Color us shocked and elated.
Boxee, the white-hot startup that has risen from
nothing to everywhere thanks to its internet TV software portal, has just announced that a deal has been inked between it and an undisclosed "hardware partner." If you'll recall, we actually heard that the outfit was
mulling the production of its own
set-top-box back in January, and now it looks like Roku, Apple TV and a host of other mini PCs will have yet another formidable rival vying for space underneath the tele. The firm isn't spilling any details whatsoever on the so-called "Boxee Box," but we are told that mockups and the like will be presented at the
Boxee Beta Unveiling on December 7th. Oh, and as if you aren't excited enough already, chew on this -- the company has informed us that they believe "this will be the first of several living room devices you'll see running Boxee in 2010," so don't be shocked if your favorite game console or Blu-ray player gains an embedded Boxee app in the near future.
posted Nov 12th 2009 11:48AM
It would be totally awesome if the CE partner was Popcorn Hour. Because I have one, and I'd love to see Boxee on it :)
Agreed, I'd love if it was NMT only for the simple fact that the interface on the Popcorn Hour is the only thing that I dislike.
Well, if you look at their press release about their David Box and their supposed Rob G (Rich Object Based Graphic etc. etc.) support, then you could probably argue that the PCH NMT boxes are getting a huge redesign in terms of their interface. I'd be curious to see who Boxee has their box deal with, cause that would be interesting to see what they are going to price their units at. Personally, I have never been a fan of the boxee but to each their own.
Queen of /b/
heheh, and on the day I just bought a WD TV Live....
Took one look and thought Nvidia?
Yeah even the symbol from a distance looks like it..
What, because the CG mockups are partially green? Nothing about the article even vaguely suggests Nvidia.
Have I been using Apple products for too long, because I only want it for it's logo and sleekness?
If that's the case you haven't been using them long enough.
Yes. :)
Or how about your favorite console that's also a blueray player? Jk,
Honestly, though, I've never tried out Boxee so naturally I'm curious to see what it's all about.
So long as they don't bow to corporate demands and keep everything we love boxee for, I think it's pretty safe to say this is awesome.
^ idiot
I've been using Boxee on Linux for over a year now and it is the buggiest HTPC software product I've ever used. You'll be lucky to accomplish a few basic tasks in a row without it crashing.
More frustrating is their infrequent release cycle. You're always hoping something is fixed soon, but no release for months. Then a new release, and oh wait, it's a mostly "new features" release. I've only kept Boxee around because I have more than one HTPC (the other doesn't run Boxee), and I'm always hoping they'll give me a few fixes soon.
I have serious doubts that they can get their act together soon enough for the retail market.
I think Boxee lacks the software development professionalism necessary to deliver. I can tell from their bug collection process, forum posts, delivery cycles, etc.
Maybe they should try giving back to the XBMC community.
Remember, that there's the word 'Alpha' in the name.
If the xbmc community wants a go at it they are free to. The source code is available on boxee's website
Like Mailia said, it's been in Alpha. Beta gets its preview in December...
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=2265
That being said, the lastest Windows build has been stable for me under Windows 7 x64, though I don't use it for local media (config'ed W7MC to switch between the two). Jumping between Apple trailers, YouTube, and custom RSS feeds has worked just fine for me.
That's right, Boxee is still marked as an alpha, and beta coming soon. It should be noted that it is built from a stable XBMC. I'm not measuring Boxee's success by the state it is in today, instead i'm measuring the improvement i've seen in the last year. Unfortunately, I haven't seen much.
Again, my experiences with Boxee are on Linux. In a set-top-box scene, Linux is the top dog. If they can't get it right there, they won't get it right on a your set-top.
Boxee's Alpha status only reinforces my point, it's not ready for primetime.
Would you spend $200 to be a beta tester?
@ Doug Deep: At this point I certainly wouldn't spend $200, but there's no date, nor any real hardware specs to go on from this announcement. If the hardware specs are good, it might actually be interesting.
