First and foremost thanks to everyone who came out to the Music Hall of Williamsburg Monday night – it was a great event and was fun to see so many users, partners, and press in person. We posted the details of the Beta Monday night, and if you haven’t done so yet, register on our pre-release list to get an invite to the Beta over the coming weeks.
So there’s been a lot of talk about the Boxee Box over the past 36 hours and we wanted to give you the “official” version.
It was designed by Astro Studios, the team who crafted designs for the Xbox 360, watches from Nike, Alienware PCs. It’s being built by D-Link, the leading networking company for homes & small businesses. Working with D-Link means that we’ll be able to design, build, and release a Boxee Box at a low cost to a ton of etail and retail outlets.
As the title indicates, this is step 1. Soon, every device in your living room will connect to the Internet, and we hope Boxee will be the software that runs on them. For now though, the Boxee Box is the easiest way to get Boxee onto that huge HDTV in your living room. Here’s how you can make that connection happen…
- HDMI – one inexpensive HDMI cable to connect The Boxee Box to your TV
- SPDIF – hi-definition digital audio that will pass through Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS to your A/V Receiver
- Stereo Audio (RCA) – red & white cables from the 80′s, 90′s and today
- 2 x USB ports – add devices like external hard drives and more
- Wireless 802.11n & Wired Ethernet – Cords if you got ‘em, wireless if you don’t
- RF Remote Control – control playback from anywhere
And although the above pictures look really classy, they don’t give you an idea of the size of the box. Here’s a preliminary image to give you an idea of scale.
Rest assured the Boxee Box will fit into your entertainment center. If the look doesn’t quite fit with your decor, not to worry. The RF remote means you can place the box out of sight and still control it. Of course, the Boxee Box prefers being on top : )
We’ll reveal more about the Boxee Box by D-Link at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, but if you’d like to see a little more, check out the new page for the Box on our completely re-designed website.
– Andrew
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i love the design – great lines, can be hidden if you want – just beautiful. must be using embedded Linux as the OS?
even better, I love that the big lebowski is the movie in the press resource pic. best. movie. ever.
great work team boxee. this should be a smash hit.
it really ties the room together
Designed by the people who did the Xbox 360, which explains why it looks like it's melting.
LOL good one!
But will it do 1080P?
yep!
What about those of us that are still stuck in the dark ages and do not have HDMI ports on our TV?
And also, will the BoxeeBox support subtitles for the videos that offer them?
DaFyre – I would assume that the associated subtitles are part of the boxee software and have nothing to do with this hardware configuration.
true. subtitles are a software feature.
re non-HDMI. i guess you'll need to use a convertor.
Congrats on both the new Beta and the Boxee Box, they both look amazing. I'll buy one
thanks!
I'd like to second that! It looks great, it's a great idea, and if the price-point rumors are correct at $200, I'll be purchasing one as soon as possible!
great. glad you like it!
This is so great!
Where's the page to do my preorder
we're putting together – will let you know as soon as it's up
a) Will this be available outside of US, either by ordering it from the States or buying it at a retail store?
b) No harddrive? I can still put an external USB 2.0 harddrive on it and it will play 1080p?
c) Why SD?
a) The goal is to start with US & Canada and then expand from there. While I'm no video expert my Israeli colleagues tell me that HDMI should work there (only thing you'll have to buy is a power convertor).
b) We're not detailing any of the box insides yet (all that will come next month at CES), but you can definitely plug in an external hard drive and play stuff from it in 1080p. Also does Dolby pass-through so the sound will be great on a Dolby-enabled A/V receiver with media encoded using Dolby 5.1.
c) We wanted to give people a way to easily show off photos, videos, and more from other gadgets.
Alright! Thanks for the great information!
No need for power converter. Its 220V/110V
Eli.
erm… Europe uses 250V. 220V transformer might work on a 250V supply but I suspect it will burn out faster.
not true. most european countries have 220, some 230, a rare few 240, but none have 250 volt. 110-220v devices are usable in all of them though,
Brilliant industrial design – although slightly confused by the two legacy RCA jacks.
