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Boxee vs. Zinc vs. Hulu
For those with a Windows PC and some time for TV, DeviceGuru writes "Which is the best Internet media streaming application for a media-center PC? Boxee, Zinc, or the new Hulu Desktop? A post at DeviceGuru.com reviews these three media streaming platforms and draws some interesting conclusions. Key pros and cons are tabulated and numerous screenshots are included. Interestingly, despite lots of Boxee hype, Zinc already has a number of valuable features that Boxee is scrambling to add to its next version, due out in the fall. On the other hand, Boxee boasts far more third-party content-access applications support."
Since stupid rights managements mean they're only usable in one country.
Wasn't Zinc just proved to cause loss of smell in people? Then I guess you wouldn't be able to tell if it stinks or not!
-- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
"For those US residents with a Windows PC and some time for TV"
There, fixed.
As a non-US resident, Mininova is still the best bang for the buck to me.
For some it doesn't matter. For example, if u are on linux, then it boils down to Boxee and... Boxee. (Assuming that crappy table in "conclusions" switched OS Support columns)
If you are outside US, then again, it limits your choice.
So, this might be relevant, but only for people living in US and using Windows.
Also, there are Linux only solutions, like for example MythTV, can't say about selection of videos there thou... I guess its small.
Are these stand alone apps or WMC plugins? I have a windows vista (I know, I know, but I've had a ton of issues getting mythbuntu to work and work well) box running the Media Browser plugin, and it's a really awesome set up. It automatically adds my new media to its library (this is a basic WMC feature), it pulls movie posters, cast information, and all relevant metadata from IMDB... it's just all in all fantastic. I'm not looking to add another standalone program to my HTPC box, but I would be fine with adding hulu TV if it was a plugin and worked without stepping on the toes of Media Browser. The hulu site says it's optimized for WMC, but seems to indicate it is a standalone program. Does anyone have experience with it?
I prefer Plex over all of those. Surprised it was not included.
I tend to agree that the "social" aspect of boxee is a bit in the way in the main interface, but what the reviewer didn't mention is whether zinc or hulu do anything with local media. From the zinc website it seems like it too can scan local media like boxee, what I would have liked in the review is some coverage over how well each one worked. In my experience, boxee does a really good job at this and includes a built-in interface for correcting the mistakes (aka Wrong Video link). I do agree that boxee could use a global search, however, I'm quite happy with boxee having just converted away from a mythtv setup.
Why settle for a bunch of DRM streaming that they will pull the run out from under you at any time. Most of the content is available to be recorded or you can rent. Either it will not have commercials or MythTV will automatically skip them. You get to pick what happens.
I have really been liking Zinc - very smooth operation, plus it looks so cool. Since I can use Zinc to access Hulu (and it does a pretty good job of runing Hulu - maximizing when it can, letting me pause and skip and so forth with the remote) and so many other sources, I see no need for Hulu Desktop. My Media Center bliss is nearly complete... If only it would aggregate Justin TV (a nice source which could really use a UI makeover)
This is not a self-referential sig.
Since none of them support OS X unless you have an Intel processor, I'm ticked at them all. XBMC DOES, but so far I can't get it to stream Netflix OR Hulu (there are ways, but they require you to have another computer and to purchase Playon...FAIL).
Look, I'm not going to shell out hundreds of dollars just to have a media center computer. I happen to have some older hardware that is suitable for the task. PPC support makes sense because I think a fair number of people are walking the same path. So until Boxee gets off their collective butts and decides to support PPC, I'll pass.
"We don't know what we are doing, but we are doing it very carefully,..." Wherry, R.J. Personnel Psychology (1995)
Nice overview Rick.
For myself, I'm still finding that Apple TV and iTunes are the best combo. The new Apple TV firmware upgrade 2.4--http://practical-tech.com/entertainment/apple-tv-2-4-well-worth-the-download/--in particular has really made the Apple TV more useful than ever. Apple doesn't whisper a word of it, but the code's really been cleaned up and the result is a much more efficient media box.
The list of my problems with that combo--starting with the simple fact that it's proprietary as proprietary can be--is longer than my arm. Still, for me it's the best choice.
