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Boxee TV is first DVR to offer unlimited cloud recording

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Boxee TV uploads recordings to the cloud to provide unlimited storage
Boxee TV features a new interface
Boxee TV has a live TV focus
Boxee TV uploads recordings to the cloud to provide unlimited storage
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Boxee’s latest set-top box retains its predecessor’s internet TV–streaming roots, but adds live TV and DVR capabilities to the mix. In fact, the Boxee TV’s primary focus is now live TV and its revamped user interface and simplified remote is designed to appeal to a wider audience than the Linux-based Boxee Box. Although the device is primarily a DVR for recording live TV, it comes without any onboard storage at all. Instead, the Boxee TV uploads recordings to the cloud, making the device “the first ever No Limits DVR.”

While the Boxee TV still boasts internet TV and music streaming capabilities, with Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Vimeo and Pandora apps coming preinstalled (and more promised), the unit is more focused on live TV. With two tuners for tuning into broadcast HD channels, such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and Univision, along with support for unencrypted basic cable, users are able to watch one channel while recording another. Boxee will even throw in a free digital antenna for those in good reception areas.

Boxee TV features a new interface

Ensuring users will never run out of space to record, well, anything, the Boxee TV uploads recorded programs to the cloud. Not only does this mean you’ll never have to worry about choosing between Here Comes Honey Boo Boo or Two and a Half Men to claim that last bit of remaining space on a hard drive, but you’ll also be able to pull down the recorded shows to a variety of devices, such as a laptop, tablet smartphone, or TV. The Boxee TV also lets a tablet or smartphone be used as a remote control or program guide.

Naturally, the “no limits” cloud recording functionality isn’t free. DVR subscribers are slugged US$14.99 a month, with the initial launch restricted to the top eight U.S. TV markets: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Additional markets will be added later in 2013.

The Boxee TV unit itself will cost $99 and will be available next month in the U.S. There’s no word on whether it will venture beyond U.S. shores in the future or not.

Source: Boxee

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6 comments
Daishi
I'm not real sure how I feel about it yet. Without the $15 DVR functionality it is pretty much a Roku which can be picked up from $50 to $100 depending on the features you opt for.
It doesn't look like it gives you the option to use it as a tuner for stuff over cable/antenna without upgrading it to DVR for $15 and the lack of any physical drive could bring some performance problems with it.
For $150 + $15/month you could get a TiVo Premiere which is probably a lot more capable as a DVR and still does Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Pandora etc.
Matt Rings
I like my Channel Master CM-7000 DVR... tons of HD space for OTA recording, and even the ability to record schedules with OTA TV guides.
A cheap Roku fleshes out the combo without a monthly fee like the Boxee.
Boxee should make a "free to try" Cloud storage...say 100MB of storage, and you "pay to play" for more storage, once you're hooked.
Cheers, Doc
Jerry Peavy
Great, this should give companies/the government the ability to completely control what you can and cannot record and to track what you watch and when you watch it. I don't think so!
freedomsailor
Wow, another TV type box I don't have to consider. When my wife and I gave up on TV altogether, a few years ago, we learned about thousands of other neat things to do. Our "gotta do" list is down to 794 items currently.
Henry O'Donnell
Recording Live TV to stream from the cloud, hmm. OTA TV is free and streaming is good with cable or fiber Internet access but DSL not so good but doable. I would be more intrigued if the Boxee service at the punchy price was to incorporate local HD to avoid poor streaming quality for those not in a service area providing reputable bandwidth. I’ll stick with Windows Media Center, pity Microsoft is not packaging it with Windows 8.
Joe F
Boy, I'm getting sick of the monthly billing model. $15 a month to record crap on broadcast TV? No thanks. I like the TV tuners, but it should at least include some onboard storage so that you could use it as a DVR without paying a stupid monthly fee for something that you really don't need. How many crappy TV shows do you really need to store all at once to require unlimited cloud storage?