Community feedback on boxee.tv API

[Lilo]

@darci - your are on the spot (almost).

Except this information will probably be visible to the application and to application's users via the app (maybe via shows and movies screen). Adding content won't make it visible to all boxee users.

Think of using our metadata servers to store and query your own library of items. This way you will be able to use all our metadata server features (sort, search, pagination, extended properties) - We are still thinking about this feature...

Adding content to the "public" libraries should be done using the mrss and be validated by us as documented in the developers website.

[viljoviitanen]

@darci - your are on the spot (almost).

Except this information will probably be visible to the application and to application's users via the app (maybe via shows and movies screen). Adding content won't make it visible to all boxee users.

Think of using our metadata servers to store and query your own library of items. This way you will be able to use all our metadata server features (sort, search, pagination, extended properties) - We are still thinking about this feature...

Adding content to the "public" libraries should be done using the mrss and be validated by us as documented in the developers website.

On the idea level, I'm with you and interested in implemeting (if it's easy enough, my app is a hobby for me, I don't get anything, not even fame from it ).

But for anything like this to be usable (to my app), I'd need to be able to launch app with a parameter from library ui to play content. My app plays stuff requiring some fiddling (first do a request requiring http basic auth, then give the resulting redirect location to boxee player), cannot just give an url to boxee player.

[Lilo]

But for anything like this to be usable (to my app), I'd need to be able to launch app with a parameter from library ui to play content. My app plays stuff requiring some fiddling (first do a request requiring http basic auth, then give the resulting redirect location to boxee player), cannot just give an url to boxee player.

As far as I know (and I'm not a client guy) you can easily launch an application using the app:// protocol already.

For Example:
app://vudu?contentid=181784

this launches the vudu app and sends the contentid parameter to the app when launching.

app://vudu/play?contentid=181784

Will do the same but would show the playback action dialog before.

I'm not sure if those links work in the boxee browser yet, its planned for later this year. They do work within the "normal" client.

[JenkNZ]

'Friends' 'Watch Later' 'Sports' 'Movies' Show's

When people are watching a live sports feed from whatever source, they can share it, then it comes up in the 'sports' for all boxee users.

[viljoviitanen]

As far as I know (and I'm not a client guy) you can easily launch an application using the app:// protocol already.

For Example:
app://vudu?contentid=181784

Ok, cool.

One thing I just noticed stuff played in my app don't show in the "recently played" list. Is there currently a way to fix this? If not, maybe in the future there is? ("submit" app url to history db or something?)

[bartsidee]

@viljoviitanen

You can already do this with the current boxee api when you initiate the player add below to the item:

item.SetAddToHistory(True)

Regarding the online api, I have my concerns about the security. How is it implanted, does it allow access from boxee or also external applications. I'm not that keen that anyone can 'index' my watched list or other privacy related content.

[viljoviitanen]

@viljoviitanen

You can already do this with the current boxee api when you initiate the player add below to the item:

item.SetAddToHistory(True)

Ok, good to know. The url that is being played (given to the player with the item) is not useful to store as it's a "session" url, valid for only a minute or so. I'd need to store an app://... url instead, which then "re-launches" the current code that fetches the real url to play but that should not be a problem with some refactoring.

http://code.google.com/p/tvkaistabox...aista/tb.py#88 is my current code that sets up the player in case anyone's interested.

[Lilo]

Regarding the online api, I have my concerns about the security. How is it implanted, does it allow access from boxee or also external applications. I'm not that keen that anyone can 'index' my watched list or other privacy related content.

Same here, we don't want to share your information with anyone that you didn't allowed access to begin with. We'll probably add privacy options per application (user controlled - An application will have to request access from the user...) if we'll write this kind of API.

The API will be accessible for everyone (who signed in and got an api key), not only "Boxee Apps". That being said - we might open parts of the API to boxee applications only.

[tommysqueak]

I like the idea of "(4) Uploading a new app version and so on.". I'm working on a set of apps for a client where auto-deploying to official repo would be v. v. helpful. I'm assuming getting apps signed for custom repos would come under this too? Would really help devs auto deploying their apps to show clients - http://www.greatboxee.com/index.php/...app-packaging/

It would be great to be able to add your own service (http://www.boxee.tv/services) so boxee accounts can be linked to some 3rd party account. I get a few asks from people who want an app that has restricte access to paid for content. for content that is 'paid for' on some sort of subscription. Also in app linking would be cool rather than getting a message like you do at the moment to go to boxee.tv to link accounts.

[sporkstorms]

* A way to search/iterate through the currently available non-local shows (i.e. the ones that link to the flash player on the network sites) and their episodes;
* A way to add episodes to the "watch later" queue and add shows to the "favorites" list.

I am making a "keep track of my upcoming tv shows" site, just for fun, and it would be great for the site to have Boxee Box integration. e.g., a user sees last night's "America's Top Oak Tree" episode is now available, and can click a "add to my Boxee Watch Later list"

Or they're searching for shows on the site, come across one they like, and they can add it to their Boxee "Favorites" starred list.


This is in addition, of course, to the ideas you already proposed. Especially retrieving the "watch later" list, and "favorites" list.