With DVD sales lagging, Paramount is testing out this new service, first with business clients and later with consumers, that allows you to search for a line of dialogue, scene, genre, location or actor and get the specific clip you want. That clip comes with a variable fee, depending on the value of the movie in question (so, The Godfather would be pretty expensive) as well as the length of the clip. It's really designed more for companies who want to use a quick clip in, say, an ad campaign—good, because it doesn't really make sense for the consumer. The service should launch Tuesday, and prices are as yet undisclosed. [New York Times]

And she has good reason to be scared that an entire generation doesn't find a television to be an essential household item. People are flocking to the web to watch streaming shows, but the networks still aren't making any money off these views. Hulu, the largest streaming site, is getting over 40 million visitors a month who are viewing 5 billion minutes of shows and clips. And that number is only going up, while TV viewership is going down.

These content creators need to figure out a way to monetize this phenomenon, and fast. Because the genie is out of the bottle, and there's no putting him back in. [NY Times]

The Roku Channel Store is an open platform for delivering content to Roku boxes beyond the already-integrated Netflix, MLB.tv and Amazon channels. We all had high hopes for full-length streaming video, and rumors pointed to Hulu, but alas, it is not to be. The first ten "channels" were released today, and Hulu is not among them. The list:

Pandora, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Mediafly, TWiT, blip.tv, Flickr, FrameChannel, Motionbox and MobileTribe.

The Channel Store itself seems pretty open-ended, with a freely available SDK so developers can add to the Store's selection—and we hope they do, because these offerings are pretty meager at the moment. The Roku Channel Store is a free and automatic upgrade starting today, and works on all Roku devices, but there aren't any killer apps here (and neither Pandora nor Flickr is really a barn-burner at this point—at this point, every gadget I own, including my alarm clock, does that stuff). Here's hoping for some serious development efforts. Press release is below. [Roku]

Roku Launches Open Platform for Delivery of Content to the TV; Announces First 10 New Channels

Pandora, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Mediafly, TWiT, blip.tv, Flickr, FrameChannel, Motionbox and MobileTribe all now available on the Roku player

Silicon Valley, Calif. – November 23, 2009 – Roku, Inc., maker of the popular and award-winning family of Roku players, announced today the Roku Channel Store and the first 10 free channels for Roku customers to enjoy on their TVs. From internet radio to video podcasts, professional web content to photo sharing and personal videos, the Roku Channel Store provides an open platform for delivering quality content to the TV. New channels now available for customers to add today to their Roku experience via the Roku Channel Store include: Pandora, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Mediafly, TWiT, blip.tv, Flickr, FrameChannel, Motionbox and MobileTribe. For the complete list of channels and specific channel descriptions and features, please go to http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store.

These first 10 channels are just the beginning for Roku. Many other developers are working on Roku Channels now, and Roku expects additional developers to adopt the Roku platform over time. New channels will appear in the Roku Channel Store automatically as they become available.

The Roku Channel Store represents an opportunity for content owners and publishers to reach an already large and growing audience of Roku customers. By creating an open platform for delivery to the television over the Internet, Roku has leveled the playing field for content owners.

"The Roku Channel Store turns the Roku player into the world's first open platform designed specifically for the TV," Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, Inc said. "Now content producers and distributors – from single person shops to billion dollar corporations – can deliver their content directly to consumers without having to go exclusively through cable operators, satellite networks or TV affiliates."

To create a channel for the Roku Channel Store, a developer creates an application using Roku's free software developer kit. This SDK is available free upon request by emailing partners@roku.com.

All Roku players, including the Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR models, are compatible with the Roku Channel Store. The new channels are in addition to the existing Roku channels already available: Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Video On Demand and MLB.TV.

Pricing and availability

The Roku Channel Store will be delivered as an automatic and free upgrade to all existing Roku customers over the course of the next two weeks. New customers will automatically be upgraded when they first install their Roku player. To browse and use the Roku Channel Store, customers will be prompted to create a Roku account. Existing customers who do not want to wait for their Roku player to update automatically can manually update their Roku player immediately. Detailed instructions can be found under the Roku Channel Store tab at http://www.roku.com/support/faqs.

