I don't know if this belongs here, but since the Netflix Watch Instantly is, I figured it's kindof related and similar.

Anyways, I have been using PlayOn for a few weeks at home now. It's in Beta right now (everyone can be in the beta) but they are very close to the first full release.

It's a media server that runs on the PC, and it allows you to do is stream several content providers over to various devices. So far at home I've tested it with the devices below, but any device that will pick up media servers should work, I believe.

1) PS3
2) XBOX 360
3) DirecTV DVR (HR21-100)

The content providers are:
1) Netflix Watch Instantly
2) Hulu
3) Youtube
4) CBS
5) ESPN
6) CNN
7) Some others

With the most recent update (released 11/3) there is now Hulu account/queue support, as well as streaming 480p content (previously only 480i). It looks pretty good. Unfortunately they still haven't put in Youtube account support, but it's supposedly coming (no big deal to me personally)

Anyways, it's available at www.themediamall.com. Just download, install, plug in your Netflix and Hulu account information, and you'd be up and running in 5 minutes or less.

There is a 21 day trial, followed by $30 one-time fee. With the recent 480p and Hulu queue support, they have earned my money.

I have been using playon for a couple weeks aswell for my PS3. I love it! However I have noticed one thing that bothers me. About 50% of the time the video will pause after a few seconds. In order to get it to play I have to press rewind and then play. If I start it from the beginning the same problem will happen again. This happens on different video sources, netflix, hulu etc. Some times if I restart the PS3 it will play correctly however this may be by chance.

I plan on purchasing it but would love to get this problem resolved. Any one else having similar problems?

Daniel

I have been using playon for a couple weeks aswell for my PS3. I love it! However I have noticed one thing that bothers me. About 50% of the time the video will pause after a few seconds. In order to get it to play I have to press rewind and then play. If I start it from the beginning the same problem will happen again. This happens on different video sources, netflix, hulu etc. Some times if I restart the PS3 it will play correctly however this may be by chance.

I plan on purchasing it but would love to get this problem resolved. Any one else having similar problems?

Daniel

No, I've never had that problem. If you go over to PlayOn's site, there's a forum. There's some way to report the problem though through PlayOn, I think. Their support is very good, AFAIK.

This is the first I've heard it works with DirecTV DVR's. I have an HR22 DVR so I think I meet the spec. How exactly do you access the PlayOn server from the DVR? This is pretty awesome if it works!

I have the HR21, but I assume it's roughly the same.

1) Press "menu"
2) Go to "Music, Photos, and More"

You should see the PlayOn server listed there, assuming you have it set up on your computer, it's running, and you DirecTv receiver is connected to your network.

PlayOn has new firmware update. Now plays NetFlix with Sliverlight player.

mark

Good idea

i see that it has "espn" streaming....am i understanding this correctly as they are basically just taking the online content from espn.com that i can get like highlights and stuff (not live broadcasts or anything to do with espn360) and allowing it on the xbox, wmc, etc? or is this actually streaming live broadcasts from some other source for espn?

Playon is the bomb Netflicks and Hulu equals digital bliss without paying your money to hd cables companies.

Just got this going in the last couple of days. Pretty damn handy for getting streaming PC content to your TV. I am watching Robocop as I type this, and have been getting caught up on Family Guy in the last 24 hours.

I hope they add the content up on ABC.com soon!

http://www.themediamall.com/playon

Just got this going in the last couple of days. Pretty damn handy for getting streaming PC content to your TV. I am watching Robocop as I type this, and have been getting caught up on Family Guy in the last 24 hours.

I hope they add the content up on ABC.com soon!

http://www.themediamall.com/playon

Can this be installed on a PS3 without issue?

Does anyone have the procedure for doing so?

Can this be installed on a PS3 without issue?

Does anyone have the procedure for doing so?

You dont' install it on the PS3. You install it on your PC. Then the server will show up on your PS3.

I use it without issues (my PS3, XBOX 360, and DirecTV DVR) all pick it up and it works fine on all of them

I can't say enough good things about this product! Trial is free for 2 weeks, give it a try.

ej

You dont' install it on the PS3. You install it on your PC. Then the server will show up on your PS3.


I never have a PC on as a server so it is a no go for me.

I never have a PC on as a server so it is a no go for me.

That's fine, but I don't quite understand. It's just a piece of software. Assuming you have a network in your house with a broadband connection, it's not like it requires a lot of effort. Took me all of about 2 minutes to get it up and running.

Unless you just mean you don't leave your PC on and turn it off when you're not using it. If that's the case, PlayOn (or any other streaming options to the PS3 or 360) won't work for you.

I've had trouble with PlayOn with my PS3. About 10 minutes into a video, it stops and will not continue.

