Popbox v1.0 hardware specs and content partners revealed
By Richard Lawler 
posted January 4th 2010 5:21PM
posted January 4th 2010 5:21PM
Syabas Announces Popbox for Big Screen Everything
New, affordable over-the-top settop box features an open app platform to bridge the gap between an HDTV, a home network and the Internet
Las Vegas (CES Unveiled Table 9), January 5, 2009 – Syabas, a global provider of over-the-top settop software and hardware and makers of the award-winning Popcorn Hour C-200, today announced Popbox, a small, $129 open platform settop box that streams music, movies, photos, games, social media updates and more to today's HDTVs. Popbox supports just about every audio and video file type and recognizes content from the Internet, a personal computer and a USB-attached storage device such as a Flip Video™ HD camcorder or an external hard drive.
What separates Popbox from its competitors is its ability to handle virtually any file and content type, its ease-of-use and open development platform, which allows media companies to rapidly develop, deploy and monetize a wide range of interactive high definition applications and content. Those applications and content may then be given away or sold on the Popapps Portal. Developers can sign up for the program at www.popbox.com.
In a separate release, also issued today, Syabas announced that it has added a number of new content and application partners including:
Netflix (feature-length movies and television shows)
Twitter (social networking and micro blogging service)
FunSpot (interactive videogames)
Crunchyroll (Japanese anime and Asian entertainment site)
SHOUTcast (32,000 professional and community programmed radio stations)
Popbox also features a new, easy-to-navigate user interface (UI) that was designed by Dewey Reid, who won an Emmy award in 2004 for the UI he created for the Moxi Media Center. The UI enables users to browse content from a wide variety of Internet-based content channels, as well as a home networked media library with full metadata-based navigation. Metadata partners include Internet Movie Database (IMDB) for movies.
"I strongly believe that this year over-the-top settop boxes will go from the niche enthusiast to the mainstream consumer," said Alex Limberis, chief operating officer of Syabas. "Popbox is perfectly positioned to deliver everything from movies to photos, to music to games to Tweets in an inexpensive, easy-to-use platform that will drive this market forward in 2010."
Syabas has been developing software for connected entertainment devices for companies including HP, Netgear, I-O DATA, Pinnacle Systems and Viewsonic since 2001. In 2007, the company began shipping Popcorn Hour, its first over-the-top (OTT) settop box that has over the last two years earned a number of industry Editor's Choice awards. Popbox is expected to be available in the United States in March and will be the company's first product available through the retail channel.
Availability
Popbox is expected to be available in March for $129. For more information on the Popbox, please visit www.popbox.com.
Specifications
PopBox v1.0 Features:
Video Outputs
HDMI (1080p/720p/480p)
Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr)
Audio Outputs
Stereo Analog Audio
S/PDIF Optical
Content Services such as
Netflix 2.0
Photobucket
Shoutcast
Revision3
Developer Services
Flash Lite 3.1 support
PopBox SDK
Application Store (Popapp Center)
Video File Containers
MPEG1/2/4 Elementary (M1V, M2V, M4V)
MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG, DAT, VOB)
MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS, TP, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MTS)
AVI, ASF, WMV
Matroska (MKV)
MOV (H.264), MP4, RMP4
Video Codecs
XVID SD/HD
MPEG-1
MPEG-2 MP@HL
MPEG-4.2 ASP@L5, 720p, 1-point GMC
MPEG-4.10 (H.264)
BP@L3
MP@L4.0
HP@L4.0
HP@L4.1
WMV9
MP@HL
SMPTE 421M (VC-1)
MP@HL
AP@L3
Audio File Containers
AAC, M4A, MPEG audio (MP1, MP2, MP3, MPA)
WAV, WMA, FLAC, OGG
Audio Codecs
Dolby Digital
DTS
WMA, WMA Pro
MPEG-1 Layer 1, 2, 3
MPEG-4 AAC-LC
MPEG-4 HE-AAC
MPEG-4 BSAC
LPCM
FLAC
OGG Vorbis
Photo formats
JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
DRM
Cardea DRM (WMDRM-ND)
Janus DRM (WMDRM-PD)
Content Security
HDCP 1.2
CGMS-A
Remote Control
IR Remote Control
Weight/Size/Power
15.9Oz [450g]
8.0" [203mm] X 6.0" [154mm] X 1.25" [ 32mm]
AC-DC adaptor
Input 100~240V AC, 50~60Hz
Output 5V DC, 3A max
New, affordable over-the-top settop box features an open app platform to bridge the gap between an HDTV, a home network and the Internet
Las Vegas (CES Unveiled Table 9), January 5, 2009 – Syabas, a global provider of over-the-top settop software and hardware and makers of the award-winning Popcorn Hour C-200, today announced Popbox, a small, $129 open platform settop box that streams music, movies, photos, games, social media updates and more to today's HDTVs. Popbox supports just about every audio and video file type and recognizes content from the Internet, a personal computer and a USB-attached storage device such as a Flip Video™ HD camcorder or an external hard drive.