Steven
Let me summarize what you are saying, "I don't know why new software isn't supported on a computer and OS that is 3-4 years old. Good thing I have something older that works. Until these new software makers decide to support my old hardware, I won't be able to use them."
Self proclaimed wannabe geek. You know how it is. Most of us who read this stuff probably fit in that category.
I had been using rtorrent, pytvshows, screen, and rtgui to manage media downloads on my mythbox. I've since switched over to boxee, although it's running on top of the same mythbuntu install I was using before, and could easily revert back to. I don't really use the streaming apps boxee includes, not do I need to use its torrent capabilities since my own system is more robust. Boxee won me over simply because the interface looks slicker, it grabs cover art and show information automatically, gives one-click access to the apple trailer if available, grabs subtitles with a click, and my downloaded shows are automatically in my media library without having to manually rebuild the database every time I add something.... all things mythtv does not do. If and when mythtv adds these things, I would probably switch back.
The summery first talks about the PC and then about a platform. Which is it?
For the PC I prefer MPlayer-plugin with Firefox. As a platform I use my Linux hosting and as a player I use http://www.gdd.ro/gddflvplayer.html
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
Urgh... Why do people insist on using some overhyped, bloated services that only work in US? My favorite applications of this type are those that can be open neatly in an FF tab, without taking up half of my RAM and which reside in countries where **AA is just a funky notion those crazy Americans keep babbling about.
Because those of us in the US that want to watch US tv show content legally have to either go to the web site, or use one of the aforementioned programs? Besides, Hulu's desktop app is basically a shell around their Flash content, the overhead is nothing above and beyond the Flash CPU overhead itself. Oh, and Zinc is available as a Firefox plugin, and can be opened neatly in a FF tab.
Because those of us in the US that want to watch US tv show content legally have to either go to the web site, or use one of the aforementioned programs? Besides, Hulu's desktop app is basically a shell around their Flash content, the overhead is nothing above and beyond the Flash CPU overhead itself. Oh, and Zinc is available as a Firefox plugin, and can be opened neatly in a FF tab.
Erm... technically speaking, watching streamed content of any kind is not illegal. It may be a whole array of other things, but illegal... no way. The burden lies with those that upload the content. Otherwise you would see a lot of YouTube users sued to smithereens. As for the "bloated" aspect, I must concede this point. Every time I see one of these interfaces my mind jumps straight to Vuze, but I admit that others with similar look might be less of a memory hog. I haven't tested any of them, so yes I admit I could be wrong.
right...
Dude, it is "Vietnam II". Accept it and move on. You can't win a religious war unless you are willing to go full genocide. Sorry, that is just the way it is. You DO realize the Shia and Sunni have been killing themselves for ...what? 800 years now? They have been killing each other for longer than the USA has been a country, and you think you can stop that?
The ONLY way Saddam was able to keep those three groups in line was by digging mass graves and putting anyone who looked at him funny in them. You could stay there for 100 years, blowing cash that we don't have like a hooker with a stolen CC and racking up dead Americans and Iraqs and in the end? They'll just keep on coming. And five minutes after you finally accept it is "Vietnam II" and pull out the Shia and Sunni will go right back to killing each other as they have for centuries. It was and is nothing but a waste of American lives and money. Where have we seen this before? Oh yeah, Vietnam. Except in Vietnam we actually had a better chance of winning than we do now. Give it up already.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
You're an idiot!
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I for one want more of a "youtube" experience so far as the tech goes- I want to be able to see the services on my archos and ps3 and whatever other media device supports flash and streaming media rather than having to install a PC application in order to view it- I want to sit on my couch or in a hotspot watching not in front of the computer since there are already a ton of options if I wanted to sit in front of the computer
Which is an odd thing to say as things are getting better steadily and have been for a few years now (even before Obama stepped it). But other than that, yes, it's exactly like Vietnam. *yawn*
Where's the offtopic mod when we need it? Or a mod for "preaching to the choir to karma whore"?
Utilizing the synergization of benchmark e-solutions to pre-workaround action items!