First introduced in May 2008, and updated regularly with free software updates, the Roku player family provides the easiest, most affordable and reliable way for hundreds of thousands of Roku customers to watch their favorite movies, TV shows and sporting events instantly on their TV. All three Roku players are available immediately at http://www.roku.com starting at $79.99 and include free shipping for a limited time.

About Roku, Inc.

Roku is a market leader in innovative applications for digital media, opening up a new world of entertainment to the TV. Through its work in both software and hardware, the company develops and sells consumer products that give customers the ability to take charge over their entertainment choices, combining high-value content and immediate access to that content at a low price. Its products include: The family of Roku players and the SoundBridge Internet radio line. Roku is privately held and based in Saratoga, Calif. For more information on the company and its products, visit: http://www.roku.com.

The news comes from the COO of Syabas, the company that makes the Popcorn Hour set-top box. Up until now they'd had a "loose agreement" with the 'Tube: They could stream video from YouTube for free, but YouTube could change the terms of the deal whenever they want. Which they did!:

YouTube has always retained the right to change its terms of service in the future should it ever wish to do so. As a result of Google's decision, Syabas is no longer allowed to access YouTube through its APIs. To be clear, Syabas is not being singled out. With the exception of a few strategic partners Google has chosen to work with, the company has informed Syabas they are asking all over-the-top device makers that are currently connecting to YouTube content through its APIs to take down the service.

To quote every set-top box manufacturer in the world, probably: "shit." YouTube access had become the kind of thing you take for granted in a connected box or Blu-ray player, and it was nice to have. Now, it'll be limited to sanctioned devices like the PS3, Wii, TiVo, officially supported Blu-ray players, etc—backed by the kinds of companies who have the clout to pressure Google, or the money to pay them—leaving everyone else to search for some kind of hacky workaround, the last of which got them in this bind in the first place.

I understand that Google wants to squeeze some ad revenue out of YouTube, and that letting anyone and everyone access raw, ad-free through the backend probably isn't the best business plan, but this isn't Hulu—it's not like they have many powerful content providers to appease, just a bunch of teenagers with webcams. Unauthorized set-top box folks, whoever you are: watch your free video cornucopia dissolve on December 2nd.

UPDATE: YouTube's statement:

Since July of 2008, YouTube's Terms of Service has restricted implementations for televisions based on our APIs. YouTube has been in active discussions with various developers on how best to implement YouTube on set top boxes and TVs. There are several companies, however, that have deployed solutions, like video scraping technology, to circumvent the rules and violate YouTube's Terms of Service. Companies that have negotiated agreements to use our APIs, like TiVo, Sony, Panasonic and Sony's PS3 are not impacted.

So, companies like Syabas have been in violation of YouTube's terms of service for some time now, and knew this was going to happen. The question remains, though: Why haven't they just "complied", and gotten a deal like TiVo or Sony? Does it cost anything? Is YouTube selective? Does it just take a while? [Syabas via Engadget via Lifehacker]

The interface is technically new in that it's visually catered to the PS3, but it should look familiar to anyone who's used Netflix on a Blu-ray player or connected TV in the past. This means it's pretty basic: so far as I can tell there are just "Instant Queue" and "Recently Watched" tabs, with none of the additional—though admittedly kind of useless—category views Xbox users are used to, and video navigation is unchanged, with the same visual timeline taking care of FF and RW funtions. One thing Xbox users aren't used to, though, is not having to pay for the privilege: Netflix-subscribed PS3 owners can just order a free disc and be done with it; Xbox owner need to have a paid Live subscription as well. (Ballmer's gotta eat!)