What separates Popbox from its competitors is its ability to handle virtually any file and content type, its ease-of-use and open development platform, which allows media companies to rapidly develop, deploy and monetize a wide range of interactive high definition applications and content. Those applications and content may then be given away or sold on the Popapps Portal. Developers can sign up for the program at www.popbox.com.
In a separate release, also issued today, Syabas announced that it has added a number of new content and application partners including:
Netflix (feature-length movies and television shows)
Twitter (social networking and micro blogging service)
FunSpot (interactive videogames)
Crunchyroll (Japanese anime and Asian entertainment site)
SHOUTcast (32,000 professional and community programmed radio stations)
Popbox also features a new, easy-to-navigate user interface (UI) that was designed by Dewey Reid, who won an Emmy award in 2004 for the UI he created for the Moxi Media Center. The UI enables users to browse content from a wide variety of Internet-based content channels, as well as a home networked media library with full metadata-based navigation. Metadata partners include Internet Movie Database (IMDB) for movies.
"I strongly believe that this year over-the-top settop boxes will go from the niche enthusiast to the mainstream consumer," said Alex Limberis, chief operating officer of Syabas. "Popbox is perfectly positioned to deliver everything from movies to photos, to music to games to Tweets in an inexpensive, easy-to-use platform that will drive this market forward in 2010."
Syabas has been developing software for connected entertainment devices for companies including HP, Netgear, I-O DATA, Pinnacle Systems and Viewsonic since 2001. In 2007, the company began shipping Popcorn Hour, its first over-the-top (OTT) settop box that has over the last two years earned a number of industry Editor's Choice awards. Popbox is expected to be available in the United States in March and will be the company's first product available through the retail channel.
Availability
Popbox is expected to be available in March for $129. For more information on the Popbox, please visit www.popbox.com.
Specifications
PopBox v1.0 Features:
Video Outputs
HDMI (1080p/720p/480p)
Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr)
Audio Outputs
Stereo Analog Audio
S/PDIF Optical
Content Services such as
Netflix 2.0
Photobucket
Shoutcast
Revision3
Developer Services
Flash Lite 3.1 support
PopBox SDK
Application Store (Popapp Center)
Video File Containers
MPEG1/2/4 Elementary (M1V, M2V, M4V)
MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG, DAT, VOB)
MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS, TP, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MTS)
AVI, ASF, WMV
Matroska (MKV)
MOV (H.264), MP4, RMP4
Video Codecs
XVID SD/HD
MPEG-1
MPEG-2 MP@HL
MPEG-4.2 ASP@L5, 720p, 1-point GMC
MPEG-4.10 (H.264)
BP@L3
MP@L4.0
HP@L4.0
HP@L4.1
WMV9
MP@HL
SMPTE 421M (VC-1)
MP@HL
AP@L3
Audio File Containers
AAC, M4A, MPEG audio (MP1, MP2, MP3, MPA)
WAV, WMA, FLAC, OGG
Audio Codecs
Dolby Digital
DTS
WMA, WMA Pro
MPEG-1 Layer 1, 2, 3
MPEG-4 AAC-LC
MPEG-4 HE-AAC
MPEG-4 BSAC
LPCM
FLAC
OGG Vorbis
Photo formats
JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
DRM
Cardea DRM (WMDRM-ND)
Janus DRM (WMDRM-PD)
Content Security
HDCP 1.2
CGMS-A
Remote Control
IR Remote Control
Weight/Size/Power
15.9Oz [450g]
8.0" [203mm] X 6.0" [154mm] X 1.25" [ 32mm]
AC-DC adaptor
Input 100~240V AC, 50~60Hz
Output 5V DC, 3A max
Is there Last.Fm support like on the 360? I pretty much require it at this point. Despite how loud and obnoxious my 360 is, I need my Last.FM.