Anybody else have this problem?

What version are you running? Make sure you are running the newest one. With the original official release it would stop playing a few seconds in. The newest update resolved that issue.

Daniel

It appears to be the latest version: v2.59.3336.4541.

All videos or just Hulu? Hulu seems to have the most issues. It's probably better to post this stuff over on their forums at TheMediaMall.com....they're pretty responsive.

Does it stream netflix HD? If it doesn't, why would you use it for xbox unless you don't have xbox live?

Hmm... That's odd. I watched a couple of programs on Hulu this evening and it worked just fine. The only difference between this evening and the earlier tries is that I put my login information into PlayOn this time. But it may have been just an intermittent problem unrelated to that.

does it stream netflix hd?


no

Does it stream netflix HD? If it doesn't, why would you use it for xbox unless you don't have xbox live?

Because it streams Hulu and CBS and ESPN and Youtube?

Another PlayOn convert here,

1 work around for various issues w/ PlayOn and Hulu specifically - the User Queue file seems to have many issues, If you're having trouble w/ Hulu - try going to the show the long way thru the TV episode file, we've had zero problems provided Hulu's servers are up ;-}

I tried Playon for my DirecTV HR22. Little luck, video choppy stops and starts. I bought A Roku box for Netflix, streams HD good and reliable. Use Tversity to stream video and photos from my PC, it's free and works well

Just in time to ease worries that your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or other DLNA-capable device was falling behind the Roku video player in video capability, MediaMall has updated its PlayOn software for Amazon Video On Demand access. Version 2.59.3352 went out earlier today and also enables a beta version of its plugin system, that should allow interested providers to put their feeds into the PlayOn browser starting right now with Revision3. What's next? ABC.com on the content side and the Nintendo Wii on the hardware end. Of course, we could've just mentioned the (still working) Hulu to your TV access which is at least enough reason to give it a trial run.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/03/06/playon-media-server-upgraded-with-amazon-vod-and-plugin-beta/

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/03/06/playon-media-server-upgraded-with-amazon-vod-and-plugin-beta/

Sweet....So now I have about 20 different streaming options available to me...and then of course physical discs. I'm pretty happy with this (at least to look at and check it out), since i have a 360 but no Roku.

I installed on my PC yesterday and got it running with XBMC on my old Xbox.....I haven't encounter any issues what so ever, I ever tried opening Hulu at the same time in my system to run both videos at the same time, still no issues. This is seriously an option as to cancel my expensive Time warner cable. I am thinking on trying HD over the air for those channels that we see the most. I just hope ABC also jump in the wagon

I installed on my PC yesterday and got it running with XBMC on my old Xbox.....I haven't encounter any issues what so ever, I ever tried opening Hulu at the same time in my system to run both videos at the same time, still no issues. This is seriously an option as to cancel my expensive Time warner cable. I am thinking on trying HD over the air for those channels that we see the most. I just hope ABC also jump in the wagon

ABC is the one source I really want to see on PlayOn!

I installed the trial last weekend. Everything works fine - except for Netflix.

I can log in and view the instant play que but when I try to play a movie I either get a DRM error or data corrupted error. I cleared DRM per Playon's recommendation but it still happens.

Playon support has not responded to my inquiry.

Any help is appreciated

I use Playon to stream through PS3, content selection is pretty fabulous but quality is a bit lacking...not sure why I can't stream Netflix HD through Playon on PS3 as Roku Netflix player allows it...I don't want to buy a Roku player but I will for the HD.

Anyone know how many titles Netflix has for HD streaming?

..I don't want to buy a Roku player but I will for the HD.

Anyone know how many titles Netflix has for HD streaming?

I got the Roku, just for the Netflix HD (now the box streams Amazon HD too) - and it's been WELL worth it! The Netflix site currently lists over 200 HD titles and more are being added all the time. (Haven't tallied the Amazon HD titles - they're more recent releases, but at pay-per-view pricing).

Of course Hulu is available with PlayOn - but not with the Roku.

Watched a 30 rock hulu episode via playon/ps3 on my panasonic 88" fptv. quality was great!

Have not been able to get it running all morning... Used it last 3-4 days ago and was fine not if i try to start Playon Media Server it says not found...

Does PlayOn support playing of HD movies thru Netflix? I cannot, for the life of me get Serenity to play thru either my Directv HR20-100 or my PS3 using PlayOn. It gets a few seconds in and then just stops and goes and on the Directv HR20 it will evenually fail with a cannot access media. The PS3 will hang in longer but still stop every 5 seconds or so for a good 5-10 seconds.

EVERYTHING non-HD play terrific thru Playon on either my HR20 or my PS3. It's just the HD content that doesn't.

