Sadly, Google TV is pulling me away from Boxee :o(

[debusk]

Here I was all set to buy myself a Boxee Box when all of the sudden Google TV came along and stole all the hoopla. I really wanted to stick with Boxee, but it seems Google TV is just too good a fit for me. Beyond all the standard apps that all these media machines tend to share, like Netflix, Google TV will have access to all the apps on the android market, from what I understand, and it'll let me use my phone as a remote. I really love LOVE Boxee's interface, especially with my local media, but now that the Revue has confirmed a media player, I really don't think Boxee can sway me. Dammit...

[marker580]

I'd jump to Google TV in an instant if streamed local media. Without that, it's just a fancy TiVo.

[thegeneralmills]

I feel bad for Boxee though because they have developing this software for at least a year and Google swoops in with its billions of dollars and produces a superior product in 4 months. Lame.

[thegeneralmills]

I'd jump to Google TV in an instant if streamed local media. Without that, it's just a fancy TiVo.

The revue has 2 USB inputs for streaming.

[se99jmk]

The revue has 2 USB inputs for streaming.

And supports DLNA for streaming over the network..

However what isn't clear is if it sorts out all meta data (e.g. cover art), I doubt it. Also the interface for playing back that media hasn't been shown - quite frankly I love the way boxee does it!
Finally there is of course the price point.. Boxee I believe is $100 cheaper?

[pahtz]

And supports DLNA for streaming over the network..

However what isn't clear is if it sorts out all meta data (e.g. cover art), I doubt it. Also the interface for playing back that media hasn't been shown - quite frankly I love the way boxee does it!
Finally there is of course the price point.. Boxee I believe is $100 cheaper?

You will also have to double-check which codecs/containers their implementation of DLNA support.

The grass always looks greener on the other side. You know Boxee because you can install it on your PC for free.

You don't know Google TV because it doesn't run on your PC. From previous discussions it seems that the Boxee Box is quite an open device which you can update/change the OS yourself even if D-Link stops supporting it.

With the Revue this is another unknown. With product cycles and hardware moving so fast there are very few companies that actually actively support products more than 18 months unless it is a device you pay a subscription for.

It is a long road, Boxee Box and Revue are just the first devices.

[Justin!]

I'd jump to Google TV in an instant if streamed local media. Without that, it's just a fancy TiVo.

...a fancy TiVo that only plays well with Dish Network (not any other cable provider, or TV over the airways).

[debusk]

However what isn't clear is if it sorts out all meta data (e.g. cover art), I doubt it. Also the interface for playing back that media hasn't been shown - quite frankly I love the way boxee does it!
Finally there is of course the price point.. Boxee I believe is $100 cheaper?

These are concerns of mine as well. After playing with Boxee on my PC for the last few weeks, I've really grown to love the media interface. I really doubt the Revue will have anything similar, however there's a chance someone could create such an interface and release it on the android market. I'm really torn.

You will also have to double-check which codecs/containers their implementation of DLNA support.

I've been searching around and was happy to read that the Revue will recognize mkv files, which is my movie media format. Still, if the interface is sucky, what's the point.

[se99jmk]

That for me is the killer - the Interface.
It's the reason I disliked MythBuntu, XBMC, Plex, and MCE - Boxee is just simple and easy!

When does the revue actually hit people's homes though? presumably that's when we'll get the real test..

Also has anyone heard if Google TV will be made a download at some point for HTPCs? That way we could at least try it out..

My understanding is that Google TV doesn't have playback from local sources (there's nothing on the Quick Tour pages http://www.google.com/tv/), but the Revue does. So, that means Logitech 'bolted on' that functionality.

Personally I prefer to have something that's designed to work with my media, not an afterthought!

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Having said that, we're quickly moving to an age where local media is no longer needed.. I don't store any music any more, just use Spotify which can offline new tracks and albums to my mobile devices whenever I change my mood.

I can't wait until the cloud for tv shows and movies is the same, instant content whenever I want it, ideally from multiple sources. Boxee's interface of allowing you to search for a show, irrelevant of where on the web it is, is a step in the right direction, but until the sources improve having seamless access to local content as well is just perfect.

Hell, the only reason I haven't already signed up for Boxee is that it can't do some of the more geeky things I could do if I had a Mac Mini or other HTPC - namely bittorenting away in the background with remote access, printer sharing, and serving media to mobile devices from a Drobo FS. Oh, and sticking Dropbox on it so all photos are in sync :-)

[loki131]

Just thought I should point out you can use your phone to control Boxee. There are multiple apps for iOS, Android and WebOS that work quite well.

Ultimately it comes down to how you want to handle your media, Google TV is provider centric so you will be going to a content providers website or app whereas Boxee is content centric so you go to the show or movie and select a provider (with some exceptions). Your call.