I already get all of that from my windows 7 media center box. (Plus gaming)
@One Love
Your Win 7 box cost 4x as much, cannot be turned on with a remote control, uses 4x the electricity, and generates more heat. Many of these media streamers go from off to ready for commands in 10 seconds or less.
And, let's be honest, nobody wants to deal with Windows (or any OS) randomness while just watching video on a TV. It certainly isn't close in the spouse-acceptance factor.
@Nicnac Windows Update? In MY Law and Order Marathon?
@Nicnac - As of Windows XP SP2, Windows natively supports several IR devices or you can build your own for about $3 and use free online tools to add support. Many PCs are sold with IR receivers built in nowadays anyway. Why assume he doesn't have IR support?
A PC can go from standby to ready in about 2 seconds (and low powered PCs use virtually no power in standby anyway). My linux media center boots in about 10 seconds too, btw. The trick is to boot it off suitably fast flash memory (like the spare class 6 SD card I had). Also, it uses about 40 watts while playing video, which is on par with a network media player. I get the added bonus of being able to play StepMania, Frets on Fire, and various emulators as well. And it only cost about $175 + case (I used a $25 mini ATX tower) + HDDs if desired + accessories + setup time.
Just because a PC isn't right for you doesn't mean it's wrong for everyone.
@darkforcesjedi
I have a PS3, a WDTV Live, and an HTPC all in different applications, uses. Don't presume I am speaking from limited experience with the PC as a media streamer/player.
1: As to your points, does the $3 IR receiver allow you to power on the PC with a remote control?
2: My comment about it being 4x the cost is proven by you: case, OS, hard drives, remote, motherboard, CPU, setup time...
@Nicnac
In reference to your second point, an Antec VERIS internal IR adapter can be had for under $20 and it DOES allow you turn the PC on/off with the remote.
@Nicnac: I wasnt saying it was bad, just saying I can get more value from my HTPC/Gaming rig.
By the way, I CAN turn on/off my Origenae S16V HTPC with a remote and it has a recording light.
What is this imaginary OS randomness you talk about? I've never had any problems watching OTA HD, netflix or TV. It seems you've never used windows 7 media center before.
My box may cost 4x as much but it also can do 200x more. ;)
@darkforcesjedi
How well does your linux box support 1080p tho?
From what I can find you need a dual core 3.0ghtz for 1080p h264.
The popbox can do this without breaking a sweat. Thats the great thing about dedicated hardware.
Damn!!
no HD audio codec support = :(
no mention of allowing an internal 2.5" sata drive, no mention of lan streaming, esata support, usb3 support?
photos are very low res too, we need more detail.
Looks like this is a competitor to the WD HD Media player which is around £70.
@(Unverified)
It's called pass through. You don't need the box to decode it. You want your receiver to decode it. It doesn't even have analog 5.1 on the box.
I'm always wondering why people complain that their /Bluray player can't decode HD .. when you really want your reciever to do it anyway. If it can't then it's time to upgrade.
@Jerone Actually I want the box to decode it. I don't have a receiver on my bedroom TV, or on the guestroom TV. If the box just passes through the data then the NAS has to decode it, and that sucks on my D-Link POS.
From dumb name, clunky UI, and high pricetag to catchy name, slick UI, and low pricetag. Nice turnaround.
Whats up with those pictures of the remote?
@MrPotK
They're not pictures; they're renderings.
And how have they gotten around the fact that Google said they were going to block set top boxes from youtube that haven't paid them a buttload of licensing cash?
Since it supports HP@L4.1, does that mean it will play my Canon AVCHD files?
I like this. Looks like I might forgo the HTPC and get this instead.
I would like to see Pandora (both on this and win7 media center)
Without a GPU it still pails in comparison to XBMC/Boxee GUI wise. I would have thought Syabas would have caught on by now, a flash animated GUI is basically a stop gap measure.
I'll wait for the Boxee box to show them how its done.
Looks...interesting. I've been looking for a settop box, and this is everything I want.
