Check out this new thread http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/237992.aspx

I have started building a WatchNow client.

DVRDude:

MitchSchaft:

I want to encourage Ryan to work on the Watch Now functionality; with my login if needed :).

Mitch,

That is a GREAT idea.  Since Netflix went Unlimited for the "Watch Now" feature a couple of days ago, this seems like a perfect addition to the plugin.  I have my MCE PC in my family room connected to my Plasma so I use Watch Now quite a bit.  I would certainly be willing to chip in a few bucks if Ryan were to take this on.  Maybe if we get enough interest in the forum here (and a few others that are willing to commit a few bucks), we can convince Ryan to add this feature.

Anybody else???

I have just been contacted by a kind soul (Anthony) who has taken over the My Netflix project and re-done it in MCML while adding support for Watch Now.

There are a few issues in the current build and I would recommend holding off until they are fixed (he is working on them as I type this) but I had the time now to tell you about this and I didn't want to miss out on telling you about the new project.

The two issues in question are related to moving to a least privilege registry read of the background add-in, and appropriately updating the gradient of the movie panel and pivot menu (they can vanish as a result of this bug).

With that being said, what Anthony has put together is much better than the old project IMHO.

See: http://unmitigatedrisk.com/archive/2008/02/10/174.aspx and http://www.anpark.com/index.php/2008/02/10/new-vista-media-center-plugin-mynetflix-beta/.

Show the man some love and donate :)

WOW!  First use looks AWESOME!
I will play with it some more and see how it works out -- very cool so far!!

Thx!

Hey guys, glad you like it!

I posted an update to my site which addresses the issues that Ryan talked about.  I'd love to hear any additional feedback anyone has.  Drop me a note at mynetflix@anpark.com.

Anthony Park
http://www.anpark.com

Looks great Anthony!

A couple of things I noticed while using the plug in:

1. While installing I recieved an error (unfortunately I didnt pay much attention to it, assuming I'd need to reinstall) but after it finished, it just went on and work without a hitch, otherwise I'd have more details for you.

2. Cant full screen without the use of a mouse.
3. When watching episodic videos (like "The Office") through the watch now feature, you cannot change episodes.
4. Once watching a movie via watch now, If I went back to VMC menus with the green button, I could hear the audio of the movie, but was unable to get back to actually watching the movie. If I clicked the plug in, the netflix website loads.  Not sure if adding a "Now Playing" feature would even be possible.



Thanks for the wonderful work on this! Im really excited about this feature, and already LOVE the way it looks and how easy it is to browse movies.

Thanks again!

- Kyle

Anthony,

I just installed the new beta last night.  It's my first install of your application.  So far, it looks very promising...  thanks for taking on this project.

I also had the error as Krytos described but everything seemed to work fine after install.

I did install it on a fresh reinstall of Vista.  Since I did not have the Netflix player for WatchNow installed, it was a bit hairy on the first run.  Is there any way for MyNetflix to check if the plug-in from Netflix has been installed when you first install MyNetflix?  Might make things a bit smoother.  Just an idea.

Looking forward to spending more time with it tonight!      

Will the Watch Now functionality work on an Xbox 360 extender?  Has anyone tried it?

I can try the Xbox 360 extender tonight.

Thanks getz!  I look forward to reading your reply tonight and I am going to stay positive that it works great.  I am really looking forward to using this plugin when I get my Media Center next week.

It's a no go on the XBox 360.  The window comes up with the player and the movies tries to play, but keeps coming back to the beginning.

I had a chance to do a breif test of the new updated version of MyNetflix Plugin in Vista and here is what I have found so far;

The good:

• Setup couldn't be any easier!!!! Just enter the email address and password you use with Netflix and away you go.
• Excellent integration with Vista Media Center...screen layout and format are consistent with all other screens.
• Coverart resolution is good and detail information is formatted nicely.
• Viewing and modifying the current movie queue was clean and simple.
• The ability to add movies from the Genres and Top 50 lists to the queue.
  
• The "Watch it Now" feature is a huge WOW factor!!! This will bring in a lot of interest.
• Loading times for me are about 15 - 20 seconds with a cable internet download connection of about 6.8 mbps.

The not so good:

• No ability to search and add movies to your movie queue within the plugin.
• While viewing a movie via the "Watch it Now" function the remote focus is lost, except for volume control. For some reason I am able to control the volume with my left and right navigation VMC remote buttons.
• After putting Netflix into full screen mode (via mouse not remote) control of VMC is completely lost via the remote. Mouse navigation is the only way to get back into VMC.
• It would be great to be able to have the MyNetflix plugin as a standard menu option within the TV + Movies selection on the main screen. It would be hard for people to notice that this is even a plugin because MyNetflix looks sooo good.

Anthony, this is an amazing plugin. Thank you so much for the hard work!!!

AndresE,

I can (unfortunately) confirm baubieed experience.  It goes along fine until it is ready to play the movie, where it hangs on "Testing Connection Speed". 

getz76:

AndresE,

I can (unfortunately) confirm baubieed experience.  It goes along fine until it is ready to play the movie, where it hangs on "Testing Connection Speed". 

Thanks for checking.  I hope that this gets ability is possible and gets added in sometime soon.  I only use MediaCenter via extenders.

Anthony has released a updated version that addresses much of the feedback, it still doesnt work for the Extender but the lion share of the other issues have been resolved.

The UI has changed some as he is no longer using a shared library that did some of the work for him, the UI is faster now as a result in a couple of areas.

http://anpark.com/

Definately addressed all of my concerns.  Ill be testing it out this weekend 'extensively'  :)