Boinc doesn't work with Netflix?

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Windrider

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Joined: 8 Apr 09
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Message 24165 - Posted: 8 Apr 2009, 17:56:20 UTC

It appears that Boinc doesn't work with Netflix "watch instantly" (which uses Microsoft's Silverlight). We get a lot of halting of the movies, a random line or two running horizontally across the screen. We're also having the same problems with streaming the Daily Show.

We've uninstalled Boinc and the video corruption problems have gone away and the Netflix instant films are watchable.

We have an iMac 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 3 GB RAM, OS X 10.5.6 with Safari 3.2.1 and Boinc 6-1.2.18

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Profile Jord
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Joined: 29 Aug 05
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Netherlands
Message 24166 - Posted: 8 Apr 2009, 18:11:20 UTC - in response to Message 24165.  

I have forwarded it to the developers, but am also wondering if they need to fix this. Have you tried suspending BOINC prior to watching videos through Netflix? If so, was there still a problem then?

Also, might be useful information, what make and model videocard do you use? Drivers version, etc.? And which projects were running at the time?
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Jack

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Message 24170 - Posted: 8 Apr 2009, 20:08:54 UTC

I've noticed this too. Suspending BOINC doesn't work. You have to disable your screensaver entirely or make the timeout really long.

Jack
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Charlie Fenton
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Message 24177 - Posted: 8 Apr 2009, 23:08:04 UTC - in response to Message 24170.  

I've noticed this too. Suspending BOINC doesn't work. You have to disable your screensaver entirely or make the timeout really long.

Are you saying that you can leave BOINC installed, as long as you suspend BOINC and disable the screensaver (either by setting the start delay to "Never" or by putting the mouse in the "Disable Screensaver" hot corner)? Is it enough to disable the screensaver without suspending BOINC?

If so, the simplest solution for both you and Windrider might be to make sure you have set a "Disable Screensaver" hot corner in the screensaver system preferences, and leave the mouse in that corner when watching movies. If necessary, you can also suspend BOINC.

Also, do you see a similar problem with screensavers other than BOINC?

Some Mac applications such as QuickTime movies periodically execute a command to tell the Mac to act as if there is user activity, so that the screensaver engine won't start and interfere with watching a movie. I wonder if Microsoft's Silverlight fails to do this.

Since BOINC uses the Mac's standard screensaver engine, simulating user activity (like QuickTime does) should work for BOINC as well, and should also automatically keep BOINC suspended if you have your BOINC preferences set to "Suspend work while computer is in use".

I hope this helps.



Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer
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Charlie Fenton
Project developer

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Message 24178 - Posted: 9 Apr 2009, 1:18:47 UTC - in response to Message 24177.  

You may also need to suspend BOINC's network activity. If BOINC is using part of your Internet bandwidth that would reduce the bandwidth available for your movie.
Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer
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Korz53
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Message 25894 - Posted: 6 Jul 2009, 2:38:00 UTC - in response to Message 24177.  

I had no problem watching Netflix Movies on it's Viewer before , until the last 2 or last BOINC update. ( i have BOINC Version 6.6.36 ) ( wxWidets Version 2.8.7 ) need to suspend or turn off BOINC to watch with out the stuttering of the Movie . Lowering CPUs for BONIC or Cutting off internet access to BONIC will not help {. Last year i had a problem watching a HD Movie from the internet , i corrected the problem by lowering CPU to 75% for BOINC use, , it worked but not for NetFlix } .


Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac6,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 3 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM61.0093.B07
SMC Version (system): 1.10f2
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Korz53
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Message 25895 - Posted: 6 Jul 2009, 3:07:47 UTC - in response to Message 24177.  
Last modified: 6 Jul 2009, 3:21:58 UTC

i just set BOINC to use only One Processor and at 30% , got a good improvement but sill get a burst of stuttering sometimes.......................
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Message boards : Questions and problems : Boinc doesn't work with Netflix?

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