Missing XBMC Features?
Hi all,
I just got my Boxee Box and I'm coming off using XBMC since pretty much day one, back before it was even called XBMC. I didn't want to forfeit my Xbox, which kept clunking along, but it finally started to die. It still refuses to give in, but it was time to move on.
Anyway, after that long, I just can't live without certain features, that I know have been built into it since the dawn of time. I keep hoping that someone will simply get XBMC to work on the Box, one way or another, since I have a lot of local files, but... my I doubt it will happen anytime soon (If ever).
I know Boxee is based off from XBMC, which is why I can barely believe that so many features are no longer there. Things that should have never been taken out. Forget all the big problems that exist, for a second... I just wanted to list out some of the things that I would love to see on Boxee, based off from just XBMC. Things we already know could be done.
This stuff is fresh in my mind, but will probably die out over time. I just wanted to get it out now, in honor of the years my Xbox served me.
#1 - File Deletion/Renaming - This is a huge feature for anyone that has local files. I have to keep going in through my computer, every time I watch something. Seeing as how part of the big marketing strategy was that it could play all local files, I am wondering why it loves to keep them so much that it won't let you get rid of them. I would love to be able to watch something, then immediately delete it. Not having this feature is just stupid. I can't put it a nicer way.
#2 - Smart Folders - XBMC can remember where you were in a folder and allows for the ability to remember custom sorting (Many different ways). Every time I leave a folder, I have to start all over again to find what I was doing. How does this make any sense? It starts from scratch every time I back out.
#3 - Additional Screensavers/Visualizations - One word needed to explain how I feel about your offering, "Boring". XBMC has always had a large selection.
#4 - Screenshots - You could take them in XBMC, why not Boxee?
#5 - Useful Web Server - You have one, I'm just wondering why you took out the ability to control it from the web. You could play songs, videos, etc.. from the XBMC one. Why change it? Isn't that a benefit for your Box?
#6 - Available Space? - Come on, you can't tell me it can't tell you how much space is on a plugged in hard drive. I'm pretty sure this is a simple feature to implement. We shouldn't have to do this stuff on our end.
#7 - Fixed Slideshow Screensaver - At least the XBMC one offers a couple of settings. The one on here is awful.
#8 - Music - All those great music playing features. I mean come on. Boxee is probably the worst music player I have ever seen, yet you already had a decent one built into the code you built off from. What the?
I don't know, I could go on. It just seems like there is a major opportunity to be the best local player, yet all the features seem aimed towards web content. All the great XBMC features are gone. Features that have been there for many years before Boxee was ever thought of. You can get the same streaming from Roku players, for far less. Shouldn't the selling point be that all these local files get some love? Years ago, they said 1 in 6 Americans file shared, plus all these other people with their own personal files. I would hate to wonder how many do it now. This is a missed opportunity, in my opinion. A lot of great features that should be there, that aren't. What a pain it is to do anything local.
I have until the end of the month to send mine back. I might just do it and get an Apple TV, then jailbreak it just for XBMC. I love the power of the Boxee Box, which is important. Forget just 1080p, the speed with many files is a huge deal, too. I know the Apple TV will be slow, but it might just be worth it for local files.
I would just love to hear that something will be worked on, someday. I just don't get taking that many features out of something that can absolutely smoke this. The better business plan may have been to build a box for XBMC. Well a newer box, may old Xbox ran great.
I have no idea what this thread is about, but my Xbox served me so well, that I will pay it homage for one post. If it is going down, I might as well at least give it the respect to try to live on through the next device.
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Originally Posted by mofle
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