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Boxee Launches New API
A recent post on the boxee blog announces the release of a new, fully documented API that will allow developers to create and share new apps and plugins. "The new boxee API enables developers to build sophisticated applications (such as the Pandora and RadioTime apps) using a set of API calls in Python and writing the GUI using XML. ... Users can install new applications via the boxee App Box, the beginnings of our app store. Unlike other app stores, boxee does not want to be a gate keeper (or bottleneck) in deciding which applications are published so anyone can become a publisher." A complete description is available at their developers page. I'm sure this will help in their ongoing battle with Hulu.
A boxee app store? I understand that they are working on getting hardware created, but they are expecting people to pay for little applets that will run under boxee on hardware that you either had to build yourself or hack to even run it in the first place? And even after their own device is out, how many people are going to buy it [b]and[/b] buy plugins for it?
I also understand that if they aren't thinking big, they might as well not even try (think you can or think you can't..) but I just don't see this being even remotely successful. People use their iPhone because its "cool" and want it to do everything their computer does while they're on the road. If you want the functionality of a computer while you're in your living room, get up and walk to your office.
Whale
What BS. They only do this to make money. They think (and probably rightly so) that by opening the floodgates they can make a crapload of money. Either now or later when Google buys them out.
I hope it works, but don't try to scam me into thinking it's for the good of the community.
I rarely read replies, it's my opinion and if you thought about your opinion a little more, I'm OK with that.
Boxee really has nothing going for it.
The only parts that are remotely usefull are closed source, so if your looking for the same funtionality try xbmc instead.
The problem BOXEE is having with HULU is the fact that they are trying to capitalize on the fact they they have HULU. The hulu player is closed source.
You cant build a business model on selling someone elses free service. HULU never took issue with the free software out there that played their streams. It was only after BOXEE got millions in funding surrounding their closed source player that these issues evolved. Lets face it, nobody would have given BOXEE millions for their open source parts as they are just that, open source.
inb4 4chan
Who's boxee?
You win .5 internets!
An app store is an excellent incentive for developers to invest the time to create Boxee plugins. That's something missing from MythTV. For instance, I'd like to see a MAME plugin for Boxee. Who's going to integrate it? With an app store, there's the possibility people will pay a buck or two for each installation.
Also, the barrier to entry for Boxee is much less than other set-top platforms. It runs as a standalone application on Mac OS X (intel), Ubuntu, and WinXP. You can install the application, start it, connect video out to your TV set, and install a remote control app on your iPhone and the whole deal probably takes less than an hour.
Seth
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
Curious how different this is from creating plug-ins in XBMC? Seems like Boxee = XBMC + Pretty Skin + Marketing $$$....
I wish I had access to her API ^_^
Upcoming Boxee features include:
Bow-ties are cool.
Oh god, now I have that voice stuck in my head. "My name is Boxxy". FFFFFFFFUUUUUUU-
Why did all the comments vanish...? There were like 15 of 'em.
This looks very similar to what they're doing with the Mac fork of XBMC, Plex. It's very cool how they implemented it, basically making Plex a frontend for Safari with the plug-in defining the area of the browser that the video is in. This way, as far as the site is concerned, someone is using the browser like normal.
They also have an App Store but it's not designed to be for pay, and I would doubt the Boxee one is either. I had never used Python before but I was able to whip up some plug-ins which are now available in the store.
http://www.plexapp.com/
But I love Bawksee!
Thought you were talking about that cute chick from youtube.
"She has her own API?"
I signed up for boxxee to check it out, but the only machine I have that would possibly be capable of playing with it on is runing 64 bit ubuntu. Grrrr.
Maybe I'll give the xbmc livecd a try instead.
NO! You are everything that's wrong with the damn internets!
I hope you posted a similar troll (but about boxee) over in the actual star trek story.
I'd salute you if you did.
Did anyone else think the title referred to "box lunches"? Maybe I'm just hungry.
I might be indecisive, but I'm not really sure. What do you think?
Isn't a game console just a computer connected to tv? The only problem with them is they are hard to program (i.e. closed and expensive to license the sdk) and they don't yet integrate the tons of media content on the internet into a easy to use interface. The web browser on the ps3 is horrible (for example).
Also, when has a platform providing cheap games had a problem getting users? If you ported all the iphone games to boxee and added multi-user interaction, I'm sure you can sell them for a few dollars (now if boxee only had a few million users then they could generate real income).
The real problem for boxee, is that it requires a computer and most people just can't afford to spend $300+ on one at this point.
My solution was to ditch my cable subscription and go with boxee running on a mac mini. I will probably start writing boxee applications once I've stopped wasting all my time watching hulu and netflix.