boxee adds Netflix support, other tweaks in new alpha
by Darren Murph 
posted Dec 4th 2008 at 11:00AM
boxee releases new alpha version, adds Netflix
While most people were chowing down on turkey and stuffing last week, the boxee team was hard at work creating the next release of their Alpha. After surveying users last month, it was clear Netflix was their #1 demand so we got right to work. We're excited to say boxee users can now play, browse, and queue movies through our custom Netflix application.
We also wanted to highlight what developers can create for boxee so we've built several custom interfaces for CNN, Hulu, Flickr, Picasa, and YouTube. The full list of what's being released on Thursday morning includes the following major additions and improvements:
New Content
- Netflix* - browse, queue, and play streaming movies.
- TheWB - shows like Angel, Buffy, Firefly, The O.C., Smallville, and In Living Color
- 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
Updated Content
- Hulu - enhanced UI with access to personal queues from Hulu.com
- YouTube - newly developed interface with improved browsing/playback as well as h264 support
- CNN, Flickr, Picasa - custom interfaces with improved browsing and playback
*NB - Netflix on AppleTV is not currently available. This is our #1 priority right now as we're working to overcome the hardware limitations of the AppleTV. We will post progress reports on the boxee blog.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Freddy @ Dec 4th 2008 5:15PM
This freaking rocks keep it up boxee.
Rick @ Dec 4th 2008 2:53PM
Since Hulu is a feature, seems they should focus on making it watchable first, before adding new features.
reallynotnick @ Dec 4th 2008 5:05PM
I assume you are referring to the Apple TV version, I don't have boxee but I know it has trouble on Apple TV's. They are just too slow for nasty unoptimized flash videos. Sure it can chug out 720p H.264 video but I just don't see it doing good flash video on a 1.4ghz pentium M any time soon.
I think I am going to have to build a Boxee box now, because this is EXACTLY what I have been wanting. I mean I would prefer some sort of standardized box that I can pick up off the shelf and put below my TV but this is dang close.
FreeRange @ Dec 4th 2008 1:08PM
How scary awesome would the world be if a large CE manufacturer could be even half as effective as the Boxee crew seems to be?
THizzle7XU @ Dec 5th 2008 6:11PM
It's really cool to see how opening up the Netflix API has already paid dividends to users.
Bob @ Dec 4th 2008 1:22PM
Been playing with the Apple TV version for the last hour or so. The interface is more responsive and the Hulu update is much improved. Each Boxee update is a vast improvement over the last: keep up the good work, guys!
glenn s @ Dec 4th 2008 2:26PM
I am confused, I have Boxee on my Ubuntu HTPC. I know that the windows version was under development. But I haven't noticed if it was available yet. AFAIK, Boxee is only available on Linux,AppleTV & OSX. The article is silent about platform, other than to state that it isn't available on AppleTV yet. This isn't really the Netflix portal for Linux that we've been waiting for, is it?
NorthCranky @ Dec 4th 2008 2:38PM
It was said on DL.TV [in not exact words] a windows ver. would hopefully be released sometime in Dec.
Travis @ Dec 4th 2008 8:03PM
Winderz version please.