Real time flash based user interface for media playback device

A method for playing back media on a playback device, where the playback device comprises a host process, a media decoder, a natively implemented virtual machine, and a common client configured to implement a user interface using a VM framework configured to execute within the virtual machine, and to communicate with natively implemented processes configured to retrieve content from remote servers and coordinate playback of media using the media decoder, the method comprising:

• obtaining a navigation hierarchy for an Internet Content Guide using the common client;
• displaying a user interface generated by a user interface application script executing within the virtual machine using the navigation hierarchy;
• receiving a user selection of a piece of content identified within the Internet Content Guide via the user interface, where the Internet Content Guide includes a unique identifier associated with the content;
• passing the unique identifier associated with the requested content to the common client's natively implemented processes using the VM framework;
• obtaining media identified by the unique identifier using the common client's natively compiled processes;
• and
• decoding the obtained media using the playback device's media decoder.