Any chance of this being available in UK / Europe?
The device must have analog outs in addition to the digital out. Given this, it's equivalent in usefulness to miniphone or any other unbalanced analog audio out.
I think the question over who provides support for the Box is an interesting one (D-Link for hardware, Team Boxee for software?).
And what about updates, will the Box accept future updates, how will this be achieved if the device has only a small 4-way remote?
Will it mean Team Boxee is always limited to ensuring future versions of Boxee don't over-stretch the hardware of a Boxee box?
If you ask me, Boxee should split in to two paths. The embedded version for Boxee boxes, that gets limited updates (if at all) but is Rock Solid. And the software version that gets updated frequently (with the users I suppose acting as a test bed for new services and apps, that eventually make there way onto the Boxee box when Boxee Boxv2 is released)….
Boxee will support the software piece. D-Link will support the hardware. it is likely that D-Link will field most of the support issues, relying on Boxee for 3rd and 4th tier support.
The Box will accept future updates. It will need to be a more robust software on the device, but we can't make it completely out-of-sync with the computer version.
I hate to be a downer, but this design makes it impossible to fit a Boxee box in the stack of electronic devices already at home in most people's entertainment center. I'll probably just opt for a small PC like the Dell Zino.
I totally agree. Looks cool as s41t, but won't fit anywhere. On the otherhand, if they put a few slots in the bottom and then made a "matching piece" that would attach to it and make it into a cube, well, that might be a lot more interesting.
Amazing how the same design team came up with the XBox 360, which also doesn't work well in a stacked environment.
I don't think you're being a downer at all. This design is neat to get people talking and it will make the average person realize that it is something unique and different, but it will piss people off to no end when they try to put it neatly into their systems. I'll stick with Boxee on my HTPC so I can still do XBMC (and anything else I want) as well.
I think the design works. It's quite small, so an equivalent rectangular device probably would have looked like an earlier model popcorn hour, which doesn't stack well with most AV gear either.
If the alternative is to make the device much bigger than it has to be just so it's stackable, I'll take the tiny odd-shaped device that I can hide or set aside where it'll catch eyes.
I completely agree, the design looks cool but completely fails to recognize that it needs to live alongside all my other home theater gadgets.
HT Electronics aren't mantle pieces. They need to fit nicely into the stack or rack where everything else lives. I'd much rather have a nice 1U piece that I could put feet on and stack, or put ears on and rack. Use the extra space to let me put an optical drive or a hard disk in it.
Your Nvidia hardware is capable of encoding audio onto the HDMI cable. That needs to be an option. Most stereo receivers only have one SPDIF in and it is taken up by the cable box.
Plug the HDMI cable into the stereo receiver and then use it's HDMI switching capability to get the Boxee signal onto the screen.
Can you use 802.15.4 RF4CE in the remote instead of something proprietary? Mainstream TVs will be using RF4CE next year.
With the remote being RF and not IR does that mean we will not be able
to control the Boxee Box using existing IR programmable remotes? If so, that sucks. I don't want yet another remote.
I agree, it still needs to have an IR-reciever so that you can use a programable universal remote control.
Add me to the list here. If it doesn't support an IR remote so I can use my universal remote, I won't buy it. Adding another remote to my coffee table is a total non-starter.
Count me on the IR vote.
Me too. At least let it support an external IR remote for those of us who go the Harmony route. Also wouldn't mind an iPhone app to control everything.
there already is a Boxee iPhone remote app
Any plans on an Android app since I'm a VZW customer and wont be able to buy an iPhone anytime soon.
There is a Boxee remote for Android too, don't worry.
Agree, having IR is important. Otherwise – I absolutely love the design. My wife think it looks cool too
Count me in for the IR control
Good point. Or if the design is pretty final, an inexpensive USB dongle IR receiver.
the software supports IR, so it's just a matter of putting a small (and cheap) IR USB dongle.
Regarding RF-
I assume you'll have an ir port in addition so one can use a harmony remote with it?
Or are you planning on going "sony" on us and requiring an additional $60 unit to make it compatible?
Looks like a great product!
