Hulu Issues in recent boxee release

[woodsier]

May as well place them all here guys.

My issues so far:

1. Can't pause (others have reported can't ff or rewind either).
2. Can't change quality level (going HD/480p from standard).
3. Initialization of video is a little slow after selecting it from the menu.

[agentlame]

2. Can't change quality level (going HD/480p from standard).

this option is in the your account settings on hulu.com... or are you saying that boxee isn't using your setting?

[woodsier]

I actually don't even have an account on Hulu, I just go there to watch some episodes sometimes. So I guess it's a usability issue now for those that don't want to have to sign up.

For example, when i go to hulu.com I select the video, then hit the 480p button on the side, go full screen and watch it. For a fix now, i'll go to hulu and sign up, see if that does it, but just sayin' for those that don't want or don't know to get a hulu account to set this up, maybe mirror hulu functionality by allowing them to change these settings without signing up to the service?

[agentlame]

not sure it's a 'usability' issue, as you also need an account to watch some hulu content, anyways.

i'm pretty sure the plan is to use hulu's native settings... as otherwise, boxee is reinventing the wheel.

[Fizzypop]

Video is jerky for me although that could be a hardware issue. Havent tried it on my newer pc. Looks like it is running at 15fps or something. Pause and other controls are also not working. Same goes for CBS and Comedy Central. CNN is a little better but I still have the muffled sound issue that I had in the first release.

[iderdik]

Seem like the "Queue" functionality doesn't work either. As other have said: Pause, FF, RW don't work.

[marcel]

guys please make sure you are using the latest windows version .hulu queue should be working .

[spirix]

queue doesnt update for me.

[agentlame]

queue doesnt update for me.

make sure to log out/in of boxee, if you've updated it on hulu... boxee caches the first load of an rss feed--which is what your queue is--for various reasons.

[demoman2k9]

Just picked up the Linux Distro on Ubuntu 8.10. Loaded up Hulu and started watching movie. Worked well until I tried to PAUSE the Movie. The Picture Paused but the AUDIO didn't. It kept going even after BOXEE was closed out.

Had to REBOOT to get it to STOP.

[agentlame]

Just picked up the Linux Distro on Ubuntu 8.10. Loaded up Hulu and started watching movie. Worked well until I tried to PAUSE the Movie. The Picture Paused but the AUDIO didn't. It kept going even after BOXEE was closed out.

Had to REBOOT to get it to STOP.

pause is a known issue, in the current build.

[marcel]

Pausing Hulu and the audio still playing is this an issue with all platforms or just intrepid (8.10).

[agentlame]

Pausing Hulu and the audio still playing is this an issue with all platforms or just intrepid (8.10).

yeah... on windows pause is simply ignored entirely.

on mac x.x.4600 pause seems to work fine, i don't have a good way of testing 4578.

[bmoura]

I notice that at the end of the video when Hulu gives you an option to Watch again, share, embed, etc. that has a positioning error. Is that a known bug?

See attached PNG file for a look.

[Fizzypop]

I notice that at the end of the video when Hulu gives you an option to Watch again, share, embed, etc. that has a positioning error. Is that a known bug?

See attached PNG file for a look.

I get this too. Almost looks like the hulu webpage for the stream after you watch something.

[bmoura]

I get this too. Almost looks like the hulu webpage for the stream after you watch something.

I think Boxee for Windows is trying to display that page. But it looks like what we're getting instead is 50% of the page and 50% of the ad page.

[dbrad]

cud i have an invite guys? :)

[marcel]

guys it is a bug ...for an invite please send a request to this thread http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=144

[NRSTech]

All in all it seems very nice. The crashing when switching between internet video and movies randomly is a bit odd. I will keep playing with it as I just got it installed after the holiday. I would be a bit happier if it were a plug-in to Media Center rather than a complete new media center. I also use TVTonic and it works well. It too has some bugs but has come a long way in the past years.

Yes I said years I have been using MCE since 2004/5 ;)

I will keep you updated guys.
Nick

[bmoura]

May as well place them all here guys.

My issues so far:

1. Can't pause (others have reported can't ff or rewind either).
2. Can't change quality level (going HD/480p from standard).
3. Initialization of video is a little slow after selecting it from the menu.

Those are the ones I'm seeing here as well. The pause symbol appears when trying to pause, but the video continues to play. (Pause has no effect).

The quality level always appears to be at standard def vs. hi def. Agree that it should have a toggle between the two modes.

