The Boxee is another media streaming player like the Roku player and the Apple TV. The Boxee box connects to your TV and the Internet and then allows you to stream video via channel apps including Netflix, Pandora, MLB.TV (baseball) and Vudu (The Walmart streaming service). And now Boxee has updated its device and dropped the price of it to $99 and included two huge new perks – a built in antenna which should allow you to easily stream free over-the-air channels (i.e. basic channels: ABC, NBC, CBS & PBS) to your TV and a free & unlimited cloud based DVR service* – meaning that you can record shows shown on ABC, NBC, CBS & PBS storm them in the cloud and watch them whenever you want to – with no limit as to how many shows you can store to watch later. Now that last perk – the cloud based DVR with unlimited storage perk is free in and of itself but does require you to pay a $14 monthly fee to gain access to the program guide which will allow you to record shows. So in essence it does cost $14 for the service in the areas in which it is available and so far those areas are major urban areas including New York City and Los Angeles. However, I think the introduction of this new Boxee box is cool for two reasons 1. Because it allows cord cutters to easily access the TV networks free of charge by simply setting up the box and 2. Because it shows how fast the technology is advancing and how in the future we are likely to pay less money to access an ever increasing amount of television shows, movies and other audio and video content.
Oh and I left out one other important accessibility item – this new Boxee box will be sold in one brick and mortar store only – Walmart! So the next time you’re at Walmart, and waiting for someone else in your family, you might stop in the TV section and check it out!
Here are links to three articles/reviews on the subject:
The first from CNET titled Wal-Mart to start selling Boxee TV set-top box:
The second from the Daily Finance (written by Rick Aristotle Munarriz, The Motley Fool) titled Boxee TV: Walmart Wants You to See It; Your Cable Provider Doesn’t:
And the third a general review from CNET tilted $99 Boxee TV records over-the-air television to the cloud — but requires monthly fee:
* The cloud based DVR service with unlimited storage is rolling out in just a few cities now but will be rolling out in more in 2013. The service is not currently available in our area – just FYI…
Have a great day!
Linda R.
Tech & Book Talk at SSCL 