In any case, the experience is smooth from start to finish, with a fast-loading interface and the same near-instant streaming you get on any other platform. It's just a shame you need a disc—until this is part of the PS3 firmware, it'll feel more like a hack than a new feature. [Engadget]

Hulu, the joint venture between News Corp.'s Fox, GE's NBC Universal and Disney's ABC, doesn't plan on charging people to watch the stuff it's currently airing on the site–a mix of first-run shows from broadcast TV, a limited number of cable TV shows and a smattering of movies. But Hulu is trying to figure out how to create some kind of premium offering where you'll pay for stuff that isn't on the site right now.

This jibes with Carey's adjacent reassurance that "not all content on Hulu would be behind a pay wall," which hints at the addition of some kind of subscription or pay-per-view system, that could conceivably leave current offerings untouched. This is a plausible possibility, but far from sure: Kafka's sources says Hulu doesn't actually have a plan yet, so anything is possible.

Plan or no plan, telling everyone what they aren't going to do would do Hulu good—vague threats of fees for "broadcast content" are just terrifying everyone. [AllThingsD]

In case you've never heard of RT, it's kind of the be-all, end-all of movie review sites, compiling dozens of reviews per movie to come up with a sort of meta-score, which, more times than not, gives you a decent sense of what to expect from a film. Vudu's movie selection interface is now littered with tomatoes: tomatoes with the combined "Tomatometer" score at each film's selection screen, tomatoes with individual review excerpts in each film's selection screen, tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes tomatoes.

Both upgrades will be free, and both will just sorta happen: LG BD390 users should expect an upgrade prompt any time now, and all Vudu users should keep an eye out for the new ratings system. [Vudu]

LG ELECTRONICS ADDS VUDU HD MOVIE SERVICE TO

WIRELESS ‘NETCAST' NETWORK BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER

Streaming Movie Service Brings Largest Library of HD Movies to Consumers' Fingertips

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2009 – LG Electronics today announced the addition of the high-definition streaming movie service from VUDU, Inc. to the LG Wireless Network Blu-ray Player (model BD390). With VUDU, consumers can instantly buy or rent from an extensive library of movies and TV titles, including an industry-leading catalog of more than 2,200 high-definition (HD) movies. The BD390 with VUDU will be demonstrated here this week at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623).

The addition of VUDU service to the BD390 adds yet another content provider alliance to the "NetCast Entertainment Access" family of features, which already includes access to hundreds of hours of Netflix, Roxio® CinemaNow®, and YouTube™ streaming content*. Available later this month through a free automatic upgrade, consumers will be able to enjoy VUDU, as well as other exclusive entertainment options at the click of a remote.

"Our alliance with VUDU exemplifies LG's commitment to delivering the ultimate HD viewing experience, by providing instant access to more 1080p movie content than ever before," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. "VUDU is the latest enhancement to our NetCast Entertainment Access feature and we are excited to now provide consumers with one of the most extensive on-demand, high-definition entertainment options on our Wireless Network Blu-ray Player."

The BD390 with NetCast Entertainment Access is available now at nationwide retailers at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $399. VUDU connectivity will be available at the end of the month via a free upgrade.

VUDU Service and Functions

VUDU's streaming movie service delivers a near-instant viewing experience – movies start quickly, including high-definition HDX movies, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with slow buffering.

Its unique HDX format, with Full HD 1080p resolution, allows for a crisper, clearer picture, while Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound makes it feel like the action is unfolding in consumers' living rooms.

The VUDU catalog is updated weekly, and newly released movies from major studios are typically available months before they are available on subscription-based services. With no monthly fees and without the hassle of having to buy, install, or connect any additional hardware, it has never been easier for consumers to watch their favorite movies.

"Following the recent launch of VUDU on LG HDTVs with NetCast Entertainment Access, LG's BD390 Network Blu-ray player provides the perfect opportunity for anyone in the market for a Blu-ray player to enjoy VUDU's extensive HD movie library in superior 1080p video quality and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound," said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU. "Through our alliance with LG, VUDU is breaking new ground in delivering high definition Hollywood movies to consumers' living rooms."

