Boxee for iPad and Boxee Box firmware go live

Boxee swung out a pair of major additions to its mix, including its first real tablet app. Boxee for iPad (free, App Store) lets users stream video both from some content channels as well as from computers on the local network. The app isn't locked into supporting the iPad's native formats and transcodes video from the computer on the spot.

While Boxee apps aren't present, it includes highlighted videos, those shared over Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, and will show videos flagged to watch later using the company's bookmarklet. Video playing on the iPad can be pushed out to a Boxee Box for viewing on the larger screen.

Boxee Box owners are also getting a major firmware update with Mac users in mind. Version 1.2 adds an experimental AirPlay component that lets users push iOS audio and video out to the Boxee Box, making it a possible replacement for an Apple TV for some users. Lion-running Macs can now properly work as sources for video files, and it can now look for media stored on AFP in addition to improving SMB shares.

Regardless of platform, the Boxee Box now lets users filter premium content like HBO Go or Vudu. HTML5 has improved in the browser, and apps are more of a focus with new categories and a featured section. Experimenters can now flag their boxes as beta testers to get releases ahead of the public.

By Electronista Staff