Hulu on its way to Windows Media Center via SecondRun.tv
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted February 11th 2009 5:02PM
posted February 11th 2009 5:02PM
promising
There's no question that the hottest new video site these days is Hulu and every media streamer and HTPC software around it trying to get in on the action by offering a way to access the fast amount of Hollywood content on bigger screens. The latest in the mix is Windows Media Center via a plug-in called SecondRun.tv. Before you get too excited though, it should be noted it's still in a private beta, but the screen shots do look promising. Now if only the video and sound quality of Hulu wasn't completely unbearable on a 60-inch HDTV with surround sound.
this needs to work on extenders.
Would prefer this over PlayOn and their (now) overpriced software.
PlayOn is too expensive to even consider. Although I gave the program a shot, I couldn't muster the idea of having to have a computer on just so it can re-encode the Hulu content. Don't get me wrong, I think that it worked great for some people. But, now that XBMC has been able to give us Hulu, PlayOn is no longer needed. Also, Tivo gives me Netflix.
PlayOn has its place. But, my wallet refuses to open up that much for it. $15-20 is the sweet spot to even consider it.
The open-source community needs to get cracking with some of those boxes out there, like Tivo HD, Vudu, and Blockbuster's box. But, I'm more than grateful for their excellent XBMC work. Keep it up guys/gals.
I'd love to see Hulu show up on Tivo, either through open source or an in-house Tivo effort.
"...and every media streamer and HTPC software around it trying to get in on the action by offering a way to access the fast amount of Hollywood content on bigger screens."
Let's try changing 'it' to 'IS' and 'fast' to 'VAST' and you might pass as a second-rate blogging disaster.
@Rob - I agree, plus it's worth mentioning that XBMC offers Linux/Mac support where PlayOn does not.
The author believes that this WILL work over extenders.. however I don't think he's tried it. This is GREAT!!
He is simply popping up a web browser, then displaying the video in full screen. This will NOT work on extenders as they do not have a web browser. He would have to transcode the video, and send it to the extenders in a format they understand for it to work.
You do make a good point, Casey. I was referring to this post..
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/333720/333759/ShowThread.aspx#333759
I sure hope it does work on extenders but you're right.. if it ends up just being a link to the hulu site then I don't think it'll work. We'll see!
So, so far, PlayOn has no competition on the Xbox 360 when it comes to outputting Hulu on the system.
And no, please don't mention Tversity or modding the Xbox, I simply won't use those techniques.
$19.99 is better than nothing (Limited time for that price)
Play on works great on my DSM-520 streaming to my 56" and my AV receiver fakes the surround sound pretty well as well. It is certainly worth $30 to have a turn-key solution that does not require the advanced degree in encoding/decoding that Tversity requires. Must install this codec, breaks that codec, etc. That has been my experience with Tversity. Also, it won't stream Netflix.