Connectivity and Storage

As LG's first-ever wireless Network Blu-ray Player, LG's BD390 transforms and personalizes the home theater experience, by offering a virtually endless array of entertainment options. In addition to its broadband capabilities, the BD390 offers exceptional "Full HD" 1080p video performance and exceptional image quality from standard DVDs with 1080p up-scaling via HDMI output. The BD390 is also equipped for easy connection to the home network and has one gigabyte (GB) of built-in memory for BD Live functionality.

[LG]

Both 1080p HDTVs include wired and wireless internet connections and a crazy-sounding 16-speaker "sound projector" to really blast those rented flicks. Plus, the Vudu support includes support for YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and Pandora. Like Mitsubishi's previous deal, the purchase of one of these sets comes with a $50 Vudu credit for the first two months. Full press release below. [Mitsubishi]

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Ships VUDU Integrated 1080p Flat Panel LCD Televisions

Unisen™ Diamond Line of Immersive Sound TVs Deliver VUDU's Extensive HD Library In Full 1080p and 5.1 Dolby® Digital Surround Sound

IRVINE, Calif - September 3, 2009 —- Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (MDEA) today announced it has begun shipping VUDU integrated 1080p flat panel TVs in its Diamond models of Unisen™ Immersive Sound LCD Televisions. MDEA will provide the consumer the opportunity to experience the seamless delivery of thousands of high definition movies and TV shows.

Consumers will now be able to enjoy VUDU HD movie content through the unparalleled sensory experience that is delivered by Unisen's superior 1080p picture performance and built-in Dolby Digital® 5.1 surround sound. The Diamond Unisen models, LT-46249 and LT-52249, come equipped with an Ethernet port, which allows for direct connection to the Internet. With the addition of the optional VUDU wireless accessory bridge, consumers can simply link their Diamond Unisen model to their wireless home network to watch the latest in entertainment programming.

"We are always looking to elevate the large screen experience for consumers, and the Mitsubishi VUDU-integrated TVs will combine unprecedented HD program choice with unparalleled picture performance," said Frank DeMartin, vice president of marketing, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. "Owners of Diamond Unisen Immersive Sound TV's will now have convenient access to high quality entertainment content."

With over 2,200 HD titles and 16,000 titles overall, VUDU offers the most extensive HD movie library available today. In addition, starting later this month, the VUDU service on Diamond Unisen Immersive Sound TVs will offer popular internet services such as YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and Pandora®, as well as an "On Demand TV" area with more than 80 channels to choose from.

"VUDU's extensive HD library of recently released Hollywood titles provides the perfect entertainment solution for Mitsubishi's Diamond Unisen TVs," said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU. "Through this collaboration with Mitsubishi, we are expanding the reach of the VUDU Service to a broad new segment of consumers, providing an outstanding movie watching experience with true 1080p and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound."

For a limited time, owners of Mitsubishi's VUDU integrated Diamond Unisen TVs will receive two months worth of free movie rentals or purchases (up to $50.00)*, including SD, HD, and HDX movies, allowing them to experience the extraordinary 1080p image quality and immersive Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound of the VUDU Service running on Mitsubishi Diamond Unisen TVs.

Diamond Unisen Features
In addition to the VUDU streaming capabilities, the Diamond Unisen line of premium flat panel TVs combine ultra compact design, immersive sound technology and advanced video performance to deliver a complete sensory experience without the hassle of complex setup. Each model features an UltraThin Frame™ design delivering a frame measuring less than one inch, fully integrated 18-speaker Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound system featuring Dual Driver Extended Range Sound, and Variable Smooth 240 Film Motion for viewing of fast and slow moving programs. Diamond Unisen TVs feature wide color gamut backlight technology to reproduce approximately 25 percent more color than most LCD-TVs and both 249 Series models are EnergyStar™ 3.0 qualified.

Availability and Pricing
MDEA has commenced shipping Diamond Unisen models to authorized retailers in the United States. MSRP for the Diamond Unisen products will be $2,599 for the 46" model, LT-46249 and $3,099 for the 52" model, LT-52249.

