Hasta La Gadget!

We know Boxee wanted its Box launch to have an impact, but we doubt this was the way the company intended. A great many of our readers are reporting this morning that their browser-based streaming attempts from Hulu have been greeted with an error message telling them that they’re trying to access the service “from Boxee.” Needless to say, these Windows 7 and Mac OS X users are not amused and we suspect Hulu will have only a short time to sort out its blocking algorithms before a full-on frenzy of discontented geeks engulfs its forums. Reported browsers to have fallen afoul of this unplanned ban include Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari, leaving us to wonder whether anyone is able to stream content from Hulu right now. Have you had any luck?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: One of our tipsters has now seen his streaming uncorked again, so maybe Hulu has sorted out its booboo. Thanks, Chris!

Hulu’s block on Boxee streaming affecting more than just Boxee Boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even though Hulu has been blocking Google TV, for a few days users could still access the videos through Comcast’s Fancast.com portal, but that loophole has been closed, repeating a pattern seen after the launch of Flash on Froyo and the overall path of Google TV up to this point. Even more notably, Syfy has joined corporate parent NBC in blocking its streams from the devices. So there you have it, despite being technologically able to play most video on the internet, the Google TV’s selection is still limited by license agreements. Obviously a HTPC is the access route of choice if you’re into cord cutting or just don’t like limits, but if it can’t fix the access problem soon, where does Google’s baby really fit into the connected TV market? Check NewTeeVee for a list of what streaming services you can still check out on Google TV, at least, when you’re not playing WoW.

Google TV’s Fancast.com backdoor to Hulu video closed; Syfy starts blocking too originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today Hulu’s Plus subscription service is available to anyone in the US willing to pony up ten dollars per month, no invitation required. Next week, Sony’s Playstation 3 will be the first dedicated video gaming console offering the service to all its users.

“In the next week, all PS3 owners with a PlayStation Network account, which is free, will be able to download and subscribe to Hulu Plus,” writes Hulu’s Rob Wong. “This will also coincide with an updated PS3 application that incorporates some of the feedback we’ve received to date.”

Hulu Plus first became available as an app for the PS3 in July, but only for some PlayStation Plus subscribers. So you had to pay Sony, get an invitation to Hulu Plus, and then pay Hulu. Starting next week, two of those three barriers will be down.

Soon, Hulu Plus will also be rolling out to net-connected Sony Bravia TVs and Blu-ray players, TiVo Premiere and Roku boxes, and Vizio TVs. It’s already available for computers and iOS devices. The pay service streams in 720p HD and offers a wider selection of current-season and backlist TV titles than Hulu’s free site. On the Hulu device page, service for Microsoft Xbox 360 is listed as “coming soon.”

See Also:

• Hulu Plus Launches: Three Networks, Zero Real-Time Shows …
• More TV Coming to TiVo and Roku This Fall with Hulu Plus
• Wired's Guide to Picking Your Perfect TV Setup
• New PS3 Model Has Bigger Hard Drive, Still Awfully Expensive …
• Wired 14.09: Gaming: Can the PS3 Save Sony

We knew that Hulu Plus was making a beeline for Roku’s stable of media streaming boxes, but now owners have yet another avenue to grab online content: PlayOn. For those unaware, PlayOn delivers online material from Hulu, PBS, TBS, ESPN, CNN, MLB.tv and YouTube (among other places), but the catch is that there’s an annual fee for having access ($34.99 for the first year; $19.99 each year thereafter). Furthermore, you’ll need a PC on the same network as the Roku in order to fetch the content and send it over, but if you’re already setup, you can hit the source link for download and pricing details.

PlayOn now available on Roku: more content for a price originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may be able to watch The Office on your Google TV, but perhaps not on demand — ABC, CBS and NBC are barring Sony and Logitech’s web-infused TVs and set-top-boxes from accessing full episodes of streaming video content. The Wall Street Journal reports that all three networks have confirmed the ban, and that Fox hasn’t yet reached a decision on whether it will ban Google TV as well. For its part, Google says that it’s “ultimately the content owners’ choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform,” so don’t expect the search company to pitch in, unless it can work out some premium arrangements for all parties involved. This is the part where we’d normally direct you to the simple browser tweak that made Hulu accessible when it pulled the very same stunt, but alas, we’re finding Hulu too is once again blocked.

Update: Reuters reports that Google is “actively negotiating” with the three networks after all.

Television networks block Google TV from accessing web-based content (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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