by Christina Warren
Happy Valentine’s Day Boxee Box owners — Netflix is now officially supported on the D-link-produced connected device.
Netflix was one of the first services to get official support from the Boxee media center software, so it came as a surprise (and disappointment) to some when the actual Boxee Box shipped without support last fall.
Fortunately, the wait is over. Boxee founder Avner Ronen announced the news on the official Boxee blog, noting that a software update to make Netflix accessible in the U.S. and Canada is now available. Users can manually update the firmware or wait for the update to hit their boxes in the next 24-hours.
Rather than using the custom interface designed for the Boxee desktop software, Netflix for the Boxee Box uses the official Netflix UI that the company recently released for the PlayStation 3. That means Boxee Box owners will get the benefit of the interface updates and tweaks that Netflix is able to deploy on the fly.
As connected devices go, the Boxee Box has some of the most impressive technical specs and third-party content options. The beauty of Boxee is that it can interface with existing devices on a home network to play back media files of practically any stripe, as well as offer support for streaming and online content.
The problem for the Boxee Box has been that some third-party services — like Netflix — have been slow to hit the device. Last month Vudu was officially added to the Boxee Box, helping fill a void for feature-length commercial content.
It isn’t clear if Hulu Plus will make its way to Boxee. Hulu took great strides to block (or attempt to block) access to its site from early Boxee software implementations, but in the ensuing 22 months, the streaming video site has launched the subscription Hulu Plus offering and provided access to devices like the iPhone, iPad, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, TiVo, Roku, and assorted connected TV sets and Blu-ray players.
This is representative of a growing problem — not just for Boxee — but for any device maker that wants to offer users more choice and variety in content offerings.
Looking at the various streaming media services that are available in the U.S., finding a device that supports every major premium service is impossible. What is more problematic is that getting access to non-premium content, like regular Hulu or network TV websites, is difficult on most connected devices without opting for using some browser-agent changing tomfoolery.
In short, as we edge closer to finally making connected devices a common part of the living room, the content available on those devices can fall short of expectations. Yes, individuals can always build and configure a stand-alone HTPC, but that requires an investment in both time and money that outpaces a sub-$200 set-top box.
As a Boxee Box owner, I’m excited that Netflix support is finally on the flagship device. I have at least six other Netflix-capable gadgets in my house, but having Netflix built into Boxee means I can see myself using that device much more often.
What do you think of the Boxee Box and the general state of connected devices? Let us know.
Happy Valentine’s Day Boxee Box owners — Netflix is now officially supported on the D-link-produced connected device.Netflix was one of the first services to get official support from the Boxee media center software, so it came as a surprise (and disappointment) to some when the actual Boxee Box shipped without support last fall.
Fortunately, the wait is over. Boxee founder Avner Ronen announced the news on the official Boxee blog, noting that a software update to make Netflix accessible in the U.S. and Canada is now available. Users can manually update the firmware or wait for the update to hit their boxes in the next 24-hours.
Rather than using the custom interface designed for the Boxee desktop software, Netflix for the Boxee Box uses the official Netflix UI that the company recently released for the PlayStation 3. That means Boxee Box owners will get the benefit of the interface updates and tweaks that Netflix is able to deploy on the fly.
The Premium Content Quagmire
As connected devices go, the Boxee Box has some of the most impressive technical specs and third-party content options. The beauty of Boxee is that it can interface with existing devices on a home network to play back media files of practically any stripe, as well as offer support for streaming and online content.
The problem for the Boxee Box has been that some third-party services — like Netflix — have been slow to hit the device. Last month Vudu was officially added to the Boxee Box, helping fill a void for feature-length commercial content.
It isn’t clear if Hulu Plus will make its way to Boxee. Hulu took great strides to block (or attempt to block) access to its site from early Boxee software implementations, but in the ensuing 22 months, the streaming video site has launched the subscription Hulu Plus offering and provided access to devices like the iPhone, iPad, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, TiVo, Roku, and assorted connected TV sets and Blu-ray players.
This is representative of a growing problem — not just for Boxee — but for any device maker that wants to offer users more choice and variety in content offerings.
Looking at the various streaming media services that are available in the U.S., finding a device that supports every major premium service is impossible. What is more problematic is that getting access to non-premium content, like regular Hulu or network TV websites, is difficult on most connected devices without opting for using some browser-agent changing tomfoolery.
In short, as we edge closer to finally making connected devices a common part of the living room, the content available on those devices can fall short of expectations. Yes, individuals can always build and configure a stand-alone HTPC, but that requires an investment in both time and money that outpaces a sub-$200 set-top box.
As a Boxee Box owner, I’m excited that Netflix support is finally on the flagship device. I have at least six other Netflix-capable gadgets in my house, but having Netflix built into Boxee means I can see myself using that device much more often.
What do you think of the Boxee Box and the general state of connected devices? Let us know.
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