Hulu App Hisense
Hello All, I'm a general penny pincher, tech nerd, linux using lover of technology. Yesterday I ordered my Hisense Pulse after reading some reviews about all the google TV options.
I'm really excited, and looking for a heads up on what to do. Currently, I have Windows 7 installed on my desktop, a PS3 (that I've used for streaming until now) and am looking to have the ability to stream more content. We currently use Netflix for 90% of what we do on the TV, but I miss sports. We had DirecTV until a few months ago when it became too expensive. Is there a 'what to do first for Hisense Pulse/Mods to make/apps to install' guide anywhere that's not out of date?
Download Hulu App
I saw a firmware update happened a few months ago, and I'd love to know about issues to deal with, expect, and workarounds, too. Also, I saw very limited information on PlayOn being free for GTV users for a limited time. What's the deal with this? Is there a better way to get the same PlayOn type of services (Hulu Plus, using a proxy, changing setting on the web browser, etc?) that's up to date? I'd love to access Hulu type content, but it's far from a deal breaker for me. I'd also accept a list of killer apps/combinations that will rock the Hisense.
Thanks so much. Excited to use Google TV and have a better option that I can tinker with (DirecTV doesnt like it when you mess with their hardware.lol.). Hello All, I'm a general penny pincher, tech nerd, linux using lover of technology. Yesterday I ordered my Hisense Pulse after reading some reviews about all the google TV options. I'm really excited, and looking for a heads up on what to do.
Currently, I have Windows 7 installed on my desktop, a PS3 (that I've used for streaming until now) and am looking to have the ability to stream more content. We currently use Netflix for 90% of what we do on the TV, but I miss sports.
We had DirecTV until a few months ago when it became too expensive. Is there a 'what to do first for Hisense Pulse/Mods to make/apps to install' guide anywhere that's not out of date? I saw a firmware update happened a few months ago, and I'd love to know about issues to deal with, expect, and workarounds, too. Also, I saw very limited information on PlayOn being free for GTV users for a limited time. What's the deal with this? Is there a better way to get the same PlayOn type of services (Hulu Plus, using a proxy, changing setting on the web browser, etc?) that's up to date? I'd love to access Hulu type content, but it's far from a deal breaker for me.
I'd also accept a list of killer apps/combinations that will rock the Hisense. Thanks so much. Excited to use Google TV and have a better option that I can tinker with (DirecTV doesnt like it when you mess with their hardware.lol.). Click to expand.As you mentioned you can use Playon for Hulu on GTV if you install the software on a computer and then stream to your GTV device via DLNA.
Unfortunately changing the user agent on your GTV device doesn't work for Hulu (and the major TV networks web sites). This is because those sites use a sophisticated blocking approach that recognizes the special GTV Flash version. By the way the GTV Jellybean update is due out in the third quarter and it will eliminate Flash from the GTV browser. Also NDK support will be added with the GTV Jellybean update - so more apps should be available then. Overall GTV is a pretty closed system - I don't think it's a particularly good device for tinkering. Devices such as OUYA and the android TV sticks/boxes from China are much more 'open' then GTV. Some of the apps that are recommended frequently are 1channel (paid version), Mitty, Navi-X for GTV.
The Project Free TV thread is a good source for finding online streaming content (that works with the GTV Chrome browser): Also some of the secondary TV channel web sites will work with GTV if you change the GTV user agent to 'generic'. This is because they only block GTV by the browser user agent string and don't take the extra bother of also blocking by GTV Flash version. Last time I checked all of the TV stations owned by Viacom were in this category. See the link in my sig below for channels and web sites with good content for GTV. And check out the TV channel thread here.
PlayOn is a good way to get Hulu and some of the network sites blocking Google TV. As far as the terms of the limited time free version of PlayOn, I have never seen that disclosed and still don't know if that means it will be free to download and install for a limited time but once installed will be free to use forever or if installed, it will be free to use for a limited time. I have a paid lifetime license for PlayOn on my computer and installed the free version on my girlfriend's computer, the free version works fine and as far as I can tell is the full featured software, the same as available for sale. Plex and ViMu are two apps that might be of interest to you as well. PlayOn is a good way to get Hulu and some of the network sites blocking Google TV.
As far as the terms of the limited time free version of PlayOn, I have never seen that disclosed and still don't know if that means it will be free to download and install for a limited time but once installed will be free to use forever or if installed, it will be free to use for a limited time. I have a paid lifetime license for PlayOn on my computer and installed the free version on my girlfriend's computer, the free version works fine and as far as I can tell is the full featured software, the same as available for sale. Plex and ViMu are two apps that might be of interest to you as well. Click to expand.
