We have released a new version of the Boxee Box firmware. Your Box will update automatically within the next 24hrs or you can manually check for the update by going to Settings>System>Update (this is the update we tried to get out last week, but had to pullback after we received initial critical bug reports). Our apologies to those who had issues with the previous version and thank you for your patience (and that of your significant other).
As always there are many bug fixes and in this case lots of work on the Boxee Browser, but the big news in this release is VUDU (VUDU is available only in the US).
VUDU on the Boxee Box means: access to the largest selection of HD movies on-demand, new releases (same day as DVD), thousands of movies available for rental at $2 for 2 nights (in standard definition). We are psyched.
The VUDU HDX format on the Boxee Box is a match made in geek heaven! (that normal people will appreciate, too). Video is 1080p HD at 24 fps. Sound is Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround. It takes advantage of some crafty engineering from VUDU dubbed TruFilm™ which optimizes the encoding, transmission and display of HDX movies on 40-inch HDTVs and larger screens. It’s kind of hard to believe this stuff is coming over your Internet connection.
Invite some friends over. Rent an HDX movie. You are guaranteed to gain new respect for your geekness and pass the crucial WAF test.
VUDU is offering every new user who signs up on the Boxee Box a $5.99 credit towards a first rental/purchase. Take advantage of it!
We’ve heard from many of you about Netflix as well – we are working on it and will post another update next week on the subject.
Here are the firmware upgrades included in today’s release:
Enhancements:
- Settings to control de-interlacing and video filters configuration
- Support for language selection in subtitle/audio
- Forced subtitle automatic selection during MKV file playback
- An option to ignore the prefix in the sort order for movies/albums/artists which start with ‘The’ and ‘A’ (big one!)
- Enhancements to Browser performance
- Browser opens in lower resolution to allow easier reading of text
- Browser is zoomed into Video by default for non auto full screen websites
- Direct launch of website when defining full URL in the search bar
- Preselecting the current chapter when opening chapter selector for MKV/BluRay
Bug Fixes:
- HTTPS support for the browser
- 4:3 Videos Stretched to 16:9
- MKV Chapter Time is Displayed Incorrectly
- Audio dropouts in DTS-HD audio
- Improved WTV support
- 3gp playback errors
- Improve BluRay titles loading time
- Allow larger subtitles time offsets
- Audio re-buffering when entering commercials in TV episodes.
- Viewing “Info Menu” while watching 24hz videos cause temp reversion back 60hz
- With playlist over 999 items, track numbers overlap repeat icon in OSD
- TV Shows no longer show as watched and can’t set to watched/unwatched
- Crash at manual resolve if the user rapidly presses the menu/back button whilst the OS tries to apply details to files in a folder
- When choosing from search suggestion list -> update the search editbox
- Embedded fonts ignored on MKV playback with embedded SSA/ASS subtitles
- SSA/ASS Subtitles position and font
- Overlapping text when network settings changed
- Empty state for App Favorites appearing for empty third-party repository
- Crashing while resolving metadata for movies from UPNP
- Listview mode is not preserved when returning from an artist selection
- In certain cases video freezes when selecting play after pausing
- Playing a video and after several times of pausing and skipping the video freezes and audio continues
- Boxee remembers wrong PGS subtitle track in MKV file after leaving and then resuming playback
- All subtitles (PGS) appears as ‘unknown’ for some BluRay titles
- Crash when attempting to identify media via UPNP
- Some .mkv and .m4v files with 2.35:1 AR are playing back vertically stretched to 1.78:1
- Hang and video freezes or black screen when Pause Resume and or seeking FF/RWD during playback
- Hang on WMV Stream Seeking
- Crashed on shutdown and restarted automatically
- Scrolling in Files Browse list results in partial control of Files menu and also crash
- SMB credentials are not saved on reboot
- When deleting an item from the watch later list the focus location of the last item is not remembered
- Music tracks which are longer than an hour appears as “01:00:…” on the OSD
- Rear channels on AAC 5.1 are not played properly w/ LPCM 5.1 out
- Prompting user for credentials that are not used in accessing shares
- Can’t access network share due to Window Live on Windows 7
- large flash videos stop playback when reaching Boxee file system limit
- Reconnecting to disconnected shares disables selection in the Movies database view
- Subtitles is disabled in the playback OSD for local content
- No video only audio while playing certain m4v files
- Flash video audio drops out for long length online videos
- Disconnects from OSX SMB sources
- Occasional loss of focus on main menu
- Unidentified files in File Source with “Movies” in path name are being identified as a title called ”Movies”
- Crashed on shutdown and restarted automatically
- Scrolling in Files Browse list results in partial control of Files menu and also crash
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Do you plan to support Chinese characters in file name, title and sub-title? Currently Chinese characters are displayed as a box.
