Currently no longer recommended

Unfortunately, the negative trend of my last update continued unhindered, with all the latest updates some new features, hardly correcting existing problems and -at the most annoying impossible, were added each Mange new error ...

To take just two examples:

* Individual Zoom
Only stopped working the setting panel for later was identified as "problem solving" simply the complete Menu "Custom Zoom" away. Even more upsetting is that in some cases the default zoom options "16: 9", "14: 9", "Zoom", etc. no longer work. Pech who has a plasma TV or just like watching movies just to fill the screen.

* HD audio dropouts
For over a year the problem is now, but was supposed to be resolved in early 2012 now is becoming increasingly more that Boxee has no interest in a solution.

All in all a real shame, a great media player was virtually unusable. The only reason to buy is still that there is unfortunately hardly available on the market another "out-of-the-box" alternative for a media player with XMBC integration.

Update on 08/10/2011:
=========================

Almost one year has passed since my review, time to report again on the changes since then.

Equal first, then the mentioned problems are as good as solved:
* Menu language again in German
* Improvements in the operation of the surface
* Obvious "Alpha Bugs" now largely resolved

Further improvements (some as an example):
* Airplay support (videos can be streamed etc. via iPhone / iPas on the TV)
* Remote App for iPhone / iPad, etc.
* 3D support (Side by Side)
* NFS and DLNA Support

So far so good, unfortunately, there are also deep shadows, which I am unfortunately forced to a massive withdrawal of stars (formerly full 5):

Firstly, the SMB to complain about performance. Could be earlier also streamed movies at high bit rates over a perfectly Samba release it jerky suddenly in newer firmwares and must be buffered again. Too bad it has as already mentioned even works perfectly!

And now for the most problem: the beginning of 2011 presented the Boxee previous -fully funktionierende- Software Encoding the audio stream in movies on hardware encoding to.
Since then, many DTS and Dolby HD streams movies will only be played with audio dropouts. This makes it absolutely impossible to enjoy a movie or even looking.
Even after massive criticism that the problem has existed for over half a year and Boxee can offer no solution, the company is not obliged to do something looks (eg back to the working software Encoding switch).

Up to solve this problem (which, if any, still lies in the distant future), I would recommend to anyone before buying carefully consider how important it is a functioning audio playback (DTS / Dolby HD) in movies!

Click here to continue with my original review:
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Want me like one of the "streaky" reviews here express, namely, many are based on misunderstandings or simply that one is false expectations on the Boxee Box.

Not happy you will be when you expect a complete "XMBC" to get solution. For this purpose, a larger "Fricke overflow wall" and certainly twice the cost of hardware needed.
The Boxee Box is, however, a middle ground to stand out on the one hand from all other media players on the market (which they undoubtedly also accomplishes) and secondly everything as simple as possible and to keep with minimal configuration (also succeeds perfect in my opinion) ,

But now to the capabilities of the box, as there are a lot of them, I count on only bullet points:

-> Very fast menus, combined with the remote control makes it a pleasure to write by the file lists "fly". In the speed you know the only way the PC or consoles like PS3 or Xbox (which Medie player skills but are unfortunately limited).

-> Playing BD Isos (without meal), BDMV Verzeichnisen (without meal), DVD ISOs DVD sections, Flash, MKVS in all variants, files from RAR archives (!!!) but also WMVs, Avis, Mpeg and much more.

-> The box can be described with a clear conscience as "omnivores", in front of her was still no other Media Player (WDTV, Popcorn A200, Neo550) play all my "problem cases" judder.

-> Automatic 24/25 / 30fps recognition

-> Audio Downmixing

-.> Offsets for audio and subtitles (if something is not lip sync)

. -> Zoom in all variants including 16: 9 or 4: 3 Stretch (image is stretched without being cut off the edges)

-> Local Caption and auto search and subtitles appear on the Web

-> "Software Playback", it means the Boxee Box is ideally equipped for the future, because if a new video codec seems he just can vie update be installed. Another player with Sigma or Realtek chipset mind often lose out and have new hardware release revisions.

-> IMDB integration, one of the features at all, their own films are provided with the cover and a brief description of the IMDB database. Who get used to it, it does not want to miss, "an online video store feeling" in your own film archive.

-> Slide shows of your own pictures with beautiful effects and super fast, the quality, the no other player! At the same time can thereby also play music.

-> Nice apps (even "youp ***": integrated browser and I would not call the perfect, but sufficiently mature that I (eg weather) always liked Views again cause other players I had this desire.. never, either were the apps unusable very slow or the remote control.

-> Active support of the developers in the forum and the Boxee Box Boxee own Bug Tracking System, where you can report a problem. Easy and fast real as it gets.

Finally, a few brief comments to problems described here:

All in English:
Well, it you have to first get involved, a German translation is planned again until (in Beta was included firmware).

Surface in 0.9 Firmware better:
In the 0.9 firmware it's own movie archive had more been in the forefront on the home, which was, unfortunately, he changed to the current 1.0 in favor of the online media. But the Boxee developers have taken the criticism and already in the next update, there are improvements!

"Alpha" -Bugs:
Is there also a few actually, but as already mentioned is worked over hard on improvements (Simply take a look in the bug tracker). Many (WLAN Bug, jerking etc.) have already been corrected with the update to 1.0, more episodes with the update which will be released shortly (Dates in Boxee Box Forum).

Wiggling
I dare to say many try 1080p files with high bit rates play over WiFi when they report from jerking. Depending on the environment, this is just as impossible on all other players. Via 100Mbit Lan, there are definitely no problems!

Problems with remote control:
Often a lack of lighting is criticized or that would be the operation too complicated. I can not understand in turn. Well, for the keyboard side one needs to have light wants to enter your login data or browser addresses. The other side with the 7 buttons (control pad, right, back and play / pause) can be against blind use. No more looking for a "push", "change audio track" or "Mute" button, it can be all quickly and easily operate menus via pad and context.
By the way, where's the remote control down can be easily determined via the tactile Boxee logo :)

Boxee Box comes from incomplete or fan continues:
Is in "standby" mode, unfortunately really so, but can be quite easily circumvented: Just in shutdown menu "shutdown" rather than "standby" select and already the box goes out completely, hardly needs power and can be turned on by remote control yet!

Fan:
This is indeed a shortcoming ... even if you do not hear the fan itself practically, it transmits vibrations but on housing, which are then used as described here "buzz" or "rrrr" audible.
My solution to this problem was simply to push the SD card into the card reader slot, since the box is almost impossible to listen to one meter!
Try this yourself from or touched with a little pressure from the housing again, this takes time relatively quickly the place which "hums".

All in all, I am therefore very pleased with this box, especially when I see is with what commitment the further ahead I have no doubt that the Boxee Box to one of the best media player ever will (if it is not already.