Get your YouTube fix on your Media Center PC

As if you needed to spend any more time digging through YouTube's seemingly endless archive of crap quality videos, you can now while away the time from the comfort of your couch thanks to a new Windows Media Center plug-in from Push-A-Button Software. The plug-in itself looks to be as straight forward as can be, letting you browse and search for videos and view them fullscreen if you wish -- just don't expect them to look too hot on your HD display. Best of all, the plug-in is free, although the developers are kindly asking for donations if you dig it -- ya dig?

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

[JerkyChew @ Jul 17th 2006 5:02PM]

XBMC has had this for a while now via the YouTube Python script. I was up till 4 AM last night mindlessly watching YouTube on my TV. :-) They also have scripts for Google Video, Launch.com, Apple movie trailers, and a buttload of others, all free.

[Tuig @ Jul 17th 2006 5:23PM]

On my 16:9 screen, it looks a bit off.

[The0ne @ Jul 17th 2006 5:47PM]

XBMC scripts rock :-)

[Matt @ Jul 17th 2006 6:20PM]

The YouTube python script for XBMC does have some problems though. Well, some videos don't work. Other than that, it's great. Does the Google Video script have search though? There's one I know has search, but the text doesn't show up. BTW, anyone know why my FLV files aren't playing when I select them via the main video playing interface?

[Alex @ Jul 17th 2006 7:40PM]

That is by far my fav live Satch video

[Joey @ Jul 17th 2006 7:41PM]

"just don't expect them to look too hot on your HD display"

This is an issue even with the online spotlight content. Alot of it looks great till you view full screen and it looks like crap.

MCE is great for Tivoing but the only watching of video isnt there yet. I do understand its because of users bandwidth and available space etc...

But watching Youtube or any other online spotlight content isnt worth doing on your display. Its just terrible, quality wise.... content is always subjective.

[nullsmack @ Jul 17th 2006 10:07PM]

I wish there was something like this for mythtv. :(

[Dave @ Jul 17th 2006 10:09PM]

If you use Streamalicious, you can watch YouTube, Google Video, subscribe to podcasts, videocasts, live TV, flash games ... and they are adding more stuff all the time ... all on your Media Center box, all free. http://www.streamalicious.com

[Kevin @ Jul 18th 2006 4:50AM]

Use www.videodownloader.net to save the streaming flash video files, and VLC media player to play them.

Works with a whole raft of video streaming sites.

[JC @ Jul 18th 2006 8:41AM]

Agreed with #1 & #2. This is news? I've been doing this for months on my Xbox, although I have to say Google video is a little faster.

[Al Chumley @ Jul 18th 2006 8:51AM]

Somebody's got some taste in music. Nice Joe Satriani video!

[Kaos @ Jul 18th 2006 7:43PM]

Pssh it's called XBMC punks! There are also scripts for google video, shoutcast video and bunch of others.

btw I likes me Satch too, didn't realize there were that many others though :)

[Zhong @ Jul 18th 2006 7:59PM]

The newly released TVedia media center application (http://www.8dim.com/products/youtube.asp?linkid=p) is probably the best implementation of online video access from 10-ft user interface I have seen. You can search and stream online videos from YouTube, Google Video, Metacafe, Grouper, and DivX.com (HD video!). The auto zoom function picks a zoom level so low resolution videos like the ones on YouTube don't look crappy. Of course, you can use your MCE remote control to change the zoom level manually.

[Jonathan Cohen @ Sep 6th 2006 2:18PM]

According to the site, this plugin is no longer available, now being part of something called Yougle (oy).