Ok… The quality is awesome! Netflix please…
avner,
any chance on getting a continuous play feature for "watch later"? Or autoplay the next video in tv shows?
thanks.
Watched a movie using VUDU the other night (HDX, of course). It worked flawlessly. And it looked and sounded fantastic. Great job boxee!
You're kidding, right? This blog post was edited to remove the statement that the Netflix app was still on track for this week? Why? So you (and the defenders on the forums) can claim you never said it when you miss another date? That is VERY lame.
It is true! Unbelievable and shame to you Boxee Box! Yet another PR blunder
Things are not looking good at this front. Bring Netflix please ASAP.
I find that this version still sometimes freezes the video if the fast forward/ pause button are used but it recovers now after 10 -20 seconds, still very annoying.
when starting the boxee box, about 50% of the time the audio on the boxee box does not start. I have to cycle the power on the boxee several times to make it work, extremely annoying.
I liked the previous version better because it did not have the audio problems.
Some things, if I may…
1: Glad to see an update. Keep improving, and make the Big Screen UI experience better for users, especially non-geeks.
2: YouTube: Now that signin can be done, how about subscribed channels/users and new videos from subscriptions?
3: Spacevidcast doesn't buffer its live streams- That needs to be fixed. REAL headache when I want to watch NASA HD!
4: Netflix: I'll be glad when this is added, not because I want to use Netflix, but because it means Silverlight will be installed, and many live TV streams now use Silverlight, such as NHK World (www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld), whihi I can't play on my Boxee Box.
(In other words, PLEASE add/improve Silverlight stream support!)
d.m.f.
After the last update I have problems with subtitles. Before it was possible to modify and see the changes immediately, now the changes are not made on time, only after turn off and turn on.
Font has improved, but it would be better if we could choose one.
Also introducing some delay / frame buffer during the execution of a movie in mkv, for example.
So when is the next FW update coming out?
Where is the update on netflix promised for this week?
Love the udpate guys. Just one question regarding netflix…When it does come out, will you have content integration again like back in the day? I think it had something to do with Netflix on why it was taken down, but hopefully now that you're a partner of theirs this will be back?? Ideally I'd love to be able to see something like Dexter on my TV Shows, and whatever episodes I don't have locally, but Netflix does, to be able to see them in the same screen, or at the very least a link to the Netflix app at the right location? Hope these aren't pipe dreams! Thanks – Stefan
where is the promised update on Netflix
It's been canceled, they can't get it to work which is why there is no update. Hulu will be canceled as well. They will announce it soon.
I can still send my boxee back which is what I plan to do
Seriously avner, your making a habit of being a liar. You said we'd get an update this week and there's nothing, again. Like in December when you said we'd have the most important feature of your box and we didn't. Inspiring your customers to have a complete lack of faith or trust in you doesn't seem like a wise decision, does it?
Actually, they said it was still on track to come out this week, then they edited the post to remove that and substituted that there would be an update of some sort…which of course there hasn't been.
EVERYONE WANTS NETFLIX SUPPORT
you promised it by the end of 2010, you promised it by the end of this month, and you promised an update about it in this week that just ended. can you blame me for losing faith that it'll ever happen?
