The Boxee by D-Link ($199.99) is a device which lets you stream content from popular content providers such as Netflix, Pandora, and more, as well as find content online and view it on your HDTV in 1080p HD. If you go to the Boxee website they will be quick to point out that their ability to stream in full 1080p is twice that of Apple TV. I wonder who they consider their closest competition? The first part is pretty common and there are a number of products and methods in which you can stream Netflix to your TV, it’s the second part that is more rare and make the Boxee more intriguing. Besides hooking your laptop, desktop, or tablet up to your TV, there really isn’t an efficient way to stream the random videos you find online. This is the market Boxee is trying to fill. It not only gives you this ability, it does so without demanding a monthly fee.
Some featured content partners are Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, Netflix, VUDU Movies, and Pandora. More will be added as time goes on. There are also thousands of TV shows that come already available. Between Netflix, VUDU and MUBI there is a massive rental library. Just pick your service(s) and find what you’re looking for. Not only do you get access to Netflix, but you get access to Netflix 3.0, their more streamlined version of media library navigation. Netflix 3.0 is easier to navigate and select movies from. There are more selection options and interaction, so you can not only find what you want, but discover movies you’ve never heard of more simply.
Perhaps the biggest strength of Boxee are the apps. There are hundreds of them, and they offer a wide range of content that makes it so you don’t have to depend on any of the mainstream content providers. Watch Later is a companion app that operates on your PC and can be accessed through any Internet browser. What it does is let you send web videos, including online TV shows, to Boxee, which can then be streamed through your HDTV. This feature basically lets you find stuff online while you’re surfing to save for later when you’re watching TV. Besides the Watch Later feature, there is a built-in browser functionality on Boxee which lets you search for content on your HDTV without the need of a computer.
Besides giving you access to a plethora of on-demand, subscription, and online services, you can access social networks like Facebook and Twitter through Boxee. You can also you Twitter and Facebook to see what your friends are watching and view their reccommendations. Boxee can also become a media library to host the content on your PC by allowing you to play music and videos from your computer on your HDTV. It can play almost anything you can play on your computer. It supports more file formats than Apple TV, which basically is an extension of your iPod or iTunes.
Boxee comes with a double-sided remote that has a simple interface on the front and a full QWERTY keyboard on the back. Boxee can also be controlled through an iPhone or Android app. Boxee has an HDMI port, ethernet port, wireless capability, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Optical Digital Audio, and Composite Audio connectors. There is also an SD card reader so you can transfer data to Boxee that way. Boxee is capable of streaming audio in Dolby Digital plus 5.1 surround sound.
Sources:
http://www.dlink.com/boxee/
http://www.boxee.tv/