Boxee Live TV tuner shown off at CES

Boxee gave one last preview of its Live TV add-on at CES last week. Electronista got a quick glimpse, and it looks to be an effective, though possibly too simple, add-on. Users just have to plug it into a USB port on the back, screw in a source of unprotected cable (most basic cable or over-the-air broadcasts will do), and pick Live TV from the menu. Boxee matches it up with an easy-to-use schedule to give a view of current and upcoming shows to pick by name rather than by the channel.

You can also share what you're watching with friends, although that's the extent of the real extras. For now, at least, you can't record shows, pause or rewind in them, or mark them to see if you can watch a streaming copy later. Boxee has never truly pitched the Boxee as a DVR, but if it can avoid any legal pitfalls, it would make the Live TV much more complete.

At $49, the Live TV tuner ships this month and should be in the sweet spot for external tuners. Boxee only lets it work with the Boxee Box so far.

By Electronista Staff