New External App: Netflix Viewer

[dhgb256]

I'll check on the code tomorrow, gotta hit the bed. Please try adding the 2 registry values to your registry and see if it makes any difference (see attached), this should help with the IE emulation.

The quick fix for the full screen issue: To exit full screen you have to press alt-F4, that will bring you back to the movie screen where you can fast forward, rewind, skip to next / previous episode, change movie dimensions (16x9 or 4x3). To reenter full screen you just have to hit F. For some reason the IE wrapper in my program doesn't act exactly like IE, not sure why, but I have found a couple of alternatives (firefox/safari wrappers) that I am investigating.

-DH

Well I tried the firefox wrapper as an alternative to IE in my program, but with the same results. The key commands do not work in full screen and you have to press alt-F4 to exit full screen, plus I would need to ship a BUNCH of extra files to make it work. So the long and short of it is, I am stuck with the lack of functionality in full screen mode. At least pause works in full screen, but I'll keep working on it.

-DH

[mrplow]

thanks for the effort, the registry settings didn't seem to fix the cookie problem and the full screen issue is still usable with alt-F4 so great work

[dhgb256]

Alright finally got around to trying it again, its working. Cool program. AFAIK the only way to play Netflix Canada on a PC with an actual gui (not using the website) is this program!

Anyways I was getting that funny error again when it hangs on a movie requiring my to either logout of netflix then back in via web browser or sometimes IE says it needs cookies enabled in which case I close the browser clear out my cookies folder then re-login. All this done while the database builder continues to run. Well after the initial slow build, because I wasn't in the room and I kept coming back to it being stuck, now that the initial build is done I'm sure it'll be ok to grab a few new titles a week.

attached are all the logs

Hey Mr. Plow,

Have you tried changing the default cookie behavior of IE? To do this, in IE:
Tools --> Internet Options --> Privacy Tab --> Advanced Button --> Check "Override Automatic Cookie Handling" --> "First Party Cookies" = Accept, "Third Party Cookies" = Blocked (or whatever you want).

See if that helps. Other than that I have no explaination as to why the cookie would be forgotten in the middle of the database build. The only work around I can think would be to continuously monitor for the lost cookie and prompt you to login. However, since my database builder is meant to be run AFK, this isn't a good option. I am also forbidden by Netflix from storing user login information in my program, so i can't auto log you in. Since you have fewer than 5,000 movies in Canada right now, I could use the API, EXCEPT they don't allow you to use the API.

Could it be a Windows glitch? When is the last time you did a format/reinstall? Have you run a good registry cleaner lately?

-DH

[dhgb256]

Hi All,

I just released a new version with a few fixes and most importantly I found out that my previous program was operating as IE7 and I have changed it to run as IE8 in the 2.9 version. Please let me know if you notice any performance improvement, the picture quality seems better to me, but might be my imagination.

Thanks,

-DH

[mrplow]

First off I'm running the new 2.9 version.

... Have you tried changing the default cookie behavior of IE? To do this, in IE:
Tools --> Internet Options --> Privacy Tab --> Advanced Button --> Check "Override Automatic Cookie Handling" --> "First Party Cookies" = Accept, "Third Party Cookies" = Blocked (or whatever you want)....

Could have sworn I did this the first time I ran into trouble but I must have done that on my work computer. Changed the settings as advised, made no difference. What about the always allow session cookies option?

... EXCEPT they don't allow you to use the API...

what about if I signed up for a developer account and there was an option in the ini file to use my own id?

...When is the last time you did a format/reinstall?...

Well I normally use linux so I had to make a new partition and do a fresh install, install ie8, .net 3.5, than ran windows update until there was nothing left to install, rebooting many times along the way. This is my HTPC which runs linux normally but there is no netflix client for linux of course so dual booting with a windows partition for netflix only is the only solution as far as I can figure. I'll make a disk image from my windows install partition for a virtual box test eventually.

[dhgb256]

Could have sworn I did this the first time I ran into trouble but I must have done that on my work computer. Changed the settings as advised, made no difference. What about the always allow session cookies option?

You definitely don't want to allow all session cookies, this can lead to a BUNCh of spyware.

what about if I signed up for a developer account and there was an option in the ini file to use my own id?

nope, the API access is tied to the user account, so you are SOL. It won't make a difference.

Well I normally use linux so I had to make a new partition and do a fresh install, install ie8, .net 3.5, than ran windows update until there was nothing left to install, rebooting many times along the way. This is my HTPC which runs linux normally but there is no netflix client for linux of course so dual booting with a windows partition for netflix only is the only solution as far as I can figure. I'll make a disk image from my windows install partition for a virtual box test eventually.

I forgot you set this up that way, you shouldn't be running into these problems. You are running XP right?

Try running tweaknow to clear out registry errors: http://tweaknow.com/download/PowerPack232.exe

Just so I understand: When you run the database builder, it runs for a while and then hangs. At this point if you open IE and go to Http://ca.netflix.com is your cookie still there, or do you have to login?

-DH

[mrplow]

...You definitely don't want to allow all session cookies, this can lead to a BUNCh of spyware...

ya but all I'll be using this windows install is for your program, and windows update, so I'm not too worried.

...nope, the API access is tied to the user account, so you are SOL. It won't make a difference...

darn

...I forgot you set this up that way, you shouldn't be running into these problems. You are running XP right?...

yes with sp3

...Try running tweaknow to clear out registry errors...

Back in my windows days I'd always be a little weary of registry cleaners as I'd normally just reinstall windows if I found any odd errors but with this test partition its worth a shot, I see a couple directanimation keys and a couple dotnet 1.1 shareddlls keys got fixed but didn't make a difference.

...Just so I understand: When you run the database builder, it runs for a while and then hangs. At this point if you open IE and go to Http://ca.netflix.com is your cookie still there, or do you have to login?...

sometimes when I open ie I'm still logged in so I have to logout/in then it continues, other times I get a different netflix page that says I need cookies enabled to continue, I'll save the url next time it happens, then I close ie delete cookies then open and relogin and it continues.

[mrplow]

here it is
http://ca.netflix.com/entryTrap.jsp?why=shopSessDOS

[dhgb256]

here it is
http://ca.netflix.com/entryTrap.jsp?why=shopSessDOS

Try going into your trusted sites (internet options --> Security --> Trusted sites icon --> sites button) and add http://ca.netflix.com to the list (make sure you uncheck the must have https option on the bottom of the list). Then set the default level to Low for Trusted sites. See if that clears up the problem. You could also try checking the always allow session cookies if this doesn't work.

-DH

[Snooze]

Hi All,

I just released a new version with a few fixes and most importantly I found out that my previous program was operating as IE7 and I have changed it to run as IE8 in the 2.9 version. Please let me know if you notice any performance improvement, the picture quality seems better to me, but might be my imagination.

Thanks,

-DH

I notice there isnt tearing in the upper 1/3 of the picture anymore! Good find! I thought it was due to my IP connection.