CNN Video Plugin

[HTPCGB]

CNN (http://www.cnn.com) currently offers video news on their website. The popups that are used to display the video uses windows media player.

My Question:

Would it be possible for a plugin to search the cnn home page and category pages, look for the little video icon that precedes every video link, access the popup and then stream the video in gbpvr? (This all depends on cnn keeping the video icon the same.)

I just recently began to learn C# so this won't be something that I'll be working on soon...

Opinions are greatly welcome!

[HTPCGB]

I've decided to break this project down into five parts:

-A form to display and control the video
-some code that makes a list of links to the video popups
-some code that extracts the video from the popup and passes it to the video form
-a configuration form that allows the user to select which sections of CNN they want scanned for videos
-the user interface and skin that brings this all together

Right now I'm just trying to get a video to play on a form. I'm attempting to use a browser object to display the wmv directly, however; it just pops up windows media player. Is there any way to suppress this and force playback within the form?

[HTPCGB]

I ditched the browser window idea. I am now using a windows media player object that goes full screen when the form is initialized. Now I just have to make it respond to key presses (and thus remote control presses). Then I have to make a plugin that calls on this form in GBPVR.

[boohiss]

If you are going to be scraping the HTML source of CNN pages for video links, let me know. I've got some scraping code for YouTube that I've been working on.

It isn't fast, but it does work.

Alternatively, if you already know a good way to scrape HTML source, let me know so that I can improve my slow-poke code.

[HTPCGB]

If you are going to be scraping the HTML source of CNN pages for video links, let me know. I've got some scraping code for YouTube that I've been working on.

It isn't fast, but it does work.

I do plan on scraping the source code. I greatly appreciate your offer and I'll contact you when the plugin gets to that stage.

Alternatively, if you already know a good way to scrape HTML source, let me know so that I can improve my slow-poke code.

Sorry, I'm pretty much learning everything as I go along. If I find a faster method you'll be the first to know.


Right now I'm trying to decide between two ways of implementing this plugin:

The Windows Media Player Object:

I've made a simple form where a .wmv url is passed to it and the form plays the stream full screen. The problem is that CNN buried the location of the .wmv inside files upon files of javascript. This would require two seperate scrapers.

I have yet to find the actual location of the .wmv so if anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

The video popup:http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.h....kabc.kabc

The frame within the popup that displays the video: http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2006/07/30/g...ntent.html


The Web Browser Object:

I have made a second form with a web browser object on it. The web browser is currently hard coded to go to the above URL (the second one). The web browser has been sized so only the video is displayed. When the web browser is double clicked (and hence the embedded .wmv), it goes full screen.

If I could programattically "double click" the web browser when the form loads, this would be the ideal way to go as it would eliminate the need to sift through javascript. Does anyone know how to do this?

Screenshots are coming soon.

[ccsnet]

BTW - The BBC use a simular system here where our ISPs for the most part boost the feeds - UKers and x Pats may find it usefull and I reckon the same format / system your developing here would fit pretty closley.

Terran

[HTPCGB]

BTW - The BBC use a simular system here where our ISPs for the most part boost the feeds - UKers and x Pats may find it usefull and I reckon the same format / system your developing here would fit pretty closley.

Terran

If I manage to finish the CNN aspect, adding BBC support shouldn't be that difficult. (The BBC site seems to be more javascript oriented though..)


I was unable to get a screenshot that included the video being played so I made a demo instead. (see attached) .net 2.0 is required

It is currently hard coded to one URL. Double clicking the playing video will make it fullscreen. The idea would be to have the GBPVR plugin pass the form an URL and make it go fullscreen.

Now I'm going to start to work on the GBPVR plugin and UI.

Edit: There will sometimes be a *scream* commercial *scream* which CNN seems to control randomly.

[HTPCGB]

I am officialy stuck and am requesting some help.

It would really be a lot easier if I could play the .wmv directly. If that's even possible.

Here is the page that I'm looking at:

http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2006/07/28/h...ntent.html

and attached are the three .js files that are referenced on that page.

If someone with more javascript knowledge than me could find out the URL of the raw video, that would help a lot!

[elite]

Here ya go:

Code:

http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/us/2006/07/28/henrehan.md.marijuana.gumballs.wttg/video.ws.asx

I don't know javascript myself - but got this through this

HTH

[ccsnet]

I am officialy stuck and am requesting some help.

It would really be a lot easier if I could play the .wmv directly. If that's even possible.

Here is the page that I'm looking at:

http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2006/07/28/h...ntent.html

and attached are the three .js files that are referenced on that page.

If someone with more javascript knowledge than me could find out the URL of the raw video, that would help a lot!

If I could DL I would.... can you attach via rapidshare.de ?

Terran