And the video does initialize slowly.

Looking forward to the next build (Jan 8).

[bmoura]

guys please make sure you are using the latest windows version .hulu queue should be working .

The Hulu Queue and Sign-in is working here with Boxee for Windows (Dec 15 build).

[bmoura]

I also use TVTonic and it works well. It too has some bugs but has come a long way in the past years.

Nick

Didn't the TV Tonic folks suspend their operations? Last I heard they were not updating the software.

[agentlame]

Those are the ones I'm seeing here as well. The pause symbol appears when trying to pause, but the video continues to play. (Pause has no effect).
this is a known bug.


The quality level always appears to be at standard def vs. hi def. Agree that it should have a toggle between the two modes.
this can be toggled via your hulu profile on hulu.com, then logging into to said account in boxee.

[NRSTech]

Didn't the TV Tonic folks suspend their operations? Last I heard they were not updating the software.

That is correct, however you can still stream content that they were not providing. So it's not as robust but for what I watch it works fine.

-Nick

[ih8bobvilla]

I'm guessing not too many people are using dual monitor setups since I haven't heard anything about what I'm seeing.

My routine - open Boxee (preset to 1366 X 768) >> 'tab' to reduce to window >> drag to HDTV (1366 X 768) >> 'tab' to maximize (Main monitor forced into 1366 X 768) >> Reset to 1680 X 1050 in Nvidia control panel. All systems go...

When I play Hulu, I get a secondary window on the primary monitor, pinned to the top of the 'shared' edge. It is basically the player view from the web with the video surrounded by the various controls (embed, HiDef, details, full screen, lower lights, and pop out) but they are mostly non-responsive (but night lock up boxee). However, I can 'mouse over' and the controls come up, which do allow me to pause/play and control volume and such.

Okay, boxee just crashed while watching CBS and the secondary box (similar to that for Hulu) continued to play audio and a frozen picture even though boxee shut down... ODD!

Oh, and I can navigate the post-show recommendations that Hulu throws up on the screen with the ad that everyone is saying they get.

The window is just a background thing though... it has no Windows OS window with border and Max, min, close buttons and no identity in the task bar. it's just back there layered over the desktop. very odd indeed.

[colinhuckstep]

this is a known bug.


this can be toggled via your hulu profile on hulu.com, then logging into to said account in boxee.

I'm logged into my queues and as best as I can tell, Boxee is still using the 320p streams.

[agentlame]

I'm logged into my queues and as best as I can tell, Boxee is still using the 320p streams.

it's not items in you queue, it's an actual setting on hulu.com:
"default to 1Mbit stream?"

[joshwillis]

For what it's worth, I have the setting set correctly on my Hulu account and Boxee is still defaulting to the low res stream. Outside of boxee hulu plays the correct 480p stream automatically.

[joshwillis]

Actually I take that back. I think it's pulling the right stream, it just isn't displaying properly. Video looks like the color depth isn't as high as it should be. Major smoothing issues (big blocks of color instead of detail). Looks like extremely compressed video. Local video doesn't do this though. I'll keep playing around with it...

[bsking]

These are the issues I see with Hulu in Boxee:

1) Let's say I'm browsing TV shows by alphabetical listing. I select a TV show and see what's offered for streaming and I decide that I'd like to back up and keep browsing. I cannot find a way to simply do that. Ideally, I'd hit the back button on my media center remote.

2) Pause button does not work.

3) I suppose this is not Hulu specific but... if left unattended for a period of time, the screensaver comes on. I cannot resume from the screensaver with anything other than clicking on my mouse. Ideally, I could press a button on my Media center remote.

Thanks developers and keep up the good work!
Brian

[marcel]

1) Let's say I'm browsing TV shows by alphabetical listing. I select a TV show and see what's offered for streaming and I decide that I'd like to back up and keep browsing. I cannot find a way to simply do that. Ideally, I'd hit the back button on my media center remote.
This is something we are working on in future versions..

2) Pause button does not work.

This is a known issue ..will be fixed


3) I suppose this is not Hulu specific but... if left unattended for a period of time, the screensaver comes on. I cannot resume from the screensaver with anything other than clicking on my mouse. Ideally, I could press a button on my Media center remote.


does the screensaver appear if content is running?

[bsking]

does the screensaver appear if content is running?

No, the content has finished and it has returned control to me. I leave it unattended, come back, and wish to do something else. I have to get my mouse out to resume from the screensaver.

Thanks for the quick responses.

Brian