This statement is troubling for a number of reasons: We don’t think with the API published in the portal can be used to make an App which can communicate or operate an external device (PC, SD Card etc)."
Your app is simply connecting to and consuming the published Plex web service, correct? No different than the AIV or netflex apps as others have stated. Why would they make an inference that you're trying to control an external device?
This statement is troubling for a number of reasons: We don’t think with the API published in the portal can be used to make an App which can communicate or operate an external device (PC, SD Card etc)."
Your app is simply connecting to and consuming the published Plex web service, correct? No different than the AIV or netflex apps as others have stated. Why would they make an inference that you're trying to control an external device?
The "we don't think" line is troubling as it shows they are not sure of their own developer guidelines!
I emailed Panasonic today and told them where I stand on this. Linked to this page, as well as the one on Slashdot. Told them to please forward to someone higher up in the system to let them know as well..
God, I hope someone at Panasonic takes action and approves this app..
Can you please share mail address and a draft we can use to make panasonic aware of the competencies of their staff and marketing?
Here is my most recent e-mail to Panasonic. I'm really frustrated, but trying to remain professional.
VIERA team,
According to your API documentation at http://developer.vieraconnect.com/dev-guide/html5/api-reference, HTML5, CSS, and Javascript are valid APIs to use as part of your HTML5 SDK. Your Javascript page (http://developer.vieraconnect.com/dev-guide/html5/api-reference/javascript) references the ECMA-262 specification as supported.According to the W3C consortium (the HTML5 governing body), XMLHttpRequest is a standard HTML object and is a valid Javascript constructor function under ECMA-262 (http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-XMLHttpRequest-20060619/#xmlhttprequest):"In ECMAScript [ECMA262], an instance of XMLHttpRequest can be created using the XMLHttpRequest() constructor:”Version 1.02 of the app uses XMLHttpRequest() for all communication with an external server. It is not a hack - it is using the Javascript ECMA-262 & HTML standards as allowed by your SDK documentation.For video playback, it is using the MP4(H.264 / AAC) and HLS(Http Live Streaming) protocol as allowed in your SDK (http://developer.vieraconnect.com/dev-guide/html5/capabilities/audio-and-video) . I am following the same methodology provided in the Video Player tutorial (http://developer.vieraconnect.com/dev-guide/html5/application-tutorial/video-player-tutorial) by using aI am following your API guidelines precisely using HTML5 & Javascript standards. These standards absolutely allow communication with external servers for XML transfer, which is what I am using it for.Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.
Pretty annoyed right now. $130 and many hours spent, and I can't seem to get through that I'm not hacking their system - it's all standard. I would love to release it as a free web app, but the Panasonic browser doesn't support full screen, so that's pretty much pointless.
And not that it matters much, but here are some screen shots.
Looks nice, thank you for fighting so hard to get this going... I really am impressed with your professionalism and determination.
x2, looks awesome. Please don't give up! :-)
Can you escalate? The fool who's been emailing you clearly shouldn't be approving app submissions.
that looks really awesome.
I think I will wait to see if this get approved before bying a new tv
Here is my most recent e-mail to Panasonic. I'm really frustrated, but trying to remain professional.
Pretty annoyed right now. $130 and many hours spent, and I can't seem to get through that I'm not hacking their system - it's all standard. I would love to release it as a free web app, but the Panasonic browser doesn't support full screen, so that's pretty much pointless.
Perhaps as a suggestion pointing out you can run the app as a webpage on their built in browser (minus the full screen element) would be a point worth making in proving that this has no "hacks".
Best of luck and I keep at it very impressed with your hard work on this one!
Edwin
Perhaps as a suggestion pointing out you can run the app as a webpage on their built in browser (minus the full screen element) would be a point worth making in proving that this has no "hacks".
Best of luck and I keep at it very impressed with your hard work on this one!
Edwin
But havn't you a worse player, quality and performance when you run it over the browser? At the moment, I connect my Notebook with Plex Home Theater to the TV, which I control with a wireless keyboard. It's a better experience with that than use the web version.
But it would be so much easier and more comfortable with a native TV App!
