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Syabas Popbox surprises everyone, including Syabas, by going on sale today
We thought we had another week or so to get ready, but no, the Popbox is on sale already, with some preorderers reporting they got shipment notifications as early as yesterday. In case you've forgotten since CES, the $129 box takes the Popcorn Hour into a more general consumer friendly form with an all new interface and SDK, YouTube access, support for 100Mbps bitrate 1080p video and more -- just not the Netflix access (at least for now) we were originally promised. According to the official Twitter account -- also accessible with a new "Popapp" -- a quicker than expected route through customs is to thank/blame for the launch, but whatever, we're one step closer to the 2010 media streamer battle we've been waiting for. It's your move, Boxee Box. [Thanks, Jason] %Gallery-81577% %Gallery-97450%
Popbox's Netflix-less launch now scheduled for July 23
Our wait for the Syabas Popbox just got a little longer, with the official blog announcing it will not ship from Amazon until July 23. Like the Boxee Box, the delay is being blamed on software being not "quite where we wanted it to be" but the real bad news here is the official list of content partners which, for the time being, is missing Netflix. Also not included (but likely not as missed) is SDTV support -- even via analog outputs, the Popbox is apparently an HDTV only affair. As far as whether we will ever see Netflix support Syabas is still giving it the Voldemort treatment, but without naming names it refuted rumors regarding a lack of hardware DRM support with the claim that "the PopBox that ships is, TODAY, capable of supporting all foreseeable App partners in the future WITHOUT requiring a hardware upgrade." Check the blog for a complete list of content providers (Revision3, YouTube, Picasa, Clicker, Twitter and others will be ready to go) and decide if that preorder is still worth holding on to.
YouTube access returning to (some) Popcorn Hour boxes
Looks like Google and Syabas have worked out the issues that led to YouTube being pulled from Popcorn Hour media streamers last year, resulting in the site coming back to the A-200 and C-200 boxes and will be available on the Popbox at launch. It's limited to the hardware that are capable of running Flash, which Google notes as the key differentiation in their new TOS and will unfortunately keep out A-100/A-110s that could only handle an HTML version of the site. The YouTube app should show up right next to Revision3 and the others, go ahead and update those media streamer comparison charts we know you've been keeping handy.
Popbox is Popcorn Hour evolved, with 1080p streaming and Netflix support
Love your Popcorn Hour? Ask creator Syabas Technology, and it's just a prelude to the real deal, which it's just announced as the Popbox. The evolution includes a revamped UI, "infoapps" showing weather and Twitter feeds whenever the viewer pauses, and expanded Popapps support to allow for Java, Flash, and Qt (why hello there, Netflix). Video processing now supports 100Mbps bitrate 1080p video. The box mockup is barebones and includes only the necessary inputs, and storage is relegated to SD cards and external USB drives. Price and release date? Electronista is saying it "should" be out in March to the tune of $129.
