PlayOn

Just doing a little followup on the internet TV service Playon after the Guru mentioned it in this post (Are Episodes of Storage Wars Available Online?)

What is PlayOn?

PlayOn is software that you install on your Windows PC. It allows you to use your Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or other supported device to access feeds from content providers like Hulu, Netflix, Comedy Central, CBS, YouTube, MLB.tv, your personal media, and more. PlayOn is both browser and media server software, built into one. It browses content from various online providers, and displays that content directly on your television, instead of on your PC screen.

http://www.playon.tv/faq

What devices Support PlayOn?

Wii - view setup instructions
Xbox 360 - view setup instructions
PlayStation 3 - view setup instructions
iPhone - view setup instructions
iPad - view setup instructions
Android phone (Requires OS 2.2)
Roku - view setup instructions
Google TV -
Kindle Fire -
Moxi HD DVR
NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live EVA2000
HP MediaSmart TV
brite-View CinemaTube
Cirago Network HD Multimedia Center
UEBO M200
Omniversetv
Showwx
ZAAP TV
Jadoo TV

Compatible DLNA Devices

Diamond HD Media Wonder Full HD Media Player
DirecTV HR20/HR21/HR22
D-Link DSM-510, DSM-520, DSM-750
Internet@TV
Mvix ULTIO
Myka
Pioneer KURO HDTV
SageTV HD Theater
Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ HD Media Player
Sony Bravia DLNA-compatible HDTV
vmcPlayIt
Western Digital TV Live
XBMC

What Channels Are Available on PlayOn?

Free

Pandora
My Media1
YouTube

Premium

Hulu
Netflix2
ABC
Adult Swim
Amazon VOD2
BET
Cartoon Network
CBS
CNN
Comedy Central
Cooking Channel
Disney
DIY
ESPN
ESPN3
Food Network
FOX
FOX News
FoxSoccer.tv
GAC
HBO GO
HGTV
Live News: Al Jazeera (English)
Live News: BBC
Live News: Bloomberg
Live News: C-Span
Live News: NHK (English)
Live News: RT (English)
MLB.tv2
MTV
National Geographic
NBC
NFL Rewind
NHL.com2
Nick
OWN
PBS
PBS Kids
SpikeTV
Syfy Rewind
TBS
Travel Channel
TV.com
VEVO

How Much Does PlayOn Cost?

Monthly $4.99

Lifetime $49.99

Yearly $29.99

I definitely have some questions about PlayOn though. Like with the premium channels, are they On Demand or live broadcast?

Most channels are "on demand". Some (HBO Go!, MLB, etc) require you to have a paid subsription to the cable version, and your ISP must support it. I know that there is a live Disney stream.

There's also more channels available via plugins and scripts.

• playonscripts.com
• playonplugins.info
• playonplugins.com
• playonlabs.net

Also don't forget: You have 14 days of full (premium) functionality to test drive before you buy.

playon basic [the free version] doesn't exist for new customers. so as far as i understand it, youtube, pandora, etc without paying is not an option anymore. i haven't tried it though since i pay for mine

Originally Posted by catastrophegirl

playon basic [the free version] doesn't exist for new customers. so as far as i understand it, youtube, pandora, etc without paying is not an option anymore. i haven't tried it though since i pay for mine

Basic is gone, in its place is the "lite" (free) version.

Includes:

Pandora
My Media1
YouTube

Originally Posted by catastrophegirl

playon basic [the free version] doesn't exist for new customers. so as far as i understand it, youtube, pandora, etc without paying is not an option anymore. i haven't tried it though since i pay for mine

Basic is gone, in its place is the "lite" version.

The 2 week temporary version automatically reverts to the "lite" version after the 2 week period is over. Once you get your license, you simply add your license name and code to the registration tab to go to "premium."

I am super interested in PlayOn. Might be my next subscription.

If I have a HTPC hooked up to my TV can I just run PlayOn on it or does one need to use an external device (Roku, Xbox, etc.)?

Sam

Originally Posted by scajjr2

If I have a HTPC hooked up to my TV can I just run PlayOn on it or does one need to use an external device (Roku, Xbox, etc.)?

