Introducing Hulu Widgets
July 30th, 2008
Keeping on top of Hulu's newest and most popular videos just got easier with the release of Hulu's new Widget Gallery. These widgets -- portable pieces of HTML code -- allow you to track the videos in your queue, as well as Hulu's top videos, from your desktop, personal blog or iGoogle page.
The Hulu Player Widget allows you to watch a variety of videos from the widget itself. Embeddable on your desktop, blog and personal home page, you can play videos from your queue or Hulu's featured, most popular or recently added lists, or you can find other shows, movies or clips on Hulu and other sites using the search bar within the widget.
To give the widget a try on your blog, iGoogle page, desktop or other platforms, you can grab it from our Widget Gallery or from the video player we've installed below. Just click on "Preferences" in the lower right, then click on "grab" to add the widget to a number of platforms, or click on "embed" to copy the embed code to your blog.
In addition to the Player Widget, our Widget Gallery features three other widgets: the Summer Widget, which helps you track the additions to our Hulu Days of Summer lineup; the Show Widget, which links you to the latest updates to your favorite shows or movie; and the Picks Widget, which connects you to the day's most popular, highest rated and recently added videos on Hulu. If you like to keep an eye on our recently added and most popular lists, the Picks Widget (below) is the widget for you.
These smaller widgets don't offer the ability to watch or search for videos from within the widgets, but you can click through to start the video in a new browser window. You can change the view from the settings menu on the lower right corner, and choose whether to show episodes, clips or both, at any time. Give them a try and let us know what you think here in the comments section, or at feedback@hulu.com.
Stas
stanislav.nikiforov@hulu.com
Hulu's Waterloo Wonder
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July 31st, 2008 at 03:30 PM How about Vista gadgets?
July 31st, 2008 at 08:22 PM Awesome.. now.. could you PLEASE build an interface or an API so someone can build an interface for MediaCenter... so that.. I dunno... could watch television.. on my.. ummm.... television? Gah. The lack of a MediaCenter interface is the only thing that is keeping me from becoming an obsessed Hulu lover!
August 1st, 2008 at 08:08 AM I'm sold on hulu, without a doubt. But the flash player is lacking. A stand alone player would really make things shine. Skinable options and branding of players would be a big plus. Make the source code available for skins and you'll see your membership jump. Gadgets and plugins could abound. Widgets are fun , but pretty useless.
August 5th, 2008 at 08:06 AM Agreed on the Windows Media Center plugin. I just came back to check out the site again after hearing about it earlier in the year, hoping that you'd done one by now. Earlier this year I bought a dedicated Media PC connected directly to my TV. No monitor, just the TV. With a nice NetFlix Windows Media Center plugin, I can search for and watch movies and TV shows from NetFlix using my remote. No chance of doing that through Hulu. In fact, the main reason I've avoided Hulu, and will continue to avoid Hulu, is that it's a web site with really tiny text that is unreadable on my Media PC. So the only way I can watch anything on Hulu is to go into my home office, log into LogMeIn, launch the video, and then run back to the living room to watch. No thanks, I'll stick with NetFlix. If you do ever release a Windows Media Center plugin, let me know. I'd be willing to beta test it.
August 9th, 2008 at 07:30 AM Please add support for windows MCE! Its all that is missing in my opinion.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:39 PM I also am one begging for a Media Center plug-in. In fact searching for such an item is how I found this thread. I routinely search for any progess on a HULU plug-in for Media Center. It can't be that hard. What I don't understand is if NBC is a major HULU investor, why is it that they had to resort to using TVTonic for the Olympics coverage in Media Center. That alone should be an embarrasment for HULU.
August 14th, 2008 at 07:27 PM Add me to the list of people who will continue to avoid hulu until they have a Windows Media Center plugin! It really shouldn't be taking this long...
August 20th, 2008 at 04:01 AM I completely agree with the Media Center Plugin.. I have tried to cobble together my own solutions but cant come up with anything. Please Please Hulu.... Media Center Plugin!!! Please
August 21st, 2008 at 12:30 PM Another vote for a Windows media center plugin....
August 31st, 2008 at 07:39 AM Add another one who is desperately wanting a Hulu MCE/VMC plugin. This would really make my day.
September 3rd, 2008 at 08:56 PM Yet another vote for a Media Center plugin. I would love hulu if I could just watch it on my TV. Until then I'll have to say no.
September 4th, 2008 at 09:55 PM Please can someone stop playing around with widgets and make a MCE plug in. Netflix did it how hard could it be? Your using flash, people own vista and xbox360's and they are naturally connected. Your site is nice and I would tell more people but I install Custom Home theatre's and Home automation which 99% of the time have Server08-Vista machines and at least 1 if not multiple 360's its hard to push products that cant be reached like hulu-joost-fill in blank with others. I guess I will check back HULU. I mean they can check there thermostat, turn on stove, arm security, check ptz cameras but sorry Hulu is not available what is the hold up?
September 9th, 2008 at 09:48 PM Another Vote for VMC plugin/Online Media Interface, a Set top box or some type of "ten foot interface".
September 12th, 2008 at 12:46 AM Yet another person wanting a media center plug in. It would be awesome.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:59 AM Windows Media Center plugin please!!! Imagine the jump in viewers if anyone with an xbox or MCE could watch Hulu from their couch with a remote.
September 20th, 2008 at 06:58 AM Count me as another vote for wanting something that will work with Media Center.
September 20th, 2008 at 02:18 PM Yes, Windows Media Center plugin please.
