New External App: Netflix Viewer

[dhgb256]

I found a multitude of ways to use Script, BAT, CMD files, etc. to get a program to run hidden or minimized. The easiest I found was simply to create another Windows User with password and schedule it to run with that user account instead of my normal user account I use for HTPC purpose. It appears to be working with no visible sign of it doing its update. NICE!!!

I do have to warn though that anyone wanting the update process running hidden as I did, it will prompt you at reboot as to which user you want to be logged in as and a password when you have more than one user account. I use MCE Standby tool so it can be done in there. XPTweak tool and I am sure there are a lot others that will do an auto login as well.

Its doing what I want anyway

Thanks for the pro tip, that is a good idea!

-DH

[Snooze]

Hi DH,

I switched my MCE Remote and USB Reciever remote control software to LM Remote Keymap. Since you were using my IRRemote.ini file for a sample for the Hauppauge remote, and your Eventghost profile, I figured I would share my profile for LM Remote Keymap as an example for users to see how I set it up to work for me. It includes Netflix TX Viewer and all its other windows that takes focus using it including Silverlight (Fullscreen). That might also work for Whurlstons Watchnow Plugin for NPVR. It also has GBPVR (PVRX2 only), Hulu Desktop, Boxee, and NPVR (lightly tested for NPVR). It might need somw tweaking but what I been using is working well. I use a Harmony 880 Remote as my MCE remote so it has a mass of buttons. Anyway here it is. Enjoy!

PS!!! Dont forget to backup your original profile in LM RKM before trying these profiles so you can revert back if you dont like it.

[mikeh49]

I've been meaning to work on this for ages, never got to it. Thanks! LMRemote made the most sense to me of the various programs like it. Since Netflix changed their pricing, and I haven't been watching much streaming, I might retire from the Netflix Viewer community. I just don't get smooth video with streaming, and it just bugs the h*** out of me. I think it's a silverlight thing. Is it smooth for you guys?

Again, thanks.

[Snooze]

Its working real smooth and clear for me. Do you have any idea what it could be? Minimum system specs, Your Internet Provider connection speed? Are you hard wired on your network? Gotta be something obvious. I dropped my DVD part of my subscription, but I am keeping streaming for a while (unemployed ATM).

EDIT: Scratch the minimum system specs question, just noticed your signature. You have darn near what I am running. Do a speed test on your IP connection maybe ...?

[Snooze]

I've been meaning to work on this for ages, never got to it. Thanks! LMRemote made the most sense to me of the various programs like it. Since Netflix changed their pricing, and I haven't been watching much streaming, I might retire from the Netflix Viewer community. I just don't get smooth video with streaming, and it just bugs the h*** out of me. I think it's a silverlight thing. Is it smooth for you guys?

Again, thanks.

I just had an idea... Are you using this as an custom app in GBPVR or NPVR or both? If so, what skin are you using?

[mikeh49]

My video is smooth in a "macro" sense, but in the transition from a scene with little motion to one with motion, it looks like a lag, and then it catches up. Large motion is pretty much OK as I recall. This is on a couple different reasonably modern machines with wired ethernet and a good cable connection, an easy 10 Mbs download speed.

I just checked "Secretatiat" on my test box, Asrock 890GX with HD4290 integrated graphics, and the motion was overall "micro-jerky" in the early part where the family is driving to the farm ('62 Chevy and all). This box plays NPVR HD recordings just fine. I have run the viewer as custom task under GBPVR, but only with the default skin.

I don't know if I have all the Silverlight updates, I might have them turned off. I haven't pursued this much as I expected to retire from Netflix streaming. If you have some suggestions, I'd be happy to try them.

Thanks for the advice.

[dhgb256]

My video is smooth in a "macro" sense, but in the transition from a scene with little motion to one with motion, it looks like a lag, and then it catches up. Large motion is pretty much OK as I recall. This is on a couple different reasonably modern machines with wired ethernet and a good cable connection, an easy 10 Mbs download speed.

I just checked "Secretatiat" on my test box, Asrock 890GX with HD4290 integrated graphics, and the motion was overall "micro-jerky" in the early part where the family is driving to the farm ('62 Chevy and all). This box plays NPVR HD recordings just fine. I have run the viewer as custom task under GBPVR, but only with the default skin.

I don't know if I have all the Silverlight updates, I might have them turned off. I haven't pursued this much as I expected to retire from Netflix streaming. If you have some suggestions, I'd be happy to try them.

Thanks for the advice.

I had some major problems with this and have made a bunch of adjustments. Can you tell me:

What OS are you using.
What IE version
How long has it been since you reformatted?
Are you getting the red bar of death?

-DH

[Snooze]

I am not sure I mentioned this before but I will now. It is real strange. I always use Netflix Viewer, Hulu desktop and Boxee as a custom app inside PVRX2. I was using Blue Retro SHV & HV, and on my clients Blue (stock) for skins. I switched to slick skin because I wanted the fan art and metadata (looks cool to show off to friends and chicks). After changing to slick skin I noticed a jerky and slightly grainy playback, not only in Netflix Viewer, but also in hulu and boxee if I ran them as custom apps. If I ran them standalone, they ran perfect. I dont know the reason why the slick skin was causing this, but I simply made a bat file for each custom app so it kills pvrx2 on a launch of my app, then restarts when I am done with it. I would have reported it to sub, but he was already into NPVR so he wouldnt be debugging it anymore.

[mikeh49]

Answers to DH's questions:

1. OS = Win7 Home Premium
   
2. IE = IE8.0.7601.17514
   
3. Reformat = 6 mos on a new disk and clean OS install
   
4. No red bar
   

A couple of years ago, on XP I believe, it was smoother, but then had tearing. The fix then was go to Win7 and the EVR renderer. No tearing now, but not smooth.

[Snooze]

Does netflix do any adjustments on playback that you noticed?