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Boxee vs. Zinc vs. Hulu

Posted by timothy on from the we-had-to-invent-tv-and-we-liked-it dept.

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."

5 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. None of them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Since stupid rights managements mean they're only usable in one country.

    1. Re:None of them by Daengbo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Agreed that they aren't too useful for me, but Boxee does torrents and runs on Linux, so it's really my only choice of the three.

      --
      Put identity in the browser.
  2. Fixed by rodrigoandrade · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "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.

  3. Re:WMC plugins? by Excelcior · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hulu Desktop is nothing more than a dedicated browser for the Hulu website. It gives you a flashier interface, smoother video playback, and [in my experience] better buffering. It's entirely Flash-based.
    That having been said, I've switched over to it exclusively for my Hulu viewing. One less program running (IE) is a huge benefit on my less-than-stellar Celeron when playing full-screen video.
    It does not, however, display your media library, or in any other way act like a Media Center application.

    Cheers!

    --
    A small comparison of interest:
    Windows: Public School. Mac: Private School. Linux: Homeschool. Assembly: Unschool.
  4. Re:WMC plugins? by djtachyon · · Score: 5, Informative
    Exactly! .. To me this is a bogus article and story. If you are going to compare something, at least try to stay in the same genre of software/services. Oh, and maybe add a few more of the well qualified choices. Hey let me give it a try!

    Media Center Software:
    • Boxee/XBMC
    • Windows Media Center
    • Media Portal (I'm using now, may switch to Boxee 4 Windows)
    • Zinc
    • Beyond TV
    • MythTV
    • SageTV
    • Freevo
    • GeexBox
    • VDR
    • Cyberlink PowerCinema
    • Nero Home
    • WinDVD Media Center
    • xHub
    • Media Central
    • Centerstage
    • The list goes on and on...

    Streaming Content Services:

    • Netflix
    • Hulu
    • CBS
    • BBC
    • CNN
    • Comedy Central
    • YouTube
    • etc..etc..etc..

    so .. apples to apples next time?

    --
    "What's the use of a good quotation if you can't change it?" - Doctor Who