GregMO ROberts
03-23-2010, 04:45 PM
by Shawn Loeffler
What do guys want most? Well, besides hot cars and hotter women the consensus is technology. And it’s not just any kind of technology; it has to be gadgetry that makes things easier (unless you’re among the demographic of guys who like to tinker, hack, code, etc.) and other things more accessible. This is exactly what the Syabas Popbox media center does.
More specifically, the Popbox supports the majority of the audio and video formats that exist (such as MPEG formats, H.264, VC-1, WMV, and XviD) and it allows you to stream video from the internet, play games, and read tweets on your favorite HDTV.
In case you’re wondering, yes, the Popbox can be considered Popcorn Hour’s little brother. Hopefully the Popbox is to be sold in box stores (wonder if that’s the reason for its name) since it’s easier to use for the mainstream consumer, and nearly a third of the price of the Popcorn. While it is easier to use and it lost BitTorrent support, the Popbox still features codec support and it’s open-source (meaning you can install games or apps or whatever else the innovative types can conjure up).
From what was seen at CES, the interface is pretty and simple – and it supports Java, Flash, and Quicktime games. There are also Popapps that resemble Windows widgets, which allow you to do various things like getting weather information and playing games.
On top of that, there are subtitle formats for you videos, streaming capabilities from iTunes (with Apple Bonjour), and you can get metadata from IMDB and AllMusic provided the content is tagged correctly.
Undressing the Popbox
Once you plug in your Ethernet, your access to Netflix support has begun. Other ports you’ll find on the Popbox include HDMI, RCA SPDIF for audio, an SD slot for added storage (the hard drive bay that was seen on the Popcorn is absent from the Popbox), and two USB. Having mentioned Netflix, you’ll also find such online channels as Facebook, Twitter, and much more.
When streaming your content to you HDTV, you’ll rejoice in the fact that the Popbox gives you 1080p full HD and up to a 100Mbps bitrate. Physically, there’s no fan, which makes the Popbox quiet, and the attractive device measures 8" x 6" x 1.25".
You can start looking for a place to purchase the Popbox in March. The projected price is set at $130.
What do guys want most? Well, besides hot cars and hotter women the consensus is technology. And it’s not just any kind of technology; it has to be gadgetry that makes things easier (unless you’re among the demographic of guys who like to tinker, hack, code, etc.) and other things more accessible. This is exactly what the Syabas Popbox media center does.
More specifically, the Popbox supports the majority of the audio and video formats that exist (such as MPEG formats, H.264, VC-1, WMV, and XviD) and it allows you to stream video from the internet, play games, and read tweets on your favorite HDTV.
In case you’re wondering, yes, the Popbox can be considered Popcorn Hour’s little brother. Hopefully the Popbox is to be sold in box stores (wonder if that’s the reason for its name) since it’s easier to use for the mainstream consumer, and nearly a third of the price of the Popcorn. While it is easier to use and it lost BitTorrent support, the Popbox still features codec support and it’s open-source (meaning you can install games or apps or whatever else the innovative types can conjure up).
From what was seen at CES, the interface is pretty and simple – and it supports Java, Flash, and Quicktime games. There are also Popapps that resemble Windows widgets, which allow you to do various things like getting weather information and playing games.
On top of that, there are subtitle formats for you videos, streaming capabilities from iTunes (with Apple Bonjour), and you can get metadata from IMDB and AllMusic provided the content is tagged correctly.
Undressing the Popbox
Once you plug in your Ethernet, your access to Netflix support has begun. Other ports you’ll find on the Popbox include HDMI, RCA SPDIF for audio, an SD slot for added storage (the hard drive bay that was seen on the Popcorn is absent from the Popbox), and two USB. Having mentioned Netflix, you’ll also find such online channels as Facebook, Twitter, and much more.
When streaming your content to you HDTV, you’ll rejoice in the fact that the Popbox gives you 1080p full HD and up to a 100Mbps bitrate. Physically, there’s no fan, which makes the Popbox quiet, and the attractive device measures 8" x 6" x 1.25".
You can start looking for a place to purchase the Popbox in March. The projected price is set at $130.