Ubuntu TV

[The Doctor]

Ubuntu Bringing Linux to your TV

Ubuntu TV is an effort that pushes the Ubuntu interface (Dash) for TV's as a way to get content, including shows, movies and TV programming content. There is a whole new site setup for those of us not at CES to see what it's all about at: http://www.ubuntu.com/tv

Canonical Showcases Ubuntu TV and IVI at CES, Exclusive Images

Ubuntu TV has a user interface powered by the controversial Unity interface and allows users to view rent, buy, record, and play movies and TV shows.

Ubuntu TV Features and Goals

Users will be able to integrate satellite and cable services into Ubuntu TV, providing support for EU and US standard formats, for both high definition and standard contents.

Ubuntu TV also has the ability to stream media across other compatible devices, supporting iOS and Android. Intelligent search and enhanced viewing is also available.

Okay.  You got my attention.

[Marty]

Lame until it supports netflix.
To my knowledge, there's only 1 way to watch netflix on linux... virtualbox.

[The Doctor]

What about Boxee?

Has anyone tried Netflix in Boxee on Linux? 

[unixgeek]

I tried Netflix on boxee on Linux. It doesn't work.

From: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/13673/watch-netflix-instant-movies-in-boxee/

"Note: Nexflix requires Microsoft Silverlight which unfortunately means Boxee users running Linux out of luck."

What about Boxee?

Has anyone tried Netflix in Boxee on Linux? 

[The Doctor]

But I was under the impression that Moonlight was the Linux equivalent to Silverlight.

Moonlight is an open source implementation of Silverlight, primarily for Linux and other Unix/X11 based operating systems. In September of 2007, Microsoft and Novell announced a technical collaboration that includes access to Microsoft's test suites for Silverlight and the distribution of a Media Pack for Linux users that will contain licensed media codecs for video and audio.

According to this:

Moonlight does not include DRM support and hence does not support Netflix

I see the problem.

[unixgeek]

Yes, that crazy DRM is the problem.

[Marty]

Can you imagine what kind of horrors would come about if unrestricted, drm-free content were to flow freely into the homes of millions of people!?!?!? I mean the TV stations haven't been doing that for decades have they?

[likemindead]

I cancelled Netflix years ago. Amazon Prime Instant Video is browser-based & works great in Linux. The selection isn't as vast as Netflix, yet, but growing. I love it. Give it a serious look.

[mccracken]

[The Doctor]

We get Netflix through the Wii on wi-fi.  It's not bad for TV shows, but I haven't seen much in the way of movies yet.

We just signed up tonight and have a one month free trial.  I'll give a few weeks and see if there's much worth keeping.

The Suddenlink data caps do concern me, but as I understand it Netflix streams at a rate of 1 GB per hour and we're capped at 250 GB per month.

[The Doctor]

I found a site called Instant Watcher.  It's supposed to be a complete and current list of everything that Netflix has to offer on the streaming service.

But they are also saying that many titles will "expire" in the next few weeks.  

[The Doctor]

Hands-on with Ubuntu TV, above and under the hood

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday, platform vendor Canonical unveiled a special version of Ubuntu that is designed for televisions. The platform has an integrated media library manager and will offer DVR capabilities. It includes a variant of the Unity shell that is intended to be operated with a television remote control.