TubeCore dead. Now what?

[Sergio526]

Since Tubecentric is out of business, we won't be getting any more updates to TubeCore. Does anyone know of any other PlayOn front ends for Windows Media Center and Extenders? The only two I've ever known were vmcPlayIt and Tubecore, but if and when PlayOn changes its delivery system, I don't want to be left out in the cold with my streaming.

It would be neat if MediaMall took it upon itself to make PlayOn work with MCE without a front end, but I won't hold my breath.

[lithium630]

I asked them a few times but they had no interest. The quality of the streaming is so poor that I think it's better to use a Roku and deal with switching inputs.

[barnabas1969]

I agree with lithium630. I used to use PlayOn+vmcPlayIt, then later bought TubeCore when PlayOn stopped allowing vmcPlayIt to watch Netflix (because they wanted to force people to buy PlayLater, which was a free feature that was built-in to vmcPlayIt). However, I was never very satisfied with the user experience nor the quality of PlayOn. It was better to just buy smart BluRay players for each room, and tell the kids to switch inputs when they wanted to watch Netflix. Doing it this way has the added benefit that multiple people can be watching Netflix simultaneously (it was limited to a single user with PlayOn)... and I no longer have to pay annually for PlayOn.

EDIT: I have a dumb question for those who want to continue using TubeCore and PlayOn: Why can't you just continue using TubeCore? Won't it just keep working now that the company is out of business?

[sccrgoalie1]

I really like using Playlater as my solution. Yes, it isn't for live streaming but it works well and allows me to skip commercials. Also, PlayOn/Playlater just got HD so we should be getting some better quality content soon. Not all stations are currently in HD...yet.

http://www.playon.tv/blog/playon-and-pl ... -now-in-hd

EDIT: In regards to annual payment, I don't do that as I have lifetime licenses of both PlayOn and Playlater.

[barnabas1969]

I didn't use PlayOn for anything except Hulu and Netflix. The Netflix interface was continuously breaking (probably because Netflix changed something at their end), requiring an update to the PlayOn software. It was just much easier to use smart BluRay players in the bedrooms.

Recently, in addition to the BluRay players, I bought Chromecast devices, thinking that the kids would prefer to use their smart phones to watch stuff. They haven't used the Chromecast much. I may sell them and get some Roku devices since I've read that they have a better user experience than most BD players.

[BCloud]

how do we get a licence for tube since they're offline now?

[barnabas1969]

My license belongs to the first person to PM me.

[barnabas1969]

My license has been claimed. I have given it away to someone. Please don't contact me about this anymore.

[lithium630]

I'll throw mine in. First to PM me.

[makryger]

Who needs to switch inputs? Most bluray players will switch for you once you turn them on, assuming you connect with hdmi and have activated hdmi cec. Even chromecast switches.

I have my tv hooked up via rs232 to the htpc, so the input switches back when I activate the htpc. (Or if you have the hdmi cec device, that works too)

[lithium630]

Gone.

[3rob3]

Since it's all the rage (hehe), I'll throw my license in too. I can't remember how much time is left on it but I'm not using it so someone else might as well.

[3rob3]

And it's gone (to brendabryg)!

[Crash2009]

Anyone want my cable bill?

[barnabas1969]

Who needs to switch inputs? Most bluray players will switch for you once you turn them on, assuming you connect with hdmi and have activated hdmi cec. Even chromecast switches.

I have my tv hooked up via rs232 to the HTPC, so the input switches back when I activate the HTPC. (Or if you have the hdmi cec device, that works too)

I agree with makryger.

I sold three of my Chromecast devices. I gave my 4th one to my son. He has moved back to his mom's house because all of his classes at the community college for this term are near her house (all of his fall classes were near my house, and we live 30 minutes from each other). He can also take it with him when he goes away to USF in the fall.

I got a Roku 3 for Christmas this year, and I love it. It has an Android app that allows me to search for what I want to watch (if I don't want to use the remote to find stuff to watch). I can start a show using my phone, and then pick up the remote to control the FFWD/RWD/pause/play/skip functions. I like using the remote much better than trying to use the timeline on the smartphone Netflix app. I plan to buy more Roku 3's for all my bedrooms.

The Roku and the Chromecast are much better thanTubecore/PlayOn. It's simple to switch inputs, even if you don't have HDMI-CEC or some other means of control (RS-232, network, etc).

[lithium630]

Just got my 6th Roku 3 today. I put one in every bedroom and the livingroom.

[Sergio526]

EDIT: I have a dumb question for those who want to continue using TubeCore and PlayOn: Why can't you just continue using TubeCore? Won't it just keep working now that the company is out of business?

To answer your not-dumb-at-all question, the reason I'm (still) seeking a replacement is because, inevitably, TubeCore will stop working, not because there's some remote shut-off, but because PlayOn will probably, some day, change just enough that TubeCore will stop seeing/interfacing with it. Thankfully, that hasn't happened yet, and there is a chance that it may never happen, but I don't ever want to hit that wall and have to make the choice of staying on an old build of PlayOn to keep using TubeCore, but lose Hulu or PBS compatibility.

[Sharks]

Any else out there looking to give away their tubeCore license?

[Sergio526]

And there we go. PlayOn v4 does NOT work with TubeCore. Now I need to see about downgrading PlayOn...

[Dkeyguy1]

Mine is working with it.