Plugin :: PlayOn for SageTV v1.5

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Dargason

I noticed that playlater takes a LOT of CPU power, at least for HD stuff. I upgraded my CPU to an Intel Core i5-4430 Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.0 GHz and it steal eats about 60-70% of the processing power. But everything is working well now.

Ah, ok. I guess I won't use it much - dual core 32 bit W7 install, low-noise low-heat. 32bit to use FireWire channel change (do wish someone would update those drivers).
Or, just record when I'm not watching live or recorded material.
Also, the dreaded "no videos found" part of Sage/Playon - are those likely outdated paths that will never be repaired unless EvilPenquin surfaces?

[Dargason]

Also, the dreaded "no videos found" part of Sage/Playon - are those likely outdated paths that will never be repaired unless EvilPenquin surfaces?

I believe that's true, as they have been like that for a very long time. I always go through the "Browse Playon" menu option now. It's a few extra steps, but I'm not a fan of streaming anyway. I used to just go in, set up an online favorite for a show and let podcast recorder download stuff for later viewing.

My preferred method now will be to browse shows online via a web browser, then add them to my Netflix/Amazon queue, and use playlater to download them to a SageTV video import directory.
(Hmm... a nice feature of Playlater would be to automatically download the queue...)

[wayner]

I haven't used PlayON with Sage too much recently so I can't say if that problem still exists. But PlayLater opens up a whole bunch of possibilities as Dargason suggests.

By the way EP hasn't disappeared totally, just from the SageTV universe. He is a regular tweeter: https://twitter.com/evilpenguin81

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by wayner

I haven't used PlayON with Sage too much recently so I can't say if that problem still exists. But PlayLater opens up a whole bunch of possibilities as Dargason suggests.

By the way EP hasn't disappeared totally, just from the SageTV universe. He is a regular tweeter: https://twitter.com/evilpenguin81

All I want is for him to stop by, fix the plugin so that it references the last Sage update which fixed youtube, and then he can go back on his merry way...

With the admission that I know nothing about coding, I have always suspected that it's like one line of code that would change the reference of the Sage STV to the latest.

/selfish, I know

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by wayner

I bought the PlayON/PlayLater combo in their deals and played around a bit with PlayLater. I was surprised to see that it essentially saves the show/movie as an MP4 file on your local hard drive - presumably with no DRM. I only did a couple of kids' TV shows - I am assuming that you can do this with Netflix as well? If so I wonder if it is legal and if they have been challenged yet?

Yes it is legal because Playlater is just recording from a Microsoft Silverlight browser window on your PC (window is not visible it is hidden and am assuming it is silverlight anyway as that is how microsoft allows playback of DRM media). You could do that yourself if you had the knowledge - I don't. So yes it works with Netflix. I have several hundred recordings using Playlater off of Netflix and Amazon instant video. It adds video at the beginning and ending of the recording that shows your name and IP address it was recorded from. Also a warning that is it illegal to rebroadcast the recording. That is all video added before and after the actual video from Amazon or Netflix starts. I am NOT using the plugin in SageTV just letting BMT scrape the data after I add the files to an import directory and do an import scan.

[Dargason]

Think of it this way... it's just like recording radio broadcasts on your cassette tape, or television broadcasts on your VCR. Recording it for yourself is fine, but you're not allowed to distribute it.

[wayner]

Well....

The difference is that you are controlling the playback of the streaming service so it is somewhat different. It is more like DVRing an on demand channel on your cable box and that is sometimes blocked.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

All I want is for him to stop by, fix the plugin so that it references the last Sage update which fixed youtube, and then he can go back on his merry way...

With the admission that I know nothing about coding, I have always suspected that it's like one line of code that would change the reference of the Sage STV to the latest.

/selfish, I know

+1. Come back and save us all, EvilPenquin.....lol
Seriously, charge us $1 each, we'll pay

[wayner]

Is there anybody else willing to take over the development? Maybe we can have him hand off the source code?

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by wayner

Is there anybody else willing to take over the development? Maybe we can have him hand off the source code?

sadly beyond my abilities

[tvmaster2]

Every show I called up in the SageTV Playon plugin on HBO Go indicates program lengths which are nine minutes longer per half hour of reality.
So, a two hour film shows up as 2:40.
The film is actually 2:00 when watched.
A 30 minute show, 39 minutes.
Anyone else seeing this anomaly with HBO Go, or any other Playon channel?

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Every show I called up in the SageTV Playon plugin on HBO Go indicates program lengths which are nine minutes longer per half hour of reality.
So, a two hour film shows up as 2:40.
The film is actually 2:00 when watched.
A 30 minute show, 39 minutes.
Anyone else seeing this anomaly with HBO Go, or any other Playon channel?

I believe there is discussion of this phenomenon in this thread. Somewhere back in the many, many pages....

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I believe there is discussion of this phenomenon in this thread. Somewhere back in the many, many pages....

Thanks, I searched here but may have used terms that were different...

[evilpenguin]

I went ahead and threw my source code on the first post in case anyone wants to take a look.

Source Code

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by evilpenguin

I went ahead and threw my source code on the first post in case anyone wants to take a look.

Source Code

Thanks. Hopefully a smart person will be able to use it

[wayner]

Now we need some folks to pick this up. I could help out on the Java and struggle my way through some of the other code but I have no idea how the whole thing is put together.

[pjpjpjpj]

EP!!! He lives!

EP, if you read this, can you at least comment (for someone with programming skills) on whether the youtube issue is just because the plugin references the last Sage STV (where youtube broke), or whether it will require more advanced modifications to fix the youtube situation?

[tvmaster2]

When accessing Netflix content thru Sage via the PlayOn plugin, can anyone confirm that films with 5.1 surround soundtracks are decoding properly, and maybe give an example of a film stored on Netflix which proves it.

With my Yamaha receiver, when I access content with a Dolby 5.1 mix, the receiver automatically changes it's display to reflect that.

With the Playon plugin, I have to manually activate 5.1 via the receivers remote, which makes me suspect the decoding is correct. Netflix doesn't always supply prints in 5.1, maybe to save bandwidth, even though the film, documentary, music special etc. was originally produced in 5.1

So, any example would be a help

Does that make sense?

UPDATE: When accessing Netflix via a Roku box, you choose between Stereo and 5.1
The Default appears to be "Stereo".
So, is there a way to select "5.1" via the SageTV PlayOn plugin - that may be the problem

[atyrus28]

I too do not use playon plugin anymore as I have playlater now. It's hard to put forth effort to a dying platform.

It is just so sad that they sold to google and google just killed it. Sage is great and when it finally breaks I will be unhappy.

I am learning to code now, so I will certainly peak at the source code, but between a new job, 9 month old twins, a council position and many other things I can't promise a lot.

[tvmaster2]

According to Playon, unless using the Netflix app on Windows 8, Dolby Digital will never be available on a PC platform, aka via Playon.