• Media: GPU hardware acceleration, new codec support (H.264, AAC, MPEG-4), raw bitstream Audio/Video API, and improved logging for media analytics
• Graphics: GPU Acceleration and hardware compositing, perspective 3D, bitmap and pixel API, pixel shader effects, and Deep Zoom improvements
• Application development: Deep linking, navigation and SEO, improved text quality, multi-touch support, 60+ controls available, and library caching support
• Data: Data-binding improvements, validation error templates, server data push improvements, binary XML networking support, and multi-tier REST data support

That first one is far and away the most important, since high-bitrate HD streaming is well on its way to becoming the de facto standard for online video, and Flash kinda sucks at it. I still notice fairly high CPU utilization running their test video, but the instant skipping feature is definitely impressive. [Ars]

RealPlayer SP is the evolution of the long-running RealPlayer software, which has become a multi-limbed beast of a program: It's a media manager and player, along with a packaged web browser, a subscription and a la carte music store (Rhapsody), a gaming store (Real Arcade), an audio recorder, and now a streaming video ripper/converter with ties-in to social networking sites. It is at the moment Windows only, though we're assured a Mac version is forthcoming. The beta comes in two versions: One is free, and the other costs $40 and includes H.264 conversion, DVD playback and DVD burning.

The SP stands for Social/Portable, so you can get a hint of where they're going with all this. In addition to RealPlayer itself, the software integrates a button to rip video into your browser (Firefox, Chrome, and IE are supported, Opera is not, no word yet on Safari). This new addition includes a converter to pretty much every portable video format you could imagine, from BlackBerry to Symbian to iPod to Zune.

Where RealPlayer SP is convenient is in this video conversion, especially if you've got a more niche phone or PMP (and I certainly do). Normally, conversion to Zune-supported video is kind of a pain in the ass, but RealPlayer SP handles it easily and well. For newer devices like the Palm Pre and BlackBerry Bold, RealPlayer SP can pass the converted video right through to the player, while it's able to go through iTunes to get video onto an iPhone or iPod touch. Older or less common devices, like my BlackBerry Curve 83xx and my Zune, are still supported, but you'll have to copy the new video files over manually.

The problem with this new iteration of RealPlayer isn't the new features, it's the underlying RealPlayer media software. iTunes, Zune, MediaMonkey and WinAmp are all better and more full-featured media jukeboxes, and unfortunately, Real's new focus on streaming video is new to that category of software but certainly not new to any of us. Hell, Firefox has had extensions that can do the exact same thing for years, with admittedly weaker codec support.

I also wasn't thrilled with the conversion speed or efficiency. Real claims a 1x conversion time, meaning 1 minute of video will take 1 minute to convert, which is actually quite pokey. A 3.2MB music video took 3.5 minutes to convert, and I ended up with a 6.6MB file. Sure, it's not a big deal for such a tiny video, but it feels like it should have been far snappier.

RealPlayer SP is also tied in to various social networking sites, but it's pretty half-assed: For Twitter, it just provides a link to the page of the video you downloaded, along with some prime advertisement for Real that kind of makes you sound like a jackass. The default tweet is "just downloaded so-and-so video with RealPlayer!" followed by a link to the RealPlayer download site. So get ready to follow every single one of those Twitter posts with "Clarification: I do not work for Real."

Really, the new features in RealPlayer SP aren't bad at all. It's a good idea to integrate streaming video ripping into a media jukebox, and RealPlayer SP does about as good job at it as we could ask. But the overall package needs some work: RealPlayer SP is way too bloated to work as just a video ripper/converter, and as a media jukebox it's outdated and cumbersome. Real has a good idea here, but RealPlayer needs more than some flashy add-ons. We'd love it if Real would put out the SP features in a simple applet, and leave off the browsers and media managers that we don't give a damn about.

