What's going on here?
If you already know what's going on and just want the standalone application, there's the OS X version [Zip - 26.9MB] or the Windows version [Exe - 5.5MB]. These are both early versions. They're fully functional but might have a couple of issues here and there.
MonkeyTV basically creates a virtual living room. Several people can get together to watch a TV show or a film, everybody has a remote control and you can chat amongst yourselves. Whether you're trying to explain the plot of The Matrix to your Aunt in another city or you're a member of an international Hart to Hart fan club and want to arrange a group movie night, all you need to do is follow the steps below. You don't even need to register or anything.
Steps
Step 1 (Very easy):
Decide you want to watch something
Step 2 (A bit harder):
Download and install the VLC browser plugin.
Step 3 (Easy again)
Figure out with some friends exactly what it is you want to watch. The forum is a good place to make plans.
Step 4 (Fairly easy)
Make sure everyone has a copy of whatever it is you've decided on. No files are uploaded to this site and we don't stream anything.
Step 5 (Really easy)
One of you needs to create a channel. You'll need a room name (something short & snappy), the name of what you want to watch and a username of your choice. Fill in the form.
Step 6 (Really very easy)
The others then need to join using the name of the room (top right). Alternatively, you can also send invitations to let people join the room directly.
Step 7 (So easy, it looks like a trick question)
Once you’re all in, someone can press play, the file will start playing in everyone's browser simultaneously. Watch it. Enjoy it. Live, laugh, love, whatever...
While you’re watching, you can pause, rewind, skip forward and chat as much as you like.
Step 8 (Easy, but sad)
Eventually, all things must end. Try to get over it quickly, head over to the forum and arrange to watch another show and start again.
Troubleshooting
You're trying to join a room but it keeps asking you for a file and you don't have a file
Go get the file. I don't have the file.
You've got the file, you're in the room but there's a big gap between the logo and the chat and nothing in between
Sounds like you haven't got the VLC browser plugin. Go fetch and come back.
Your 'join' and 'make' pages have an extra 'browse' button and the main one doesn't work
Ah, you're using Opera. There are still a couple of issues to work around in Opera. Believe me, I'm an Opera user, this bothers me way more than it bothers you. Browse for your copy of the file with the small one, ignore the big one.
Everything's going well but 5 minutes into a film your screen goes dark and you start to see lots of funny moving patterns
Don't be alarmed, that's your screensaver. Jiggle your mouse a bit.
Same as above but I've switched off my screensaver
In that case, you're probably hallucinating. Go find a quiet room and lie down.
VLC Browser Plugin
Windows
When you run the VLC installer, you are given the option to also install the Active X plugin (for Internet Explorer) and the Mozilla plugin (for everything else). If you have already installed VLC, run the installer again and check those boxes.
OS X
The plugin is available separately from the main application. You can get the Intel version or the Power PC version.
You can find more information at the VLC website.