Slashdot Mirror

using a product called PlayOn from http://www.themediamall.com./ Yes, PlayOn does cost money, one time fee of $20-$30, but then I can also stream Hulu, CBS, CNN, etc. to my PS3, Wii or my DirecTV DVR or a bunch of other things as well. There is a trial version available. The only downside, it's a Windows app.

It's working just fine:
http://www.themediamall.com/node/1460

Personally I can see this working out bad for Boxee. It is currently my second favorite XBMC fork (behind the rocking Plex) and I was looking forward to make my folks a new HTPC to give them Boxee in their living room, but without Hulu Boxee is much less useful.

Personally I use Play On to stream Hulu, Netflix and the like to my Plex computer hooked up to my TV so I am not missing out, but they were excited.

Now Boxee is just a second rate XBMC with needless social networking bolted on. Personally I would much rather keep Plex (with its working surround sound support and better Apple remote integration).

Honestly though I bet someone will get Boxee back having Hulu with some sort of unofficial plugin soon. Thats what the major media companies don't understand- it doesn't matter what they want what matters is what is technically possible. If someone cool is possible to do technically someone somewhere you can buy the law will work out the solution and spread it back to the exact people the media companies think they have control over.

Disclaimer: I don't work or develop for Play On or Plex. Just giving props to amazing software.

Luckily, up here in Canada, CTV and their subsidiaries have realized that they can broadcast on the Internet, make money off of advertising (business as usual, for them) and their customers won't be robbed by the cable companies.

That's a good point, and many US networks are doing the same. The problem is one of format and access. I want to be able to watch those streaming shows on my big TV, using nothing but a remote control to navigate. Current browser-based solutions don't really allow for this, making me have to get out my keyboard and mouse, navigate to a website, etc. Solutions like PlayOn and Netflix streaming on devices like Roku, Tivo, and Xbox 360 are a great step forward, letting me watch web-based streaming video from the comfort of my couch, using a remote to control whatever device I'm using (in my case, an Xbox 360). I don't mind the ads in Hulu, for example, and I'm eagerly awaiting PlayOn adding more content providers (Fox, Fancast, etc). In fact these solutions are getting good enough that I'm seriously considering dumping my cable TV subscription. Anything I want to watch I can get OTA (and record with my media center PC) or legally online for free or a small cost ($30 one-time PlayOn license fee, $17/mo Netflix subscription).

The next step will be for content providers to get better about offering up their content. Why do I have to wait eight days to get the latest episode of House on Hulu when I can stream the latest episode of Heroes (in 720p HD!) the next day through Netflix?

PlayOn let's you watch Hulu, along with Netflix, CBS, CNN, Youtube, and ESPN on your PS3, Xbox 360 or some set-top boxes. It doesn't support the Wii yet, though they are working on that. And it only costs a one-time charge of $30. I've saved a fortune by dropping cable and just using PlayOn+Hulu and Netflix.

I use MediaMall's PlayOn media server to watch Hulu and Netflix on my PS3 and Xbox360. It also streams to my PopcornHour box. It costs $30. I am in no way affiliated with them, I just love the product.

http://www.themediamall.com/playon

But it exists, and Sony does not play well with others, so Netflix will never be released for PS3.

Well ... these guys http://www.themediamall.com/playon have a media server you can install on your PC that will stream Netflix (and Hulu, and others), to your PS3 (and XBox and soon Wii).

You're right, its not a "Native" app on the PS3 (and probably won't be)) but it seems to work just fine for Hulu (don't have Netflix so I can't comment).

Personally I like the PSN Store and have found it pretty responsive and intuitive (especially since the revamp ~april).

There's a reason you should never buy hardware from a content company.

I'll try to take the high-road and not make comments like "There's a reason you should never buy hardware from a software company." ... darn. I'll have to try harder next time.

I use Mediamall's PlayOn media software.

http://www.themediamall.com/playon

It sits on my Windows XP box and serves Netflix and Hulu to my Xbox 360, my PS3, and my PopcornHour box in the bedroom. It costs $30, and works like a god damn champ.

I'm in the same boat. I paid $5 for the browser. It'd be nice if Nintendo, Opera and Adobe could hammer something out.

Regardless, there may be a solution around the corner if you're willing to pay $30 bucks and run a windows machine. Media Mall claims their PlayOn! software will be Wii compatible by the end of 2008:
http://www.themediamall.com/playon