#Boxee reviews tv#

When Boxee first announced this product, we called its unlimited storage “ insane” and dubbed the product “ amazing,” because it seemed so promising.īut after living with the Boxee TV for almost two months now, it’s time to call this thing a dud. ( Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently made a major announcement at Boxee’s office, which former Google CEO Eric Schmidt also attended.)

I’m a huge fan of Boxee, from its hacker roots as a media player for modified Xbox consoles, to its rise as one of the most interesting media startups in New York City. This review was among the hardest I’ve ever had to write.

The cloud DVR lacks simple features, like scheduling a recording from the channel guide. In its quest to conquer the next big thing, Boxee made a product that failed to get the basics right. It’s a device that promised to reshape the way we view TV, a device that Boxee is basically betting its future on - and I couldn’t even navigate its menus without some sort of frustrating glitch or crash. But its real claim to fame is the cloud DVR, which allows you to store unlimited television recordings on Boxee’s server. The $99 Boxee TV includes the usual apps, like Netflix and Vudu, as well as the ability to receive free over-the-air TV channels. It’s Boxee’s second stab at building a set-top box for the living room, but it’s far more focused on mainstream consumers than its predecessor.