I think most dedicated boxes (anything that doesn't run a full Linux or Win7 OS) just add to the clutter when SFF PCs capable of delivering good performance are getting cheaper every day, and give you way more options including a full desktop on your HDTV if that's what you want.
What makes the "Boxee Box" interesting is that it could very well have a full Linux under the hood making it easier for DIYers to get in there compared to some of the other set tops out there, but that's all speculation until there's more details.
@Rob. Boxee does give back to the XBMC community. Or did you not notice the "sponsored by Boxee" logo on the xbmc.org home page. They are contributing financially to XBMC development.
If it supports Netflix instant watch, Hulu, and has component output and HDMI, that could be a good combo. It all depends on the price.
oh c'mon, not allowed to have fun with homophones? lighten up
So... if Boxee is a fork of XBMC, which stands for XBox Media Center...
Does that mean this is the "Xbox Media Center Fork Box"? Xboxbox? What?
The universe just exploded.
well, boxee is a xbmc fork yea. but IMO xbmc is more stagle, just without the netflix etc support
but if this runs boxee.... it should be able to run xbmc.. so, this can be awsome.
XBMC no longer stands for XBox Media Center, it stands for absolutely nothing
I wish they would change that logo. It looks evil.
http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/thumb/8/81/Thisisboxxy.png/449px-Thisisboxxy.png
Better?
I love this logo. It's cute yet modern in a high-from-watching-too-much-boxee kind of way.
Boxee is a fantastic piece of software. To release a set top box that is built to run it would be the end of apple tv.
What are you talking about? Apple TV is already dead. Apple TV is just a hobby to them remember?
I used XBMC on my Xbox for years, and I remember when Boxee first started out, they sent me (And I assume most of the XBMC forum users) an early invite to try their app on Linux & Windows. I blew it off because, hey, why bother with another media player? After some hype I resurrected the email invite and they were nice enough to still let me in on the alpha, and I've used it ever since. Glad to hear they're about to hit the big time!
I wonder if they're hiring for Windows sys admin work...
Boxee for a blu-ray player (like my LG BD390, hint hint) would be great. I'd rather have one less box to deal with than one more.
or boxee software for a gaming console? I really don't need yet another item plugged into my TV for a task...its bad enough having to hook up my laptop to watch hulu, thankfully i get my netflix disc for my ps3 tomorrow.
When did "all-in-one" become unfashionable?
Now they need to allow streaming to us lot outside the states.
I'm sure just like Hulu it won't be available to us Canadians :(
another one-act pony. We don't need another box that is tied into one major service, and perhaps offers another one or two free services. And then, they all promise other features coming soon (local media streaming has been coming soon on Vudu for about 2 years)
I don't think this requires you to buy a box if you have something already. This is for people who don't have something and want something self-contained.
With the prices of Windows 7 PCs capable of working as small form factor HTPCs dropping in price, I think we're gonna hit a point where it''s going to be all about the software. I hope Boxee manages to get a number of partnering deals, along with keeping the standalone free for HTPC users (whether it's Linux, Windows or Mac).
It really is the best for internet TV, by a long shot.
How about a Hulu desktop player? That is the core of Boxxee's appeal IME, and with the cat and mouse game between Hulu and Boxee, what guarantee is there that Hulu won't find a 'permanent solution' to block Boxxee?
/still waiting for a Hulu Desktop + XBMC combo player.
inb4bawksy
I don't get it: why you mention Apple TV, Mini-PCs (even worse) and even Roku (good, but slightly different category) and do not mention the simpler, but better ones, dominant ones in this category, which I believe are Asus O'Play and WD TV Live?
These are the ones, but for the funds to pay publicity...
if they put Boxxy's face on the side, used her face as their logo, I think they'd b successful
I recently bought two Acer AspireRevo units at $200 a piece. You need to add a USB IR receiver/remote for another $25. These play 1080p content w/multichannel audio wonderfully. Hulu is no good on it, but that should be remedied once Adobe releases the ION-optimized Flash 10.1. I'll be very interested to see if Boxee prices this below $200 and if you can get XBMC working on it.
BOXEE for PS3...... Droooools.........