Sam

Never mind got it figured out (mostly). Using XBMC to access Playon running on our main computer. Still can't get XBMC to see Playon on the computer Playon is running on (my computer in my office).On the other computers on our home network XBMC finds Playon just fine via upnp.

Also is all Playon content only SD?

Sam

Originally Posted by scajjr2

Never mind got it figured out (mostly). Using XBMC to access Playon running on our main computer. Still can't get XBMC to see Playon on the computer Playon is running on (my computer in my office).On the other computers on our home network XBMC finds Playon just fine via upnp.

Also is all Playon content only SD?

Sam

I'm still searching for the answer on whether you can get HD or not with PlayOn. Have you found anything out yet?

Originally Posted by scajjr2

Never mind got it figured out (mostly). Using XBMC to access Playon running on our main computer. Still can't get XBMC to see Playon on the computer Playon is running on (my computer in my office).On the other computers on our home network XBMC finds Playon just fine via upnp.

Also is all Playon content only SD?

Sam

I tried asking a question about PlayOn on the Roku Forums but they locked it. Apparently you can't even mention PlayOn and they won't support it.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I tried asking a question about PlayOn on the Roku Forums but they locked it. Apparently you can't even mention PlayOn and they won't support it.

PlayOn:
"The channel whose name shall not be spoken". Yes, the "official" Roku forum mods will shut you down in a heartbeat if you mention PlayOn. Which is funny, because PlayOn used to be a Roku Channel Store channel, and since both Plex and NokNok can do basically the same thing as PlayOn, I just don't understand it. i've actually looked into what happened to get PlayOn banished, but the information I find is sketchy at best.

If anyone knows the real story behind why PlayOn is banished, yet other apps with the same functionality are not, please share.

I guess we just have to accept it and keep our questions about PlayOn off the official forum, and rely on the active official PlayOn forum and ourselves.

Originally Posted by Roku Guru

PlayOn:
"The channel whose name shall not be spoken". Yes, the "official" Roku forum mods will shut you down in a heartbeat if you mention PlayOn. Which is funny, because PlayOn used to be a Roku Channel Store channel, and since both Plex and NokNok can do basically the same thing as PlayOn, I just don't understand it. i've actually looked into what happened to get PlayOn banished, but the information I find is sketchy at best.

If anyone knows the real story behind why PlayOn is banished, yet other apps with the same functionality are not, please share.

I guess we just have to accept it and keep our questions about PlayOn off the official forum, and rely on the active official PlayOn forum and ourselves.

My guess is that Roku distances themselves from any channel or service that could potentially provide access to illegal content. PlayOn itself hovers the line / grey area for providing streaming stuff without themselves paying for it.

Originally Posted by InternationallyKnown

My guess is that Roku distances themselves from any channel or service that could potentially provide access to illegal content. PlayOn itself hovers the line / grey area for providing streaming stuff without themselves paying for it.

As I noted, "both Plex and NokNok can do basically the same thing as PlayOn"

Hey gang,

This is PlayOn. There are a few questions above that we can help with.

PlayOn Lite is our free product and will continue to work, even after your trial is expired. For now the Lite version includes Pandora, YouTube, and My Media (your locally stored video, photo, and music files). For a limited time the Lite version also includes support for HBO GO. You'll need to have a qualifying cable or satellite subscription for that though. We don't get you any content that you're not legally allowed to watch on your PC.

PlayOn at this point is SD only with one exception. If you have a Roku and a powerful enough PC, then HBO GO is in HD (720P). It takes quite a bit of PC horsepower to run it and some customers complain of a slightly low frame rate. We're working on it, but need to find a solution that doesn't clobber our customers' PC's. That is the challenge with HD.

No "grey area" at all to the legality of what we're doing. We "sling" content from your PC to your TV or mobile device. We're simple screen shifting. There are plenty of other products that do this (Slingbox being the best known). Some companies may not like it as it makes it harder for them to charge you per device. For example we let you easily watch Hulu on your TV without having to pay for Hulu Plus. Nothing illegal about it, it's perfectly legal for you to connect your PC to your TV and watch what's on it. Think of PlayOn like a virtual cable. We don't enable any content you can't already legally watch.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
The PlayOn Team

Originally Posted by PlayOn TV

Hey gang,

This is PlayOn. There are a few questions above that we can help with.

