Tuesday 6 September 2011

Viera Connect comes to 2010 TV's!

Well, that was a surprise! Went to load up youtube on my TV today, and it forced a firmware update - ho hum. Let it finish, then discovered it'd updated from VieraCast to Viera Connect! So firstly I get the thing I really wanted (internet radio - Shoutcast app, it's really good), and secondly, there's the VieraConnect Market so you can link to additional applications!

Time for some more tinkering I think :D This TV just got a whole lot better!

Well done Panasonic :D

33 comments:

  1. I wonder if there's any chance of iPlayer - either through official means or through this ;)

    Either way, should be significantly easier now to develop our own apps for this - just a little DNS spoofing would be required, assuming no encryption of course.


    Is anyone else suspicious of the very fast installation times for apps? I would hazard a guess that they are really just downloading the icon and a URL. In which case, we could get our own "apps" on it (spoofing the app store) pointing to apps on our own servers!

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  2. I just fired up a system update request to see what happens. My TX-P42G15 is currently on version 2.106.

    Hmm, it reports 2.106 is up to date.

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  3. Only problem is, you'll have to change the name of your blog now ;)

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  4. @previouslysilent: What range is the G15 from? My G20 is the 2010 range; if the G15 is 2009, perhaps it's not (yet?) available for the 2009 range.

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  5. OMG! My G20 got the update.
    I never thought I would get Viera Connect on it!
    Best news of the day...

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  6. I'm pretty much 100% sure that it doesn't download the app, but just registers the link to the app on the web. I recon if we get the path from iplayer from a g30 scan it should be easy to add, assuming it works in a similar way to the old way - that's how I added Pandora, Skype before it was in the UK, Twitter etc.

    Having said that, there's also viera connect developer network now, no need to 'hack'

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  7. why there is no Browser in Viera Connect?

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  8. Hmmm, unfortunately a quick scan suggests that a lot of the traffic is encrypted over SSL (HTTPS), so it's not even possible to see even the full URL's of a lot of the files it downloads, including what the new equivalent of main-screen.js is.

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  9. Argh! Is the market encrypted as well?

    Is the SDK stuff free to download for anyone, or do you have to go through some lengthy sign-up/purchase process to prove you're with a company who has enough money to be worthy to do so? :p

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  10. Not a long process and you don't need to ne a company, but you do have to stump up $129 per year. Cheap enough, but also enough to detract anyone who isn't seriously planning developing apps veto.d a bit of hacking :(

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  11. Hmm. Perhaps a different method is needed - has anyone figured out the update files? If so, we could modify the firmware directly, maybe add an ssh server, etc. (I know it uses FreeBSD).

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  12. Has anyone purchased the $129 development package? Can you tell me if the API includes calls to the 3D mode? I'd like to develop an app that streams side-by-side 3D vids and can automatically switch the Panasonic into that mode when doing so. And I'd love to learn that BEFORE spending $129. Currently the side-by-side mode isn't available when playing video from any of the Viera Connect apps. Which is ridiculous unless Panasonic is saving that option for themselves. Then I'd say their new "open" development push isn't. Hope I'm wrong about this.

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  13. Hi

    Where do you get help and info for developer stuff relating to Vieracast? Do jquery libraries and other commerical JS libraries work with it?

    Thanks!

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  14. how do i fast forward 5 to fifteen minutes in the you tube clip
    Thanks

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  15. Here I'm newbie. Is my "TH-L42D25X (2010 range)"'s firmware upgradable to VieraConnect version?

    Sorry my english.

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  16. Hi

    I have create a forum dedicated to discussion on vieracast development in the hope of gathering all information in one place.

    Check it out here:
    http://vieracast.hotsource.net/

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  17. There is a new announcement in pkg_download_util.js
    "October 11th, 2011 Network Service is scheduled to be renewed"

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  18. Hi,
    I created a small java proxy to enhance Youtube Videos to HD quality on Viera Connect devices.

    Download it from http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FBCSSKJN

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    Replies
    1. Can we get that file elsewhere now? Megaupload is history.. ;)

      Delete
  19. Asking for advice or comment.
    Today (26.10.11) we have connected a BT Infinity hub to a Panasonic TV with an ethernet connection. Everything seems to work fine and the speed is OK.
    When setting up, we accepted the invitation to accept a software upgrade and downloaded it; again, there were no apparent problems.
    The queries from this newbie are:
    Has the TV's 'Viera Cast' been replace by 'Viera Connect' and is there a way of confirming that this has happened?
    How can find out what channels or facilities should be available to me?
    Should I now be able to access the Internet? If so, how do I do this?
    Should I now be able to access BBC iPlayer and other catch-up sites? If so how?
    I would greatly appreciate any help that can be given to me.
    Cheers and many thanks!
    Alan

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  20. Hi All. I am trying to add Netflix app to Panasonic TVs outside US. Please, help me by posting Panasonic Netflix App URLs.

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  21. Hi,
    Do you still want the API documentation?

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    Replies
    1. Yes !!!
      Just want to see what kind of apps it allows to develop, without registration.
      Can you send it to ios75@mail.ru please ?
      Thanks.

      Delete
  22. Hi, anyone had a chance to intercept the firmware when updating?

    Thanks

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  23. Hi,

    many thanks for this information - it was a big help. I created already my own applications and have a stable setup:
    - TV runs behind a WRT54 router in bridge mode
    - WRT54 runs with dd-wrt software, has a usb flash memory and a proxy on it!
    - applications like blackjack are "switched" to my apps permantly
    - next deal is to make a small pc remote desktop control

    Again thanks!

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  24. Unfortunately the network-remotecontrol-app for Viera is not available für 2010 TVs. So you can't manage them from an Android-Phone. Panasonic says, it will never go.

    Any ideas how to open older TV (ie GT20, VT20) for the new app?

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  25. Hi there, I found an open web browser on the international website:
    http://panasonic.net/avc/viera/global/connect_apps/detail/145

    but it doesn't seem to be available in Germany. Any idea how to make it available here, too?

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  26. I was told yesterday that the browser is only for 2012 TVs, which is rediculous since it's a simple app and should be available for the 2010 and 2011 models, too. Do you have an idea how to get the app for a 2011 model as well?

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  27. The functionality required for the browser only exists in the 2012 TVs. It is unlikely that it will be available for earlier TVs unless panasonic invests time into firmware development, assuming that the hardware will support it.

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  28. "no browser for 2011 television" That is really sickening. Obviously they can make crippled apps for the idiotic drivel they are paid to push to you in the preloaded apps; a browser is hardly any different. They are nice TVs with decent features, but the manufacturer seems to have complete contempt for the customers of their highest end products. Does anyone know to whom we might complain? Better yet, is there link to a place we might jailbreak our crippled TVs?

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  29. I have a panasonic bluray player with the viera cast ...i hooked up the unit to my modem and it responded saying that i am now updated and connected but i need to install some firmware ?? i have no clue....does anyone havem the time to please give me an idea of how i can get this Viera Cast up and running. I have no directions to my player...so please..someone HELP,HELP,HELP !!!!!!

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  30. Just follow the prompts in the screen...

    Otherwise, go into the menu, and find the Update Firmware section...

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  31. Hi, not sure if you still monitor this blog? I need some advice!

    I am looking to add netflix to my uk tx-p42g20b, I think that I can accomplish this by adding the netflix app in from a us source(it isn't available in the uk), then using my us based dns settings with the tv to watch netflix :-)

    Can you offer any tips on how to do this or where I should start?

    Thanks for all your work so far!!

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