Boxee Usenet Downloader

[BenO169]

Hi everybody.

I had an app I am going to start working on that would combine things mostly for my needs but it is a very common setup so I am sure others could find it useful. It would combine the following into a nice Boxee GUI:


Newzbin (http://www.newzbin.com/) - Usenet indexer for Movies, Music and TV Shows API (http://docs.newzbin.com/index.php/Newzbin_API:FileFind)
Sabnzbd (http://www.sabnzbd.org/)- Binary Downloader API (http://sabnzbd.wikidot.com/api)


It will be able to:


List reports on Newzbin by my parameters (popular, new etc.)
Search reports on Newzbin
Add reports to the download queue
List progress of current downloads


Maybe later on it could:


Incorporate some IMDB info, thumbnails on Movies and TV shows
Incorporate directly to Boxee (list as a movie/album in progress in db or something)
Incorporate Apple trailers for movies
Use torrents (I don't use them but a lot of people do)



Obviously, once something has been downloaded, Boxee can index it perfectly. I have begun researching some code from the APIs. It is all pretty straight forward and definitley has the capabilities from all three programs to work. Let me know if anyone wants to help or test or if anyone would even use it but me! Any feedback is appreciated.

I made some EXTREMELY rudimentary images to sort of layout my general idea.

Progress page
http://beno169.googlepages.com/boxeeapp.JPG

Listing movies
http://beno169.googlepages.com/boxeemovies.JPG

[pmow]

I've been looking at doing something similar, but decided instead to keep it outside of boxee and keep it CLI. I'm currently writing the code to organize the downloads into various directories on my server from which Boxee pulls.

In addition, I've been using SQLite to view which library files are unresolved or constantly pending, and been able to fix my library that way. I'm not sure it requires a separate app, as it's once in a blue moon.

[antwerx]

I have just changed over from HellaNZB to sabnzbd+ and was wondering if the app you talk about is possible. I would definately like somthing like this. Mostly for my family to make it easy to find and schedule the download of files.

I would be happy to test for you or try to help.

Send me a PM if you have not abandoned your efforts.

[pmow]

I'm currently using SABnzbd+ and Boxee. Much better than torrents. Top speed, private, secure.

Unless I'm mistaken SAB doesn't search through Newzbin...it would be fairly complicated to do, considering the variety of options in a newzbin search. There are also plugins for firefox that may open an NZB file and auto-upload to SAB.

[kLAcK]

I'd be happy to test for you. I have been using sabnzbd and newzbin for years.

I don't know why people aren't jumping in the air in excitement. This is the holy grail!

Imaging browsing an episode guide from boxee and just picking the ones you want to download. The app could check newzbin for availablity, queue it on sabnzbd, and import it back into boxee once it's done downloading.

Ultimately you will end up providing movies, tv, and music on demand, but backed by the best source available, Usenet.

Instant success in my opinion!

---I have been thinking about building a jukebox powered by Usenet and Sabnzbd for quite some time. You know, like the instant download ones they have at bars?

[roontoon]

How do you get an invite to Newzbin so you can have a look at it? Anyone care to do this? Thanks.

d

[Heratiki]

Most members have to earn invites for Newzbin... And most of us have either used ours up on friends or they have stripped them over time... Newzbin is next to impossible to get into now that they are under constant heat from the Big Corps... Not only that but whoever you invite is your responsibility... If they screw up you both go... And giving up your Newzbin account is something most people don't want to do... Good luck wish I could help...

Heratiki

[darcilicious]

Currently I'm using the RSS feed/filter function in sabnzbd+ with tvnzb.com (open to the public) so all my favorite TV shows are getting downloaded automatically and plopped into a folder that Boxee has as a media source. Not as fancy as what the OP proposed but works like a charm.

[manifestdestiny]

wow this app sounds great! This would really make my life easier by allowing my wife to dl all of her stuff directly rather than asking me to do it. Any news on your development progress?
Thanks for taking the time to make this app

[nykoh]

Yes it sounds great but mostly relying on newzbin doesn't sound that good to me:i t is invite only, and because of all the reasons given by Heratiki, it's hard to get invited!
So if your app is expecting users to have an account with newzbin, the audience will be very limited.

