Netflix/Hulu Integration

[Dazik 46]

Seems a silly question, but I've not been keeping up with Netflix/Hulu API's.

 

If it's even possible these days to connect to Netflix/Hulu, is there any plan to integrate the two into ET? Would be great to have our own media + netflix + hulu in one application.

 

Just throwing it out there.

 

Pretty sure it's not possible with the current restrictions the two have in place.

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

Neither allow their content to embedded via API anymore. Likely due to licensing restrictions. In the older version of Theater, there was a plugin that allowed you to launch the modern app for either service though. Hopefully a similar plugin/feature will become available in the future.

[Nathanio 35]

Seems a silly question, but I've not been keeping up with Netflix/Hulu API's.

 

If it's even possible these days to connect to Netflix/Hulu, is there any plan to integrate the two into ET? Would be great to have our own media + netflix + hulu in one application.

 

Just throwing it out there.

 

Pretty sure it's not possible with the current restrictions the two have in place.

 

It would be nice but probably not do-able

 

Neither allow their content to embedded via API anymore. Likely due to licensing restrictions. In the older version of Theater, there was a plugin that allowed you to launch the modern app for either service though. Hopefully a similar plugin/feature will become available in the future.

 

I have asked for the ability to launch the Windows 8/10 Netflix app (as well as BD players) externally. That would be a good compromise I feel

[Alexh1 3]

This is more important than many people probably realize. I have a 55" TV, about 5 years old that has top of the line picture quality but the Netflix app is so old it is missing many features, terrible user interface and it even crashes occasionally. Can you imagine people getting rid of a perfectly good TV just because the applications are obsolete? Probably the manufacturers would not mind!

[Luke 42077]

We can definitely launch apps, but they don't have any kind of api to allow embedding it into the interface.

[weeks 17]

We can definitely launch apps, but they don't have any kind of api to allow embedding it into the interface.

 

This, and their apps/system change so much and so often, that it's been proven nearly impossible to stay on top of it in the past, even if there were an API.

[Dazik 46]

We can definitely launch apps, but they don't have any kind of api to allow embedding it into the interface.

 

I can think of a way, but it's almost assured to not work well.

 

Embed a browser inside ET and simply open the browser to whatever external sites. Would be difficult with various operating systems unless you add the browser itself into the ET package then load from there.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Gecko/Embedding_Mozilla

 

This could also be used as a "Browser" extension/addon.

 

But for the most part it would allow you to rather easily "create" channels or such that simply open external sites in the browser. Most streaming websites, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc function quite well with numpad controls as is. But using Gecko you can actually implement key bindings for cross function.

 

The end result would be ET having something no other media platform can do

Edited February 15, 2016 by akensai

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

Pretty sure Emby Theater already has Browser Basics embedded since it is built on Electron. Not sure launching a chromium browser window is the right solution though. Would work but it isn't really suited to a remote control. A lot of people use remotes.

Edited February 15, 2016 by Koleckai Silvestri

[Dazik 46]

Pretty sure Emby Theater already has Browser Basics embedded since it is built on Electron. Not sure launching a chromium browser window is the right solution though. Would work but it isn't really suited to a remote control. A lot of people use remotes.

 

Aye, that's why I specified GECKO/Mozilla, as it allows you to modify control functions via hotkeying. It's a fun idea to toy with in any case.

 

I've seen some uses of GECKO in other applications where basically all browser controls are removed, it simply shows the loaded page and you can't even tell it's a browser. That was my idea behind it.

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

Then you require the addition of a browser that some people will not have installed. This adds a lot of complexity to the product especially since Electron is built with Chromium capability, not Mozilla/Gecko. Anyway, you can put Chrome/Chromium into a Kiosk mode just like Gecko/Mozilla without the heaviness of an additional browser. 

 

Embedding within an external application is probably against the services' license agreements as well.

[nickkrewson 3]

Launching the Windows Store apps sounds interesting.

I wonder if there is a way for the Theater application to poll the system it is installed on and automatically show those applications (or links to the applications) inside the Theater application if they are installed.

 

Also, I know there are still some additional features to iron out, but I'm definitely preferring the Theater application for viewing my recorded TV.

I don't have the sync issues like I do when watching them back through Chrome, and the fact that it responds to my remote is just a bonus.

[Sammy 790]

Launching the Windows Store apps sounds interesting.

I wonder if there is a way for the Theater application to poll the system it is installed on and automatically show those applications (or links to the applications) inside the Theater application if they are installed.

 

Also, I know there are still some additional features to iron out, but I'm definitely preferring the Theater application for viewing my recorded TV.

I don't have the sync issues like I do when watching them back through Chrome, and the fact that it responds to my remote is just a bonus.

 

Sounds interesting for those who use Win8.1 or Win10 as an OS. A lot of us still use Win7 for LiveTV in WMC..

[ebr 16169]

 A lot of us still use Win7 for LiveTV in WMC..

 

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll ever have a fluid solution on either of those platforms as I'm sure Netflix and Hulu aren't spending any time on them.

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

Using the previous "App Launcher" plugin for the old Theater, you could use it to trigger websites in your favorite browser. Then you could do Hulu, Netflix, Cracked, Crunchyroll, Reuters, etc... Hopefully a new solution has similar considerations.

[Nathanio 35]

We can definitely launch apps, but they don't have any kind of api to allow embedding it into the interface.

 

For me that would be fine for now (low priority I know) as it would be a good halfway house until a proper method could be worked on. 

 

Thanks

[emmcd 6]

Using the previous "App Launcher" plugin for the old Theater, you could use it to trigger websites in your favorite browser. Then you could do Hulu, Netflix, Cracked, Crunchyroll, Reuters, etc... Hopefully a new solution has similar considerations.

I was thinking/wondering something similar. The "hackable" way to link to streamable content and open it up for viewing

[jonathanrn 1]

This sounds awesome! I was thinking of getting a Kangaroo PC for my front end but was worried about Netflix because my kids use it a lot. I have an Amazon Fire TV stick but its pretty slow and freezes sometimes. Being able to jump into the Netflix app with a remote and jump back into Emby Theater after closing Netflix would be perfect for my situation.

 

Just out of curiosity. Is the Amazon FIre TV (not the stick) significantly faster than the stick? I know it has better specs, but does it come through in the experience?

 

Jonathan

[Nathanio 35]

Just out of curiosity. Is the Amazon FIre TV (not the stick) significantly faster than the stick? I know it has better specs, but does it come through in the experience?

 

Jonathan

It certainly does. I found the extra RAM is where the biggest difference comes from. I also hard connect mine so no worries about wireless.

[ebr 16169]

Just out of curiosity. Is the Amazon FIre TV (not the stick) significantly faster than the stick? I know it has better specs, but does it come through in the experience?

 

Yes, it is night and day.

 

The display is sharper too if you get the 2nd gen one.