"maybe Boxee isn't for you" (turn off online TV sources)

**PhatPhreddy** · November 3rd, 2010, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Conversely, I think that those who are new to Boxee aren't as familiar with Boxee's primary goal, which is to bring web-based video content into the living room. If you don't share that goal then there is an obvious mis-match.

Well as a new user (but long time HTPC nut, from back when we needed HW acceleration to play DVD's !!), thats certainly not the impression you get from the boxee videos and promo material.. it seems to list the home jukebox and cataloguing / tagging / cover art finding for my own local content as equal billing..

For me its a case of the local stuff works.. The remote stuff doesnt work.. I could of course not have the local stuff and it wouldnt interfere with the remote side, but I cant not have the remote side and have it not interfere with the local stuff.. See the disconnect ??

If something doesnt work, due to whatever reason, there should be a way to turn off or not see features that dont work and leave the ones that do.

**darcilicious** · November 3rd, 2010, 12:59 PM

Really? Have you visited the home page lately? Right there in very large letters:

"Movies, TV Shows and Video from the Internet on your TV."

Boxee is primarily about online video. That can't be stressed enough. Online content will always be Boxee's priority. Their business plan is all about taking a cut from online premium content.

All this means you shouldn't be surprised if Boxee doesn't choose to implement a way to "turn off" online content sources.

For me its a case of the local stuff works.. The remote stuff doesnt work..

Sounds like XBMC may be the better choice then

If it's not quite to your liking they could probably use your feedback

At any rate, this is my last post on the topic. I have no idea what Boxee will decide to do; and you can agree or disagree that they're not taking the right approach but you can't ignore what primary goal of Boxee has been and is.

**PhatPhreddy** · November 3rd, 2010, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Really? Have you visited the home page lately? Right there in very large letters:

"Movies, TV Shows and Video from the Internet on your TV."

Boxee is primarily about online video. That can't be stressed enough. Online content will always be Boxee's priority. Their business plan is all about taking a cut from online premium content.

And the vast majority of my home content came from the internet.. Via torrents.. Via all other sources.. But just not streams.

It DOESNT say streaming does it ?? And if you watch the video.. A large part of it is emphasizing how its a superb cataloger of offline media, cover art and the like. Thats given pretty much equal billing, how to organise your media collection. Just what I am after.

All this means you shouldn't be surprised if Boxee doesn't choose to implement a way to "turn off" online content sources.

If a feature doesnt work.. Why should it be forced ?? I cant use it, so they dont 'lose' anything by me not using it.

Sounds like XBMC may be the better choice then

If it's not quite to your liking they could probably use your feedback

Whats really got me looking to boxee is the possibility of 5 hackable boxee boxes, for every bedroom, for the pool deck music etc.. So if XBMC has a 'box' coming out.. Then it would be interesting.. Otherwise its MCE and xbox 360's which keep blowing up on me !! 5 more HTPC's is just not workable for a home media net, too many breakdowns and updates.

**twistybox** · November 8th, 2010, 08:09 AM

IMO, Boxee will get outclassed in the internet-sourced live streaming game very quickly if that's going to be the focus from now on. They're going to have to provide stronger support for local network/offline content to stay on top of the other devices out there.

Dlink has an advantage of distribution over small-time players, but they're not going to be able to push as strongly as Logitech or Sony, not to mention whomever else is jumping on GoogleTV.

**nolesrule** · November 9th, 2010, 01:03 PM

I'm having an annoying problem which is caused by mixing the online and local. When I go into the episode listings for one of my TV shows, I get all the episodes correctly listed under each season tied to my local copies and to Hulu. But then, there's a section called Extras which lists all but 5 of the episodes and sourced from Fancast. It'd be nice if there was a way to prevent this from happening.

**netwizard99** · November 17th, 2010, 08:20 PM

Are there any updates to this problem?

As end users we should have the option to turn off the online media streaming in "My TV Shows." Here is my argument, online streaming still has ways to go; why should I be forced to play media that is not in my collection? I've tried playing online media and a lot of it is still really low quality (not HD). I want the ability to play my own media that is in HD on my HDTV.

Further, any missing episodes will be filled in with online media so its hard to determine what is missing from my library. I would like to see a resolution to this simple problem; it was working just fine until further updates changed that.

I'm currently sitting on my hands on the Boxee Box until I know my money will be well spent in getting a box that will fit my needs.

**Entity** · November 18th, 2010, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by netwizard99

Are there any updates to this problem?

As end users we should have the option to turn off the online media streaming in "My TV Shows." Here is my argument, online streaming still has ways to go; why should I be forced to play media that is not in my collection? I've tried playing online media and a lot of it is still really low quality (not HD). I want the ability to play my own media that is in HD on my HDTV.

Further, any missing episodes will be filled in with online media so its hard to determine what is missing from my library. I would like to see a resolution to this simple problem; it was working just fine until further updates changed that.

I'm currently sitting on my hands on the Boxee Box until I know my money will be well spent in getting a box that will fit my needs.

http://forums.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=22313

Originally Posted by avneron

It is too cumbersome to get to local movies, tv shows
This issue is part of a broader feeling that Boxee has de-emphasized local files and is pushing online source instead. This is true and we made a mistake by not leaving it up to the user to decide.

Planned solution: We are going to let users tell Boxee whether they are going to use it mostly for local or Internet playback. In case you select "Local" clicking on Movies or Shows will take you to the movie or show files rather than to the most popular online titles.

We will expand on this notion and let users play with their settings as well.

**ingoldsby** · November 18th, 2010, 03:29 AM

So maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but if you don't want to see online content, just open the main File menu and then choose Shows, or Movies etc. That brings up the same show menu, minus the online stuff.

Am I totally off base?

**Entity** · November 18th, 2010, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by ingoldsby

So maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but if you don't want to see online content, just open the main File menu and then choose Shows, or Movies etc. That brings up the same show menu, minus the online stuff.

Am I totally off base?

You are correct.

**netwizard99** · November 18th, 2010, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Entity

http://forums.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=22313

Alright, but this thread was posted in the Boxee Box section; will PC users see the updated version before the Boxee Box owners? I use my HTPC which has Boxee on it to play local Movies and TV Media but also use Netflix and other apps. The question remains, will these options be available if the user chooses the "local media" option described in the thread above...

Originally Posted by ingoldsby

So maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but if you don't want to see online content, just open the main File menu and then choose Shows, or Movies etc. That brings up the same show menu, minus the online stuff.

Am I totally off base?

Yes you could. However, if I wanted to browse through the directory structure of my library, I'd just use my Popcorn Hour to do so. I want the ability to use the scraper that gives me the cover, title, description, etc. of what I want to watch.