A Python based NNTP Multimedia Streamer

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A Python based NNTP Multimedia Streamer

• Benjamin Welton
• Benjamin.R.Welton_at_wmich.edu

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Goals

• Develop an application capable of streaming HD
  Video content (specifically 1080p Blu-Ray quality
  video)?
• Be as user friendly as possible (get rid of the
  complexity's of searching through headers,
  re-ordering NZB's, extracting files, ect)?

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NNTP Stream

• A Multimedia streamer designed to pull content
  (specifically video) from an NNTP source (usenet)
  and play it using a local media player.
• Python based
• Downloads posts in order, Decodes them,
  Extracts them from the archive (RAR), and plays
  them in a third party player (VLC).
• Compatible with AVI/MKV files up to 1080p

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NNTPStream Running on Windows 7 x64
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Why NNTP?

• The great US upload drought
• US upload speeds (in general) are too low to
  sustain the high bit rates required for 1080p HD
  Video (8000kbps-12000kbps avg)?
• File Availability
• Bit-Torrent and other P2P networks require the
  presence of seeders, which may or may not be
  available.

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Disadvantages of NNTP

• Cost
• News servers cost money to subscribe to,
  generally between 20-30 for an account
• Retention
• Files are available only for as long as the news
  server's retention (between 1 week 300 Days)?
• SPOF
• If the server fails, you lose the ability to
  stream

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Idea's for the Future

• Integration of NNTPStream along with a host of
  other P2P Technologies (Tahoe and Bit-torrent)
  into Boxee/XBMC.
• Looks like standard list of files in XBMC except
  those files are placeholders grabbed from
  RSS/ATOM feeds and streamed when selected
• Play anywhere media server which seamlessly
  integrates streaming to multiple sources for
  availability on any device

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Questions

• Source Available at
• http//bitbucket.org/bwelton/nntpstream
• Contact
• Benjamin.R.Welton_at_wmich.edu