The Perpetual Moving Target Of Video Nirvana
March 6th, 2009
I just want to watch Battlestar Galactica on my television, but not through cable, and not through piracy. The Internet is the distribution medium of choice.
This is how it’s gone so far (as I can remember it):
- Battlestar Galactica available in iTunes. All is good.
- I buy an Apple TV.
- NBC pulls content out of iTunes. Apple TV doesn’t have BSG.
- NBC makes Battlestar Galactica available on Hulu. I try hooking my laptop up to the TV. I don’t like it.
- Boxee comes out. It has Hulu. I install it on the Apple TV.
- NBC makes Battlestar Galactica available on iTunes again.
- Hulu blocks Boxee.
- Hulu also delays BSG for a week following its air time.
- I go back to buying episodes via iTunes.
- The recent Apple TV update wipes Boxee from my Apple TV. I am unmotivated to re-install it since it lacks Hulu.
- Amazon Video comes to the Roku box. They have BSG episodes for a dollar less than iTunes.
- Boxee finds a workaround, adding Hulu via RSS streams. I consider reinstalling it over the weekend.
- Hulu blocks Boxee yet again.
At this point I give up on Boxee. And Hulu because they’re being jerks. Apple has done less wrong, but they still haven’t released a sorely needed Apple TV update, so I’m annoyed about that.
The big winner: Amazon / Roku / Netflix box.
At least, that’s how it stands today. It’s a safe bet this will all be different next week. I’m fully expecting NBC to block the last episode of BSG ever from Hulu / Apple / Amazon until 2010, at this rate.
I think I’d be happier if I just hooked up our Mac Mini to the television and called it a day. And maybe that Mac Mini will have a copy of that program that starts with a “B.” And I don’t mean Boxee.
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Posted In: Apple
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Yes i Totally agree to that Amazon, Roku and Netflix box are ultmate winners. Tech world is revolving indeed.
Or, you know, piracy is free and unrestricted by any of these issues. Convert and play on your Mac, AppleTV, iPod, etc. Don't wait a week, don't have to shop around, don't have to wonder which device you're going to need for this week's episode.
It's an interesting challenge, and I commend you on not giving up – because I would have by now.
[...] this would be yet another needed baby step toward the concept of “digital video nirvana” I’ve been wanting for a while now – a huge on-demand video library, delivered [...]