So if it's $200, what'd that make it in the UK? hopefully under £200! If it is, and you add 4OD support, it could do very well..
does seem odd that there's an SD slot on the front tho? what would you use that for? (seeing as there's 2 usb ports on the back already)
Photos from your camera.
things that appear to be definite deal breakers: doesn't work with harmony remote and can't send audio over HDMI. These may just be misunderstandings, but need to be addressed.
you'll be able to get an IR dongle that will work with your Harmony (a remote many of us @boxee use at home), and the HDMI port will definitely do audio. The SPDIF and RCA Audio ports are there to allow sound to run to an A/V receiver that doesn't handle HDMI input.
But, will the HDMI port be capable of sending 8 channel L/PCM?
There's no such thing as "composite audio".
Lee – thanks for the heads up – updated to stereo audio (RCA)
Oh wow…the size relation was completely missing in the first photo release. Wow!
I really want one of these. Please be making them fast! ;O)
Yes that is a nice blog and information as well
so what if you dont have a HDMI on your tv?
if you don't have HDMI you'll need to use a convertor
It would be nice to see backwards compatibility with older televisions with S-Video (or composite), similar to Roku, etc.
agree, especially seeing as the stereo rca is already in place
From the coke-can photo, it looks like the boxee box is designed to be oriented so that the boxee logo points forward. The renders with the side-edge pointing forward makes it look like it's going to take up a lot of space and am going to have wires coming out from the sides.
The coke photo also shows that the hdmi port is not connected. This could mean that it can be controlled over the network (webpage, widget, smartphone app) OR that the side with the boxee logo hides a simple LED display for at least basic music navigation. I wonder if the boxee logo turns red if there is a hardware failure…
Pretty sad that there isn't a esata port. Would had been nice to be able to hand a 'Drobo S' off it.
How common are SPDIF connectors for digital audio as opposed to a single RCA connector for digital audio? If digital RCA connections are just as common, then might as well get rid of the SPDIF and have one of the stereo RCA ports software switchable to a digital port, like on some soundcards.
I'm guessing the hardware is mounted on the top of the case and the bottom is empty and clear for the vents. Since hot air rises and there are no visible vents on top, you better bake test this else we encounter a xbox360-like meltdown.
That's exactly what SP/DIF is… a single digital coax.
From the picture, SPDIF is optical, not coaxial (like RCA).
Regarding external storage questions; why? It's got an ethernet port so just mount storage from your local system and stream source from there. Linux. Get it?
People just don't get technology.
@pablo
Just better hope they have you streaming to a gigabit port. The 10/100 port on other media tanks (WD Live for example), just can't get 1080p done.
RightCoast, yup, Gigabit required for streaming HD, otherwise, the Boxee needs to buffer the stream.
I would have preferred a flat form factor for the device. The only thing I want to see is the TV. Hopefully, I can buy the O/S and application and install it on a device of my own. But I'm really glad to see this sort of product becoming available. Thanks Boxee.
Any chance there will be mame support or other emulator app support on this lil bastard? I'm loving the idea of having a Boxee branded box, but maybe a diy solution would be better for me if getting mame on there is going to require any level of hacking… Thanks!
Isn't a box square? This is more of a Parallelepiped.
d
Will I be able to stream my local content from other computers in my home?
Will the device support Netflix? if so, will Boxee (the company) support Linux and get Netflix to open its streaming services to the Linux Desktop users?
Someone needs to push Netflix to do this (allow streaming to Linux desktops), since its Linux-using customers aren't important enough to support apparently.
Netflix support will determine if I order one of these or not. I'm guessing at the $200 price point there will be an underlying Linux OS and thus no Silverlight/Netflix. The original post did reference any non-DRM media.
I'll spend the extra $100 bucks for the same hardware and Windows 7 version of Boxee.
More than one person has observed (and it was mentioned during the release party) that Netflix already runs on several devices that are running embedded Linux. The lack of Silverlight is not a show-stopper if they can negotiate with Netflix to get an embedded player working on the device…
LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
Listen to your potential customers in these comments. The early adoptors judge very lenient and if they don't like something, nobody will.
