Vuze And Other Free Media Software
I can’t remember if I told you all this, but the Misses and I don’t currently subscribe to any sort of cable TV provider. I’ll let that sink in and again explain it a different way: The only TV that we watch at our house is through a digital antenna that jacks in to our digital tuner on our (Costco HD TV).
I can imagine at this point you are thinking “Wow, they live in a cave,” but we really don’t. We get plenty from just over-the-air and a nice supplement of a little NetFlix subscription. I have on more American tragedy to lay on you as well…
We don’t have an internet connection either. Sometimes we will pick up whatever signal is flying around our house on the off chance that we need to check email or get directions somewhere but other then that we are not really online that much. That might change here shortly though…I mean we just moved 6 months ago and I am getting to it. My tipping point will be when I find a great way to put any video I find online onto my TV in the living room. Whether its Hulu, YouTube or any rogue movie I chance upon.
There are a few services out there that currently allow content gleaned from the web to be displayed on your TV in a variety of different ways. One that is probably the most popular at the moment is to configure your PS3 (if you have one and/or you get it to work properly) to be a media server and upconvert sites like Hulu. Well now there is a new kid on the block that seems to be doing it cheaper and easier with more devices. Vuze utilizes itself on a computer on your network and connects to several different devices seamlessly. It will connect to your iPhone, iPod, another Computer, or even your TV. It can go through Apple TV, PS3 as well as Xbox 360 and uses what seems like a snazzy drag and drop method to move content around. The interface seems like it would work well if you just left it up on your HTPC or simple computer on the network. Not bad for the price of zero!
So what do I not like about this? I am wary about committing any sort of resource towards a platform like this that is so young. I can’t fault it for this, only keep an eye on it. But what I am a little confused about is the fact that it doesn’t really say whether you can watch ANY video you find out there and load up for viewing. I have a sneaking suspicion that you MUST use the videos from the Vuze Network.
The other thing that puts me off a tiny bit is the fact that there are some elements that lend themselves to this being an Apple step child. I know that no Apple product would ever say the words “connect” and “Xbox” in the same sentence but there is an aftertase of Apple in there. Don’t get me wrong I don’t have any prejudices against Apple (save for the fact that their software is WAY over priced: its a free BSD kernel, and the hardware is difficult to improve, making a purchase a bit of burdensome commitment) but I also see how Apple like to charge for every little thing and how they major control issues. That last sentence was probably way too long but I don’t care. I am writing now and I’ll say what I want 
It also looks to be ad driven but thats not really a gripe: We understand that apps like this have to make some money, or else they wouldn’t exist.
Long story short, give this a shot and let us know how it goes. You cant beat the price and going to Add/Remove Programs if you don’t like it is not the worst thing ever. Who knows? This could solve all your Comcast issues! Except for all that data capping nonsense…
Other services like this:
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cable tv provider…
Not many people know what is being shared here. Thanks for sharing it with us….