[REQUEST] Netflix 'Watch Now' plugin, script, or native code (with metadata scraper)?

If you're on Windows, you can watch Netflix using Windows Media Center or Boxee. If you try to watch it on Boxee, beware; Netflix defaults to HD streams if your connection can handle it and Boxee's built-in Silverlight plugin doesn't support hardware acceleration. You'll need a decently beefy processor to cope with it.

Hauser Wrote:Why not compromise and offer a Netflix plugin for the platforms it can work on, including Windows? "Doesn't work with Netflix" is rapidly becoming a serious black mark against any media center.

Because a plugin (as they're currently programmed) would require Silverlight/Netflix's player to be reverse engineered. See this thread.

maruchan Wrote:Because a plugin (as they're currently programmed) would require Silverlight/Netflix's player to be reverse engineered. See this thread.

I didn't follow all the technical details, but I know the Boxee and PLEX teams were able to make it work. Is there something fundamentally different about XBMC technology that means Netflix can't work inside XBMC?

Both just use the silverlight plugin for either webkit or mozilla.

This is no-go on Linux, and (IMO) a crap solution in general - see the thread that was linked as to why.

Also, I believe this aspect of both those other apps is closed source. Neat, aye?

Cheers,
Jonathan

Why can't Moonlight be used?

griffore Wrote:Why can't Moonlight be used?

Look about 10 posts up. Looks like it doesn't support their DRM.

Did I mention that I hate DRM?

-Wes

moviebuff Wrote:We finally are getting Netflix in Canada and was maybe going to try it out but out of curiousity how does everyone watch it. By reading this I cant link Netflix within XBMC (trying to make things as easy as possible for the wife) Probably have to use my Wii I guess or somehow create a shortcut from xbmc to netflix on my pc

I exit XBMC and open Firefox, then watch it in the browser.

Sucks. It's a real pain to do this, as I have to break out a keyboard (remember those?)

-Wes

jmarshall Wrote:This is no-go on Linux, and (IMO) a crap solution in general - see the thread that was linked as to why.

I understand, but are you saying no solution at all is preferable to a solution that works for the huge number of XBMC users who aren't on Linux?

I had a chance to play with a friend's PLEX setup last night and the Netflix integration was incredibly seamless, he could browse recommendations, resume movies from where they left off, and the HD streaming worked great. It may be inelegant under the covers, but as an end user it was basically a flawless experience, and isn't that what's really important?

That's not what I said at all. I was merely pointing out how stupid it is to require a webbrowser with proprietary plugins when all you want to do is stream video.

I have no problem with someone doing up such a solution for XBMC if that is the only way to go (indeed, even if it wasn't the only way to go I'd still have no problem with it.) I'd encourage anyone to give it a go should they have the time and inclination to do so. As always, any and all contributions to XBMC are welcome and we'll do what we can to assist.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Incidentally here's the Netflix plugin code for PLEX if anyone's interested, I'd contribute if I could but this stuff is pretty far outside my realm of experience!