Netflix plugin?

[whurlston]

I would be really interested in this feature . I have had problems with the buffer keeping up with the movies I am watching. I have one question though. How long after I select download to watch later would I be able to start watching the movie? If it is under an hour I would thing that would be ok (especially, if the the watch now option was still available).

How long you have to wait would depend on the speed of your internet connection. The highest bitrate I have seen so far is 2200 Kbps and requires a bandwidth of 3080 Kbps (a good 3 Mbps download connection). On a normal DSL connection of 1.5 Mbps download, as long as the movie is under two hours, a one hour wait time should be sufficient to watch the movie without interuption.

On a slightly related note. Has anyone heard what Netflix's plan is with watch now. Are they going to start making new releases avaialble to watch now or are they going to keep it to movies that have a little dust on their covers?

I heard they are planning a set top box but I don't know what else they are planning. (This is not insider info, I just read it somewhere.)

[agidius]

I too read about a planned set top box from netflix

EDIT--
I just did a yahoo search for "netflix set top box" and got dozens of articles that mention it.

[dtraynham]

I have also heard about the set top box. I would hope that when this comes out they would not stop their watch now feature just to increase the interest in the set top box. I would assue that they would make all of their movies available at this point though.

I really like the watch now feature I just hope that they start getting adding more movies at a faster pace. I will be run out of movies I would be willing to watch in the near future if they don't.

Later
David

[whurlston]

They are planning to keep Watch Now. They just want set top devices to be able to access it. They are hoping to add the functionality to DVD players and a host of like devices.

As for the number of movies, last weeks total was 3219. I am working on a list of all watch now movies that will be updated weekly.

Plugin Update:

I know everyone is anxiously awaiting this but they have not made it easy with their API. I have been trying to find the best method for implementing Watch Now. I have looked at plugins for other pvr software and they all basically open a browser window with the player. This was not acceptable to me. There was too much functionality that was not available with this method. I think I have finally found a way to implement watch now and have full control of the player including ff/rew/seek capabilities.

If this pans out, we will be watching downloaded movies in GB-PVR in about a week. If not, I give up until Netflix offers a better API and resort to reskinning their player.

[InVermont]

Even if you give up, can you release the source? I had started hacking together a solution, but had come no where near as far as you seem to have before halting.
Would be interested in seeing your take on the problem.

[whurlston]

Oh I just meant I would give up on trying to find a better solution. There will be a plugin. The question is just how good I can make it. And I'll be releasing the source no matter what. I should have some test code that I will be sharing with a couple of Media Portal guys this weekend. I'll post a link here as well. It won't be the actual plugin, just test code to make sure the Netflix functions work.

[andematt]

whurlston-

It will be cool to see what you come up with. Any luck with the API yet?

[whurlston]

I'm making progress. Things have been delayed a little because of my day job though. I am able to get the movies to play in WMP so I do have full control over them. I am also working on a small program that will create a list of all Watch Now movies. The list will then be downloaded by the plugin and will be updated weekly.

[dtraynham]

The biggest problem I am having with Netflix "Watch Now" features is that the buffer is not staying ahead of the movie and it becomes very jumpy. It has become unusable for me and my wife because it is extremely annoying. I am really looking forward to the "Download to watch later" feature that you mentioned.

Later
David

[mkenyon2]

What kind of connection do you have?