Tech company Syabas announced the Popbox HD settop box media hub capable of streaming Web-based content directly into the living room with 1080p video quality.
Syabas, best known for the Popcorn Hour media hub, hopes to draw in new consumers using an upgraded GUI, additional content partners, and increased consumer interest in media hubs.
The new device offers streaming content to the TV in 1080p, with wide video support: MPEG, H.264, WMV, VC-1, Xvid, MKV and others. It also supports subtitle files, with iTunes, DLNA and UPnP source support.
"It plays everything," said Syabas COO Alex Limberis, in a press statement. "Any kind of video or audio format -- PC and Mac. That is what differentiates us."
The Popbox includes USB ports for external flash drive or HDD support, but doesn't contain internal storage.
Syabas streams content from Netflix, Shoutcast, Crunchyroll and others, with "Popapps" for Facebook, Twitter, Blip.TV, IMDB, and other popular Web destinations. The company recently introduced 20 new content partners, and will continue seeking new partnerships in 2010.
Syabas hopes to launch the Popbox this March for $129.
I'm interested in set-top boxes that can stream TV content and other material besides photos and music. The Popbox offers Crunchyroll, SHOUTcast, Twitter, and other features at the touch of a button.
Content owners can use the Popapps Portal to offer a service on the Popbox, and owners can then offer the app for free or for a fee.
Set-top boxes were extremely popular in 2009, and that trend is expected to carry over in 2010. Roku, Syabas, and other set-top manufacturers can expect increased competition over the next three years, with even more consumers interested in streaming content and playing digital files on their TV's.
