Filed under: Video, Internet, Internet Tools
Hulu Desktop app gives full-screen experience to Mac users
NBC's online video site, Hulu, has launched a desktop app that allows Mac users to watch Hulu content without using a web browser, and with full Apple Remote support. After all of the boxee nastiness, I'm a bit surprised by the development. That doesn't mean this isn't still exciting.
For some background, Hulu has been involved in a back-and-forth battle with the social media center application, boxee, which allows users to access online content from their Mac or Apple TV and makes big-screen viewing a pleasure. The last big boxee update changed how boxee serves Hulu content, in an effort to make it more difficult for Hulu to pull the plug.
Hulu's justification (well, one of many justifications) for going after boxee was that the content is designed to be viewed from a web browser and not from the couch. Although the tagline for Hulu Desktop, "Lean-back viewing for your PC," keeps the sematic difference between a 24" LCD monitor and a 25" LCD TV in check, the execution, especially with extensive remote support, seems to say something else.
I don't know, maybe Hulu really believes that people won't be using this application with their TV-connected Macs or Windows Media PCs, but this app certainly feels like it was meant for big screens.
Regardless of the double-speak, how well does this application actually work? Well, based on my limited testing (I did want to get this post done), it is awesome. I totally want to figure out if the arbitrary system requirements can be bypassed so this can get running on the Apple TV.
The Interface
The interface is great. Although Hulu Desktop didn't take up the full-screen of my 22" external monitor when it was initially launched, a quick ⌘-F will take you full screen. I should also note that the size of the application window was larger than 1280x800 by default, so mobile users might get the "full screen" upon launch experience.
The Apple remote works flawlessly with the Hulu application. My only problem was with my screensaver -- unlike FrontRow, Hulu doesn't turn the screensaver off when playing back content. I also managed to crash the application, but that's to be expected.
All in all, finding programming to watch is easy and intutiive, not unlike the original Hulu implementation in boxee. Switching from playing a program to searching for others is easy (the Menu button) and fast-forwarding through content is a joy. As a long-time boxee user who hates trying to fast-forward or rewind Hulu playback (even before they switched serving mechanisms), this is nice. By default, my Internet connection played back everything at High Quality (you can adjust this in the settings), and the quality looked even better than in the browser.
For some background, Hulu has been involved in a back-and-forth battle with the social media center application, boxee, which allows users to access online content from their Mac or Apple TV and makes big-screen viewing a pleasure. The last big boxee update changed how boxee serves Hulu content, in an effort to make it more difficult for Hulu to pull the plug.
Hulu's justification (well, one of many justifications) for going after boxee was that the content is designed to be viewed from a web browser and not from the couch. Although the tagline for Hulu Desktop, "Lean-back viewing for your PC," keeps the sematic difference between a 24" LCD monitor and a 25" LCD TV in check, the execution, especially with extensive remote support, seems to say something else.
I don't know, maybe Hulu really believes that people won't be using this application with their TV-connected Macs or Windows Media PCs, but this app certainly feels like it was meant for big screens.
Regardless of the double-speak, how well does this application actually work? Well, based on my limited testing (I did want to get this post done), it is awesome. I totally want to figure out if the arbitrary system requirements can be bypassed so this can get running on the Apple TV.
The Interface
The interface is great. Although Hulu Desktop didn't take up the full-screen of my 22" external monitor when it was initially launched, a quick ⌘-F will take you full screen. I should also note that the size of the application window was larger than 1280x800 by default, so mobile users might get the "full screen" upon launch experience.
The Apple remote works flawlessly with the Hulu application. My only problem was with my screensaver -- unlike FrontRow, Hulu doesn't turn the screensaver off when playing back content. I also managed to crash the application, but that's to be expected.
All in all, finding programming to watch is easy and intutiive, not unlike the original Hulu implementation in boxee. Switching from playing a program to searching for others is easy (the Menu button) and fast-forwarding through content is a joy. As a long-time boxee user who hates trying to fast-forward or rewind Hulu playback (even before they switched serving mechanisms), this is nice. By default, my Internet connection played back everything at High Quality (you can adjust this in the settings), and the quality looked even better than in the browser.
