Netflix / Prime Integration

[speechles 2014]

22 minutes ago, Chillout said:

Long-term (5 years out) whatever media software can master having all the streaming services (IPTV, Netflix, hulu,etc) under one platform will end up the winner.    The days of people storing personal media on dozens of hard drives seem to be coming to an end and replaced with online services that offer unlimited content.

You mean the device which offers the easiest access combining all of the FAST streaming services into one place?

Well..It already exists. It is on the Roku. Users with that mindset should use the "Roku Channel" and "Roku Live TV". They rotate content all the time and movies/tv bounce from service to service and Roku keeps track in their channel where it has gone. If people are interested in FAST channels they should just invest in a Roku which already has contracts in place with all the streaming services to host them inside its Roku Channel application. The Roku channel has instant on demand titles available from all streaming services available on Roku. The Roku Live TV channel is pretty much PlutoTV with even more content and channels.

In contrast Emby allows the user to curate their own library of content which never expires and contains no interstitial advertising. Why would you want to add streaming services into Emby and then be forced to watch commercials while you watch content. I do not understand. Roku does not allow this behavior of tracking another channels FAST content to launch from your own app. I am sure every major app store has similar terms and conditions.

[xnappo 1608]

1 hour ago, speechles said:

You mean the device which offers the easiest access combining all of the FAST streaming services into one place?

Well..It already exists. It is on the Roku. Users with that mindset should use the "Roku Channel" and "Roku Live TV". They rotate content all the time and movies/tv bounce from service to service and Roku keeps track in their channel where it has gone. If people are interested in FAST channels they should just invest in a Roku which already has contracts in place with all the streaming services to host them inside its Roku Channel application. The Roku channel has instant on demand titles available from all streaming services available on Roku. The Roku Live TV channel is pretty much PlutoTV with even more content and channels.

In contrast Emby allows the user to curate their own library of content which never expires and contains no interstitial advertising. Why would you want to add streaming services into Emby and then be forced to watch commercials while you watch content. I do not understand. Roku does not allow this behavior of tracking another channels FAST content to launch from your own app. I am sure every major app store has similar terms and conditions.

This isn't what this is about at all. 

Look, I get some of you want to just download everything, but I have zero need to download and keep TV, I am not going to watch it again, 99% of the time.  I am also fine with paying for the streaming services.

I want to currate, under my control, the content on streaming services I pay for, AND have it mixed with my local content from ripped media all in one place.

It works GREAT and has very high family ease of use.  The only problem is my solution is hacky as hell.

Edited September 13, 2024 by xnappo

[speechles 2014]

From Roku Developer agreement:

10.3. You will not (a) include any web browser(s) in your Application, or enable end users to enter web addresses into your Application, (b) permit your Application to interact with third party applications, third party logins (e.g., Facebook SSO), third party voice-controlled platforms, or third party advertising code, pixels, SDKs, APIs or other technology (e.g., header bidders), (c) include any guide or similar search and discovery feature within your Application that identifies third party services outside your Application where Content may be available, or (d) provide access to other Applications within your Application.

---

In this case 10.3c, we cannot identify third party services outside the application. In 10.3d we cannot link directly to any outside app inside the Emby app, This means it is breaking your developer agreement with Roku if you do and you risk permanent suspension from their platform. That makes it pretty clear line in the sand that Roku does not condone this. Only their app store can have an application that aggregates all of the content from its streaming partners.

I do not know if other app stores other than Roku are the same as this, but more than likely they are all using quite similar language.

Edited September 13, 2024 by speechles

[Chillout 102]

The Roku Channel is TERRIBLE...  The first software that gets it right will sell it to Comcast or Verizon for a billion dollars and Roku will add it to a button on the remote.

[speechles 2014]

4 minutes ago, Chillout said:

The Roku Channel is TERRIBLE...  The first software that gets it right will sell it to Comcast or Verizon for a billion dollars and Roku will add it to a button on the remote.

https://therokuchannel.roku.com/

Doesn't require a Roku. Go browse. It looks pretty good from here.

[pünktchen 1350]

3 hours ago, speechles said:

I do not know if other app stores other than Roku are the same as this, but more than likely they are all using quite similar language.

No, only Roku is so restrictive. Take the streaming search engine JustWatch as an example, it's available as an app in every major app store: Amazon, Android, Apple, LG, Samsung and Xbox. If the Roku store policies prevent any further feature development of Emby, Emby should just boycott Roku.

[xnappo 1608]

Emby using Roku walled garden as a development wall is just ... Sigh.

[xnappo 1608]

41 minutes ago, pünktchen said:

No, only Roku is so restrictive. Take the streaming search engine JustWatch as an example, it's available as an app in every major app store: Amazon, Android, Apple, LG, Samsung and Xbox. If the Roku store policies prevent any further feature development of Emby, Emby should just boycott Roku.

Excellent example.  JustWatch conbined with Emby is exactly what I would like to see.  And if Emby doesn't do it, someone else will.

[crusher11 979]

On 9/14/2024 at 5:50 AM, xnappo said:

This isn't what this is about at all. 

Look, I get some of you want to just download everything, but I have zero need to download and keep TV, I am not going to watch it again, 99% of the time.  I am also fine with paying for the streaming services.

I want to currate, under my control, the content on streaming services I pay for, AND have it mixed with my local content from ripped media all in one place.

It works GREAT and has very high family ease of use.  The only problem is my solution is hacky as hell.

