Boxee - I've found my home theater software, finally
Oct 28, 2008, 5:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Boxee - I've found my home theater software, finally
I've been playing around with Boxee this past week after their latest alpha and I'm _really_ impressed. This is what I've been looking for for a few years now. I can, using my Mac Mini, pretty much unplug the keyboard and _greatly_ reduce the mouse usage.
My goal home theater PC scenario has always been:
1) download favorite TV shows automatically with BitTorrent
2) watch ripped DVDs
3) listen to iTunes songs
4) access YouTube and other web video content online
5) do all this with remote control
6) look "professional" (rename clunky download names, download cover art)
Boxee ticks all the above boxes. I am still using Vuze for downloads (running in the background with AzSMRC to control it from my laptop) but it dumps into my video folder where Boxee picks up the newly downloaded files.
I tried this with a PC for the past few years and it was never good enough to remove the feel of Windows - traversing directories and switching between players. I upgraded to a Mac Mini last year and was semi-happy using Nice Player and iTunes to watch shows and downloads. Still required a mouse to interact with OS X.
Drawbacks include no DVR support (doesn't matter to me since I don't have a cable box or satellite) and typical bugs in the alpha (mis-identifying songs/videos, occasional crashes or sluggishness, UI inconsistencies).
Happy to send invites to anyone that PMs as I believe it's still invite-only. Excited to see where they take this.
My goal home theater PC scenario has always been:
1) download favorite TV shows automatically with BitTorrent
2) watch ripped DVDs
3) listen to iTunes songs
4) access YouTube and other web video content online
5) do all this with remote control
6) look "professional" (rename clunky download names, download cover art)
Boxee ticks all the above boxes. I am still using Vuze for downloads (running in the background with AzSMRC to control it from my laptop) but it dumps into my video folder where Boxee picks up the newly downloaded files.
I tried this with a PC for the past few years and it was never good enough to remove the feel of Windows - traversing directories and switching between players. I upgraded to a Mac Mini last year and was semi-happy using Nice Player and iTunes to watch shows and downloads. Still required a mouse to interact with OS X.
Drawbacks include no DVR support (doesn't matter to me since I don't have a cable box or satellite) and typical bugs in the alpha (mis-identifying songs/videos, occasional crashes or sluggishness, UI inconsistencies).
Happy to send invites to anyone that PMs as I believe it's still invite-only. Excited to see where they take this.
Oct 28, 2008, 10:33 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
yes, boxee is a nice integration of many VOD and online offerings. It has consistently added a lot of functionality over the past 3-4 months, I barely used the initial alpha install., I can't wait for netflix to show up. It COULD happen. I'm waiting for a hardware tie in from Korea or Taiwan or something like that.
I'm also waiting for them to figure out how to integrate the online slingplayer version, then we'd have it all.
I'm also waiting for them to figure out how to integrate the online slingplayer version, then we'd have it all.
Oct 28, 2008, 4:03 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/120)
it seems to be built well for those third party integrations like sling. I'm particularly excited for itunes as well.
it seems to be built well for those third party integrations like sling. I'm particularly excited for itunes as well.