Why would anyone in the UK buy a boxee box?

**haveringcottage** · October 12th, 2010, 06:49 AM

Riddle me that.

I use boxee because it has a neat little interface for me to watch all my own digital content, but i am one of few, not one of many.

most people don't have a huge catalogue of media already on their computers.

most people will want to watch streaming telly, rent or buy the odd movie or two, watch i player and seesaw on their boxee box.

and in the UK, the boxee box can't do any of that - so how are they going to sell any?

**se99jmk** · October 12th, 2010, 08:20 AM

Well, I have to admit I'm considering getting a Boxee box, and I'm in the UK.

While Boxee does actually play iPlayer (reasonably well, integrates with tv shows library or there's an app), I'll agree that tv show streaming in the UK generally is atrocious.

Netflix are rumoured to be in the UK for the end of the year, and Hulu too, but of course noone can count on either until they're actually here..

So, why a Boxee box? for playing back local media. It's the one interface I've found that my family can actually use without getting frustrated - I like viewing our photos on the big screen, and we've got a small flat so I don't like having loads of shelves taken up with DVDs, so rip them all..

--------------------------

So for local media, or photos, Boxee is fantastic, but I'll agree with you that online sources so far are limited. I suppose by buying one I'm betting on the future, in the hope that Spotify integration improves, Netflix / Hulu comes, or it can integrate Project Canvas..

All I know is that when these services do roll around, my money is on Boxee just because it has the best interface, usable by everyone.

**haveringcottage** · October 12th, 2010, 08:55 AM

iplayer in boxee has been broken for about a month now.....

that doesn't feel like "support" to me - it feels like the devs are ignoring the UK market.

jira shows the bug as still outstanding.

**haveringcottage** · October 12th, 2010, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by se99jmk

All I know is that when these services do roll around, my money is on Boxee just because it has the best interface, usable by everyone.

I couldnt disagree more.

whilst boxee has been around for a (relatively) long time in this digital age, it has totally failed to penatrate the UK market in any siginifant way, other than to enthusiasts.

with google wading onto the scene with their deep pockets and the ear of many hardware developers, it wont take them long to scupper any well meaning, well laid, but ultimately futile plans Boxee HQ had for the UK.

which is a real shame.

but i fear that is the way its going to go, unless boxee can *quickly* release lots of apps taking advantage of UK tv content already on the net from the various sources.

Boxee IS a great product and i agree that it is currently the best app for playing local media via an HTPC to PC (my family also all use it, including my 7 year old boy who 'got it' in about 10 seconds) but thats not enough to sell the boxee box to the mainstream UK public is it?

**Mevi** · October 13th, 2010, 09:01 AM

Boxee seems to suffer at the hands of internet progress. When the websites hosting the content update their page design & tech... and they frequently do to keep things looking fresh to attract repeat visits AND also to keep their content creators happy by adding copy protection, etc..... Boxee & it's apps get broken.

I think the makers of Boxee & it's apps deserve to be commended, but I wonder if they're taking on a whole lot of never ending patching? Hopefully the official content partners will help remedy that.

**gmd024** · October 13th, 2010, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Mevi

Boxee seems to suffer at the hands of internet progress. When the websites hosting the content update their page design & tech... and they frequently do to keep things looking fresh to attract repeat visits AND also to keep their content creators happy by adding copy protection, etc..... Boxee & it's apps get broken.

I think the makers of Boxee & it's apps deserve to be commended, but I wonder if they're taking on a whole lot of never ending patching? Hopefully the official content partners will help remedy that.

I would think any media player that's not officially partnered with content prividers will be in the same boat

And I agree - when Boxee gets partnered up (and they will) with providers - this relationship should allow for less issues to occur because the partners should alert Boxee ahead of the updates and give them time to work on the changes

**iRoNBiLL** · October 13th, 2010, 11:54 AM

I think people are too focused on "control of content" rather than looking for new innovations. Try using Navi-X app for Boxee and tell me this doesn't take many restrictions out of your mind. People, if you can view content on the internet in a browser, it can be viewed in Boxee period... there just has to be a way of bringing it in... Boxee and Navi-X does this for many sources already. Try not to focus too much on people bringing content to us... the internet already provides much of what we need... we just need to bring the content to Boxee.

This argument Hulu created about "we're stealing Hulu's content without permission" is phony at best and criminal at worst. How can we steal something they have made publicly available on the internet??? Who needs anything to be official or partnered when they make their own content publicly accessible for all?? Sounds like the tail is telling the dog to wag and not the other way around. Everyone can either wait for innovations or pitch in a helping hand, but to ask yourselves "Why would anyone in the UK buy a Boxee box?"... if you knew the product better, this would be self explanatory. No disrespect, just trying to point out particulars. Much love!

iRoNBiLL

**Iggy82** · October 17th, 2010, 06:28 AM

Just use Hotspot Shield http://anchorfree.com# and you can watch everything Boxee has to offer

**shuurajou** · November 11th, 2010, 09:41 AM

For what on demand content in the UK there is, I feel Boxee handles it better than any alternatives. Key thing for me though, is that it's the best way (I think) for me to get access to all my different types of content. It's exactly what I want and I can't wait for it to arrive.

**Bob_UK** · November 11th, 2010, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by shuurajou

For what on demand content in the UK there is, I feel Boxee handles it better than any alternatives. Key thing for me though, is that it's the best way (I think) for me to get access to all my different types of content. It's exactly what I want and I can't wait for it to arrive.

What do you think of the new UI and loosing the music, and looks like my movies? I have only seen local content as a file list...