XBMC On Boxee Box?

[PhatPhreddy]

Can you provide a link to a quote where it was very clearly promised?

Question asked at Boxee Blog

Originally Posted by Blastactionhero
i think i will be sleeping at that time. so i post my question now...
will it be possible to put xbmc on the boxee box?

Answer by Avner:

Originally Posted by avneron
yes, users should be able to run XBMC on the Boxee Box. we're not sure about the exact installation process that will be supported, but it is important for us to make sure XBMC runs properly on the Box.

How else is that to be understood..

[alcatel]

I would like to have XBMC on my boxee to,The online content with boxee is much better but i like my dutch scrapers,also using fanart is much beter.

[seejc]

I check back here every week on these forums to see how progress is going on getting XBMC on the boxee box. Would love to get some sort of official word on where support for XBMC is at...

[darcilicious]

Would love to get some sort of official word on where support for XBMC is at...

Contact Avner directly then: avner \\at\\ boxee //d0t// tv and ask

[jbrodack]

Well he does say they "should" be able to run xbmc which is not a definite promise. Plus there are more clearly promised features like netflix and hulu+ to get working on there first.
I also did find a video where avner says that he hopes people hack the boxee box and wants it to be hacker friendly so I do agree that things changed a bit.

Still, besides clearly advertised features things are always going to change especially when your success hangs on pleasing content providers that are nervous about new technologies and newer smaller companies. Boxee box wasn't advertised as an xbmc platform so you shouldn't have based your purchase on a somewhat vague blog reply.

I'm sure boxee box will be hacked unofficially to run xbmc with some time it just seems boxee doesn't want to officially support doing that at this time. I also take that quote as saying that they want to make sure the hardware will run xbmc properly not that they are going to work on the software side. People are working on xbmc for boxee box and when they get it working I'm sure it will run great.

[tobarefeet]

[QUOTE=jbrodack;156917]Well he does say they "should" be able to run xbmc which is not a definite promise.


You asked for an example, one was given to you. Don't do a Bill Clinton and try to wiggle out from under it with semantics.

[r2tincan]

The BBox's hackability is also the reason I bought it.

I didn't buy from Amazon so I can no longer return it. Deliver on your promises please.

[mrrwbrown]

It's up to the XBMC to get this ball rolling, not Boxee, as they have their own customer base and software to deal with. You should probably try to learn a little more about the hacker community before laying a task at someones feet that isn't theirs to accomplish.

[PhatPhreddy]

Well he does say they "should" be able to run xbmc which is not a definite promise.

You can argue semantics all you like.. He was asked, he replies YES (first word clear as a bell) we should expect it.

So we 'should' be within our right to expect that commitment to be full filled. And we should be permitted to complain when a commitment gets dropped.

Avner has replied by email to contradict that statement, but doesnt say that publicly, thats unfair promise something in public and then unpromise it by email isnt all fair and above board IMO.

Plus there are more clearly promised features like netflix and hulu+ to get working on there first.
I also did find a video where avner says that he hopes people hack the boxee box and wants it to be hacker friendly so I do agree that things changed a bit.

Correct, he said multiple times (you asked for one I gave one, thats not the only time, he made it clear in interviews also) this was going to be an open hackable hardware, hacker friendly.. So I bought it.. And now its not, they are even actively removing aspects that made it more likely to be hacked.

Still, besides clearly advertised features things are always going to change especially when your success hangs on pleasing content providers that are nervous about new technologies and newer smaller companies. Boxee box wasn't advertised as an xbmc platform so you shouldn't have based your purchase on a somewhat vague blog reply.

Somewhat vague ?? He said it should have that feature.. He said it would be an open platform. Is that a true statement ?? 'Should' is simply future tense.

I'm sure boxee box will be hacked unofficially to run xbmc with some time it just seems boxee doesn't want to officially support doing that at this time. I also take that quote as saying that they want to make sure the hardware will run xbmc properly not that they are going to work on the software side. People are working on xbmc for boxee box and when they get it working I'm sure it will run great.

This isnt about boxee supporting xbmc, I dont expect that.. But they have locked the boot loader tight (is that hacker friendly) only run signed code.. and removed telnet and other access to the filesystem. Showing they are actively blocking access, is that how they marketed it ?? Saying we shouldnt rely on a blog promise, when other cheer leaders complain that people who dont check the forums to see if netflix was supported pre purchase are also fools, is disingenuous. It was made as a statement of boxees 'ethos' and mindset, one thats clearly changed without warning.

A lie is a lie.. No point pretending otherwise.

I am getting on far better with the box in the last few weeks, it hasnt crashed in a while, its still a long way from ideal (video_TS, scrapes, music player, etc) but its improving.. But none of that changes that I would run xbmc on the hardware if I could and was assured it should happen.

[PhatPhreddy]

It's up to the XBMC to get this ball rolling, not Boxee, as they have their own customer base and software to deal with. You should probably try to learn a little more about the hacker community before laying a task at someones feet that isn't theirs to accomplish.

This isnt about coding xbmc.. This is about boxee implementing a locked bootloader, signed code execution, and later removing telnet access.

Learn a little more about the complaint before laying the task on someones feet it isnt theres to accomplish.

Theres even rumbling from coders with far more knowledge than I that the GPL code that boxee is built on is not being covered with the correct required elements to compile. Boxee is built on open source code and have an obligation to how that code is used, one which currently is doesnt look like they are sticking with. Taking the open source xbmc codebase and making a for profit business out of it, you would think they would be taking extreme care to give back.

See
http://forums.boxee.tv/showthread.ph...&highlight=gpl
http://forums.boxee.tv/showthread.ph...ght=gpl&page=2
http://forums.boxee.tv/showthread.ph...&highlight=gpl