Boxee Live TV now available -- $49 dongle adds over-the-air TV to streaming device

Last November, Boxee announced a USB dongle that would provide over-the-air TV channels in addition to the Boxee Box's streaming capabilities. Yesterday, the company made Boxee Live TV available for consumers for $49.

The dongle attaches to an HDTV antenna or cable connection on one end, and then connects to the Boxee Box's USB port on the other end. Boxee then combines those live TV channels with its interface of streaming services and additional features, like social channel listings (to see what your friends are watching) as well as a Live TV Timeline app for Facebook. You can even remove channels from the interface that you never watch.

Boxee is making no bones about the fact that its new setup can give you the perfect way to avoid paying a monthly bill for cable TV, going so far as to suggest what you can purchase with your savings. The company also disclosed on its blog that it is considering adding DVR capabilities to the Boxee Box based on customer requests, and said it may announce those features later in the year.

With the Boxee Box and the Boxee Live TV for around $230, you can recoup your outlay in a few months if you cut the cable cord. Does Boxee's solution to higher cable bills interest you? Or do your viewing habits require more than basic over-the-air channels? Let us know your thoughts in our Talkback section.