Universe's Big Bang

[mvallevand]

I had some free time this weekend so I thought I'd see if I could get PlayOn working to the NMT from the NPVR and it is working out pretty well.

Basically the Universe plugin uses UPnP (via Microsoft COM) to find content and then it uses UPnP URL's to stream. From the NMT it is easy I just tell it a new URL and voila. I do expect to have it working on the MVP too. From the PC it is a little more challenging because I can't play http in NPVR but I can launch ActiveMovie or wmplayer etc.

Is there any interest in this from anyone? I am looking for people with PlayOn installed (that is the UPnP service I showed) to try it out, but other UPnP services should work. I have also used Twonky

Any suggestions are welcome too.

Martin

[johnsonx42]

Very cool, and I am interested. I'm ordering a reportedly playon-compatible device (Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ HD), and will have it in a few days. Though I'm not clear from what you've posted so far whether what you're doing is strictly NMT+PlayOn, or if you'll be supporting any PlayOn compatible device. Maybe I'm looking at things backwards?

[mvallevand]

johnson42x this is a plugin for NPVR (based on WebRadio) and is not really related to playback via PlayOn on another devices When I was looking into PlayOn and looking at online content in Boxee I figured it would be nice to view YouTube etc directly in NPVR (that was a Vevo list).

As I wrote Universe can playback on the PC too using ActiveMovie which will allow some remote control, but now it is just WMP so no 10' interface. Ideally if sub could accept http as a video source it would fit right in. Even without PC support the NMT and MVP will benefit

Martin

[johnsonx42]

Ah, ok, I understand now. I was confusing this with what you were talking about in the general discussion thread.

I know sub has plenty on his plate, but it would be great if he could add whatever is needed to play streaming media. I think streaming media is becoming more and more essential to the definition of an HTPC.

I've not ordered that Seagate box yet; maybe I should just bite the bullet and order a refurb A110. It get the double-whammy though of having to pay international shipping, but also having to pay CA sales tax because they have a sales office in Fremont... I can get my hands on the seagate box for $50 shipped free and no sales tax.

[sub]

I know sub has plenty on his plate, but it would be great if he could add whatever is needed to play streaming media. I think streaming media is becoming more and more essential to the definition of an HTPC.

Unfortunately its not straight forward, there at least a dozen or so completely different standards used for video stream (like RTP with H.264/AAC ES streams payload, RTP with TS payload, RTSP, Apple style HTTP-Live carrying H.264/AAC TS, FLV over HTTP, etc...), with each being a sizeable time and effort to support.

I can certainly enable playback of certain streams for Martin if he knows there is a appropriate components for playback of those streams though, and he can supply some sample URLs.

[steeb]

I know sub has plenty on his plate

Indeed And this software is looking beyond brilliant, IMHO my POV wasn't asked for anyway

I think streaming media is becoming more and more essential to the definition of an HTPC.

But this isn't an HTPC? It is only a PVR???? Hmmmmmm

[mvallevand]

I can certainly enable playback of certain streams for Martin if he knows there is a appropriate components for playback of those streams though, and he can supply some sample URLs.

Sub that would be great, the files and format are quite boring. UPnP just uses http and these files are just

Code:

Format                           : MPEG-PS

Video
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP            : Yes
Format settings, Matrix          : Default
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 4 000 Kbps
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 404 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive

Audio
Format                           : MPEG Audio
Format version                   : Version 1
Format profile                   : Layer 2
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 192 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 44.1 KHz

It looks low but from what I gather the much hyped Netflix is only 500k-2200k anyway.

I see this as a possible way to support non-mpeg to the MVP's using native PlayOn.

Martin

[TomH]

Martin,

This sounds very much like a gift from the Gods - a practical avenue for streaming Netflix/Hulu/etc to the TV with M34A type equipment via NPVR!

I'll sign up for the PLayOn service as soon as you're ready for testers!

My existing GBPVR is running on WinXP -but- I've added an HP AMD Athlon II 635 Win7 (64bit) box that I'm going to attempt to install NPVR there (using mvpmcx2 ?) . How should I plan to test the Universe plugin - can I configure things so that Lucille can continue to use GBPVR + MVP on the first box while I test NPVR + M34A through the WIn7 box?

Curious about whether this is a complete end-run of the Silverlight problem?... is there some other proprietary piece of middleware to be concerned about?

Thanks as always for your great work

[pcostanza]

I may have some time to try this out during the weekend. I'm a bit buys this week

[sub]

Sub that would be great, the files and format are quite boring. UPnP just uses http and these files are just

Code:

Format                           : MPEG-PS

Video
Format                           : MPEG Video
Format version                   : Version 2
Format profile                   : Main@Main

It looks low but from what I gather the much hyped Netflix is only 500k-2200k anyway.

Were you able to get graphedit to play the stream? If so, what did the graph look like.