Boxee Box 1.0 general GUI discussion

[moshpit]

I wonder if the 1.0 release was a consequence of performance issues? I hope they offer the option to choose between old an new interface in future FW releases. long shot though.

edit: can some mod please move this to the boxee box category. sorry.

[kompakt]

Biggest gripe? No one click access to local media and music.

I set up the Windows software (v0.9) for my wife on the computer, and the boxee software passed the WAF test (Wife Acceptability Factor) so I went ahead and pre-ordered the Boxee Box.

Now, with version 1.0 having to navigate through several clicks to get to Local content (we're outside the US, so most of the online content at this stage is not accessible to us, I expected that, I ordered the Boxee Box mainly for handling local content) the Boxee Box is now struggling to pass the WAF.

Boxee - if my wife gets annoyed with it, it's going straight back (remember: happy wife, happy life) - please let me stall her by assuring her that this oversight will be addressed soon!

[ScottAllyn]

I wonder if the 1.0 release was a consequence of performance issues? I hope they offer the option to choose between old an new interface in future FW releases. long shot though.

I think it's more a consequence of them not thoroughly thinking through the UI design. With the new extra menu layers, what used to take 3 to 4 button presses can now take up to 12.

I think those extra menu layers need to be removed from the main UI navigation paths and setup as toggleable options for each main category, as they were in earlier versions of Boxee.

[bdquigley]

http://hicksdesign.co.uk/journal/boxee-10-interface

A perfect review of the UI changes of boxee in comparison to what was presented and marketed prior to launch.

This makes me sad how true it is, they downgraded the UI for the box.

[clovis8]

The difficulty in getting to local content is a massive failure. I would guess 90% of users want it almost exclusively for local content, especially outside the US.

[Starseame]

I'm also extremely disappointed at Boxee in this bait and switch, I ordered the Boxee Box on the premise that it was the same as the current PC version only to have an inferior GUI forced on users. All the previews of the Boxee Box had the older & better UI demoed on it.

It also failed the WAF test so I'm considering returning the box, I really dont understand how Boxee could make such a colossally bad move at the launch of a product.

[twelvebore]

I feel like the Littlest Hobo. Over the years I've gone from MythTV -> SageTV -> MediaPortal -> Boxee Beta looking for a media centre solution that does what I want with an attractive, simple-to-use and professional-looking user interface. I thought I'd found somewhere I could linger for a while. Ah well.

I must say I'm a bit confused by the changes, particularly why they weren't evident in the recently released beta. This can't be something that's been thrown together in the past fortnight, so what gives?!

[moshpit]

also... what's with that fugly (sorry) cyan/blue highlight color? boxee is green...
I can't find yellow any more? :-(

[amheck]

I'd like to hear whether there are any planned changes to the UI, if if the Boxee team really feels this new v1.0 will be here to stay and we'll have to "get used to it".

[n00ge]

I think that Boxee needs to make web content easiest to target the masses but I really hope that the local content isn't buried. I have local stuff myself and have ordered a Boxee Box. I think I've gone from excited to anxious. It's sad to see such a rough review from Jon Hicks. He's a well respected designer in the web industry with a lot of influence. Maybe he'd have some suggestions for the guys at Boxee?

This seems like it's been a rough - confusing launch so far. I've been a big fan of Boxee all along and have been pushing friends to check it out as well. Hopefully it'll smooth out with some updates.