Written by Liz Gannes
Posted Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 11:43 AM PT

Hulu Launches Desktop App, Forbids Use on Anything Other than PCs

After beating competitors like Joost by choosing to go to the web rather than the desktop, and shutting out third-party apps that enable its videos on desktops or other devices like MyMediaPlayer and Boxee, it does come as a little bit of a surprise that Hulu is launching its own desktop app today.

But at the same time, it’s not a surprise, because specialized desktop apps should ideally make video playback more smooth and reliable than in-browser streaming.

What Hulu’s not doing is enabling video downloads or transfer onto other devices. Hulu Desktop simply presents an alternate UI for the site (now with sound effects!) that’s optimized for remote controls. Not that we usually use remotes on our laptops instead of those other big honking screens…but Hulu explicitly forbids use on other devices in its Desktop terms of use.

You may not download, install or use the Hulu Software on any device other than a Personal Computer including without limitation digital media receiver devices (such as Apple TV), mobile devices (such as a cell phone device, mobile handheld device or a PDA), network devices or CE devices (collectively “Prohibited Devices”).

Hulu also doesn’t promise that all of its content will be available via the desktop app, which is powered by Flash 9 (which doesn’t support P2P, so that answers that question). The software is available for both Mac and PC, and includes a browser plug-in that we haven’t fully explored yet.

Here’s what the app installation, navigation and playback looks like:

The Hulu Desktop debut comes alongside three other trial products, bundled together into the also newly launched Hulu Labs: Hulu Video Panel Designer, Time-Based Browsing and Hulu Recommendations.

Hulu CTO Eric Feng writes of the launch on the company blog,

Hulu Desktop was built by a small group on our engineering team (two devs, one designer, one product manager) who asked themselves one day: how can we make it easier for users to immerse themselves in the great shows and movies Hulu is fortunate to have access to?…And working together with our media partners, we hope Hulu Desktop is another positive step towards building a legal, long-lasting service that earns us the right to continue serving you.

Update: Boxee responds, asking Hulu to reconsider compatibility, and also not to tell its users (as it does via pop-up for those who already have Boxee installed) that running Boxee may cause problems with the Apple Remote.

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Topic: Software

Comments (18)

I have a PC attached to my TV. Muahahahaha!

DCMonkey — 12:37 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
So HULU still means TV for your PC not TV on the Internet

Matt_ — 12:53 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
- @DCMonkey and Matt_ – You crack me up.
  
  Liz Gannes, NewTeeVee — 1:19 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
They really, really need to make a version that can run on XBox 360

Jason — 12:59 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
Hmmm … PC but not a mobile device? But what about a mobile TV? Are laptops allowed? Netbooks? Tablets? How small do they have to get before they are “prohibited”? What does Hulu have against small devices?

ff11 — 2:49 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
so, can the ps3 find this as a media server, the way it can with windows media player?

justinh — 3:05 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
But the Apple TV is a Personal Computer.

“the Apple TV is a regular computer with Intel CPU”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_TV

bluepuma — 3:05 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
So since AT&T claims the iPhone is really a PC, which is why SlingPlayer over 3G is Whoa Totally Insane, does it follow that Hulu Desktop would be Not Prohibited there? Or can we as consumers demand a cage match btw AT&T and Hulu to decide the issue once and for all? Or maybe some nice jello wrestling…

barb dybwad — 3:55 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
There is a Hulu app for the PC but there aren’t any mobile phones apps yet??

Before the decision to develop a desktop app was made, the Hulu team was probably looking at the bandwidth cost projections. And then realized that its helpful to get as many users as possible to use a desktop app. Bit torrent technology lowers the bills.. If they don’t use torrents under the hood then I don’t see much value in this.

EST/VOD models coming soon? It will be interesting to see what happens here.

-/ Charles

charles — 3:57 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
ohh. flash 9. so no torrents. wow.

charles — 3:58 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
- I agree with all you guys. Having given it some more thought, the move just comes off as awkward and shows the unrealistic limitations that Hulu’s parents are forcing on its experience. If there is any difference btw a monitor and a TV screen now, it will soon cease to exist. And there really is no difference between a PC and an Apple TV and a fancy phone — they’re all computers.
  
  Liz Gannes, NewTeeVee — 5:06 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
It never ceases to amaze me how stupid Hulu is: they’ve georetarded their own demo video (the one in this post).

Duncan Riley — 5:08 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
Great, they are probably ready to get rid of the Browser so the Linux people will be left out. Sigh .
I enjoyed Hulu, well back to torrents . . .

Thank You Corporations. You make my desicions… — 7:17 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
This is weird, Hulu Desktop kept spinning on “Starting”, forever. What exactly is it doing?

Not working for me. Back to the web interface.

Rudy — 11:17 PM on May 28, 2009 Reply
I refuse to use Hulu until they realize that there should be unfettered access regardless of platform or screen size. I have a PC connected to my HDTV, a home server with media streaming, a NAS with media streaming, a Samsung BD-P360 Blu-ray player with Netflix and Pandora streaming. I don’t need Hulu, they need me. Get a grip!

Two Finger Poi — 8:20 AM on May 29, 2009 Reply
I’ve just found out about Boxee. (I’m slow I know)
How difficult would it be to put on my TV I wonder?

Chris Ronk — 8:46 AM on May 29, 2009 Reply
Give it time, someone will create an app to make it play on mobiles/ipods/whatever!

Application Performance Management — 8:58 AM on October 10, 2009 Reply
there already is its called play on or tversity plays right on my xbox 360

josh — 3:11 PM on October 18, 2009 Reply

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