1. Formfactor. I dont mind the odd shape, but my shelf requires me to have the cables in the back come out straight and there is a maximum height for the hardware. I know the xbox team designed it, but please have a look at their early designs for the xbox as well. Those were really creative too, but polls showed nobody would have bought them. Useability over design please. It's just a box. I want to look at the UI, not the hardware. You could port boxee to a toaster and I would take that.
2. Ports. Who needs an SD-Cardslot? Most people use USB sticks, I think. Every camera comes with a USB cable. And why is there no component video out? Not everyone owns HDMI yet.
3. I can't believe you are even thinking about omitting a HDD. I want this thing to pirate my favourite shows for me 24/7.
4. No IR remote? (you suggested a IR dongle – I wont pay extra for that, and also a dongle would break your beloved box design) IR components are also cheaper than RF. And you could hack an apple remote to work with it. The only benefit of RF would be that you could hide this ugly case behind a shelf door and the remote would still work.
Joke.
5. International launch. Early adopters come from everywhere outside of the us. Dont lock yourself in. International trade is cheap and easy.
Not sure how the HDD would help you there… I'm happy not to have to pay for a hard drive because I stream everything anyway. Thats kind of the point, its a box thats meant for streaming, from the internet or a local network.
I only wish they would not have it as a strictly boxee box, they should install a very lightweight linux distro, and install boxee on it.
I agree 100% on the designs.. don't care for it, its going in a closet anyway, I want a box that has the best ventilation/cooling and thats it.
I agree with you on the HDD part. If I decide that i want one I'll bargain hunt and find the one I want.
If they included one people would either 1) bitch that they have to buy a HDD or 2) bitch that they could have gotten a bigger HDD for cheaper (or some such). Best to let people get the one they want if they get one at all.
thanks for your hard work!
i am 65% convinced to replace my roku/xbmc with this. needs a price point below $150!
No IR remote control, no Harmony remote. Sadness.
Why was Firewire 800 or eSATA not included in the available ports? If I want to connect an external HD to this device to play HD material, USB isn't going to cut it.
Sure it will, I have Boxee running 1080p video stored on my 2TB WD USB drive and the playback is fine on my Mac Mini.
I noticed the picture next to the Coke can and the photo of the back of the Boxee Box look a little different. For example the placement of the USB slots are in different locations. I am assuming the photo with the Coke can next to it is a prototype and the other is what the consumer version will look like?
Either way I am excited to get more details of the Boxee Box in the future. I am in the process of building a house and this would make a great house warming present.
Did Boxee ever manage to support TV Cards? And if so will this Box have support for OTA Digital Broadcasts like we have in the UK and Europe (and I believe Japan?) A media box is very great, but for those of us not using Sky or Virgin Media (or other proprietry boxes) in favour of something like Freeview and Freesat (UK) a box with decoding capabilities would be awesome.
I like the idea of a SD slot on the front for easy access for digital photographs and videos from cameras. It will be especially convenient for guests that do not bring those annoying USB cables when they visit. Great design.
If it weren't for the Hulu situation, this could be the only box connected to my tv (except that my tv is not HDMI-compatible), but I hold out hope for that end as well.
A Boxee Box is just what I've been looking for. I've been thinking about different options (mac mini/other small computer/ Apple TV with boxee on it) of getting boxee on my soon to arrive HDTV and a Boxee Box is the answer for me. I hope it comes out very soon. I will buy one for sure. I like the design and what it offers.
I WANT NOW!
Why No DVD or even BR drive will you offer or support an external drive at some later point?
Keith, yes, these sort of add-ons are very interesting to us.
Just wanted to add my $0.02 to this conversation
- I love the design and contrary to what others have been saying, I'd love to have it displayed prominently in my media center. It's an eye catching piece of hardware.
- The UI looks fantastic in comparison to the alpha. It seems a ton of the kinks have been worked out
- Supporting 1080 is an achievement in itself for such a small box…kudos!
- IR / RF…eh. I hate having to angle an Apple remote to the AppleTV, but dislike the idea of having an extra remote. For me, however, this isn't a deal breaker at ALL. Having multiple remotes never really bothered me all that much.
