Boxee 1.5 & Fall Software Update

[santiago79830]

I was looking forward to the update, but after installing it on a test machine, I feel it's a real step backward from the previous version, besides being buggy. Comments on this forum seem to suggest others are having the same experience.

Right now, I'm using the previous version on my BOXEE machine. I've looked at XBMC, and installed it on the test machine, with the XEEBO skin. So far, I'm having trouble finding how to get some things to work.

If the Boxee team doesn't do something pretty dramatic (which I doubt), I'll probably eventually go to XBMC, but only if I can get it to behave better. Obviously, I'll post my questions about it over on the XBMC forum.

[twelvebore]

Right now, I'm using the previous version on my BOXEE machine. I've looked at XBMC, and installed it on the test machine, with the XEEBO skin. So far, I'm having trouble finding how to get some things to work.

This is pretty much where I am too. I've got XBMC to work in a manner I could cope with personally, but I wouldn't want to roll it out to the rest of the family. So I'm sticking with Boxee beta, fingers crossed it doesn't suffer bit-rot, or get pranged by some random Windows update.

[magnus33]

I wouldn't hold my breath expecting a bug fix from them for the desktop.

The box is suppose to get a beta of 1.5 this month but its also suppose to get the final before the months out.

Something about that feels wrong and there a good chance boxee messed up again.
If your going to release a beta you want time to let people test it before you go final.
At this point we are rapidly running out of time to do both.

So unless a beta comes out very shortly or we get one of two results.

No beta
Or a beta later in the month and the final some other month.

Boxee has a habit of missing dates and if they go through this week without a beta release its likely that there going to miss the January release date.

They could release the beta and the final within a week of each other or so but this is insanity as it gives them next to no time to fix any issues.


So with this kind of time pressure if a desktop bug fix is coming out(highly doubtful) its going to be months down the line if at all.

[darcilicious]

The box is suppose to get a beta of 1.5 this month but its also suppose to get the final before the months out.

We're only four days into the month, it's not that unlikely that both will happen. Also keep in mind, early access testers were recruited for the upcoming version several weeks ago.

[magnus33]

We're only four days into the month, it's not that unlikely that both will happen. Also keep in mind, early access testers were recruited for the upcoming version several weeks ago.

We aren't out of time yet for both to happen but we are running out of it fast.

Figure if they release it this week it gives them two weeks of bug fixing before the final.
Which leaves them just enough time to wrap things up for the live tv dongle.
Since there no set date for its release other then jan.

Any later then this week would be pushing things to the breaking point and they would likely miss the jan release date for the live tv.

As you said we are only four days in but its a very busy month for them with no time at all to spare if they want to meet the shipping date.

Of course the beta 1.5 could be amazing and need little in the way of work (we can dream can't we) which would cut down on the time for needed fixes.

[santiago79830]

This is pretty much where I am too. I've got XBMC to work in a manner I could cope with personally, but I wouldn't want to roll it out to the rest of the family. So I'm sticking with Boxee beta, fingers crossed it doesn't suffer bit-rot, or get pranged by some random Windows update.

You're ahead of me. I haven't, so far, even gotten XBMC to work in a manner acceptable to me.

As I think you suggest, rolling something out for the rest of the family means it needs an extra level of ease of use and reliability. I don't see that at present.

[dslate69]

XBMC is better than Boxee by far. What people I think have trouble with is the amount of settings and tweaks that CAN be done, but don't have to be. XBMC could do a better job with default settings or maybe a hand holding wizard for those that just want it to work out of the box.

That said, PLEX eats both of their lunch in my opinion. And before anyone says "but you have to run a server"; You can run the server and client on the same box for a seamless XBMC\Boxee experience with far better scraping and rock solid function. Plus there are clients for Android, IOS, LG\Samsung HDTV & BluRay players, Google TV and more coming. Some features like streaming movies, shows and music to your smart phone while at work sound daunting; but everything is really simple to setup and well worth the switch.
And the best thing about Plex is it is getting the MOST development and plenty of communication as to what is going on.

