Boxee

[Cray]

I just picked up one of these devices - $199 @ Best Buy. Good bye cable!!! This thing streams almost anything you'd want through the internet. Combine it with http://www.unblock-us.com/ and you can get all the U.S. services like Pandora (which is fantastic) for $4.95 a month and you are setup.

I also moved to Teksavvy to get unlimited bandwidth as Rogers or Bell will gouge you if you hit the bandwidth limit which is easy to do if you're streaming everything via the internet.

Anyone else using this?

 

[Powershot]

I just picked up one of these devices - $199 @ Best Buy. Good bye cable!!! This thing streams almost anything you'd want through the internet. Combine it with http://www.unblock-us.com/ and you can get all the U.S. services like Pandora (which is fantastic) for $4.95 a month and you are setup.

I also moved to Teksavvy to get unlimited bandwidth as Rogers or Bell will gouge you if you hit the bandwidth limit which is easy to do if you're streaming everything via the internet.

Anyone else using this?

I've had one for a while and I do like it quite a bit. Teksavvy switch for me is happening next week
I tend to use it 75% for downloaded 720p and 1080p MKV's though.

 

[bsi]

Would this work with US Netflix?

A friend is trying to take advantage of the following setup:

1) His daughter resides in the US and has a netflix account
2) She set up a VPN on his laptop to access a US site which then allow connection to US Netflix
3) He can watch US Netflix on the laptop

However, his large screen TV does not have a "VGA in" connection and his laptop does not have HDMI out (only has VGA). I suggested he set up a PS2 or XBox but we don't know if those devices will go through a VPN. If he signs on to Netflix without going through the VPN, he gets the message about only offering the service within the 50 States.

At this time, he is probably going to buy a computer with HDMI out to hook up to the TV. I am thinking there are probably more elegant solutions available but they all hinge on accessing the US site not Canada.

Also, is there such a thing as a VGA to HDMI convertor that actually works?

 

[Powershot]

It can access US Netflix, it has vpn settings right in the boxee box. I run it this way.

 

[Cray]

Some of the media providers are getting smart. If it is a pay service, like VUDU, they can tell if it's a Canadian credit card. A buddy found a service in the U.S. to provide a virtual prepaid US credit card. I haven't done it yet. and don't have the URL but he set me up with his password and I've got US Netflix and Vudu which is great. I'll have to set up one of the US virtual credit cards as well. That is the issue with Apple and iTunes.

 

[directormb]

How did you set the us netflix and vudu without a US credit card?