Take it easy guys. Netflix will be on the Boxee someday, mabye not this week, but in the near future
Per
Take it easy? They took cash money from us in exchange for a product they've yet to deliver.. why shouldn't people be upset?
1. Enable a "continuous viewing" (similar to the default for YouTube Leanback) preference which will mean, when user is on a "station" it plays through show episodes, or videos.
2. YouTube Leanback is great, but watching "stations" does not work. I was initially excited that I could search "news", and I'd have a station that would pipe optimized news every morning before work. How shitty it was that every morning, I'd go to my "news" channel and see the same news clips from two weeks before. Hellooo Groundhog day.
3. Commercials when you're fastforwarding through a movie or show? Come on…
4. Hire a creative ad guy, and do something besides normal commercials… this is supposed to be a new medium.
5. My wife wants to kill me for getting rid of cable. I will NOT go get a cable box back.
6. The two young programmers at our company are flipping out over Hulu. I ask, I wonder if I can get it on my Boxee?" They say, "If you can't, that really really sux!" Sure enough…. fill in blank ______________________.
7. I like variety of content.
8. Willing to put up with bugs, but doesn't seem like there's enough happening on your end, Avner and Co. Are you tired?
Netflix?
I was a big supporter but have been disappointed.
Warning sign I guess: when your "Launch Party" had no food, the beer was $12, and it really was a "Demo".
Oh, I forgot:
9. Really sucks when you watch a show and half-way through, it just freezes up. hold on wife and kids, dad's coming in from the office (midway through reading Fred Wilson's blog) to the family room to pick up the correct remote, stop the show, and fastforward to the spot (kids telling me the exact spot) — yeah, I know guys… we have to watch the commercials too while we're fastforwarding…
Ok, took care of the family, now where was I … oh, yeah, Fred's blog…
Boxee you need to hire a pr person pronto. A pr person would have told you not to put a tile on boxee for vudu if it was no ready for near release. Also you could have sold more boxee box if in December you let folks know of boxee and vudu plans to bring 3d video.
The mess with Netflix is of your doing. I know Netflix will be on boxee within the next two weeks why not state so. Also Netflix right now has very little 1080p content and hardly any surround sound audio. Will the Netflix app for boxee provide more of 1080p double digital content? If so state it. Also if the Netflix app that boxee will get is gen 3 than state that. You need a good pr department or boxee may not last the year.
You can make all the excuses you want as to why Netflix isn't on the Boxee Box and whether or not they are valid is debatable because not every factor is in your or your company's control. However, when you make a blog post and write: "We’ve heard from many of you about Netflix as well – we are working on it and will post another update next week on the subject." and next week comes and there is no post, how do you explain or excuse that?
FYI, my Boxee Box is on its way back to Amazon. I'm betting that Roku or some other company will have all the capability of Boxee long before Boxee has Netflix or Hulu or Amazon, or anything else that Boxee has promised its users; including the blog post "next week".
Class action lawsuit?
"We’ve heard from many of you about Netflix as well – we are working on it and will post another update next week on the subject."
hmmmm must have missed it. Atleast be honest.
If Netflix is not released soon, i think that would be a good idea.
10 days is a pretty long week.. when is the post about Netflix coming now? Do we have to wait until midnight on Monday to find out that you're targeting spring 2011 next?
POST THE INFO. Stop jerking your customers around.
The next estimate might as well be spring 2009. I'd be just as likely to believe it.
So when is netflix coming? You had said the end of January, which is in 2 days.
I gave The Dlink Boxee Box a chance un purchased two for christmas in anticipation of the Jan 1 release of netflix. To much disapoinment i see no new or progress on the much promised feature. I'm getting ready to return my two boxee box's and swap them out for something that works as promised… Apple TV here I come. Learn how to focus on the needs on wants of your customers and deliver as promised. Sorry DLink / Boxee.
Um.. 1/30.. where's Netflix?