Gallery: Hulu Desktop for Mac
The Quality
Watching the pilot for "Glee," for instnace, wasn't as sharp as the HD iTunes downlad, of course, but it was quite good. Watching standard definition TV like "NewsRadio" or "Sesame Street" clips was excellent and without any lag. Using boxee for the Mac wasn't always the smoothest experience, so this is a step-up.
The Convenience
The nice thing about having an actual application for an online media center, which is what Hulu is really becoming, is that you have the opportunity to discover more shows and networks that have been added to the service in an app rather than navigating the web page. I had no idea that some of the stuff that was available on Hulu was available, and I use the website often.
If you have a Hulu account, you can login and watch shows from your queue, subscribe or unsubscribe, rate content, etc. You don't need a Hulu account to use Hulu.app, but it integrates nicely and makes getting the latest episode of a show really easy.
But what about boxee?
So, now that Hulu is at least acknowleding that people might want to watch Hulu content in a bit more comfort (again, I fail to see how my 22" LCD monitor is any different from the 20" TV in my bedroom), will Hulu be coming back to boxee? I wouldn't hold my breath, but according to a blog post, the boxee team has already reached out to Hulu to discuss working together to bring content back in an official manner. Like I said, I wouldn't hold my breath. Something tells me that if Hulu does get on the television (which is clearly the next step), it will be via their own set-top box and software.
That's a shame. Having said that, using boxee and Hulu Desktop together -- if you have a Mac mini, for instance -- doesn't seem like it would be a problem. Like I said, I want to see someone port this to the Apple TV. That would be SWEET.
The Requirements
You'll need an Intel Mac with 2 GB of RAM (not sure how that will be enforced) running OS X 10.4 Tiger or above, and Flash 9.0.1.24 to use the application, but if you meet those specifications, the rest is a snap. Literally just drag the application to your Applications Folder and an Internet Plugin to a plugins folder (the installer conveniently includes a link to that folder so you don't have to search for anything). Launch Hulu.app, and you're off to the races. Also, please note that Hulu is currently only available in the US. They are exploring international deals, but this is US-only for now. Sorry!
So what do you think of Hulu Desktop? Are you going to try this with your Mac media setup or is it just a way to waste more time at work? Let us know in the comments.
[via Download Squad]
Watching the pilot for "Glee," for instnace, wasn't as sharp as the HD iTunes downlad, of course, but it was quite good. Watching standard definition TV like "NewsRadio" or "Sesame Street" clips was excellent and without any lag. Using boxee for the Mac wasn't always the smoothest experience, so this is a step-up.
The Convenience
The nice thing about having an actual application for an online media center, which is what Hulu is really becoming, is that you have the opportunity to discover more shows and networks that have been added to the service in an app rather than navigating the web page. I had no idea that some of the stuff that was available on Hulu was available, and I use the website often.
If you have a Hulu account, you can login and watch shows from your queue, subscribe or unsubscribe, rate content, etc. You don't need a Hulu account to use Hulu.app, but it integrates nicely and makes getting the latest episode of a show really easy.
But what about boxee?
So, now that Hulu is at least acknowleding that people might want to watch Hulu content in a bit more comfort (again, I fail to see how my 22" LCD monitor is any different from the 20" TV in my bedroom), will Hulu be coming back to boxee? I wouldn't hold my breath, but according to a blog post, the boxee team has already reached out to Hulu to discuss working together to bring content back in an official manner. Like I said, I wouldn't hold my breath. Something tells me that if Hulu does get on the television (which is clearly the next step), it will be via their own set-top box and software.
That's a shame. Having said that, using boxee and Hulu Desktop together -- if you have a Mac mini, for instance -- doesn't seem like it would be a problem. Like I said, I want to see someone port this to the Apple TV. That would be SWEET.
The Requirements
You'll need an Intel Mac with 2 GB of RAM (not sure how that will be enforced) running OS X 10.4 Tiger or above, and Flash 9.0.1.24 to use the application, but if you meet those specifications, the rest is a snap. Literally just drag the application to your Applications Folder and an Internet Plugin to a plugins folder (the installer conveniently includes a link to that folder so you don't have to search for anything). Launch Hulu.app, and you're off to the races. Also, please note that Hulu is currently only available in the US. They are exploring international deals, but this is US-only for now. Sorry!