Thanks to both for their responses. Chris, I was very much considering PlayOn + Plex. $26 dollars and I'm covered. My one concern that I havent seen clarified relates to playon. Let's say (hypothetically of course) that I dont have ANY TV service. Just internet. Will PlayOn still work?
My wife REALLY loves some shows like New Girl, and having a easy way for her to get that (w/o cable) would be awesome. Also, does ESPN3 work that way? I thought they locked you out if you didnt have the right service provider? Also, accept the OTA update when I get the Pulse, or to wait? I understand some people are rooting their device and not taking the update, but I'm unsure of what the advantages of that are in this case?
Because someone was kind to respond to my question about apps, based off what I've seen, I'm looking to install these apps: Accuweather Dropbox Netflix Amazon Video Blackmart WatchESPN ScoreCenter FoxSports Mobile Football Highlights HD Pandora Plex Redux TV.com The big deals for us are: streaming (free) music - like pandora - sports for me, and major networks for some sitcoms for both of us. We already have netflix that we've been doing through the PS3, too. So I imagine it wont be much of a switch doing it from one device to another. PlayOn will work without a TV service, except for sites that require a paid TV subscription, such as HBO Go, WatchESPN, Showtime etc.
But those require pay TV verification regardless of whether or not PlayOn is used. ESPN3 is provided as part of many internet service plans, I have access through AT&T U-verse but the other ESPN streaming services part of WatchESPN require pay TV verification. I have never watched New Girl but I believe it is available through Hulu Plus which would require a paid subscription and can only be accessed through Google TV by use of a PC server client relationship like PlayOn but if it is available with Hulu or at Fox.com, then it can be accessed for free, either way it can only be viewed by use of a PC server.
I have never rooted or hacked Google TV and can't speculate as to whether or not you want to wait to update and instead apply some sort of hack. Hello All, Yesterday I got the gtv (Hisense plus) box and set it up. So far, it's okay- but I havent used it for what I really wanted to yet- which is streaming sports. I'd love help with a few things. The big issue- I cant install playon in the google apps store. Says it's not compatible with my device (Pulse, not my phone. Wtf?) is there a way around this?
I've heard great things about plex on your gtv and using playon on your desktop computer. So do I even need playon installed on my gtv, or will having plex installed on my gtv be enough to get the content from the playon server on my computer? Good apps/methods/tips to get the background/theme of the google tv to be customized would be greatly appreciated. What about assigning a button on my controller to turn on the weather app (Accuweather) and Pandora to a particular station? I'd love it if I could tell my wife 'Press the green button in the morning to get X' to happen. Thanks so much in advance.
I'm certain I'm going to enjoy my foray into gtv. As a quick note: 1 weird issue that's not a big deal is that we've been streaming netflix for a while to the PS3. So yesterday we started trying to use the google tv. Only problem is that it logged me in, but then brought up my old computer instant queue, not the PS3 'Instant Queue'. Not a big issue.
Creating a Smart TV Activity using the mobile app. Launch the Harmony mobile app and connect to your Harmony hub. Tap MENU, then Harmony Setup Add/Edit Devices & Activities ACTIVITIES. A list of your current Activities will be listed, tap ADD ACTIVITY. Select the devices used in this Activity, such as your television and AV receiver. (Exclude your cable/satellite box or satellite receiver).
Confirm your devices power on using the mobile app, then tap MY DEVICES ARE ON. Finally, select your Smart TV input as well as the input for any other devices, such as an AV receiver. Creating a Smart TV Activity using the desktop software. Sign into your account using the and select your remote from the gallery. Select the Activities tab on the left and click the Add Activity button. Select the Watch Smart TV Activity type and rename the Activity to something descriptive, such as 'Living Room TV'.
(Harmony Smart Keyboard users should select the predefined Smart TV Activity type). Select the devices that are needed as part this Activity and set your television as the channel changing device.
Please be aware If you have added your cable/satellite box (cable box, satellite receiver, etc.) you can select it as the channel changing device. This will correctly assign the channel changing commands to the cable/satellite box and not the TV. Select the device that's used to control the volume. Either your AV receiver, or if you do not use one, your television.
Select the input that your Smart TV uses when using the apps. This may appear in the list as Smart Home, Smart Hub, or if available, the direct app you'd like to watch, such as Netflix. Select the input that your AV receiver must be set to and.