Alright, today is the day!!!
Boxee, for once please make a deadline!
What are the odds that Netflix is Released Today? (Jan31st) What do you guys think?
I'm guessing 25%.
We want an update on netflix today.
Odd that promises are made for the end of January and most people that bought boxee in December cannot return it after today.
At this point, I would never recommend anyone purchase a boxee; I would recommend other products that work as advertised.
Was the update for next week this week or next week?
Or maybe the second Tuesday of next week.
I guess a Class Action Lawsuit might be the only thing that does get their attention.
Game Over. Netflix Fail.
I purchased this stupid box with the expectation that Netflix would be on it or added soon…seriously…stop lying and giving us dates of when it will be released!!!! Just update it. I am going to return it by the end of the week if it is not on there!
i bought the boxee to watch tv shows that were already uploaded from the net. But now you have to pay for all the new programs. You have taken an amazing software and turned it from amazing to SHIT. All thanks to the " PLEASE PAY FOR WHAT WAS ONCE FREE" im selling my boxee. JOB NOT WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dfds
The search subtitle is not working, any one else
Have the same problem?
Watch my first movie on vudu and it looked great for the exception at one point were the movie started to buffer and the screen went completely red and had to restart the boxee. The one thing I would say needs improvement is being able to rewind and fast-ward on vudu.
Avner, I don't think anyone here doubts that you have the best of intentions, but what you are doing constitutes lying at best and fraud at worst. Quit setting self-imposed deadlines and then fail to meet them! You're setting the deadline, be realistic! So Monday is the end of the month. You promised Netflix by the end of the month. Another lie, and your credibility may be irreversibly damaged. Tell us what is or isn't happening and if it's going to be March, for eff's sake, just say March, not 'end of February' to buy yourself a month to put off saying that it's going to be even longer. I'm a salesguy and if I did what you are doing, I would be ostracized or fired for displaying the worst stereotypes of a salesperson, which my company prides itself on NOT displaying. Do something original and tell the daggone truth.
Question for the people angry about Netflix: Do you realize you can get all of the Netflix content via the Navi-X app? Obviously, I would prefer a full Netflix app, but since I discovered Navi-X I am much happier with the Box. I can now watch anything I want, as well as live TV (i.e. sports) for free. Pretty sweet.
I definitely agree the PR surrounding Netflix is terrible, but until it comes out there is a pretty solid work around via Navi-X.
Respectfully, we are not "angry Netflix people". We are consumers who were sold a bill of goods and trusted the words of the company president and spokeperson. We do not want to use the backdoor to get to Netflix. We want an app with HD capability that works. I suppose we shouldn't really whine too much until tomorrow comes and goes with no announcement. Then again, why does Avner repeat the same mistake and leave us hanging until literally the last minute??? Bold prediction. The blog will state tomorrow that they tried right up until the last minute to get it out by the 31st, but there are still a few bugs to work out. Then they will promise that it will be out within the next two weeks. Oy.
Shut up stupid!
Shut up stupid
Um, is all that Navi-X content legal??? NO!!!!
I smell a Rat
I agree, I think most people w/ a boxee box probably have other methods of streaming (video game systems, tv's, bluray players etc). The frustration comes from the fact that as an emerging technology we would like realistic time lines. All the OTT products (google tv, boxee, apple tv) are really being sold on potential, and we are wondering what we can realistically expect boxee to deliver.
I agree, judging by their track record at this point they should really under promise and over deliver rather than what they're doing now, over promising and under delivering.
Avner Ronen – Please update us on BoxeeBox and Netflix today.. Its the last day of january..
Thanks
They're just going to edit your comment to say "Please tell me about puppies and rainbows."
Boxee has no interest in honesty or transparency with their customer base.
Hey dude
NetFlix actually works on the "Boxee software" – Just not on the Boxee Box… – So that means that it's actually not a lie that it doesn't work – It just doesn't work on the BoxeeBox and thats what we really want..