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More => Old Versions => Media Center 15 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: JohnT on January 04, 2011, 09:42:06 am

Title: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: JohnT on January 04, 2011, 09:42:06 am
Please post your favorite enhancement idea for using Netflix from within Media Center.  If you have multiple ideas, please prioritize them so we can get a feel for which features are most desired.

Here are some things already on our list:
1. Improved movie search (feel free to add your own ideas on this).
2. Grouping multiple TV episodes into a single season to de-clutter the main queue listing.
3. Better cursor hiding, audio volume management, and auto switching to full screen.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: cncb on January 04, 2011, 09:27:01 pm
Thanks for revisiting this.  My list in order of priority would be:

1) Grouping of TV episodes
2) Auto-switching to full screen
3) Way to restart movie from beginning before it is launched
4) Amount watched indicator for each program in queue like on website (especially useful for tv episodes)
5) Some kind of "loading" status message when first loading queue and searching
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: raldo on January 05, 2011, 12:18:04 am
Here's my list of priorities:

- Streaming outside of the US.

Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: rossp on January 05, 2011, 07:22:49 am
+1 Raldo
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: BryanC on January 06, 2011, 12:14:22 pm
Netflix suggested movie categories like on the roku:

New releases
Suspense
Comedy
Action
Highest-Rated
etc.

Sometimes I don't know what I want to watch but I don't like browsing the netflix website on my HTPC.
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: drmimosa on January 06, 2011, 02:24:37 pm
Great to see that this topic is on the board!

+1 to Bryanhoop, improved browsing interface by category.

Windows Media Center has some good features here, including browsing based on movies that you have already watched or liked.
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: raldo on January 06, 2011, 02:24:59 pm
o Upload ratings from MC movie database.
o Keep a record in MC of the movies that the user has seen via Netflix ("a virtual movie"). This may sound familiar to some. I'd like this feature anyways...
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: bunglemebaby on January 07, 2011, 01:00:47 pm
Great to see this is being improved. We're finally getting ready to ditch cable and move all HTPC and MC's Netflix implementation was one of my only concerns.

1) Grouping of TV episodes. (This is the really big issue I have currently, as it makes just utilizing the pre-filled instant queue tedious)
2) Browsing features. (as suggested above)
3) More/better Netflix data (such as description, best guess ratings, actors, all the data available on the Netflix site really). (This really goes along with better browsing in general)

For me, browsing is more important than searching while in front of the TV. Part of the magic of sitting on one's duff with a remote in hand is just clicking idly around until something interesting appears on the screen to watch (without really having to think). I think that's the gist of my 2 cents.
-Jon
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: johnd126 on January 11, 2011, 12:45:31 pm
Please post your favorite enhancement idea for using Netflix from within Media Center.  If you have multiple ideas, please prioritize them so we can get a feel for which features are most desired.

1. Ability to stream from Canada. 

I joined the netflix developer network and read that they don't yet support streaming from outside of the US, but I am able to stream using the Netflix app built into my Samsung BD-6500T Blu Ray player so it has to be possible!


Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: cncb on January 11, 2011, 01:29:19 pm
A few more:

6) Alphabetical sort of the Instant Queue.
7) Management of the DVD/Disc Queue (add/remove discs, would be useful if you have enable browsing/search of all movies).
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: pcstockton on January 11, 2011, 04:51:17 pm
I would vote for more "List Styles" as with music.
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: JohnT on January 18, 2011, 07:46:54 am
I would vote for more "List Styles" as with music.
Can you elaborate on what you're thinking of?
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: pcstockton on January 18, 2011, 10:52:07 am
John,

I am thinking of "Toggle List Style".  Also, discs from the same TV series should maybe be grouped like albums from the same artist in Audio?

thanks,
Patrick
Title: Re: Netflix Integration: Ideas for new features welcome
Post by: JohnT on January 18, 2011, 12:05:41 pm
I am thinking of "Toggle List Style".  Also, discs from the same TV series should maybe be grouped like albums from the same artist in Audio?
Ok, thanks for clarifying.  We're looking at grouping TV episodes and it would make sense to view the episodes from a series as a more compact list.