Can't run other applications when boxee is running

[nitsua1023]

When Boxee is running I can't run other applications. Sure, I can open them up, they bounce on the dock and then appear, but I can't control them. It seems like it may be an issue with the mouse. If I click on the dock to change applications it changes for a second and then goes back to boxee. Anyone else have this trouble?

I am loving Boxee so far, but if I can ONLY run boxee by itself it isn't nearly as useful. I am a Boxee newb, < 24 hours, is it a glitch or settings/prefs problem?

[nitsua1023]

BTW, this is OS X 10.5.7 on MacBook Pro...

Further clarification, boxee is on my HDTV, I want to use applications on my MacBook while video is playing on the TV, and can't.

[gatherlight]

I assume this is related to the same problem as using Spaces to control screens. I think the Boxee team tried to get rid of the double mouse pointer problem and in doing so have created a whole host of other problems in how people like to multitask with their computers. See this thread....

http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=9828

There is no fix for this "yet"

[nitsua1023]

Yeah, sounds like a similar problem, but I don't even use spaces. I have always had it disabled. Sounds like the same symptoms though.

[gatherlight]

If you are not using Spaces, how are you able to get to the dock or any application while Boxee is running?

With this new version of Boxee that just came out, I am forced to quit the application when ever I want to do anything else in the computer.

What were the developers of Boxee thinking here? Am I missing some trick?

[pixpusher]

while running boxee on my secondary screen, clicking outside on my primary screen doesn't work... so multitasking is a no-go...
that's exactly one of the things i liked when i switched from windows media center, which is also catching the mouse while it's running in fullscreen...

[brewster1134]

i just posted a new thread about this, but someone beat me to the punch. i have the exact same problem. bummer.

[gatherlight]

Here's a partial fix to this problem.
After extensive testing of this new Boxee on a couple different platforms (mini attached to big screen and Macbook pro screen only), I am seeing some inconsistent things happening.

If I have a mouse attached to the computer, I was able to regain my mouse pointer, dock and menu controls by clicking the left mouse button twice in the Finder and it finally let Boxee's control over everything subside.

When I try to do the double click with my track pad on my lap top or using my WACOM tablet, nothing happens. I am still locked out of all applications.

It would appear that the developers have coded certain features into the mouse and not other input devices. I have noticed that the right click button on a mouse acts as a back (menu) button as well.

[nitsua1023]

gatherlight, I am able to get to the dock because boxee is on the TV but my dock is on the laptop. The mouse cursor is able to span over to the laptop, and and makes the dock pop up, and even opens up an app, but after a split second the app always changes right back to boxee. When I disconnect the TV and just use boxee on the laptop I definitely HAVE to quit to even see the dock, or do anything else for that matter. I hope they fix this soon because it's kind of a deal-breaker. VLC lets me run other apps, I'm just sayin'...

[RoboticDeathDog]

I have this same problem. I loved being able to use my macbook screen to check email, etc. while boxee was running on my TV. Why did they change this?

I guess I should mention that I do use spaces but I have boxee attached to every space on the secondary monitor. It used to be fine when I would switch spaces the macbook monitor would change but boxee would remain on my HDTV with no interruption.