Hulu + flash player

[Shador]

The header files of binaries contain information about the required libraries. Try ldd on any binary. You'll get something like this:

Code: Select all

shador[~]$ ldd /usr/bin/grep
	linux-gate.so.1 =>  (0xb805e000)
	libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0xb7ee7000)
	/lib/ld-linux.so.2 (0xb805f000)

Those libs are dynamically loaded by "/lib/ld-linux.so.2", which searches for them in /usr/lib, /lib and any other paths specified in LD_LIBRARY_PATH or /etc/ld.so.conf on x86_64 it seems like /usr/lib64 and /lib64 are hardcoded into it too.
If you want more details, I recommend the man pages: ld.so and ldconfig, optionally also ldd and ld.

[thenktor]

And by default on 64 bit Salix/Slackware (and AFAIK other 64 bit distros, too) libraries are stored in /lib64 and /usr/lib64.

[woodsman]

I tested Hulu with Salix 13.01. No problems connecting. As previously mentioned, make sure no blocking tools are configured to generically block all flash files. The NoScript Firefox extension is one such tool.

As is well discussed in many online forums, watching video streams from Hulu requires an IP address within the gulag generally known as the United States, a place where ideas are regulated beyond belief and seldom shared freely if there is no profit involved. Thus, you folks in Europe will have a difficult time testing Hulu. There are ways to tunnel through proxies, but the hulu developers are amazingly clever at stopping such efforts.

Yes, Hulu uses the Adobe flash format to deliver video content. Most of the modern videos are formatted for wide screen delivery (16 x 9 ratio). The older 4 x 3 ratio videos are presented in the same format with black-lettering on the sides. All videos default to standard resolution of 320p but many are available in an optional "high definition" format of 480p (standard DVD quality). The latter format requires a fast broadband connection.

If using Firefox 3.5.x, the videos can be watched in full screen without Firefox crashing.

Any video content longer than about 4 minutes will be mixed with advertising --- just like TV. End-users can block the ads easily with any ad blocking technique, but the Hulu delivery system is designed to penalize such users. Many ads are 15 to 30 seconds in length. If ads are blocked then there is a mandatory pre-programmed 30 second lull period interjected in place of the ad.

Do know that unless a person takes precautions, that the Hulu developers make full use of flash "cookies." This can be stopped with various techniques.

There is a dedicated Hulu media player that does not require a web browser. I do not find the player well designed and second, the player will not work at all if flash cookies are forbidden. A web browser still will play Hulu videos if flash cookies are prohibited.

[jwhendy]

Thanks for the explanation.

I still find myself stuck, as I do happen to live inside of the US 'gulag' and have no trouble with any other flash sites and am working from a nearly 'fresh' Salix 64bit install and so have no blockers or flash-preventers installed.

It seems that the only two tangible suggestions that have come about are:
- live within the US (done)
- don't have add-ons installed that block flash (done)

Is there anything else at all I could do to check this? Any output files that might help (firefox logs, other things)?


John

[woodsman]

Obvious question : you have JavaScript enabled? Many web sites providing video streams will not function correctly unless JS is enabled.

I hate JavaScript.

You do not need to enable Java or cookies or referrer headings.

I don't think there is any user agent requirement, although not providing the correct agent information theoretically could prevent access.

Are you sure you have checked all blocking avenues? Even something as simple as a 127.0.0.1 IP address for a URL in /etc/hosts will prevent sites such as hulu.com from functioning correctly.

Have you tested with a different browser?

Also know that capturing a Hulu video is all but impossible. The Hulu developers use RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) and encryption. Users can only stream Hulu videos in real-time. Users cannot download and time-shift a Hulu video.

[zAchAry]

I had that RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) issue when I tried to get a few MP3 files from MySpace (those files were under the Creative-Commons license) and I was very upset when a yet another anti-information/anti-sharing/blocked/proprietary... protocol came to my knowledge.

Please read: » Package requests: RTMPDump & flvstreamer (RTMP)

[callisto]

I have 64 bit LXDE Salix installed with Midori and Firefox 4. I installed the latest version of flash and it works great in Youtube.com but Hulu just gives me a blank grey area (with Midori its a blank black area) with no video.

[JRD]

Mayeb I will just answer a dump thing but If I reckon correctly, you should install seamonkey-solibs for flash to work with non-mozilla products.