What would be great (but yes it makes things more difficult to implement):
- Support popular NZB sites that are free and accessible (see http://sabnzbd.wikidot.com/rss-sites )
- Support search engines (newzleech, binsearch, etc...): perform a search, pick some files and generate the nzb passed onto sabnzb

Well in any case it's easy to say "you should do this and that", but I know that creating an app like that takes time and energy, so if you can come up with at least a status page for sabnzb that would be great!

Ho, and to go even further, I'd like you to notice that:
1) There is an app for Boxee called SceneReleases http://boxeehq.com/plugins/scenereleases/ that has BitTorrent features
2) The related website (scenereleases.info) also has links to nzb search engines
You see where I'm getting at?

[roontoon]

Know of any decent public Usenet servers?

d

[darcilicious]

Know of any decent public Usenet servers?

d

For binaries? I think those days are long gone (though I could be wrong). Best deal is probably at http://astraweb.com/

[redstar1949]

this would be amazing. does that client mentioned support AutoRAR/AutoPAR?

Also, a suggestion, it'd be good to implement both newzbin and also NZBMatrix, since NZBMatirx is open to anyone and only requires a one time payment of 7 dollars.

[lament]

this would be amazing. does that client mentioned support AutoRAR/AutoPAR?

Also, a suggestion, it'd be good to implement both newzbin and also NZBMatrix, since NZBMatirx is open to anyone and only requires a one time payment of 7 dollars.

yes it does autorar and autopar.

another +1 for testing this out if you get it up and running.

[richlin71]

+1 to test. I love NB & sabnzbd.

[imchrisv]

I'd have to agree this would be a real gem for boxee and content viewing online in general.

I'd be happy to be apart of this.

[judgeschambers]

I'm going out on a limb here and say that I don't believe Boxee has plans for Usenet integration. Just not part of the core functionality.

[brightsons]

this would be amazing. does that client mentioned support AutoRAR/AutoPAR?

Also, a suggestion, it'd be good to implement both newzbin and also NZBMatrix, since NZBMatirx is open to anyone and only requires a one time payment of 7 dollars.

NZBMatrix support would be awesome

[darcilicious]

I'm going out on a limb here and say that I don't believe Boxee has plans for Usenet integration. Just not part of the core functionality.That's too bad -- much prefer Usenet over torrent any day ;-)

Though with SABnzbd automatically downloading (via rss feeds from nzb index sites) and dumping the content into folders watched by Boxee, I'm quite fine without direct integration :)

[beerhead500]

That's too bad -- much prefer Usenet over torrent any day ;-)

Though with SABnzbd automatically downloading (via rss feeds from nzb index sites) and dumping the content into folders watched by Boxee, I'm quite fine without direct integration :)

Hey darc, used to reading your posts over on the Verizon FIOS forums. I am working on a EasyNews Usenet streamer port from an old XBMC app.

You would need an EasyNews account to use it but you should def check it out. It basically will read thru a couple of groups, ie alt.bin.movies alt.bin.tvshows, and list the shows. Clicking on the threads or icons will start the streaming.

[darcilicious]

Oh hey, that's sound interesting ... but I'm with Astraweb at the moment :)

[dreamsofubuntu]

+1 for adding MatrixNZB support =] also a streaming ability would be cool

[joshuajonah]

Considering all the comments, I can see this turning out really `design-by-commitee`.

If it does not have what you want, then add what you want. Something like this with a lot of people interested should be started on Github or something so that others can fork and submit pull requests.

One dude is not going to do it all for you.

[Heratiki]

Any news on this App for Boxee? Would like to see this happen... Anyway we can all help?

