D-Link Boxee
Box Set-Top-Box
"We get it – you want to the freedom to watch whatever you want on your TV: Movies, TV Shows, Sports, but also any other video that is available online. You want to do it without having to connect a computer to your TV or use a keyboard and mouse. We’re all over it. The Boxee Box by D-Link: watch, organize, share – you are now in full command of your TV for the first time. No rules, no contracts."
Top 5 Objective Reviews On The Boxee Box by D-Link
#1 Only Going To Get Better,
This review is from: Boxee
Box by D-Link
Some perspective on me: I have never written a review but felt it was
necessary in this case. I have been streaming video accross my network
since the Buffalo Link Theater (7 yrs ago). I consider myself somewhat
of a computer\electronic geek. I, like many others, have been excited
about the release of the Boxee Box. I have tried several other similar
alternatives (X-Box, LG Blu-ray player, WD...etc) and NOTHING even
comes close to the experience I've had so far with the Boxee. Pros
-Quality hardware
-compact
-qwerty keyboard on back of remote (brilliant!)
-User interface (needs to improvement though)
-Zippy fast getting around (except for downloading cover art for thumbnails)
-Lots of content providers (more to come for sure, Netflix, etc)
-Streams every file I have thrown at it (my movie collection is over 500 strong with different formats).
-there are many more
Cons ....................................<<<Click Here To Read Full Review>>>
#2 Firmware Upgrade
Brings Massive User Interface Changes,
This review is from: Boxee
Box By D-Link
Out of the box, the Boxee Box runs the familiar beta version of the
software, which is familiar to me as a prior Boxee user. Everything
works fine, from what I tested, though the edges of the screen were cut
off a tiny bit (not enough to cause a problem). While exploring all the
options, I found that a firmware upgrade to version 1.0 of the Boxee
software was available. I installed it, the unit rebooted, and it
automatically started a quick-and-simple screen calibration utility.
That calibration was useful, because the stock firmware had some
overscan problems (that is, the edges of the screen were cut off) on my
TV. Version 1.0 brings with it a new, simplified user interface. I immediately had trouble finding my way around, and was a little disappointed that the experience was different than what I was expecting. My main problem with the new interface is that it now takes several more clicks to access local files (that is, anything on your attached drives or home network). That's my stuff, and that's what I primarily want a video player to be able to play. The old interface allowed you to toggle between your videos, and all available videos, very easily, once you understand where the option is. With the default firmware, after a minute of configuration, I was able to select "Shows" from the home screen and see just my shows. Now, I have to use other, more complex and time-consuming methods to do the same thing, such as "Files > Shows" or "Shows > Files".
The new interface does make it easier to start searches (just start typing), and is very attractive. I just would rather that it allow me to put my videos front-and-center. Networked content is fine, but my own content should have primacy over it. I think that new users will not have a problem with the interface, but experienced users should know that changes are in store for you.
Networked Content
I had no problems streaming SD and 720p HD H.264 and DivX files from my NAS to the Boxee Box via my wireless-N network. Internet videos play well, but .......<<<Click Here To Read Full Review>>>
#3 Getting Better With
Software Updates,
This review is from: Boxee Box By D-Link
(Electronics)
I I've had the Boxee Box for about a month and a half now, and
for the first month or so of that time period, it was absolutely
worthless to me. It could not see my wireless 802.11n router, and would
not connect to my 802.11g router. I had to run an ethernet connection
all over my house to get any connection at all. It would drop my
network shares randomly, and even had a bug where it showed the most
powerful router in the area as having the worst connection.
Basically it was shipped at least two months before it was actually anywhere near ready to be released to the public. There were so many simple bugs that should have been found before it was released that it was obvious it was rushed to market before the holidays, and their customers paid for it. I was very close to returning it, but decided to keep it a little longer to see how the software updates panned out.
I'm happy to say I'm glad I didn't return it. They've released two major updates since I got the device, and they have solved almost every issue I've had with the device.
It now connects to my 802.11g router (there was a bug where it couldn't connect to any router that used symbols like *#(@&) in the password), it doesn't drop my network share, it shows the correct signal strength for my router, and the interface has a new option to prioritize local or Internet content, depending on what you use the most. However, the only lingering bug I have is that it won't find my 802.11n router (It's the same router, it's just a dual-band router that does both). Hopefully that will be fixed in an update as well.
