Between networks posting shows online for free and video sites like Hulu, there are plenty of ways to watch TV shows without a TV. But watching prime-time programming from your computer chair can be a drag. Luckily, there are Media Center–like apps that let you watch with the convenience of your Mac or PC remote—and won't cost you a penny. The free software in this roundup is ideal for relaxing in style, whether you watch the latest videos on your computer or hook up your system to a big TV screen.
My favorite app—and the Editors' Choice in this category—is Hulu Desktop, which is simple, well organized, and makes navigating Hulu's extensive video catalog a breeze. It has excellent player controls, including a handy preview box that lets you pinpoint exactly the scene you want to view. The Quick Nav feature lets you easily plow through whole seasons of a show and find related content. Hulu Desktop isn't high on extra media features, but if you're just looking for a quality way to watch commercial videos, it's the obvious choice.
If you're a bit of a techie and want something with a bit more oomph, you'll love Boxee. It's not very user-friendly—its player controls stink—but it's very expandable and offers a wide variety of content. You can use it to watch media content on your hard drive, listen to Internet radio, sync it with Twitter, monitor video RSS feeds, and much more. Boxee reps told me the app is set for an overhaul this fall; if it addresses some of the software's navigation and performance issues, we could be looking at a new Editors' Choice come 2010.
YouTube also set out to give a TV viewing experience to its video service with YouTube XL, a completely Web-based service that optimizes the YouTube interface for the TV screen. Its beauty isn't in its features, but in its ease of use. To watch Hulu Desktop or Boxee on your TV, you have to drag the computer into the living room and hook it up to the set. With YouTube XL you just need to visit youtube.com/xl on a game console (like a PlayStation 3) or a Web-enabled TV. YouTube XL isn't as convenient as the real thing—finding full-length shows is a pain, for example—but it provides access to thousands of videos you can't find anywhere else.
These three apps give you a variety of ways to make viewing online videos as comfortable and fun as popping a DVD in your standalone player—remote and all. Check out the full reviews by clicking the links below.
In this roundup:
Boxee (Free)
With Boxee you can enjoy a wide variety of online content and personal media on your television. Its navigation is irksome and media player mediocre, but Boxee's usefulness and expandability might be worth the irritation.
Hulu Desktop (Free)
Hulu Desktop organizes Hulu's online content into a neat, simple-to-navigate app that makes it easy to enjoy your favorite shows on your PC using just your computer remote.
YouTube XL (Free)
YouTube XL's Web-based interface gives you a quick, easy way to watch online videos on your TV, but has none of the bells and whistles you'll find in competing apps.
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