Playing Encrypted DVDs in Xubuntu/Ubuntu

Hello all Xubuntu Users....

  So, as I posted previously, I came back to using Xubuntu from Windows 7. Well, there is always some little thing in linux that you forget how to install or simply have to install. One of those little things for me today was playing encrypted DVDs on our favorite OS.
  At first, I followed the usual procedure of installing the restricted extras. However, this was not enough to play my DVDs in, say for instance, VLC. So, I searched this issue through Google, and I finally found the answer. Therefore, if you are having the same issue, and you have already installed the restricted extras for Xubuntu, then open a terminal and input the following command:   

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

   For more information about the above command, go to the following website:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs

I hope this post helps all of those who are taking the courageous step of using Xubuntu.

So I am back to Xubuntu - On a laptop!

Okay everyone. My posts for Xubuntu are sporadic. However, every once in a while I have a realization concerning this free linux operating system. The main realization this time is that a single version of linux does not fit every computer. For some reason, some laptops or towers simply do not "play" well with some flavors of linux.

For example, I bought a laptop without a screen (I would suggest this to anyone who wishes to save some money in replacing a tower machine.) which was a 64bit Compaq , and tried to install Kubuntu (64bit). "Heresy", some may say, but it was a wonderful gift to me and I had to give it a fun try. Need less to say, there were issues between the machine and the Kubuntu which would not straighten out. So, what did I try? The tried and true Xubuntu, and the Xubuntu did not disappoint. It ran, and is, running perfectly - Youtube videos check, Skype check, even Warzone 2100 check.

This is an off point, but why did I go to Xubuntu, or linux, when I could have easily had Windows 7 installed on the hard drive? Mainly, I have gotten completely tired of the malware and adware showing up on the Windows 7 internet browsers (Chrome and Mozilla). However, how much malware and adware have I encountered on Xubuntu? The answer is zero, and this answer makes for an extremely pleasant experience. So, what if I cannot watch Amazon Prime videos because of Digital Rights Management (DRM) procedures, I am still able to watch Youtube, Crackle, Hulu and my own content. I have simply resigned myself to the idea that I may have to buy a Roku or a similar device for such streaming content, and that is not such a horrible idea.

XBMC and Amazon Prime: A match made in digital heaven, until recently!

Here is the issue:

   Up to approximately April of last year, I did not realize it had been that long, I had downloaded a file called BlueCop, which allowed me to watch my Amazon Prime titles, standard and HD, perfectly through XBMC (a wonderful program to use in Xubuntu for viewing media). Then, all of a sudden, I could not watch the movies and programs and received this error message: script failed!: plugin.video.amazon. Now, I must confess , at approximately the same time, watching Amazon titles on Firefox became acceptable, so I did not investigate further.
   However, today I did investigate, and this is what I found. First, Amazon implemented Flash DRM to their videos as copy right protection. Second, the developer of BlueCop, according to discussion threads, has no interest in trying to create a "work around" for this issue. The ultimate conclusion being, if you are using XBMC in Xubuntu for Amazon Prime, you and everyone else are out of luck, and hopefully you can watch Amazon Prime on Firefox. See the following discussion page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/forum/amazon%20prime/Tx19HPH8H35E889.
   Unfortunately, my Xubuntunites, this decision has created great despair among those who made XBMC as their main source to view Amazon Prime. I, for one, feel for them. Yet, such is the issue of changing technology.

Why You Should Use Xubuntu

The following are reasons why you should use, at least try, Xubuntu:

1. The program is virtually free. And when I say virtually, I mean that you have to take into account the time/effort it may take you to download the operating system, and install it.
2. It will bring an older computer back to life. The machine that I am currently using is a hyper-threaded Dell computer (at least five years old), and it is really fast with two gigabytes of RAM and a decent video card.
3. Since there are some hurdles for installation for certain programs, installing Windows Office applications for example, you have to search for the answer. Fortunately, because of youtube and google, someone else out there has done what you are trying to do, and, mostlikely, they have made a video or created instructions for it.
4. Reason number three creates curiosity and persistence within a person, and this is great for anyone, especially for a young person. Give them an old computer and a Xubuntu CD, and have them figure out how to install and use the operating system. What do you have to lose? What might you gain?
5. You will help the world not have to depend on companies who might ask a lot of money for a sub-par product. Xubuntu and other open source operating systems have programmers who are committed to make their product better all of the time, and may only ask for a donation.
6. Look at my desktop. It looks pretty nice:

How to Access Netflix on Xubuntu

Netflix can be difficult to access on Linux. From my searching, it seems that an answer for it has not been found until this past year. The best answer, and the most recent, I found was on http://www.iheartubuntu.com/. If you cannot find the commands to install Netflix on the website, here they are:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ehoover/compholio

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install netflix-desktop

My experience with this, as I have used it, is that it works as promised. However, the Netflix window cannot, as far as I know now, be resized. It takes up the entire screen. I will try to research this aspect a little further. 

UPDATE: 

Since I posted the above directions, Netflix has updated Silverlight, and I have not tried to update to a newer version of the Ubuntu Netflix hack. Instead, I have stayed with Amazon Prime, which increases their titles monthly. Amazon, from the start has been extremely friendly with Xubuntu. My advice to have Netflix is go buy a  Roku, or something equivalent.