Interesting but it however lacks Hulu. Between Hulu and Netflix I have been cable/sat free for almost two years now. While a few hundred more bucks I might have the bite the bullet can get one of those atom/ion Acer Revo's instead.
I want a small cool Media-Streamer using Wireless-N, that supports older Composite SD connections as well as the new HDMI. Don't want internal HD or card-reader, just 2 or 3 USB, maybe a legacy RJ45. Want to play RMVB, FLV, wireless streamed IFO/VOB with menus & external subtitles, the main audio & photo formats, all supported by a friendly XBMC type UI that supports IR or wireless remote control.
@will2 The existing Popcorn Hour C-200 can do most of what you're looking for right now. And I'm guessing the features from the new Popbox will make their way to the C-200 also.
The C-200 supports VIDEO_TS (DVD .vob backups) folders as well as Blu-ray BDMV (Blu-ray equivalent of VIDEO_TS) folders and full menus, subtitles, audio streams, etc. for both. I'm about to replace my Windows Media Center PCs with C-200s.
If it has support for open source development, then how can it lack bit torrent support?
Looks appealing. The online content partners is what interests me. I've got a YouTube script on my XBMC Acer AspireRevo 1600 nettop, but more online content would be nice.
I'm not trying to make a snide joke here. I really am not. But the name is horrible. I can't read that and not think 'poop-box'. Someone in their marketing department needs to be fired.
@glennS Seriously, what would make you think of "poop-box"? What the heck does that even mean? Did you have some childhood trauma pooping in a box? ;-)
Did you think the C-200 was a "poopcorn hour"? Although come to think of it, corn is one of those things that passes through....nevermind.
Anyway, I think that pop-box is a pretty good name, and if I hadn't just bought a C-200 I might consider getting one of these.
And again no HD audio :(
will I be able to connect an external DVD Drive/ Blu-Ray to this unit to play movies like with the C200 ?
Can this thing pass-through HD-Audio codecs?
I just want native Matroska support on my god damn PS3 Sony.
FIX IT!
Wow im kicking myself for just ordering a wdhd live from amazon. Anyone have any experience the wd box
@dylan086
Return it! Get yourself a Dragontech ioBox 100HD or wait for the Popbox.
I have a Dragontech and LOVE it! But at only $129, the Popbox WILL be added to my setup.
@pbusardo
Yah i think im gonna take advantage of that return policy, the popbox seems to be the best option i'm assuming there networking ability is easy to setup with mac
@dylan086
I would agree. I like the internal storage capabilities of the Dragontech ioBox 100HD which is almost identical to the Popcorn Hour A110. But now that I've moved to NAS, I think the Popbox will work nicely.
Looking forward to it.
BUT IT NEEDS HULU!!!
This box needs Hulu to put it over the edge. There are a lot of NMT users running Playon to get Hulu.
I think Hulu is key, IMHO.
If this could also be used as a media center extender I would buy in an instant (even at $200). But as it is, meh....
@Carlton Bale The C-200 is HUGE, v. heavy and quite expensive. I need lighweight compact kit for my travels. 2 contenders coming close are the Acer Revo 3610L - by ditching Windows for Linux they brought the price down to near half. Main -ve for me: no composite support - am in many countries with only old SD TV's, also weak CPU. Other is Xstreamer -but its a dedicated streamer with poor UI. The Popbox size is just about ok, but not much spec yet. Also, did you see the poor write-up in iboum.com on C-200 ? Any other suggestions - something like a 3610L (no bigger) with SD/Composite support for older TV's, and a more efficient CPU
http://www.popbox.com/
There is a new online community for this device with specs, videos, and a forum. www.popboxforum.com The Popbox looks like a winner!
From popboxforum.com: "The German Tech site, heise.de, says that Popbox won't allow for SSH/Telnet. Due to the fact is has DRM for the the add ons, which need to be protected, the firmware will be locked. Syabas has confirmed this on that site."
"Oh no, not again!" said the bowl of petunias.
DRM? Proprietary dedicated video decoder? High-level APIs that shield you from getting at the bare metal? Vendor lock-in?
Think I will pass this up, stick with my shoebox-sized HTPC with howling fans, sometimes flakey software, moody remote control etc.
At least I can go in and recompile my kernel/apps/codecs/whatever when I please/how I please.
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