Hulu Launches Remote-Friendly Desktop Application
Despite its difficulties playing nice, Hulu remains among the more popular TV streaming services. Today, the company introduced their own desktop application that enables remote-controlled viewing that works with Windows Media and Apple remotes.
One of the featured beta projects being showcased at Hulu Labs, Hulu Desktop lets users navigate the contents of their library using six buttons. (You can also use a mouse or keyboard.) The free download works on both PCs and Macs.
Quote:
Use the "menu" or "back" button on your remote to toggle between the current video and the menu (on your PC, use the tab or escape key). From the menu, use your left or right keys to move between menu items and press "OK" or "Play" on your remote to choose a selection. While watching the video, you can view your progress within the video by tapping the up or down arrow, and then use the same arrows to adjust volume. Your remote also controls playback: you can pause or resume a video (use the spacebar on your keyboard), jump forward or back, or seek a particular scene.
According to Gizmodo's review, "it's like real TV."
The app is beautiful, fast, easy to navigate and simply amazing-everything you'd expect from Hulu, honestly. There are thumbnail previews that pop up as you move alongside the scrubber, like Netflix's streaming app. You can queue episodes too-you need a Hulu account for this. There are bunch of different ways to find content: via search, Hulu channels, by studio alphabetically or just through suggestions.
One drawback is that you can't access your profile settings and friend details using the desktop app, but your queue, history, and subscriptions will work. Worse still, all of Hulu's content isn't yet available on the desktop app.
And, of course, the flash-built desktop app is limited to U.S.-only users—though we've previously shown you how to get around that. Update: Reader Steve Paulson points out that the HotSpot Shield no longer works for accessing Hulu from outside the U.S.
For a more detailed explanation of the Hulu desktop, check out this demo video. So while this is a step in the right direction, we're still pretty keen on getting to Hulu via Boxee, XBMC, and the like.
LifeHacker
Hulu Desktop