Heratiki

EDIT: Just wanted to add that this functionality has already been created in a Python Plugin for XBMC and could possibly be ported over to Boxee... Would be nice to see it... Here is a link to forum discussion including the Plugin... SABnzbd-XBMC-Plugin-1.5.4 (http://forums.sabnzbd.org/index.php?topic=494.105)

[jaaps]

Yeah, would be nice to have this. The plugin for XBMC works pretty good. Would be nice if someone ported it to Boxee.

[Heratiki]

Bump!

Hoping that someone will see this and come up with something. I'm horrible at python so I don't think it's going to get done by me but I'm working on it.

[darcilicious]

You all know that sabnzbd+ pretty much just runs in the background, right? Once it's been configured, the only time I use the Web-based interface is to add a new item to the RSS. I have it dump everything into a folder that Boxee is indexing. Bam! Done!

[frankboxeetv]

You all know that sabnzbd+ pretty much just runs in the background, right? Once it's been configured, the only time I use the Web-based interface is to add a new item to the RSS. I have it dump everything into a folder that Boxee is indexing. Bam! Done!

With Newzbin having troubles, where do you take your nzb rss feeds from? tvnzb looks down.

[darcilicious]

nzbs.org is pretty good. Also check out (Google) SickBeard which works with various nzb sites and sabnzbd+ as well -- I haven't felt like learning/configuring yet one more thing so I'm back to filtering a single feed for now :p Though nzbs.org is supposed to have a filtered feed option as well.

[Heratiki]

What I'm looking for is basically the ability to port that XBMC Python Script to Boxee. The reason being is it would be nice to be able to search and browse entries in Newzbin.com or NZBMatrix and grab what I want to watch through the Boxee interface. Currently I have to do it through an external means which isn't that big of a deal but hard to teach my family. The python script I posted does this exactly and very well but it only works in XBMC. I was hoping someone else with more ability could possibly help. That's all. Though NZBS.org is nice it's a little lackluster for me.

Heratiki

[briand360]

Just wondering if the thread author has made any progress with this?

I've got a good start to my own plugin with a very similar goal. I've used the XBMC SABNZBD+ plugin, and to be honest I didn't find it all that great. Appreciate the effort, but I think it could be a lot slicker.

If the other programmer has abandoned this concept, I would be willing to work on this plugin and offer it to the community.

[Heratiki]

The only reason I suggested the plugin for XBMC is for the ability to take any needed parts away from it since XBMC and Boxee have similar API's. That's all. I hope it helps someone and can't wait to see something from someone.

Heratiki

[bartsidee]

I just finished my sabnzbd app. It is a client, so you need to run sabnzd from your server/nas/computer. Instead of newsbin I used a more allround solution of nzbclub so you want have to have an account. You are free to use or modify it.

To find it you need to add the repo boxee.bartsidee.nl

You can find the source at bartsidee.googlecode.com

[Heratiki]

Sorry if I'm wrong but there doesn't seem to be anything available for download at that location. Sigh... This will probably never happen anyways.

[lament]

I just finished my sabnzbd app. It is a client, so you need to run sabnzd from your server/nas/computer. Instead of newsbin I used a more allround solution of nzbclub so you want have to have an account. You are free to use or modify it.

To find it you need to add the repo boxee.bartsidee.nl

You can find the source at bartsidee.googlecode.com
Bartsidee,

Getting an error..

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access / on this server.

Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

[bartsidee]

well you can't open it in your browser, it is actually my personal repository. You have to add the url "boxee.bartsidee.nl' to your repo library in boxee. It is not a download or something but an app like all the others. You can find a early screenshot on my blog www.bartsidee.nl

[bartsidee]

When you open the app for the first time you also have to make sure to save your sabnzbd settings first. (ip, port, apikey) To do this there is a settings icon on the download tab you can press.

[lament]

well you can't open it in your browser, it is actually my personal repository. You have to add the url "boxee.bartsidee.nl' to your repo library in boxee. It is not a download or something but an app like all the others. You can find a early screenshot on my blog www.bartsidee.nl
Oh I thought Heratiki had done that (I hadn't checked in Boxee yet and instead went through the browser just to check).

I see it now.. gonna check it out. Thanks!