[iRoNBiLL]

XBMC is better than Boxee by far. What people I think have trouble with is the amount of settings and tweaks that CAN be done, but don't have to be. XBMC could do a better job with default settings or maybe a hand holding wizard for those that just want it to work out of the box.

That said, PLEX eats both of their lunch in my opinion. And before anyone says "but you have to run a server"; You can run the server and client on the same box for a seamless XBMC\Boxee experience with far better scraping and rock solid function. Plus there are clients for Android, IOS, LG\Samsung HDTV & BluRay players, Google TV and more coming. Some features like streaming movies, shows and music to your smart phone while at work sound daunting; but everything is really simple to setup and well worth the switch.
And the best thing about Plex is it is getting the MOST development and plenty of communication as to what is going on.

Okay... I wasn't going to say anything but your statement has forced me too.

To say XBMC is better than Boxee by far is an opinion... as someone who works actively in both communities in development, I assure you both projects have their major boofs we all could do without and their "lack of rectification". Trust me... it's like going from a hard shell taco to a soft shell taco... sure it's softer and easier to eat, but it's not really better.

While Plex I'm sure is turning heads, they are not getting the most development activity... some shmoe on Team Plex made a very fancy skin for XBMC... puts it on as default and calls it a brand new media center... I wouldn't exactly call Plex an original product at all... in fact, you can thank XBMC for it's "greatness" since its what's running underneath literally.

Also, if you have to run a server, I'd say that pretty much makes it impossible for most common users to even setup Plex... which really doesn't make Plex a viable alternative to simplified interfaces at this point. Also, if Plex has to transcode videos, I would call it lame since native playback is much faster and better quality always... not to mention transcoding requires alot more system resources... and a server JUST to make it work!

In short, some of us would rather undergoe a gender change before using Plex!

While your suggestion was considerate of others, I would have thought that one through a little better than to simply suggest it without careful consideration.

iRoNBiLL

[darcilicious]

That said, PLEX eats both of their lunch in my opinion.

Overall I'm really liking Plex. The Plex iOS app is stellar, the media manager is quite decent and the ability to add different scanners/metadata agents is going to make my SageTV accessible.

And the best thing about Plex is it is getting the MOST development and plenty of communication as to what is going on.

Wish I could connect up with the right folks regarding some ongoing issues I have with the media center client on windows. If I can get some "connection" and playback issues resolved, Plex will be a keeper. (There doesn't seem to be any Plex folks active in the Windows forums...?)

[dslate69]

While Plex I'm sure is turning heads, they are not getting the most development activity... some shmoe on Team Plex made a very fancy skin for XBMC... puts it on as default and calls it a brand new media center... I wouldn't exactly call Plex an original product at all... in fact, you can thank XBMC for it's "greatness" since its what's running underneath literally.

This is 100% true if we were talking about Boxee.
Props to XBMC it is the Godfather! And yes Plex is splintered from it. What is your point. The server aspect and clients on android, hdtvs and bluray players makes it alot more evolved from XBMC than Boxee is. And proof of all the devolpment is the sheer number of devices the client is showing up on.

Also, if you have to run a server, I'd say that pretty much makes it impossible for most common users to even setup Plex... which really doesn't make Plex a viable alternative to simplified interfaces at this point. Also, if Plex has to transcode videos, I would call it lame since native playback is much faster and better quality always... not to mention transcoding requires alot more system resources... and a server JUST to make it work!

This is just gibberish since Plex does not need to transcode to any client that can handle the original source file. Yet is capable of doing so when needed or prefered; like say streaming a 1080p movie to a 10" tablet or smart phone. Like I said if you have 1 PC in the living room running Boxee you can do the same with Plex by installing the Client and Server installs on that same PC. The Server process is little more than a fulltime scraper with centralized database at that point.
This then opens the door to add a $99 or less bluray player or google tv with a Plex client in the other rooms instead of a buggy boxee box.