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Boxee box specs revealed

by Mike Schramm Jan 5th 2010 at 5:00PM

This is probably the last time we'll post about the Boxee box, as it's not really an Apple product, but given that it's based on software that lots of Apple TV and Mac mini owners use, and that we've been following its release, I figure we can update you one more time. Over at CES, Boxee has officially announced the strangely shaped media center, and released specs for it: It'll sell for "under $200" by D-Link, play everything from DivX to H.264 MKV and even Flash 10.1, and let you log on to plenty of online services, including Pandora, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, along with the Boxee app itself, obviously.

Sounds like quite a device. Release date is set only for "the first half of 2010," but it seems closer than ever to actually appearing on store shelves. Our only real concern is that shape -- how exactly is that supposed to fit in our already crowded entertainment center?

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This is probably the last time we'll post about the Boxee box, as it's not really an Apple product, but given that it's based on software...
 

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samfish

Boxee is probably the worst 'media center' solution I've ever used. I found it to be terribly frustrating.

January 06 2010 at 12:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Damien

I can't spot the specs here.

Tablet specs revealed! It does online browsing and plays music. It has rouuuunnnded corners too! Check back next week for our insightful review!

January 06 2010 at 10:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Different Computers

My greatest disappointment with this thing is that it is made by Belkin. I've never yet owned a piece of Belkin gear that didn't fail within 60 days or so. If I can't trust them to get a USB hub right, why should I trust them to build something as complex as the Box?

January 06 2010 at 8:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Different Computers's comment
Different Computers

ummm, wait... D-link? I thought this thing was being made by Belkin! I'll buy one in a hot minute if it is D-link.

January 06 2010 at 9:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
artifex

um... so wait, you're both the same person?

Yes, the picture shows a D-Link logo on the enclosure.

January 06 2010 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Andrew Kippen

To Mike's support we have not released any specs yet since the hardware we're using hasn't been announced yet - we're set for this Thursday (so maybe it won't be his last post? We see a lot of click-throughs from TUAW so we'd love to continue to share our story with your readers!)

@blunckhouse - Netflix, yes.
@KFR - no iSCSi to keep costs down, but you can stream from your home network using Wired or Wireless (802.11n) and use external hdd via USB
@Ben - glad you noticed! We're really excited about the QWERTY keyboard on the back of the remote to help you find content, chat with friends, and hopefully a whole lot more

we realize the design is a love it or hate it type of thing, but no one is remembered for being just like everyone else. If you don't like it there will be other options down the line for you to get Boxee on a set top box and you can always grab an ION PC if you'd like something more traditional.

Andrew from Boxee

January 06 2010 at 2:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Andrew Kippen's comment
LD

iSCSI initiators are free.

As to Netflix, does this just grab the PC stream, or does it grab the advanced stream like other streaming devices (Roku, blu-Ray players, etc)? There is a significant quality difference. What OS does this run? Linux?

January 06 2010 at 8:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Justin Brown

those aren't specs...

bait

January 06 2010 at 12:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
austin

yeah, seriously- where are the specs? worst journalism evar. (or user-friendly fail, if i can't find teh link)

January 05 2010 at 11:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tim

Really? Nobody has anything to say about how this is the STUPIDEST f***ing enclosure ever conceived by humankind? It's the most amateurish thing I've seen in a year. It's like the new film director who cants ever frame, or the high school fiction author who writes emotional goth novellas with Harry Potter characters.

How much of the pointed top do you think is used to house electronics? 50%? I doubt it's even that much. They made it tall to... what? Stop you from stacking your other peripherals on it?

All I want to do with this is kick it. Over and over. And fire the designer responsible.

January 05 2010 at 10:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Tim's comment
Ben

Also another thing missing form this post is the amazing remote it comes with. On the front it's a pretty standard affair, but on the back it has a full qwerty keyboard!

http://gizmodo.com/5440989/the-boxee-box-and-keyboard-remote-in-the-flesh

January 05 2010 at 8:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SireB

Roku FTW.

January 05 2010 at 8:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PDA131

It's not that big. http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/boxee-box-pictured-in-the-wild-its-small/

January 05 2010 at 6:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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