[lament]

When you open the app for the first time you also have to make sure to save your sabnzbd settings first. (ip, port, apikey) To do this there is a settings icon on the download tab you can press.
Did that, but nothing showed up in the listing.

I exited out, came back in, and when I go to settings - nothing happens for a good 20 seconds.

Then the settings come up, but with a different IP address that I put in.

Does it matter that sab is running on the same machine as Boxee?

My local IP ends in 135, but your app keeps setting it to 254.

[bartsidee]

you are right, I accidently left some debug code. I just removed it and updated the app.

If you restart boxee you should be able to download the latest version from the repo!

[bartsidee]

Are you running from the boxee box by the way? On my box the settings menu loads in 2/3 seconds? Maybe the slow loading has something to do with processor power, not sure should be fine.... just try it out and let me know if you find any trouble.

[haza1981]

This would be amazing!!!! I use Newzbin for almost everything, that and NZBRUS. I would love this. Make it so make it so

[bartsidee]

As said this is now working with nzbclub.com a search engine that I found reliable and without lots of spam crap. Everybody is free to adjust it, the source is on google code. But I do not have lots of ambition to integrate more/other search engines at the moment.

[Heratiki]

Oh I thought Heratiki had done that (I hadn't checked in Boxee yet and instead went through the browser just to check).

I see it now.. gonna check it out. Thanks!

I tried it with the original Google Code link and got no where. Even with the new boxee.bartsidee.nl repository link I still get nothing.

EDIT: Scratch that. Restarted Boxee and the app showed up. Works great. Thanks for the post. Wish we could use something other than NZB Club (nzbs.org) simply because no matter what I search for it's almost impossible to tell what I'm choosing to download because everyone has to put their tag on it each NZB and it's forever long which usually makes it so that the actual name of the object is cut off.

[darcilicious]

boxee.bartsidee.nl repository link You're in Boxee and going to Apps / Add Repository and put in that link and then what happens?

Which OS or is this on the Boxee Box?

[darcilicious]

Comes up fine on Windows/Boxee.

[bartsidee]

Here are some screenshots:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5010/53156647.jpg
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5402/70886624.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/253/81833755.jpg

[robr]

As said this is now working with nzbclub.com a search engine that I found reliable and without lots of spam crap. Everybody is free to adjust it, the source is on google code. But I do not have lots of ambition to integrate more/other search engines at the moment.

is there a free nzb site this works with? even if it's a limited use site, i'd like to at least be able to try this out before having to shell out $$$ for a subscription site. i thought i read it would work with nzbsrus, but all I can find is the RSS link which gives an error of "'NoneType' object is unsubscriptable" when i set up sabnzbd and enter the URL in the host box. I assume it wants a login to the nntpd rather than something web based and I don't know if the free account provides that access.

Thanks. Have to say this looks pretty awesome.

[bartsidee]

The nzb search in this plugin is based on nzbclub.com, which is a free nzb search engine without any subscription. They have some basic spam filters so their results are pretty much ok, still not to compare it with a more user oriented nzbmatrix are something. They also have a nice rss search cabability that I have used in this plugin. My idea was to make it in essence usable for everyone without any fees etc. The searchengine is hardcoded and the plugin does not offer any others at the moment. Ofcourse the script code could be adjusted to be used with nzbmatrix and other sites, but I have no intention to do it at the moment. That's also why I published the code freely on googlecode so that others possibly could fork the project.

You have to configure settings menu on the sabnzbd tab to get it connected with sabnzbd though. (so you have to have sabnzbd installed somewhere on a server/nas/computer seperately as this is only a client)

If you get any errors please make sure you can reach nzbclub.com, have sabnzbd v5+ and setup your retention right in the plugin settings.

[jayman13]

The nzb search in this plugin is based on nzbclub.com, which is a free nzb search engine without any subscription. They have some basic spam filters so their results are pretty much ok, still not to compare it with a more user oriented nzbmatrix are something. They also have a nice rss search cabability that I have used in this plugin. My idea was to make it in essence usable for everyone without any fees etc. The searchengine is hardcoded and the plugin does not offer any others at the moment. Ofcourse the script code could be adjusted to be used with nzbmatrix and other sites, but I have no intention to do it at the moment. That's also why I published the code freely on googlecode so that others possibly could fork the project.

