Filed under: Video, Internet Tools, Beta Beat
Plex Media Server beta adds plugin architecture
As we've noted before Plex (formerly OSXBMC) is the open-source media center application derived from XBMC (as was Boxee). They've recently announced the release of version 0.78beta adding an interesting new feature: the Plex App Store. The Plex App Store (which actually doesn't seem to be a store per se, at least not yet) is an online repository of plugins for Plex which allow users to add content from a variety of online streaming sources including, you guessed it, Hulu (which was working at least as of this writing).
Apparently the framework for writing these plugins is in Python and "provides an easy, XML-based method to display Flash or Silverlight content to Plex." The plugins themselves are relatively easy to write, with many requiring only "20-40 lines" of code. This means that other developers will be able to write plugins relatively quickly, perhaps circumventing technical restrictions from the streaming sites. There are a few rough edges with the new functionality, but they expect they will all be fixed "shortly." Nonetheless, if you were running Boxee on a Mac (not Apple TV) and are bummed by the loss of Hulu, Plex is worth a look.
Plex 0.78b is free download from Plex.
Thanks, Jayman.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LD said 10:08AM on 2-23-2009
I haven't been able to get the Hulu plugin to work. It seems other have the same problem. Perhaps Hulu has taken steps to prevent Plex from working with Hulu.
Reply
Mat Lu said 10:46AM on 2-23-2009
I don't know what happened. After reading your comment, I tried it again and just watched a video (a SNL clip) with the Hulu plugin.
LD said 2:09PM on 2-23-2009
Still not working for me. Just hangs trying to stream Hulu.
Duke Boles said 11:16AM on 2-23-2009
Using the short sighted views of Hulu's content providers, I expect they would pressure Hulu to either close or technically limit the gateway to their content in some way as to not allow this. Not sure how this would work, but I am sure they will figure it out.
Reply
Rylin said 11:50AM on 2-23-2009
Not possible.
If you can read it, it can be automated.
These plugins function more or less the same way Safari's "WebClips" do -- look at a known piece of HTML, extract the "container" that has the material you want.
In the background, Safari/Plex/Webclip is still running the entire page (meaning JS etc. doesn't break it.), but only displays the relevant section.
I'd be surprised if the "plugins" expose themselves as being anything but Safari.
In other words, good luck, Hulu.
Duke Boles said 12:40PM on 2-23-2009
Is it possible that Hulu would move from an embedded HTML model to an API? Their content providers will surely start to see that with embedded HTML they can't possibly control the proliferation of their content.
Gordon said 3:24PM on 2-23-2009
HULU works fine, you just need sign in on using safari first before using PLEX. You should go to the PLEX forum, it has answers for all the issues. Remember this is a brand new feature. PLEX rocked my weekend with all these new plugin/apps.
Reply
macboyinsf said 5:33PM on 2-23-2009
I am already signed in to my account in Safari but the movie I want to play has mature content and I'm asked to sign in again.
Gordon said 6:11PM on 2-23-2009
If you read the Blog posting on the PLEX site, there is the advisory the plug-in/apps are still under development. That said, the ability to log in to YouTube or Hulu services is under investigation and it is hopeful that you will be able to watch your profile's favorites or the nasty ole mature stuff on PLEX soon.
macboyinsf said 5:43PM on 2-24-2009
I'm successfully using on a Mac Pro and intuitively learning navigation by keystrokes. I've added Hulu but perplexed as to how to sign in to my account. How do I get to sign-in fields to input my username and password?
Reply
Adam Schoales said 6:42PM on 2-23-2009
I really want to get into Plex but I just cannot seem to get it to work properly, that is to say properly scan my folders/libraries and get all the ID3 tags/info and such.
but it looks so effing cool!
Reply
cesar said 12:33PM on 2-25-2009
anyone know the name of the artist and song used in the video clip?
Reply
Marcos said 2:06PM on 2-25-2009
It's from the Garden State soundtrack. The song is "In the Waiting Line" by Zero 7.