So what do you think of Hulu Desktop? Are you going to try this with your Mac media setup or is it just a way to waste more time at work? Let us know in the comments.
Gallery: Hulu Desktop for Mac
[via Download Squad]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
babas152 said 5:26PM on 5-28-2009
I hate to say this but goodbye boxee :- / Hello Hulu desktop :-)
Reply
St.McDuck said 5:25PM on 5-28-2009
You used Newsradio for the header image!
A hero is you!
Reply
kinto said 12:14AM on 5-29-2009
i try to be good hard worker man but refrigemator so messy... so, so messy...
Christina Warren said 10:13AM on 5-29-2009
Help, I'm being trapped in a complaint box!
:-)
NewsRadio fans FTW!
Katanna said 2:38PM on 5-29-2009
Funny thing is, I watched that episode YESTERDAY! No kidding! Proof: http://twitter.com/katanna/status/1954263363 (OK, that quote may not have been from "Complaint Box", but it was from one of the near episodes.)
Oh, and I have to try the desktop app! I can't wait!
Matthew
required said 5:29PM on 5-28-2009
go ahead and color me out of touch, but what is the point of this? why would I want it?
Reply
jax sedrin said 5:31PM on 5-28-2009
If you have an HDTV hooked up to your mac and want to navigate through and watch Hulu videos from the couch with a remote (instead of a mouse and/or keyboard).
required said 5:34PM on 5-28-2009
if it's that the navigation is better, why didn't they just revise the site? are they able to do more profiling outside of the browser - does it ignore the flash player's global privacy settings?
required said 5:37PM on 5-28-2009
just read your comment jax. I must of glossed over the part about it having full Apple Remote support. thanks for pointing it out.
Johnny said 5:44PM on 5-28-2009
@required: I agree that it seems like they could have just made the site better, but it wouldn't be compatible with the Apple remote. I don't use the remote anyway. But when I get back to a desktop I plan to check it out.
Hulu looks great already on the web version in 480p on my 56" 1080p in full screen. Some programs actually look better than non-HD u-verse so I don't see how they think this is for computer screens only.
skareiva said 6:19PM on 5-28-2009
Exactly.
I have my MacBook hooked up to my 52" TV via Mini Display port to HDMI cable, then a shielded HDMI from the adapter the TV. I just call up Hulu via Safari, pick my show, make sure the screensaver and energy saver preferences are set appropriately, start the program and hit the full screen button. Everything is running by the time my butt hits the sofa and I get the whole experience just fine.
Sounds like a lot of work, but it's not.
Navigation via the remote? I could put that to good use, but it's not an imperative. I never find myself fast-forwarding or re-winding something in a scene. Navigation I could see, but I do very little as it is.
Bookmarked it for future exploration though.
Mike said 8:14AM on 5-29-2009
skareiva, instead of going into the preferences to set your energy/screensaver preferences every time you want to use this app, you should just install Caffeine. It's a small menu-bar app and it does one thing. When you click it, it prevents your Mac from going to the screensaver or going to sleep. I use it when I'm watching YouTube clips all the time. It's much better than jiggling the mouse every few minutes.
skareiva said 10:03AM on 5-29-2009
Thanks, Mike. Nabbed Caffeine per your recommendation.
Adam said 5:29PM on 5-28-2009
Very cool idea -- though it has crashed on me twice now as I have tried to use it.
Reply
MacFan said 5:31PM on 5-28-2009
It has crashed 3 times on me already. Clearly a beta version
Reply
Blu-Sam said 5:32PM on 5-28-2009
I see Closed Caption. Yay!
Reply
Tyler R. said 5:47PM on 5-28-2009
Here's hoping the AppleTV community figures out soon how to install this on the AppleTV!
Reply
Joe said 5:35PM on 5-28-2009
A little caffeine will help with the screen saver issue...
http://lightheadsw.com/caffeine/
Reply
Takeru said 5:38PM on 5-28-2009
I personally hate the Hulu GUI, so I can't say I'm jumping for joy over this.
I'll more than likely forget it exists and continue watching Hulu through Plex, since it does everything else I need. And Boxee got wiped in favour of Plex some time ago.
Reply
pete said 2:27PM on 5-29-2009
actually, it's almost exactly like front row.