You have to configure settings menu on the sabnzbd tab to get it connected with sabnzbd though. (so you have to have sabnzbd installed somewhere on a server/nas/computer seperately as this is only a client)

If you get any errors please make sure you can reach nzbclub.com, have sabnzbd v5+ and setup your retention right in the plugin settings.

Is there a way to use this app if you have a sabnzbd password? Mine can't seem to connect...

[bartsidee]

at the moment it only works without the username and password set and with the api key. This is possible from version v5+.

[robr]

The nzb search in this plugin is based on nzbclub.com, which is a free nzb search engine without any subscription. They have some basic spam filters so their results are pretty much ok, still not to compare it with a more user oriented nzbmatrix are something. They also have a nice rss search cabability that I have used in this plugin. My idea was to make it in essence usable for everyone without any fees etc. The searchengine is hardcoded and the plugin does not offer any others at the moment. Ofcourse the script code could be adjusted to be used with nzbmatrix and other sites, but I have no intention to do it at the moment. That's also why I published the code freely on googlecode so that others possibly could fork the project.

You have to configure settings menu on the sabnzbd tab to get it connected with sabnzbd though. (so you have to have sabnzbd installed somewhere on a server/nas/computer seperately as this is only a client)

If you get any errors please make sure you can reach nzbclub.com, have sabnzbd v5+ and setup your retention right in the plugin settings.

so when I install sabnzbd are you saying I don't need to configure it? just do that via your plugin? ie, i was stuck at this screen

update: no, it seems i do have to get thru this screen to complete the install. last time i did newsgroup downloads was 10-12 years ago via a dialup ISP and you had to uudecode everything, so i'm sort of lost with this whole nzb and rss stuff, but nntpd I'm quite familiar with. I have no idea what the NNTPd settings are for nzbclub.com though.

http://clip2net.com/clip/m29510/1292472651-clip-22kb.png

[robr]

I think I'm getting closer. I signed up for an nzbclub.com account and entered in the info. Still cant connect though. Tried SSL as well on port 443, but if it's just parsing the website DOM, it should be port 80 and no SSL.

http://clip2net.com/clip/m29510/1292474016-clip-15kb.png

[bartsidee]

allright it is getting clear now what your problem is. You have to distinct two things. There is a news server provider. It actually has all the content for download on its servers and then there is the nzb search engine, this acts like google to search for nzb files, that have a reference to the downloadale content.

My app uses a nzb search engine, you won't have to configure anything for it. When setting up sabnzbd you have to specify the newsserver so it can download content from it.

Usually you have to pay a montly fee to connect to these servers (http://www.newsgroupservers.net/). Please look in the sabnzbd.org support forums fur further questions regarding the program.

Also make sure you know the legal responsibility when using this! In my country (europe) it is legal to download a digital backup copy if you have the original content on physical disk, I can't stand for the legal consequences in other countries.

[ksalenkov]

Hey there. I have been looking for the usenet downloader for Boxee for quite some time now. If anybody interested to help out, please let me know. I know, work cost money and you will get paid for your time and contribution. We can discuss the financials later. If anybody interested, please email me for details.

Thanks.

[stevebucknor1]

I had an app I am going to start working on that would combine things mostly for my needs but it is a very common setup so I am sure others could find it useful. It would combine the following into a nice Boxee GUI. This is very important and also outstanding.

[Ipad2boxee]

hello all, i have a noob question here. i've been following this thread for some time now and im not clear about API key. How can one obtain it? Please excuse my ignorance.

[lament]

hello all, i have a noob question here. i've been following this thread for some time now and im not clear about API key. How can one obtain it? Please excuse my ignorance.
Your API key is in your sabnzbd settings. I don't have sab in front of me, but it's in the configuration somewhere.