Boxee Box
As Google battles Apple for your TV, Boxee unveils a third way
November 12, 2010: 1:28 PM ETThe new set-top, social home theater box isn't about challenging Apple and Google, says Boxee's CEO. It's about changing the philosophy behind TV and online video altogether.
Earlier this week, Avner Ronen launched the Boxee Box. Almost a year-and-a-half in the making, the set-top box represents the latest step for the start-up whose software until now offered a convenient free, partially-open source software solution that aggregated users' digital content -- Netflix, VUDU, Pandora, Facebook, Twitter -- into one portal.
With Boxee Box, Ronen and his crew of 28 have finally completed the equation, marrying Intel (INTC) and D-Link hardware with their software, thereby entering a field dominated by heavyweights like Apple TV and Google TV. Along the way, Boxee has also overcome some important hurdles, including a long-awaited partnership with Hulu that brings more prime TV content to users.
Ronen dropped by the offices for a visit to show off the Boxee Box and weigh in on the crowded online video set top box market. Below, a transcript of our conversation:
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Wal-Mart's VUDU brings high-def streaming to Boxee
The high-quality streaming service comes to the cross-platform home theater app.
In another coup for VUDU, the startup Wal-Mart (WMT) acquired back in February for over $100 million, Boxee announced today that the high-quality video-on-demand service will appear on Boxee Box, a dedicated $199 set-top box launching next month, as well as the Boxee app.
"It rounds out our movie offering," says Andrew Kippen, Vice President of Marketing for Boxee. "We have MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Oct 28, 2010 10:55 AM ET