So who should actually use RealPlayer SP? If you're a BlackBerry or Zune owner who uses Windows, loves YouTube and is confused by the multitude of third-party video converters, RealPlayer SP would be an excellent choice for getting video clips on your phone. [Real]

They're guilty, you can't argue that they're not. They broke the rules set by the Establishment. But the technology is based on crowdsourcing, and as surely as we download, we seed, and so we're all guilty.

I don't do it regularly. And I support movies and music I think deserve to be supported. But I can't argue that I'm not also guilty.

But I will argue that this guy is a dick:

Speaking to the BBC, the chairman of industry body the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) John Kennedy said the verdict sent out a clear message.

"These guys weren't making a principled stand, they were out to line their own pockets. There was nothing meritorious about their behaviour, it was reprehensible."

We stole, but I think the Pirate Bay did make a stand.

I can afford to buy my content, unlike when I was a brokeass in college. But I still steal when I don't want to spend 45 minutes going to a movie theater and waiting in line or paying 10 bucks for 10 ounces of stale popcorn, or when there's no way I'm going to pay for a movie, or when I can't find back catalog listings I desperately want. I live by our pirate code, and will always support the artists I believe in. For example, I am saving Watchmen and Wolverine for the big screen for the quality and to support the artists. But Transporter 3 is a piece of junk I decided I needed to watch one night, stoned, with no other entertainment in sight. Same for Punisher: War zone. I end up watching the first 20 minutes of a lot of shitty films, and then shutting them off—it's just something I do. And if I couldn't pirate them, I'd never see them at all. But I'm getting off point.

The crux of it is that I just don't want to be told when to watch them, how to watch them, and what to watch them on. I'd say that for a lot of people, that's the case. Sure, some people just steal because they don't want to or can't pay, but a lot of people are just waiting for the official distribution model to be just as slick as BitTorrent.

Look at how popular iTunes became. That system thrived because it provided a great mainstream experience, even while limewire/napster were free and thriving. Or look at Hulu now. I don't have to go to BitTorrent for a TV show—new or old—if it's on something as amazing and easy-to-use as Hulu. (And some studies show that people are migrating from torrent to streaming, when it's viable.) I just don't want to have to be told I have to wait to see movies on my computer/phone in some crippled way, weeks later. For me, it's about speed, and ultimately convenience and experience, above all else. I don't get that at the megaplex, no matter how much they want me to line their pockets with popcorn and gummibear money.

I know there are business oriented reasons to keep theaters running ahead of the iTunes releases. Those reasons are often synonymous with reasons for keeping the control of how we enjoy our content in the hands of those who distribute it. I mean, Lost is on public TV and it's on ABC.com, for free, in high def even, but people still download the hell out of that show, probably because their countries are a season or two behind, or the convenience still outstrips what's available to them. The Pirate Bay is closer to that solution than the establishment is. And so I disagree with International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's stance that the Pirate Bay did nothing good. They did nothing good for the winners of this court case, but they are state of the art for media distribution, and producers should learn how to work with the world as it is now, instead of trying to deny reality.

Eventually, this will work itself out. The internet is going to connect producers and viewers together without a thinner distribution middleman. Somehow. Someday.

For now, I plead guilty. So lock me up, because I'm a pirate, too.

And if you feel the same way I do, make a pirate hat, take a photo of yourself wearing it with or without an eyepatch, parrot, cardboard sword, and post it somewhere, anywhere, and declare yourself a pirate.

UPDATE: Not that this changes the issues at hand, but now I feel unbelievably guilty now that I've admitted I've stolen some media. I'm going to go through and see what I've downloaded without paying for, and pay whatever I haven't already paid for or own on another format. Promise.

