elpepe wrote:can this play 720p x264 encoded videos in MKV containers from an iMac on an HDTV? Can't get my xbox to do this no matter what software I try.

YES! I too own a MBPro and my Boxee (purchased here months ago) works slicker than snot in January on almost ALL of my hard disk's files, including 720P mkv files from Blueray disks.

My first Boxee died almost immediately after power-up, but the replacement has never failed to please me. I have it hooked up to my Time Machine and external RAID HD too. It will mount .iso disk images and play them as if you had an attached optical drive.

I own a Boxee Box and for the most part really like it. But there are a few things one should be aware of.

A) There is no way to make it play the "next" video file in a folder when you want to. If some suggests creating a playlist file I would argue that there should just be a way to turn on or off playing all in sequence. Great for watching a series.

B) You cannot "tell" Boxee not to show contents of folder or otherwise exclude it from the library. This would be helpful for media that is not correctly identified by an internet search, does not fit that category or you just don't want the kids seeing.

C) There is no way to remove content that is incorrectly identified in the library. This also applies to files you move. The "bad" reference will stay unless you wipe the whole library database (not the actual files) and tell Boxee to start again. This rebuild can take hours depending on how much content you have.

D) It cannot play Hi10 content. To my knowledge there is no device that can do that right now (I may be mistaken). Not a big deal for me, but I have read of many people being frustrated by this.

Still, I think it is a pretty good device. It can play quite a bit of files with little fuss. It can do subtitles and even find them for you. If you have a server or NAS it can access those files and play them. You can also just attach and external drive and hard drive. And it has built in Wireless N that works pretty well on my home network. There is also some tricks one can do if you dig into the forum.

mf193 wrote:This thing has too many limitations and not nearly enough support.

Laugh all you want but I've been nothing but happy with my WD TV Live Plus boxes. They play anything you throw at them, don't stutter over the network, and get enough updates to keep them current. Only downside is no Amazon Prime support.

I'll second that. I still use a WDTV Live Plus on two different TV's to play all of our local content and access Netflix on a bedroom TV. It will play anything and everything - 1080p MKVs ISOs MOV, MPG anything - would love for a snazzier GUI but it does the trick.

Free Slingbox client included if you have a newer Slingbox. That is the killer feature for me. It allows me to share my Directv receivers with other TVs. Wife is happy and it is not costing me for another DTV receiver.

Been thinking about this throughout the day and doing some research, here and there, and I'm about 90% on the "no" side.

For Hulu, the issue isn't Boxee. Everybody has the problem that Hulu races to block every trick people find to watch outside a PC browser. I don't know if it's DRM or contracts with the studios, but they work hard to prevent it without ever saying it's bad.

So, that's not the deal-breaker, but I have a Roku that I'm very happy with. But, that Roku also ties up my TV's only HDMI port.

What kills it, though, is that Boxee seems to increasingly be kind of a slimy company, from pulling/hiding their PC software to violating the terms of the Linux and XBMC licensing (GPL3, for those who care) to pushing software updates that seem to randomly add or remove features. A shame, since I have an HDHomeRun, for example, and this would've been a good match, except that it seems to crash the box on exit, now.

What I think I'd want to do, for the price and size, is buy it to install XBMC, which is undoubtedly just as good for the hardware. But the licensing violations above include blocking people from installing software and dismissing people who request the key.

So, for my purposes (playing local files and DVDs, plus Hulu from the website and shows from other network websites), it looks like my best bet is going to be to wait for a cheap computer (maybe the Raspberry Pi, maybe something heavier that can handle a DVD player and more easily available) and install XBMC and a web browser, with one of those bluetooth keyboard/mouse things.

If the problems I see don't interest you, though, it looks like a decent gadget. I don't hate the shape nearly as much as some people...but it also probably would've ended up on top of my media center and thus mostly invisible.

bibliophile8 wrote:Sadly, no. Boxee has been saying that they would add this feature for at least 8 months now, but there's been no indication of when a Hulu app may finally appear.

I've owned a Boxee Box since this last December.

same goes for non-big-partner devices, no streaming hulu or hulu+ you have to be on an app-enadled tv or BD player and only from the manufacturers that have signed the agreement with hulu ($$$) so Samsung, Sony, LG, etc... (sucks) and it will not be coming to the other devices including gTV devices all because of money that doesn't want to switch hands

sampf53 wrote:Just wanted to point out that it appears to be cheaper on their actual site...:

http://www.dlinkshop.com/store/dlink/en_US/pd/productID.247897100?resid=UE9-8AoBAlgAACymYyQAAABB&rests=1347387375793

This seems to be a very relevant piece of information. I'm not sure why no one has commented on it yet.

OK, Woot!, what are you going to do about it??

elpepe wrote:can this play 720p x264 encoded videos in MKV containers from an iMac on an HDTV? Can't get my xbox to do this no matter what software I try.

Yea it can. I stream .mkvs off my Macbookpro all the time

rajaBobja wrote:This is a stand alone device. It has built in wireless connection so it can hook into your existing wireless connection. From there you can get online with it and stream movies and shows from nexflix (requires netflix subscription). They also have apps so you can stream other content/services like MLB and movies rentals with vudu? that you can get for a fee. Though there is a decent amount of free online content too, but no amazon streaming last I checked.

I've had a boxee for about 1.5 years and am kinda meh towards it. They have focused development towards online services (so they can get a cut of that revenue) but I dislike the interface to play local files. Highlight file, click file. Popup "hey did you want to play that file you just selected?", click confirm. Then when the episode finishes instead of playing the next one in the folder you have to go through the hoops again. =/

Its not a bad device and at $100ish its a decent price but I got mine for $180ish and think thats too much. Though it may be cheaper now.

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your taking the time. Think I'll pass on this and wait for something similar but less subscription oriented. Thanks again.
Pat

got mine Saturday... DOA


no video... very sad!

So my tracking number still returns the USPS message "Delivery status information is not available for your item via this web site. A return receipt after mailing may be available through your local Post Office." Does that mean my tracking number got typo'd?

I just got my Boxee last night, and I plug it in and it won't turn on.

D-Link customer service is (intentionally) a nightmare.