September 21st, 2008 at 02:12 AM keeping the tradition of this thread alive...how about an MCE plug-in? I love the site I just can't stand a keyboard in the living room though....so get on it like yesterday....even!!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 07:40 AM +1 VMC plug-in. I love the idea of hulu, but it just isn't going to work until I can use it through media center. It's how I watch tv, and I'm not giving up my remote control and comfy chair for an internet browser and computer chair.
September 22nd, 2008 at 04:23 PM Please make a Xbox or WMC addon. I use Hulu all the time but I would rather not have to dock my laptop in front of the TV to do this. I love your site!!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 03:09 PM Yet another vote for Vista MCE --> 360. Please, please, please.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:58 PM Wow! Everybody is asking for a Media Center plugin If Hulu doesn't offer one soon, I would say that THEY ARE STUPID!!!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 01:08 AM A Media Center plugin would be awesome. Thank you
September 28th, 2008 at 04:59 AM I'm casting my vote for a Vista Media Center / Hulu add-on. It would be a win-win for Microsoft and Hulu. Oh yeah, for the consumers too. How about it?
September 29th, 2008 at 09:52 PM +1 on VMC plug-in.
October 1st, 2008 at 06:20 AM I'll add another vote for a Media Center plugin (using MCML, not nasty HTML), or ability to stream straight to Xbox360! (like the coming Netflix service). Please please please and please again! :o) Thx :D My TV needs more Summer Glau; its pixels are dying through lack of stimulation... it's just wrong she's confined to my PC :o( (umm, except when I watch the airing episodes, but they're just not Hulu enough). Thx again :o)
October 5th, 2008 at 09:46 PM i don't watch hulu, I like the idea, but I'm on a media PC and I use Windows Media Center. no plugin = no watching hulu.
October 9th, 2008 at 01:36 AM How about a plug-in for Elisa Media center? Linux Support?
October 9th, 2008 at 05:12 PM anndddd...... oh my gosh, guess what? add me to the list of people desperately waiting for a Vista Media Center plug-in!!! Please Hulu, bash down whatever content provider doors in order to get this done. I know it is probably the content providers that are holding things up considering it would be in everyone else's best interest... including Hulu, Microsoft, the advertisers, and the consumers!!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 02:34 AM +1 for Windows Media Center (Extender) and/or Xbox 360 integration.
October 17th, 2008 at 08:39 PM I too want a Media Center plugin. The widgets suffer from the same tiny text resolution as the web browser that is difficult for me to read from my couch on my 1080p TV. My wife likes Hulu so much that she agreed to drop our cable subscription and just watch Hulu for those programs that we really like but aren't available OTA via our antenna. But the interface is terrible at 10 feet.
October 20th, 2008 at 05:19 PM Add me to the now growing list of people who really want a MCE plug in. I love HULU but it is not usabel on my TV from a PC. If you will not build a MCE interface (something I do not understand) please allow a 3rd party vendor to develope one!
October 25th, 2008 at 02:56 AM I am typing this from my couch using vista media center. I found this thread after searching for a plugin. Add me to the list, I'm sure there are many people who would use this. I like hulu but rarely us it since it sucks on mce through a browser.
October 29th, 2008 at 05:40 PM Just adding my vote for a media center plugin. This has been asked for since the beginning of the service. Please, please, sort it out.
October 29th, 2008 at 08:50 PM Windows media center extender!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 01:37 AM Windows Media Center Plugin!!!! We're a bunch of geeky couch potatoes...we need this!!!
November 7th, 2008 at 08:37 PM PLEASE add a Windows Media Center plugin in. The widgets are useless. And honestly, is it so crazy to assume people want to watch internet TV on their........wait for it................... TVs?????? Yeah, its that rediculous.
November 17th, 2008 at 08:59 PM I'm casting my vote for a Vista Media Center / Hulu add-onPlease. How about it?
November 21st, 2008 at 09:57 PM yeah....what they said!
November 26th, 2008 at 09:52 PM Vista Media Center Plugin!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 03:16 AM .... yet another vote for a media center plugin! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE?!?!?!
December 3rd, 2008 at 06:40 AM WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2008 at 12:20 AM Media Center plugin, please.
December 5th, 2008 at 10:15 PM I too do not understand what the hold up is with the MCE or VMC Addon this seems like a no brainer your biggest fans want something that will in turn give you more viewers give it to them!!!!! WAKE UP HULU!!!
December 8th, 2008 at 03:16 AM Vista Media Center Plugin
December 10th, 2008 at 12:03 AM media center please
December 11th, 2008 at 05:33 AM MCE plugin please!!!!!!!!!!
December 16th, 2008 at 03:18 AM Vista Media Center Plugin please!!!!!!!!!
December 19th, 2008 at 01:51 AM Been waiting for a Vista Media Center Hulu Plugin for a while now. You said it's on your radar so lets get it off the radar and into the hands of the programers already. Thanks. Vista Home Premium, HP MediaSmart TV
December 19th, 2008 at 07:04 AM Must have Vista Media Center Plugin. ;)
December 21st, 2008 at 09:29 AM Vista Media Center plugin please! Pretty please!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 04:48 PM Vista Media Center plugin has my vote...
December 24th, 2008 at 01:45 PM I've just discovered Hulu after listining about it on a howstuffworks.com podcast and am also wanting to find a way to integrate it into MCE given that MCE controls my TV now.
December 30th, 2008 at 05:39 AM VMC plugin please.
January 4th, 2009 at 08:50 AM Happy New years! Add me to the VMC Hulu plugin!!!! Go Hulu team! I would love to have a Hulu plugin. please please please.