not close the view scape but rather brings up the browser and gives the browser focus. Since the BTV view scape is still active, closing the browser just returns focus to the view scape.

Not as elegant as I thought but still functional for the task at hand.

[koan00]

You could just integrate launching the viewscape (or a link client) into the Vista Media center GUI. That is what I do. So I have full vista media center including their netflix (I hide all the MS TV Stuff) and then have a special menu item for BTV.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by Rich A

Obviously BTV has the ability to launch a web browser seamlessly built in. How hard could it be to make a 2nd option to open up the NetFlix web site?

And how can Snapstream guarantee this to work with a remote control since you're suggesting offering a solution outside of their control?

[koan00]

Originally Posted by MarcP

And how can Snapstream guarantee this to work with a remote control since you're suggesting offering a solution outside of their control?

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