[How to build a pirate hat out of newspaper]

While it's designed to work over Wi-Fi and 3G—like that rumored and delicious Hulu app—AppleInsider suggests it might need to be Wi-Fi only to appease AT&T, who fears what it would do to its network. After all, at best its retracted Skype-and-Sling-banning terms of service update was a Freudian slip. [Boy Genius, AppleInsider]

30 Rock, Dollhouse, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Arrested Development, oh yes. Any hope AT&T has of charging people a monthly fee for mobile TV dies with a Hulu app, especially once ABC jumps onboard and it hits other mobile platforms (which it surely will). If it truly delivers the full Hulu experience—every video with a great UI—the potential awesomeness literally blows my mind. Hulu CEO Jason Kilar said one year ago that mobile is "ripe for the Hulu experience" but it "may not be identical" on every platform. I'd hope the iPhone is as close to the real thing as it can get, though that obviously depends on NBC and Fox to allow it, as well. And Apple has to approve it, obviously.

But still, mobile TV was not very exciting to me until this moment. [Alley Insider]

You may know that Hulu and Boxee have been involved in an imbroglio of sorts over access to Hulu's sweet trove of free online video. Boxee's official Hulu implementation was shot down last month, after Hulu undoubtedly received a call or two from their bigwig content providers saying they would like to control the moment their Hulu shows and movies get piped into the liviing room, thank you very much. It was a sad day.

But as we reported last week, and which Boxee confirmed to us, the latest alpha of Boxee includes a Mozilla based XUL implementation (the part of a browser that parses and presents XML code to users) that looks exactly the same to Hulu as any other Mozilla-based browser. Thus rendering the new encoding, which scrambles direct URLs to video files and relies on a JavaScript translator to decrypt them in a browser, useless against stopping Boxee.

I just watched the A-Team with the new alpha, and it works fine and dandy. So we'll see exactly what Hulu is up to with this encoding (or, whether it was doing this all along, and no one noticed until now). The new Mozilla-equipped alpha of Boxee is available for OS X (and Apple TV) now, with the Linux and Windows version shortly to follow. [Boxee]

This is the latest one-up to occur between the two companies, who have been dueling over Hulu's TV accessibility.

Also noteworthy is that Boxee's new API allows fully XML and Python program for complete customization of Boxee app UIs. One of the first apps to make use of this API is Pandora, which will launch soon, and give you the same online experience on your TV screen. [Boxee]

An XBMC team developer with the forum handle "d4rk" has developed a quick and dirty plug-in that should get Hulu back up and running (although it is untested). Not surprisingly, hackers have chosen to fight the power. [XBMC via Boxee Forum via Lifehacker]

iTunes Replay will stream TV shows and movies purchased on iTunes, so you wouldn't have to download them after purchasing, freeing up hard drive space. AppleInsider doesn't know if Apple's going to charge for the service, but charging for streaming video—especially video you've already paid for—would be weird.

AppleInsider isn't too clear on whether or not devices like Apple TV or the iPhone/iPod touch will be part iTunes Replay. Apple TV seems more practical for the time being than the iPhone, and it'd add a needed dimension to it.

No mention on a release date for it, just that it would be part of iTunes 8, so we're not looking at a whole new version of iTunes to get the service. [AI]

News of the Secondrun.tv first appeared on The Green Button forums, and is being developed by a forum poster calling himself Yaggs.

The plugin is still in public beta, but a video demo is available. Secondrun.tv bascially takes selected RSS data from Hulu, and repackages it in a more TV-friendly format. Instead of a UI that absolutely requires a mouse, Secondrun.tv fashions itself in the likeness of Roku's Netflix box UI, with big cover art and a brief description below.

Shows are organized by network at the moment, but once you start playing a video, the Hulu website rears its remote-unfriendly head. But the guys at Secondrun are working on getting the basic functions working with the remote, and improving the playback UI.

Admittedly, it looks a bit more difficult to search for specific, obscure items that might be on Hulu (and TRUST ME, there is some OBSCURE shit). But if you want to browse the major and/or popular items from the video site, this app seems like it will do the trick.

No word on a release date, but the creator says it will be out soon. There's also no word on how it works with the Windows 7 version of Media Center or the Xbox 360 Media Extender. [The Green Button via TheDigitalLifestyle via Geek Tonic via Download Squad]