Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Video, Mac mini, Apple TV
Boxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix support
It's a pretty awesome day to be a Netflix fan. Not only is the Watch Instantly service officially available for OS X, it's also now working via boxee, my favorite media center application!
Boxee pushed out an impromptu update last week for Apple TV owners, specifically to address issues with the 2.3 firmware update. Today's update is targeted at all boxee versions and adds a host of new features, including the big dog: Netflix support for US customers. Note: Netflix support is currently only in the Mac version of boxee. The boxee team is working hard to bring it to the Apple TV, but they need to work around some of the hardware limitations. They'll be posting updates on the boxee blog on their progress.
Here's the rundown:
If you haven't tried boxee, you can go to http://boxee.tv/tuaw and get an invite. You'll need an Intel Mac running OS X 10.4 or OS X 10.5 or an Apple TV. Boxee is also available for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04, though I'm unsure if the team was able to implement Netflix support for Ubuntu yet.
Give it a shot and tell us what you think in the comments!
Boxee pushed out an impromptu update last week for Apple TV owners, specifically to address issues with the 2.3 firmware update. Today's update is targeted at all boxee versions and adds a host of new features, including the big dog: Netflix support for US customers. Note: Netflix support is currently only in the Mac version of boxee. The boxee team is working hard to bring it to the Apple TV, but they need to work around some of the hardware limitations. They'll be posting updates on the boxee blog on their progress.
Here's the rundown:
- Netflix support for Mac users
- Improved Hulu performance and a new Hulu interface, including access to your personal Hulu queues
- Access to TheWB.com (US only unless you use a proxy)
- The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog - amazing photos from around the world
- MTVMusic - songs/artists in your collection are now linked with music videos
- New YouTube interface, improved performance and .h264 support
- Custom interfaces and improved playback for CNN, Flickr and Picasa
If you haven't tried boxee, you can go to http://boxee.tv/tuaw and get an invite. You'll need an Intel Mac running OS X 10.4 or OS X 10.5 or an Apple TV. Boxee is also available for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04, though I'm unsure if the team was able to implement Netflix support for Ubuntu yet.
Give it a shot and tell us what you think in the comments!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Tetzel1517 said 11:30AM on 12-04-2008
Will this include support for Netflix HD? That would be ten kinds of awesome when they get it working on the Apple TV.
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Runciter said 1:51PM on 12-21-2008
When they get it to work? Sounds like they are having problems just getting the regular Netflix to work on AppleTV (1GHz) let alone the HD stuff. Sounds like the HD stuff will only be on Mac Minis or better.
Christina Warren said 4:26PM on 12-04-2008
Right now it is SD only. I think (but this is a total guess) that HD stream is Netflix and potentially hardware controlled. The XBox 360 and the Samsung BDP-2500/2550 Blu-Ray players can do it -- I don't know about any other devices.
matt Carey said 11:42AM on 12-04-2008
When will netflix (and hulu) be coming to the UK? when hell freezes over perhaps?
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Jimmy said 11:51AM on 12-04-2008
Does anyone know a good proxy to use hulu up in canada?
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Jamus said 11:52AM on 12-04-2008
Awesome update. I wonder if Blockbuster has released any API to allow devs to add their services to other boxes? After the Blockbuster 2Wire box announcement I was really hoping to be able to pick up one of those for $99 and run boxee on it, but found out the hardware architecture would make it very difficult to do it.
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bob said 12:34PM on 12-04-2008
its all u.s. only lol
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brad said 12:35PM on 12-04-2008
super high me was such a good movie.
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pangelav said 12:39PM on 12-04-2008
Netflix works great, except if you put in the wrong info at login Boxee crashes. Overall it seems faster, too. Nice work, devs!
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Don said 1:31PM on 12-04-2008
Would love a Boxee invite if someone can spare one? don.newelement@gmail.com
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Christina Warren said 1:31PM on 12-04-2008
Go to boxee.tv/tuaw -- you should get one quickly :-)
kristofer said 1:52PM on 12-04-2008
What about criterions streaming service on theauteurs.com? Maybe in the next update.
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Christina Warren said 2:11PM on 12-04-2008
That's what I'm hoping. I turned Avner onto Criterion so I hope he's a fan and takes a look at it. It just uses Flash so I think it would be something not impossible to implement.
Ryan said 2:07PM on 12-04-2008
I just submitted my info at boxee.tv/tuaw
The email I received said it could take a few weeks to get the invite :-(
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Christina Warren said 2:12PM on 12-04-2008
Check your e-mail now.
Clark said 2:26PM on 12-04-2008
If they get Netflix working on the aTV I might just install this. Up until now the features weren't that compelling to me.
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8corewhore said 3:06PM on 12-04-2008
I have Boxee on my Mac.... great news about Netflix, but there is NO info on how to get it. How do you update Boxee? There is no update button. Where is the link to the new version? Boxee has NO info on this. How do we input our account settings, etc... etc.... etc....
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Christina Warren said 4:26PM on 12-04-2008
Go to app.boxee.tv and download the latest version, install it (it won't erase your settings), then start it up.
:-)
8corewhore said 6:08PM on 12-04-2008
I did download it... despite there being no version# attached... and I don't see Netflix anywhere in my install of Boxee.
lariosme said 3:46PM on 12-04-2008
I've updated Boxee on the Apple TV and I see Hulu's new UI, but I haven't come across the Netflix option. Any ideas?
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