So, about the box itself..............<<<Click Here To Read Full Review>>>
Watch What You Want, When
You Want,
The freedom to watch what you want. It’s thousands of TV shows ready to
watch, instantly. It’s tons of free
movies, Hollywood blockbusters,
and critically acclaimed films. It’s web-only videos from Funny or Die
or College Humor. It’s your videos, your Pandora and Facebook feeds
somewhere they’ve never been before – your HDTV: organized, simplified
and enjoyed from the comfort of your couch in 1080p. No keyboard or
mouse required. For serious!! Do what more than a million users have
already done - download Boxee’s
software and try it for free on your computer first, we’ll
automatically import your account when you’re ready to bring the Boxee Box
experience to your HDTV. Get tons of free stuff, and pay for the
premium content you want. No monthly bill. No more paying for stuff you
never watch. No biggie. Finally, TV gets it. Learn More.....<<<Here!!!>>>
#4 Did not live up to
expectations.
This review is from: Boxee Box By D-Link
(Electronics)
I was excited on Christmas Day to open my new Boxee Box and set it up.
I was replacing an old 1st Generation Apple TV and was looking forward
to using the Boxee Box to access both my local files and the loads of
Internet content available. Sadly, I hadn't noticed the line under
Technical Details on the product page that indicates that the box will
NOT play DRM video files. Suddenly, I was using a box that would not
stream any of the TV Shows or Movies that I have on my computer. I was
also limited to free internet content due to the lack of Netflix, Hulu,
Vudu, etc. I was suddenly faced with the prospect of not being able to
purchase downloadable media (iTunes, Amazon Unbox, etc.) and then
stream them to my TV. All of these purchasable items have DRM. So,
really, the only local files supported by the Boxee Box are those one
creates oneself. Since I don't create a lot of videos, I didn't have a
lot of use for the local file support on the Boxee Box. The hardware by D-Link is probably the best quality I've ever seen from D-Link. The software from Boxee is a bit elementary. I wish they had kept their old interface instead of trimming it down with the latest update. The device itself works well and was easy to set up. I would highly recommend it to someone looking for a device primarily...........................<<<Click Here To Read Full Review>>>
#5 Suffering At the
Hands of Content Providers,
This review is from: Boxee Box By D-Link
(Electronics)
I bought the Boxee Box for my dad who isn't very tech-saavy hoping that
it would be an easy way to allow him to access online content. Overall,
this is something that Boxee does fairly well. It brings in content
from multiple sources and puts it all in one easy-to-use interface, so
that you don't have to go searching all over to find something
interesting to watch.
Additionally, it handles NAS extremely well. I pointed it to a Samba share on my Linux box with a few ripped DVDs, and it found them without any issue, recognized the videos, pulled information from some outside source (I'm assuming IMDB), and even provided additional subtitles - which worked. Very impressed.
Setup was absolutely painless. Plug in the power cord, plug in the HDMI cable, turn it on, wait for it to boot, select a wireless network, and you're ready to go. It's a great little device that is able to play streaming HD content without a hitch. It's quiet and the interface is mostly intuitive with a few quirks.
For those who are struggling with the "You need to move the mouse to hit the fullscreen button" issue, you actually don't have to do this. Hit the menu button and, to the right of the search/address bar of the browser, there is a fullscreen icon. You can just use that, much easier - but it is not intuitive at all, and there is no tutorial or instruction to let you know that this is possible. I only figured it out by tinkering.
Here are some of the problems I ran into:
The biggest problem:...................<<<Click Here To Read Full Review>>>
D-Link Boxee Box:
How A Winning Concept Gets An Artistic Design
Who would have guessed that the BOXEE software base platform
would have gotten such a brand new look. BOXEE software is a software
media center that simply connects your computer and your TV to the
internet with pretty amazing results.
The TV however was optional because all of the internet TV shows and
applications can be accessed through your computer. But why would you
want to do that when BOXEE software was made to integrate not only with
your TV but also with any infrared remote control, Iphone, or Ipod
Touch via software download.
That was then and this is now. BOXEE has introduced a Set-Top-Box that
brings all of the features of the BOXEE software to an appliance that
hooks directly into your HDTV thus relieving your computer of its duty
and cutting down on electricity consumption.
D-Link Boxee Box: Set-Top-Box
Now that we know that the D-Link Boxee Box is now available in
a hardware addition using the same internal software that you have
already known and grown to love we can talk about how this Set-Top-Box
will take your TV Media Center to a level you haven't seen before. If
your not familiar with what Boxee and the D-Link Boxee Box can do for
your viewing pleasure and internet social life then grab a cup of your
favorite brew and find out more about this exciting new combination.
Previously with Boxee software you were limited to viewing movies and
TV on your monitor or you had to give up your home computer to enjoy
all of the functions and social aspects of the application. But no more
do you have to give up your home computer to enjoy the D-Link Boxee
Box. You can watch what you want to watch when you want to watch it
right from the comfort of your own couch with this sleek Set-Top-Box.