I have a great net connectiion at 16mbps down and 2mbps up and my PC is up there too with a 3.0 Quad core Xtreme with 4gig of rams and 3 raptors running in raid 0(Vista 64 bit) for my boot drive(the drive Playon uses for streaming).

As an FYI, my LG BD370, which is upstairs, plays Serenity in HD perfectly, so my net connection/router(Linksys WRT600n) shouldn't be the issue.

no, since playon uses the pc, no hd streaming is available.

no, since playon uses the pc, no hd streaming is available.

So there's no capable PC out there that are able to keep up with the streaming(or is it the software just isn't up to par in handling HD)? I'm a bit surprised by this.

no, as in netflix dosn't stream HD content to the pc.

no, as in netflix dosn't stream HD content to the pc.

So then it's Netfix's streaming that is causing the issue? I say this because it IS streaming, it's just not streaming it fast enough(or my PC can't keep up, which I doubt). I can watch about the first 30 seconds of the movie before it stops for about 5 seconds, then goes for 5 seconds then stops and go and so on. It will continue like this, so it is streaming it, just not fast enough.

**EDIT**
Ok reading elsewhere I see this is a conscious decision by Netflix to not stream HD to the PC. Why I dunno, but as I mentioned, it does stream, just not well.

An HD stream takes up very little bandwidth. Even a barebones low end PC has zero problems handling an HD stream. I was watching HD recordings from my Network back in 2001 with a P3 processor with my HiPix cards.

Would there be any quality difference between streaming on a PS3 or a 360? Both are connected to my router via ethernet and the PS3 is going to the TV with HDMI while the 360 is using VGA. Is there any inherent hardware difference that will allow one or the other to stream more effectively?

Would there be any quality difference between streaming on a PS3 or a 360? Both are connected to my router via ethernet and the PS3 is going to the TV with HDMI while the 360 is using VGA. Is there any inherent hardware difference that will allow one or the other to stream more effectively?

I use PlayOn on both my 360 and PS3 (hooked up just like you....VGA on 360 and HDMI on PS3).

Prior to the Netflix on 360 support, I was watching Netflix through both, although now I use the 360's native support and not PlayOn.

I never noticed no difference, and I really just wound up using whichever system happened to be on when I wanted to watch something. As I mentioned, now I use the 360 for Netflix, but for Hulu and other things, I just use whatever system is on at the time. If neither is on, I tend to use the 360 just because I like the interface better and of course if I end up wanted to watch a Netflix movie, the 360 will be on.

But really, I haven't noticed any difference quality-wise.

Does PlayOn handle the HD shows from CBS or Netflix or Hulu?

Does PlayOn handle the HD shows from CBS or Netflix or Hulu?

It does handle it, IF the provider allows it. From what I read, Netflix is the one NOT allowing HD to be streamed to the PC(this is what Playon uses for it's streaming, however Netflix does stream it to stand alone players like Blu-Ray players). I'm not sure what the deal is with the new Amazon HD content and streaming. I bet tho if Amazon allows HD content to the PC, then Netflix will eventually follow suit.

It does handle it, IF the provider allows it. From what I read, Netflix is the one NOT allowing HD to be streamed to the PC(this is what Playon uses for it's streaming, however Netflix does stream it to stand alone players like Blu-Ray players). I'm not sure what the deal is with the new Amazon HD content and streaming. I bet tho if Amazon allows HD content to the PC, then Netflix will eventually follow suit.

Netflix will probably follow suit once they have equipment in place. Right now, it's only Roku, some Blu-Ray players, and XBOX owners that can stream HD.....all of them combined would be a fraction of what would happen if they opened it up to the PC, and my guess is the equipment can't handle that right now until Netflix gets some more servers in place.

i've been using playon for about a week now. I recently discovered adult swim and food network plugin which makes it even better.
I'm definitely going to shell out the cash to buy it.
Worth every penny

I've been using Playon for about 6 weeks and like it very much. I ended up wiring the PC and PS3 to the router and that fixed the stutter issues.

I wish there were more plugins.

I've beta'd three different versions of PlayOn, including the latest release a couple weeks ago, and every time, it's a beautiful thing when it works, but at least half the time I get freezes or data corruption errors streaming Netflix. I'm streaming to a wired PS3, with a fully capable laptop and an internet speed that averages 4-5 Mbs. This week I've officially given up on the whole PlayOn enterprise and bought a Roku and am looking forward to getting HD content and not having to remember to leave my computer on if I want to watch something later that evening.

http://www.themediamall.com/playon/lp/pax200909/?rsrc=pax09

Get it for $20 (50% off) for the next 4 days!!