Serious "I went to Pizza Hut but they wouldn't sell me a cheeseburger" energy here.

[Neminem 901]

Guess this guy is still in love with "the other guy" that do this

 

Edited October 4, 2024 by Neminem

[xnappo 1608]

5 hours ago, crusher11 said:

Serious "I went to Pizza Hut but they wouldn't sell me a cheeseburger" energy here.

No idea what you are talking about.  Sorry for wanting to add features to Emby.  

[TeamB 2414]

18 minutes ago, xnappo said:

No idea what you are talking about.  Sorry for wanting to add features to Emby.  

you will see a lot of weird aggressive negativity in these forum, its getting worse i think. its one of the reasons i stopped coming here as much.

[crusher11 979]

6 hours ago, xnappo said:

No idea what you are talking about.  Sorry for wanting to add features to Emby.  

Emby is a personal media server. You're coming in here saying you don't want a personal media server, nobody should have any interest in a personal media server, and you want a completely different thing instead.

[speechles 2014]

12 hours ago, crusher11 said:

Serious "I went to Pizza Hut but they wouldn't sell me a cheeseburger" energy here.

I went to the golf course and wondered why there were no bowling alleys... Like golf a hole then bowl a frame. Repeat 18 holes/frames.

Edited October 5, 2024 by speechles

[xnappo 1608]

6 minutes ago, crusher11 said:

Emby is a personal media server. You're coming in here saying you don't want a personal media server, nobody should have any interest in a personal media server, and you want a completely different thing instead.

Coming in here..  Lol.  Learn some history.

At any rate, the idea is to combine the personal media with available streaming content in one place.  If you aren't interested, just stop reading this thread.

[xnappo 1608]

Did a proof-of-concept using my VirutalEpisodes hack and the native Emby Android app.   

This is using Tasker to monitor what is being played to launch Netflix (in this case).  

Details on the hack:

https://github.com/xnappo/VirtualEpisodes

Ideally would like to remove Tasker, Sonarr and scripts from the equation and do this directly with the Emby apps and using a server plugin to add/monitor the 'virtual' episodes.

 

 

Edited October 5, 2024 by xnappo

[user84 36]

On 10/5/2024 at 12:04 PM, xnappo said:

Did a proof-of-concept using my VirutalEpisodes hack and the native Emby Android app.   

This is using Tasker to monitor what is being played to launch Netflix (in this case).  

Details on the hack:

https://github.com/xnappo/VirtualEpisodes

Ideally would like to remove Tasker, Sonarr and scripts from the equation and do this directly with the Emby apps and using a server plugin to add/monitor the 'virtual' episodes.

 

 

This is a beautiful proof of concept. Since joining Emby I haven't personally seen any major developments. I see lots of bug fixes but no innovation. This would be innovation. 

As someone who has my own personal library of content I own, combined with streaming services I pay for, to be able to access content from within Emby would mean I use Emby as my primary streaming service, and launch others from within Emby. This is my preference, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Based on your "hack" here, this is obviously possible. So at this point the Devs (such as @speechles) should either say they aren't interested in this project, or they lack the technical skill to do it.

Edited January 28 by user84

[Twiglet 0]

That proof of concept above looks very nice. I likewise would love to be able to use Emby as my central portal to all my media, both local and streamed.

[JulesC 50]

So happy to find this discussion. I'm not an expert in this area, but was just thinking about ideas for the future versions of Emby, which I am a fan - Hybrid Streaming.

Here's what I believe PLEX is doing . . .

Plex’s Built-In "Discover" & "Universal Watchlist" Features

Plex is already leading in hybrid streaming by offering:
* Discover Mode – Lets you search across multiple streaming services (Netflix, Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, etc.).

Universal Watchlist – You can add movies/TV shows to a single Plex watchlist, and it will tell you where to watch it (including whether it's available on your personal library).

Deep Linking (Limited) – Some platforms allow Plex to open the movie/show in the appropriate app, but not all.

Bottom-line: I'm just thinking about a more integrated solution where I could possibly see a dashboard with all my media streaming options in one place vs. bouncing between all the options (e.g. Personal Movie Library, Subscribed Streaming Services, Movies Anywhere - my digital movies, etc.). The concept shared by @xnappois a great start!

Hope this discussion continues and some creative innovations come to life for Emby in the near future. 

[crusher11 979]

Emulating Plex is the last thing Emby should be doing.

[xnappo 1608]

8 hours ago, crusher11 said:

Emulating Plex is the last thing Emby should be doing.

My solution with EmbyCon was doing this well before Plex, so they are copying me.

Gate keeping does not gain users.  

Edited March 10 by xnappo

[crusher11 979]

If I wanted centralised spyware, I would just install Plex to begin with.

[K1ng_Lear 198]

Please, no integration of Netflix or similar. Why? EMBY must spend a lot of resources to do so and those resources are missing for the core, the ability to manage your own content. It would just go abroad like plex have done.

[user84 36]

On 3/10/2025 at 12:29 AM, crusher11 said:

Emulating Plex is the last thing Emby should be doing.

Why? So often I hear people suggesting all or nothing choices. You can take the good things that Plex is doing and leave all bad things. You don't have to leave the good things to.

[xnappo 1608]

12 minutes ago, user84 said:

Why? So often I hear people suggesting all or nothing choices. You can take the good things that Plex is doing and leave all bad things. You don't have to leave the good things to.

I have no idea why people act like this around here.  They act like the current feature set is a holy book or something.