Apple TV / Roku - like software for PC?
-
I've been wanting a PC app that displays and allows me to play media from several sources (like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, local files, etc.). I haven't been able to find anything that fits what I want. I tried XBMC (now Kodi), and it doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for. Do you have any suggestions? Or should I just buy an Apple TV? Or heck, write my own software? (I've had the urge to do that recently, too, so I'm willing to give it a go.)
-
I've been wanting a PC app that displays and allows me to play media from several sources (like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, local files, etc.). I haven't been able to find anything that fits what I want. I tried XBMC (now Kodi), and it doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for. Do you have any suggestions? Or should I just buy an Apple TV? Or heck, write my own software? (I've had the urge to do that recently, too, so I'm willing to give it a go.)
Write your software... Add small blocks of controls, load content from different sources in it (probably API would be used) and give it a go. Good thing about this method is, that even if the user-experience is worst, user-interface is worst, you still would love it. Because its you who will make it. ;) Go for it. :)
The shit I complain about It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem ~! Firewall !~
-
Write your software... Add small blocks of controls, load content from different sources in it (probably API would be used) and give it a go. Good thing about this method is, that even if the user-experience is worst, user-interface is worst, you still would love it. Because its you who will make it. ;) Go for it. :)
The shit I complain about It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem ~! Firewall !~
Thanks for the suggestion. If I ever do get around to it, I want to make it open-source, and attempt to provide weekly updates until I deem it "finished"... or until the community takes over. Whatever comes first.
-
I've been wanting a PC app that displays and allows me to play media from several sources (like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, local files, etc.). I haven't been able to find anything that fits what I want. I tried XBMC (now Kodi), and it doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for. Do you have any suggestions? Or should I just buy an Apple TV? Or heck, write my own software? (I've had the urge to do that recently, too, so I'm willing to give it a go.)
drummerboy0511 wrote:
I haven't been able to find anything that fits what I want. I tried XBMC (now Kodi), and it doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for.
Pretty hard for any of us to make serious suggestions when we don't know what it is that "fits what you want". XBMC/Kodi seems to keep some people happy. So what is it you're after that it doesn't have?
-
drummerboy0511 wrote:
I haven't been able to find anything that fits what I want. I tried XBMC (now Kodi), and it doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for.
Pretty hard for any of us to make serious suggestions when we don't know what it is that "fits what you want". XBMC/Kodi seems to keep some people happy. So what is it you're after that it doesn't have?
It seems to be a small pain getting a plugin for Netflix in there for now. Besides that, the interface feels a bit clunky, and I want to be able to create playlists with media from multiple sources.
-
It seems to be a small pain getting a plugin for Netflix in there for now. Besides that, the interface feels a bit clunky, and I want to be able to create playlists with media from multiple sources.
drummerboy0511 wrote:
It seems to be a small pain getting a plugin for Netflix in there for now
But is there one available at all? Seems to me like a one-time pain-point might be acceptable.
drummerboy0511 wrote:
Besides that, the interface feels a bit clunky
Can't help ya there. I don't think I've ever cross any sort of media player that had a "great" interface for all purposes--but to be fair, I don't know how I'd go about designing one myself.
drummerboy0511 wrote:
and I want to be able to create playlists with media from multiple sources.
I thought XBMC had tons of plugins...surely there's something that'll let you do that? Or, in the worse case scenario, can it not use playlists created from another machine? In case you haven't guessed already, I don't really have much experience with it myself. Or any particular media player in general...I pretty much gave up on the idea years ago. Do follow up if you find something worthwhile...
-
drummerboy0511 wrote:
It seems to be a small pain getting a plugin for Netflix in there for now
But is there one available at all? Seems to me like a one-time pain-point might be acceptable.
drummerboy0511 wrote:
Besides that, the interface feels a bit clunky
Can't help ya there. I don't think I've ever cross any sort of media player that had a "great" interface for all purposes--but to be fair, I don't know how I'd go about designing one myself.
drummerboy0511 wrote:
and I want to be able to create playlists with media from multiple sources.
I thought XBMC had tons of plugins...surely there's something that'll let you do that? Or, in the worse case scenario, can it not use playlists created from another machine? In case you haven't guessed already, I don't really have much experience with it myself. Or any particular media player in general...I pretty much gave up on the idea years ago. Do follow up if you find something worthwhile...
dandy72 wrote:
But is there one available at all?
There are at least two, but I couldn't get at least one of them to work. I may not have even tried the other one.
dandy72 wrote:
thought XBMC had tons of plugins...surely there's something that'll let you do that?
Perhaps. I haven't looked into it myself. I figured that it probably didn't exist. I'll follow up if I find anything.
dandy72 wrote:
Do follow up if you find something worthwhile...
Will do, provided I remember. If I did write software for it, and made it open-source, would anyone here be willing to help?
-
dandy72 wrote:
But is there one available at all?
There are at least two, but I couldn't get at least one of them to work. I may not have even tried the other one.
dandy72 wrote:
thought XBMC had tons of plugins...surely there's something that'll let you do that?
Perhaps. I haven't looked into it myself. I figured that it probably didn't exist. I'll follow up if I find anything.
dandy72 wrote:
Do follow up if you find something worthwhile...
Will do, provided I remember. If I did write software for it, and made it open-source, would anyone here be willing to help?
drummerboy0511 wrote:
If I did write software for it, and made it open-source, would anyone here be willing to help?
That's a good question. I did have some interest in this sort of app at one time, but not so much these days, TBH. But a plugin is probably the way to go IMO rather than re-implement yet another media player from scratch.