Upcoming minor (but important) UI Changes

[agosanim]

[QUOTE=Ph8;133259]

There is a reason the 1st update was called Fiona SP1 and this one is called Fiona SP2. BTW he said "soon" and didnt give an exact date. Soon can be 2 weeks it can be a few days. The early release beta was supposed to be released this week to the early beta testers, if everything follows suit then we shuld be seeing the release over the next few days or so. There is a REASOn they dont give spefici dates for the release, becasue if there are problems introduced with the most recent update they dont miss any dates if this happens.

As far as drastic changes go dont expect any, the new UI is here to stay, there will be tweaks here and there, but the overall interface is staying. I am so tired of seeing people threaten and insult Boxee and the team they have, if you are not happy then vote with you wallet and retun the Boxee Box.

You must have a problem with reading comprehension. I am voting with my wallet. I am buying 4 Roku boxes for Christmas presents instead of 4 Boxee Boxes because I will never know in time for Christmas if Netflix or Vudu are going to run flawlessly on the Boxee Box. And I already have my RMA from Amazon to return the Boxee Box if nothing changes. This are not threads, this are facts. I am sure that I am not the only one making intelligent decisions base on the facts at hand.

And I am getting tired of people defending them because they never give specific dates. That is part of the problem, they never specify anything so by that logic nothing really has to get done.

[Ph8]

With all due respect people have a right to be upset with the UI change. If someone had used Boxee previously they would have an expectation of what the UI for the boxee box would be. Even the original firmware for the BB had the old UI which is a lot better. It feels like bait and switch.

Sure some folks are complaining about no hulu or netflicks but as someone who doesn't live in America, we aren't going to see those services any time soon so the vast amount of our media consumption will be local files. Roku isn't an option and apple TV is very limited. It seems obvious to me that if someone wanted a device that was heavily geared towards internet streaming video they would get a Roku for half the price or even an Apple TV. The reason you would get a Boxee Box over both those devices is that it can play anything you throw at it. The vast majority of the anything you can throw at it wouldn't be streaming because you only really need flash/silverlight/html5 to accomplish that. So why has the UI been so skewed towards anything streaming. I'm not saying that there shouldn't be streaming on the box but anything that is detected locally should be given a higher level of importance.

As Avner said "There is an overwhelming consumer expectation that the content we can consume in our cubicles, our dorm rooms, and in our laps should be available in our living rooms, in full 1080p with a gorgeous interface. It’s a simple premise, but the challenge is to do it in a way that makes sense in that space, so you can put your feet up, grab a remote and start watching. No keyboards, mice, windows or labyrinthine menus. It should be calm and it should be beautiful."

With 1.0 playing back local files that I can easily do on my lap, does not make me calm and is not beautiful. The fact that currently can not select your default sort option is really the sticking point and I can not see how this was over looked in testing. The box was delayed for so long surely the UI should have been ready. I don't really care what's popular I care about what's important to me but every time I go to the apps or media it first lists "most popular". If I have selected something to be a favorite I'm probably wanting to see that list first. Its not rocket science.

I don't see the problem with informing the developers about how I feel about the new UI and that returning the box is a real option at this point. I have another two weeks to make my mind up so I'll see what the next update is like. Hopefully the UI can be tailored towards local files with the option screen that has been posted.

I think you are misunderstanding what I wrote. There is a difference between being upset about the UI change and making veild threats and insults to the Boxee team. I ahve no issues with voicing complaints, its what makes the product better for everyone, I do have issues with threats and insults, this benifits no one. Instead of saying you are goign to do it, actually do it and wait to see if the product becomes what you want.

As far as the local files\internet debate goes, this has been discussed 20329483204982 times already, so honestly Id rather not get into it again. What is probably going to happen is the middle path between online and local content. The Boxee Box will never be 100% focused on local content, there will always be a patrial focus towards online content as this is where Boxee plans to make money.

As you said there are many choices out there, there are also drawbacks with every device, its up to you as the consumer to do the research and find what best works for you.

[cecemf]

I couldn't resist the changes I wanted are coming so I went and bought myself the boxee box waiting for delivery now ;-)

[shafboxboy]

I Hope you guys release the update soon! No matter what, I am really happy with the work the Boxee team is doing! really looking forward for more and more features in near future!.....


And don't forget to enjoy the Holidays!.....

[clcallegari]

I have only been using the Boxee software for the past couple of months and it has led me to purchase the Box. There is a huge difference between the PC software and the software on the Box. But why all the fuss?? I looked up past versions of Boxee and, correct me if I'm wrong here, but the UI has changed so many times since it came out. Don't be upset at another UI. If you don't like what you have been sold, return it. But I'd like anyone to find another device that does what this does (or will soon do) with the same attention from the software CEO's. In a few months time nobody will remember all of the problems with the originally shipped box. Take a deep breath and calm down. If the Box isn't what you expected, let Boxee know. They seem to be VERY good at listening to customers and responding with added features.

[rkenyon]

Why would they put out a statement last Friday inplying that a new release was coming out soon and a week later here we are.

Jeez, just read the *1st* post in this thread. It says that the new firmware should hopefully be out this week. Nothing about "soon".

[wengel]

I just want to thank the Boxee team for all their hard work and for having 2 firmware upgrades out in 1 month after releasing a new product. For all the people complaining so much I just want to make a comment; if this is all you have to whine about your life is pretty great, you are early adopters - grow up.

[javaBoxee]

Based on the last release date, we should be getting one today
Hopefully will be a good release.

[aaronwt]

The Roku and Boxee Box aren't even in the same league.

Plus the roku is under $100.

the Roku is not a replacement for the Boxee Box since it is very limited in what it can do.

Why would they put out a statement last Friday inplying that a new release was coming out soon and a week later here we are. Why not just wait until you tested the darn thing and then make your statement or better yet, put it out and let us test it. You will know what works and what doen't in 24 hrs. It is obvious that the beta tester that you have are inept and this has been proven by the buggy and ill-logic v1 release and the bugs that got thru on the last release.

Whoever is making the decisions at boxee is making quite a few monumental, probably fatal decisions at this stage. If this continuous I am afraid that only the loyal followers of boxee will remain.

I for one am losing patience rapidly. At this pace we wont get another upgrade until after christmas. Time has run out on boxee for this Christmas, I will not order 4 bb for presents if I don't know if Netfix or Vudu movies will play on the bb from beginning to end without any rebuffering so 4 Roku boxes it is for my presents this Christmas.

As far as my bb is concern I will keep it until Jan 15 to see what progress they make because half the yelling and hollering that goes on in this forum is from people that have no clue on how to set up their router/switcher and network connections. It's best to see for myself what works and what doesn't. I do think that at the end unless some drastic changes occur promply I will go the HTPC route at the end.

[tomcrown69]

The problem I am having is no vudu or hili. Netflix is probably a dream.

Tube on boxee is worthless since the last update you can not log in.

And if any one is thinking of using this box as a browser forget about it. I hope boxee fixes the browser and use firefox or some other browser not the one boxee is working on.

I expect the new ui update to be out this Saturday.