Hack Patrol: Restore Hulu to Boxee

As one might expect in the hubub following Hulu's decision to block Boxee users from streaming its content, a technical work around has now popped up. Over at Lifehacker they've got complete instructions for installing a plugin for XBMC / Boxee that will bring back the brain-softening stream.

It appears to be a relatively simple process that works for both the Apple TV and the Mac versions of Boxee. Of course, there's no telling how long this particular patch will work, though frankly it seems hopeless on the part of Hulu. After all, they have to make their content available to web browsers, so in the end all the XBMC / Boxee hackers have to do is fool the Hulu servers into thinking they're streaming content to a regular web browser's Flash plugin. So unless I'm missing something, from a technical standpoint it seems like as long as the XBMC community is willing to write patches I don't see how Hulu can keep their content locked up. Of course whether they might have some legal recourse is another matter whatsoever.

Update: Apparently the plugin is already broken. Hopefully, a new one will pop up soon.

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Source: http://lifehacker.com/5157615/how-to-reinstall-a-working-hul…

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Video Hacks Internet Tools Apple TV

As one might expect in the hubub following Hulu's decision to block Boxee users from streaming its content, a technical work around has now...

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mungler

To all whiners who post crap like 'this isnt NEW news' or 'slow news day?' or other such crap... TUAW is The Unofficial Apple *WEBLOG*. Its a BLOG, not a news site. So get over it already.

February 23 2009 at 8:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

slimy33

"So unless I missing something"

Yeah, that'd be the word 'am' pal.

February 22 2009 at 5:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to slimy33's comment

colouroflight

Wow, you really showed him. Pow!

February 22 2009 at 9:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

slimy33

I always knew the writers read the comments...

February 22 2009 at 10:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jmdelturco

Or you could just use Plex. The new version released yesterday have a plugin framework built in that allows for playback of Hulu, MTV Videos and about 20 other sites. Plugins can be built by users and submitted to the Plex App Store (all plugins are free). Apps can be installed from inside Plex. It is now a far superior alternative to XBMC or Boxee!

February 22 2009 at 2:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Gilbert Palau

Tuaw, why is it that recently you are getting older news and post it as new? First the MacMini Video and now this.

February 22 2009 at 2:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Gilbert Palau's comment

thephonelounge.com

Agreed...these stories are on all the other mac and even regular technology posts. Have you guys tried out RSS feeds? Helpful way of keeping track of what's going on... lol.

February 22 2009 at 5:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

One wonders how long Hulu will be trying to fend off these types of hacks. Its sounds like the game they are playing is futile as many more hacks will pop up every time they find a parade. After getting all these agreements in place with different sites to get their service as the primary provider is internet TV content, it sounds like this latest move is going to fail. Sure, content distributors are the ones pushing Hulu to do so, but placed between a rock and a hard place, Hulu should fight the good fight and keep giving users what they want: legal access to internet TV content. Whether they use Boxee or XBMC to access this content should not matter, the ads displayed are seen the exact same way.

February 22 2009 at 1:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to FJ's comment

artifex

The important thing for Hulu, as far as the agreements go, probably isn't unhackability. It's being seen actively trying to thwart the hacks. There's a substantial difference, though it may not seem like it.

February 23 2009 at 10:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ChrisF

Day late and a dollar short. Better luck next time.

February 22 2009 at 1:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

gunnyman

This is already been broken by Hulu. The fix no longer works.

February 22 2009 at 12:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to gunnyman's comment

wonslung

this has already been fixed with a new fork of the patch.
you have to compile gnash but hulu is working BETTER now on my linux boxe than when it was legal. First of all, the original boxee plugin didn't have usable pause, ff or rw.
this one does, second of all NO commercials

February 23 2009 at 1:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply