Our goal is to release a firmware update for the Boxee Box (and in the future other Boxee-based devices) every 3 months or so. In each firmware update we try to have a healthy mix of new and improved functionality together with bug fixes.
The last firmware update came out in Feb, so you should expect to see the next update come out in May. Here is what’s coming:
- Browser: faster loading and scrolling, favorites and history
- Video playback: improved ffwd/rwd controls, new look for on-screen-display
- Local files: sort by source, .nfo support
- New languages: French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
- Support for Boxee for iPad..
We have gone through http://jira.boxee.tv and tried to resolve the most critical/annoying bugs (we consider bug priority based on their popularity in Jira and the related discussions in the forum). Some bugs we are solving with this update:
- Occasionally when trying to download and install applications it will result with “signature failed” message
- Using USB IR receiver duplicate button presses are occasionally generated
- HTTPS URLs cannot be invoked from search bar
- Update is prompted during paused video
- Special characters are displayed wrong
- Playback of some overlay ads in Flash video stutters
- The Boxee Box doesn’t recognize two USB drives with the same drive label
- When Boxee resumes from ‘sleep’ mode all artwork is gone from library view
- iPhone remote does not refresh the available host names
- Display file name with Chinese/Japanese/Korean characters
- and many more…
We are about to send out the version to our early access users and start the process of collecting feedback on the build quality, new functionality and overall experience. Once we feel the version is in a good shape we will release it out to everyone.
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Hey guys what about the desktop software? Does it now have less priority than updating for the boxee box? Will the desktop software ever carry the same build number(s) as the boxee box?
Thanks!
Avner,
Let's hope this new update will finally get my Boxee Box up and running again. Since the last gawd-awful update, my unit is just an expensive paperweight. It crashes on EVERYTHING!
Everyone has to remember that $200 spent on "Boxee" is not actually for the software, rather it is for the hardware package that D-link has developed. Boxee is completely free software that you can download to try before you decide to purchase the $200 device. While you might be frustrated, realize that it takes time to develop things and it is better to have a stable and functional release than something pushed to the market that isn't worth even the time it takes to download. Even Apple, WD TV Live, Logitech Revue, and all others have their flaws. The difference is that they all have huge bank rolls backing their products while Boxee is free and has worked up to be a mainstream option. Forums should be used for useful information, not just bad-mouthing products that you don't like.
"Boxee is completely free software that you can download to try before you decide to purchase the $200 device": this is not actually true since the version you can download and install on your PC is a few months (I think 5-6 now) older than the version on the Boxee Box… so when one buy Boxee Box it probably expect it to work OOTB, including firmware update etc… If someone download and install Boxee for free on his PC I think there's no reason to complain, but If he spend 200$ on something that promise to be a game changer on his living room, I think he's right to raise hell if the Box does not work as promised!
Is the mpg uPnP issue fixed in this new release? This is a big deal to me as all of our home videos are mpg and they don't seem to stream.
3 months turnaround for a complex piece of software like this is fantastic. I don't think people understand what you mean by "release overhead", which is unfortunate because they don't realize they're actually lucky…
I'm going to throw my hat in here with the folks asking about the Mac/PC/Linux Build of Boxee.
Can I throw out an idea? If resources is the primary issue with the HTPC build of boxee, why not let us donate? Or charge $10 for it or something? Sell it through the mac app store?
The lack of communication and lack of clarity on when or if the HTPC build of boxee will catch up to the box build is incredibly frustrating to many of us especially since we've recommended the HTPC build of boxee to so many of our friends.
Why is it when I try to add a repository like the Bartsidee or most of the others I only get their websites bragging about how good their repository is and no app's whatsoever? Like that streamfree.tv repo etc.. In fact my Boxee Box that I paid $200 for doesn't take most of the repositories listed. Nobody seems to have any clear answers for this issue. Is it because Boxee is going down???
When the Netflix app was released, Boxee also required all apps to be digitally signed and approved by Boxee. If your favorite app has not been approved by Boxee, it will not run on the box. Write the author(s) of the app(s) in question and have them submit their app(s) to Boxee for approval.
Yeah but, most of the repositories that are on the list for Boxee don't even bring you to any apps. Just some blog page showing how they have upgrades for this or that. Very un-useful and misleading. Most of them do not work. I found one app, ESPN3, that works out of about twenty repositories. It seems like they are all outdated!
I pay for Hulu Plus and get it on the Roku. Why the heck can't I get it on the Boxee? Is it that complicating? Time to hire more people?
until then, use fancast
Don't get me wrong. I love the Boxee idea but it seems like Roku is ahead of the curve by promoting private channels (apps). Boxee should be the leader, I think because the interface and ease of use is so much better. If I'll be able to stream from IPad to my 47" LCD through Boxee that'll make the deal. That's what's coming next from what I hear. I can envision sittin in my chair with the IPad as the ultimate internet to TV remote and playing what ever on to the big screen. If it's just a Boxee version to watch stuff on the IPad through the Boxee though forget it. (spoiled consumer but I am the customer!)
what about the spotify app? wasn't it gonna be available with the 1.1 update?
This is all good and well but when is v1.0 coming out for PC, Linux, and Mac? I mean we've heard nothing about its development, not even a "be patient, its on its way" type of thing for the longest.
Can I finally watch my Shows as Watched/Unwatched?
I can see that the last release of Boxee added a tiny bit of functionality there, since my unwatched shows are .0001% brighter than my watched shows… but I really have to stare at the screen to tell the difference, and I have no control over it.
So will we be able to store movie images finally or is there a bug that actually kept images from being displayed for some users? Wasnt too sure about that comment. If not, is that still being looked at? Thanks
Agreed on the Mac/PC/Linux build request. Since going commercial, it seems as though the base that Boxee was built on has simply been ignored. I'd be happy to pay for the software, but I'd already built a HTPC before the Boxee Box was released and just want it to be updated. I've run into a number of playback issues and Boxee is dropping the ball with no release since October of 2010; I've since gone back to XBMC as the developers have continued to make their PC product better and better, and it now outshines Boxee for playback on my Ion ITX board. Congrats to Boxee's success, and goodbye.
I'm looking forward to "improved ffwd/rwd controls" – fingers crossed!
Boxee team, you are doing a great job, but please don't leave us that far behind!
I agree with the call for Linux/Mac/PC upgrades. It is a bit frustrating to be left in the shed for so long.
Remember that your early adapters, the ones that test Boxee, open bugs and help you debug mostly prefer to build their own platform. Don't give up on these people!
Please encourage us to keep on waiting for all that good stuff you have worked so heard for (and don't let us wait so long
).
I have big issues with Netflix. when I´m watching a movie/show it suddenly stops after a while and comes up with the message "no internet connection" but the internet connection is fine, just not on my Boxee box
Have any of you experienced this ??
Updates are great, but 3 months is ridiculous.
simple glitch fixes like the fact I can't play mp3's (after doing anything else, it requires a reboot or no audio and numbers move too fast) are frustrating and are marked as fixed in the jira.
no reason a simple fix like that should require me to wait 3 months for some giant update. you should be pushing out .01 updates to address small glitches rather than make us wait.
when you leave things to giant updates all you do is fix one thing and introduce 10 more bugs and then make us wait another 3 months. that is not good project management.
seriously?
this is coming from a programmer.
If I pulled stunts like that at work I'd be fired.
Well, I'm still wondering why I can not control the volume on Netflix using the Boxee Box remote …
Maybe in the next firmware?
Sooo bored today! I watch way too much HGTV.
How about when something is marked "watched" you can actually tell the difference….
•When Boxee resumes from ’sleep’ just push the Pause botting on the remote it will load faster need to be resolved on the next update Boxee? thanks
I also really hope for spotify support. It would mean a lot for me, and I'm sure for almost all other European boxee users.
How about an update to allow streaming mkv online from the boxee browser? One of the reasons I bought a Boxee was because I wasn't sure if it could or not. Sadly, it doesn't. That would be the best update Ever.
Thanks. Can we get them more frequently now?