PlayOn Lite is our free product and will continue to work, even after your trial is expired. For now the Lite version includes Pandora, YouTube, and My Media (your locally stored video, photo, and music files). For a limited time the Lite version also includes support for HBO GO. You'll need to have a qualifying cable or satellite subscription for that though. We don't get you any content that you're not legally allowed to watch on your PC.

PlayOn at this point is SD only with one exception. If you have a Roku and a powerful enough PC, then HBO GO is in HD (720P). It takes quite a bit of PC horsepower to run it and some customers complain of a slightly low frame rate. We're working on it, but need to find a solution that doesn't clobber our customers' PC's. That is the challenge with HD.

No "grey area" at all to the legality of what we're doing. We "sling" content from your PC to your TV or mobile device. We're simple screen shifting. There are plenty of other products that do this (Slingbox being the best known). Some companies may not like it as it makes it harder for them to charge you per device. For example we let you easily watch Hulu on your TV without having to pay for Hulu Plus. Nothing illegal about it, it's perfectly legal for you to connect your PC to your TV and watch what's on it. Think of PlayOn like a virtual cable. We don't enable any content you can't already legally watch.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
The PlayOn Team

Welcome to the forum, make yourself at home. Feel free to register as a member, too.

I like PlayOn, own the full version, and consider it to be a good investment. It's not a perfect solution, but it is improving.

It really annoys me when Hulu or someone trys to control what devices they allow their content on. Face it, a Roku is a computer, as is Boxee box, WD TV, a Linux or windows computer, or an iPad. It's like someone telling me I can only watch their programming on a Sony TV, but not a Panasonic. What?

Originally Posted by Roku Guru

PlayOn:
If anyone knows the real story behind why PlayOn is banished, yet other apps with the same functionality are not, please share.

i wish i knew. had a bit of conversation via PM with one of the roku forum mods, but he can't answer questions about it and i don't want to push because what he CAN share about channels is very helpful to me.

I bought PlayOn and paid for a couple scripts as well. One, SuperusVox, seems to let you watch the HD channels they have live if you go to the SuperusVox website (SuperusVox - Free Internet Streaming TV - Home). I'm not sure if you have to have purchased the script to do this as I didn't try it until after I had.

Sam

After the 14 day free trial, will 3rd party scripts and pluggins cease to work on PlayOn Lite?

Originally Posted by PlayOn TV

Hey gang,

This is PlayOn. There are a few questions above that we can help with.

PlayOn Lite is our free product and will continue to work, even after your trial is expired. For now the Lite version includes Pandora, YouTube, and My Media (your locally stored video, photo, and music files). For a limited time the Lite version also includes support for HBO GO. You'll need to have a qualifying cable or satellite subscription for that though. We don't get you any content that you're not legally allowed to watch on your PC.

PlayOn at this point is SD only with one exception. If you have a Roku and a powerful enough PC, then HBO GO is in HD (720P). It takes quite a bit of PC horsepower to run it and some customers complain of a slightly low frame rate. We're working on it, but need to find a solution that doesn't clobber our customers' PC's. That is the challenge with HD.

No "grey area" at all to the legality of what we're doing. We "sling" content from your PC to your TV or mobile device. We're simple screen shifting. There are plenty of other products that do this (Slingbox being the best known). Some companies may not like it as it makes it harder for them to charge you per device. For example we let you easily watch Hulu on your TV without having to pay for Hulu Plus. Nothing illegal about it, it's perfectly legal for you to connect your PC to your TV and watch what's on it. Think of PlayOn like a virtual cable. We don't enable any content you can't already legally watch.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
The PlayOn Team

This is an excellent replacement for the now non-functioning TV Links script- Project Free TV---
https://sites.google.com/site/fs4apu...edirects=0&d=1


Sam