- Someone made a point about early adopters being lenient. I disagree. Early adopters are the pickiest of users, demanding feature sets and improvements to fit their individual lifestyle. I trust that the Boxee team has done their research to identify what works for the MAJORITY of people…not for you as an individual. It's impossible to please everyone!
- Boxee Team: I've been a Boxee user since the early Alpha days of endless crashes and want to congratulate you on how much Boxee has matured. I (for some weird reason) feel proud to support such an awesome mediacenter and will definitely be buying one when it's available. Keep up the good work! Until the box comes out, I'm perfectly content to stick with my ~5 year old PC running Ubuntu and Boxee Alpha.
Stephen,
You rock! Thanks for supporting us.
-Zach, Boxee Team.
OMG!!! Been looking for this!! I will kill 1 lama for each hour until I my box!! :S
This really needs an IR port on the front. I'd never consider it without that. Nettops are too cheap for you to skip this vital feature. Also it needs to stack with my other TV goodies or it's no use to me.
Question regarding Sound output to 5.1
I'm currently running boxee with a MacBook pro and outputting 5.1 sound to a set of Logitech speakers using a Griffing Firewave
http://www.hometheatermag.com/htpcs/107griff/
I love the idea of a dedicated BoxeeBox that can output directly to the TV set via HDMI but I see no way to output 5.1 sound from this machine to my speakers. From me investing in this machine means a cascading cost effect once you decide to go into an A/V receiver to get the decoding of the 5.1 sound to the speakers.
Does a solution like this one by toshiba takes care of the problem?
http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation…
¿Is there any other proven option to get 5.1 sound on a budget from this machine to powered set of speakers?
The new Boxee Box looks great and the specs are perfect. Makes me wish I hadn't just put together an HTPC. However, there's one tiny problem and that could turn into a huge problem.
Currently the alpha seems to rely quite heavily on flash for many of it's applications. Since Adobe Flash on linux is a long ways off from supporting VDPAU, and this platform is likely based on an Intel Atom, it won't be able to handle even 480p flash without frame drops.
So, does Boxee have any plans to work with Adobe to get VDPAU support into flash? If not, I suspect this will be a show stopper for large group of people.
Nice! Will I be able to install XBMC on it?
So perfect!!!
I love the fact that there won't be any hdd or optic reader cause I allready have all that on my tv system and plenty of hdd space on my network. It just confirm that I will be able to buy it
and wont have to pay 500$ for half things I allready have.
The design is awesome, maybe not stackable but hey!!!! IR Remote!
Seriously guys, forget all the bad comment, this box is just amazing! You did a wonderfull job and I can't wait to buy it!
Your link at "register on our pre-release list"
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&…
throws this error:
"Something bad happened. Don't worry, though. The Spreadsheets Team has been notified and we'll get right on it."
Please check your use of Google forms.
I've got a Mac mini connected directly to my flat screen TV, so I don't need a box, I just want to be on the list for the new software
Why no composite video, only thing it's missing from what I can see? No need for component and HDMI, HDMI alone is great, but there are a lot of non-HDTV's still out there, and a composite video out would make this a lot more universal (I still have two non-HD's in my house that I wouldn't be able to hook this up too if I wanted to move it from room to room).
Overall, very nice though, will get at least one if it functions as well as it looks.
Just wanted to say D-link has made their own Boxee Box website.. http://www.dlink.com/boxeebox” rel=”nofollow”>.http://www.dlink.com/boxeebox
I also think the design is different. I prefer the pizza box but I"m happy with the price and what boxee does it does well. I've had a apple tv since they first came out and I barley use it. The boxee box is just what I need!
Thanks
Hey!
What about HFS+ support?
Because FAT (duh) and NTFS aren't enough in this world of ours right?
arghhhh, no s-video/composite
i know many many people (most), including myself, without hd tv's.
so unfortuntely, this isn't the easiest way to get the content on our tv's
such a shame. ill be looking in to a different solution.
so great to see the top guys getting involved with the community! thats the way it should always be.
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