The boxee box by d link review 1080p#
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The boxee box by d link review software#
The boxee box by d link review Pc#

On the plus side, the Boxee Box has a unique look (not for everyone, but I like it), a great remote control with full keyboard, extensive file support, and a large selection of apps to browse though. Having to interact with the Web browser to watch a TV show negates the well-thought-out interface that Boxee has created. First among the drawbacks is the inconsistency when viewing online content. The Boxee Box is a good addition to one’s media setup, although it has its limitations. This means not having to convert downloaded files, which can be a huge timesaver. One of Boxee’s strengths is that it supports virtually all file formats, unless they are protected by DMR. I was able to view pictures and listen to music files from a USB drive with no problems, although the music player interface was somewhat clunky.

The boxee box by d link review software#

Users of Boxee software who have built their own HTPCs can use workarounds that disguise the browser so that Hulu will play normally, but the built-in browser on the Boxee Box does not allow that sort of workaround. This has nothing to do with technical capabilities, and everything to do with the fact that Hulu’s owners (NBC, Fox, and Disney) have restricted access, even though much of the content that Hulu provides is accessible from the links Boxee provides to the networks’ own sites. A glaring omission for the Boxee Box is Hulu, although Hulu Plus, the paid version of the site, is accessible. Netflix works extremely well on Boxee, with an application that gives you the most important functionality of the site, but in a more streamlined interface. In fact, it sometimes seems as if they go out of there way to sabotage the experience. Ultimately, the major studios and networks want you watch their content when it airs, not via the Internet with Boxee’s help, so they are not under any pressure to make the interface smooth and inviting. The important thing to keep in mind is that Boxee is executing a clever trick by pulling content from mainstream studios’ sites onto your TV, and sometimes, the trick fails. It is worth noting that these are only two examples of problems popping up however, other attempts to watch content from mainstream sites worked just fine.

These issues are really the fault of the site that Boxee is pulling content from, but nonetheless they demonstrate that when using Boxee Box, you are at the mercy of not only the device, but the content provider, as well as your own Internet connection. Another time, an attempt to watch the same show resulted in successful playback, but the video would pull itself out of full-screen mode every time a commercial came on, requiring the use of the remote to switch it back to full screen. After that it’s a background noise, but certainly noticeable in my living room.In testing, watching mainstream content such as Fringe from the Fox Web site turned out to be somewhat unreliable the video would freeze while loading, and after repeatedly not being able to load the show I was hoping to watch, I eventually gave up and turned Boxee off. Initial setup and configuration is straightforward, and you can connect using Wi-Fi or wired networks it does seem to take a little while for the Boxee to start up, however, and the fan is alarmingly loud before the software has finished loading. Flip it over and there’s a full Qwerty keypad, which makes searching for content much simpler. The remote is a sort of bastard child of Apple TV and Google TV the top surface has a play/pause button, a nav pad with central select, and a menu button. The external PSU is a standards plug-top unit.

The boxee box by d link review 1080p#

Video output is HDMI only, and can go up to 1080p – unlike Apple TV, which only does 720p. One side has a Boxee logo that lights up when it’s running, while the other has an SD card slot, and the rear panel carries the ports. Rather than a straightforward cube, it’s had the bottom sliced off, giving it the appearance of sinking into the table top.

The boxee box by d link review Pc#

It’s essentially a small form factor PC running the Boxee software, itself based on the excellent XBMC.