The Orange splat - Building my first app - Will need help

[jendabom]

So I have looked at http://developer.boxee.tv, and I will keep doing so, but I am still confused. I thought I would document what I have found so far and see if anyone can shed some light on it.

I chose a source to help with the lack of kids content and through the OV Guide (http://www.ovguide.com/). I chose for my first try The Orange Splat (http://www.theorangesplat.com) it has some classic nick toons on it.

Then I went to watch the first video from Invader zim http://www.theorangesplat.com/watch.php?file=1381ca06.

It has a file id and i searched the source code for it and the video link was http://cold-link.com/vid/1381ca06.

Now that I know where they stored the video files however. I am not really sure how to proceed. Do I make up my own RSS feed for it? Or will a python script of some sort help find them? Can anyone help me learn?

Jen

Edit: so the coldlink might cause an issue ... I am trying to research that now.
Edit #2: I am going to try emailing the creator and see what he says.
EDIT #3 - Creator would love to see an app project is a go. He said he will help with whatever we need.

[circa1978]

This would be pretty easy to make as an RSS app, especially with a little help from the site owner.

You'll need to create an RSS feed which contains a listing for all of the shows. These will show up on the main page of the app (like the Apple Movie Trailers app). Each show's entry will then link to an RSS feed of Seasons for that show. Each Season will then be an RSS feed which contains links to of each episode's video file.

You can see example of what those feeds look like from an really simple RSS app I have been playing with. You'll see an <item> that represents each of the main menu items. Once a user clicks on the <item> they are taken to the linked RSS feed (which would replace the menu) or alternatively directly to the video if the <item> links to a video file.
http://apptree.me/dir/resources/moxnewsdotcom/rss/index.xml

Since the site owner is on board and it looks like he is using php & and database to build the directory he should be able to out put the RSS feeds right from the database.

Once you have the feeds in place you'll need to post it to a repository ... I need to work up a proper how to or screencast. Anyway I have set up a repository so if you need help with the next step just post and I can help you out. I'd even be willing to host it if you want.

It'll be great to see some more kid content on Boxee.

[jendabom]

Cool thanks for the advice. I just sent him an email (before I read your response) regarding RSS we will see what he says. ;) Thanks for all the info.

Jen

[jendabom]

Update: Well the creator of the site is gonna help us out with RSS. He has got a friend that is really good with it. So it looks like this will happen pretty soon.

Thanks.

[jendabom]

Another update: They gave me a link to the start of their rss feed. They are still adding the items to it. The controls obviously do not work so I am wondering how to make pause work with the videos any ideas would be appreciated. I believe it would have to be something added to the RSS feed correct?

[jendabom]

I am bumping this up to see if anyone has an answer for me, it does autoplay but is there something in the xml file that i can write so the video goes full screen (without the controls at the bottom?)

The WIP RSS feed is http://theorangesplat.com/rss.php

[Fuzzgtp]

ok so a couple things. Ask the creator if he can get some better descriptions on his videos first of all :)

second, see if he can have the rss link directly to the files, instead of the page. This help your controls work

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=925e205fe02b8327a5b14d41d459cb4c&_render=rss

i ran your rss feed thru pipes.yahoo.com so i could crop the image so its full screen.

links should look like this if you wanna crop
OLD: http://www.theorangesplat.com/watch.php?file=a3842c41
NEW: flash://www.theorangesplat.com/src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theorangesplat.com%2Fwatch.ph p%3Ffile=a3842c41&amp;width=640&amp;height=480&amp;bx-cropbottom=25&amp;bx-croptop=25

really need some descriptions from that rss though, cuz now all it shows is New Episode for everyone.

[jendabom]

ok so a couple things. Ask the creator if he can get some better descriptions on his videos first of all :)

second, see if he can have the rss link directly to the files, instead of the page. This help your controls work

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=925e205fe02b8327a5b14d41d459cb4c&_render=rss

i ran your rss feed thru pipes.yahoo.com so i could crop the image so its full screen.

links should look like this if you wanna crop
OLD: http://www.theorangesplat.com/watch.php?file=a3842c41
NEW: flash://www.theorangesplat.com/src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theorangesplat.com%2Fwatch.ph p%3Ffile=a3842c41&amp;width=640&amp;height=480&amp;bx-cropbottom=25&amp;bx-croptop=25

really need some descriptions from that rss though, cuz now all it shows is New Episode for everyone.

Thanks yeah since he does not have the time I am going to go through and make my own rss feed of his site. I will use that new format you just gave me when I am doing so thanks. First I want to try and finish the ResearchChannel app. I am struggling on learning how to make it look "pretty" and not just a list of things. I am sure that will be an issue here as well.

[Fuzzgtp]

made an rss app for this site. Doenst include the movies feed you've posted here. Some of the vids are megavideo and cant be played.

dir.fuzzthed.com

[jendabom]

Awesome. Thanks I was working on making my own RSS, but I will move on now. Hmm I added your repo and still cannot find it in my app box.

[Fuzzgtp]

try again in a bit, i was doing some work on another app and accidently saved over my repository, you might have caught right when i broke it.

[TheOrangeSplat]

Awesome, I am so happy someone has decided to do this for my site. I will provide any help I can to make this App as Kick-Ass as possible! :)

[jendabom]

made an rss app for this site. Doenst include the movies feed you've posted here. Some of the vids are megavideo and cant be played.

dir.fuzzthed.com

Also it seems some of the links you made are to the cold links website and they expire (for example doug.)

[Fuzzgtp]

Also it seems some of the links you made are to the cold links website and they expire (for example doug.)

they will be populated from the site as soon as he updates it.

[TheOrangeSplat]

TheOrangeSplat.com is dead...been dead for a while as some of you probably know.

I'm starting to build up a collection of shows on Livestream, getting all the responsibility off of me and put on that site if Viacom wants to be a big ol bully again haha

Here's the link to my Livestream - http://livestream.com/rubfp

Check it out and give me some suggestions of shows. I'm basically working with 90's shows only and stuff that isn't very widely available. So far all I have is Life with Louie (season 1) and starting to get Dinosaurs (season 1)

-SteveG-