But havn't you a worse player, quality and performance when you run it over the browser? At the moment, I connect my Notebook with Plex Home Theater to the TV, which I control with a wireless keyboard. It's a better experience with that than use the web version.
But it would be so much easier and more comfortable with a native TV App!
You're missing the point of the post :)
My point is if the app runs (without the full screen bit) in a web browser then it proves to Panasonic that the app is simplistic and runs within their guidelines. Neither myself of Vieracast suggested you run it in a browser, in fact Vieracast pointed out the lack of full screen for videos makes this option impossible unless you like watching films not in full screen!
Here is my most recent e-mail to Panasonic. I'm really frustrated, but trying to remain professional.
Pretty annoyed right now. $130 and many hours spent, and I can't seem to get through that I'm not hacking their system - it's all standard. I would love to release it as a free web app, but the Panasonic browser doesn't support full screen, so that's pretty much pointless.
And not that it matters much, but here are some screen shots.
Continue with the professionalism. You will be taken more seriously that way. I will continue following this with interest.
Can you escalate? The fool who's been emailing you clearly shouldn't be approving app submissions.
This. I'd definitely try (if you haven't already) and ask them to escalate. Maybe they are trying to deter (and defer) you, maybe they don't understand their own rules and are a bunch of douches - whatever the case, let them pass it on to their supervisor. It wouldn't hurt to mention the fact that you've spent a lot of money on this already, which makes it more than just a case of a bunch of underqualified helpdesk reps who punch predefined replies in customer's face.
Really surprised that none of the tech mags have picked this story up.
Would be great to get them to interview VieraApp about his struggle with this, and also put some pressure on Panasonic.
Panasonic has a great SMART interface (the best IMHO) but it’s the lack of apps that is really letting the platform down. One can see why there are so few apps given to struggle that VieraApp is having, trying to get the Plex App approved.
Samsung have BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD and Demand5 available in the UK. We just get BBC iPlayer.
Unlikely I will buy Panasonic again in the future, and I think the same is true of a lot of consumers. Why buy one of their products which are usually more expensive than the competition, when one can buy a cheaper TV with more functions and has a much better App Store with more apps available?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Can you please share mail address and a draft we can use to make panasonic aware of the competencies of their staff and marketing?
It was sent to norwegian support, support.no@eu.panasonic.com, and written in norwegian :) you want a copypaste for google.translate? :)
Have sent an email, also with a link to this thread. We'll see what happens....
me too. swedish support
Well, things are definitely not looking good. Here is the most recent response.
As you correctly pointed out we support ECMA-262 but the link we have in our portal doesn’t have any reference to XML Request.
Also XMLHttpRequest requires DOM3 events and in the portal we only said we support up to DOM2.If you do further investigation, DOM3 is still a “working draft” which is not yet an HTML5 standard.Hope this explains our reasoning for rejecting the app in it’s current form.
I disagree with their first point on ECMA-262 since the spec does not define any functions or DOM constructors. However, the points regarding DOM2 & DOM3 do appear to be correct. Their specification specifically says DOM1 & DOM2, and XmlHttpRequest is a DOM3. This is a technicality since their TVs do actually have DOM3 support, as does every browser since 2008.
As such, I am stopping development of the HTML5 version. I am considering working on an app using the other SDK (AJAX-CE). This is a proprietary Panasonic SDK that I am unfamiliar with, but it specifically defines an "HTTP request Function". It also would extend support to 2011 TVs (i.e., Series 30) and Panasonic Blu-Ray players. It's just something that's going to require starting pretty much from scratch (except for the Plex API knowledge I gained with the HTML5 app). I'm also quite frustrated, so I may decide not to pursue it at all.
Keep the faith for the sake of all of us who are unable to develop apps such as this, im sure you will get through to them in the end, keep up the good work!!
Really hope you don't get too frustrated and quit. Your efforts are appreciated!
In the meantime...DLNA on the TV sucks enough that I went ahead and got a Chromecast with a Plexpass. 1 word: incredible! Anyone thinking of going the client route (Roku etc), Chromecast with Plex has completely exceeded my expectations. Every tablet and phone in the house is a Plex remote now. I'm happy as a pig in shi...er, slop.
