Boxee Box up for preorder, switches to Intel Atom

By Nick Mokey September 13, 2010

As if the impending launch of a revamped $99 Apple TV and Google TV this fall weren’t enough, the long-awaited D-Link Boxee Box has lurched out of hibernation with even more muscle, and you can finally get in line for one.

Boxee CEO Avner Ronen announced that the Boxee Box would retail for $199 earlier this month, as a sort of rebuttal to the new Apple TV launch, but on Monday, the Box hit Amazon.com for the first time. Its preorder availability coincided with an announcement that developers had ditched the previous Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset in favor of Intel’s Atom CE4100 – the same silicon supplying the power behind upcoming Google TV systems, like Logitech’s Revue.

According to the D-Link press release, “The new chip lets the Boxee Box deliver a wide range of applications and ensures support for 1080p content, no matter the source,” suggesting the Tegra 2 may not have offered the same video format flexibility. Boxee has long promoted the Boxee Box as one of the few set-top streamers capable of handling all major video codecs, short of DRM-encrypted ones like those used by the iTunes store.

Boxee’s press release claims the Boxee Box will begin shipping in November, just in time for the holiday season.

Check out our hands-on first impressions of the Boxee Box from CES 2010, and a side-by-side comparison with the new Apple TV and other media streamers.

Topics

Managing Editor

As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…

Audio / Video

Don’t miss this clearance sale on Samsung OLED TVs — up to $1,900 off

Samsung S95D OLED

Samsung makes some of the best TVs on the market, and if you're looking to pick up a new high-end TV, then you'll be happy to know that there are some excellent options in this Crutchfield sale. With four main models of Samsung TVs to pick from in different sizes, you could potentially save yourself up to $1,900 depending on the TV you want to go for, so be sure to check the complete sale using the button below. That said, if you can't find a TV at a price that works for you, be sure to check out some of these other great TV deals as well.

What you should buy in Crutchfield Samsung Sale
For starters, you have the QN90C lineup, which is one of the more affordable options in this sale and comes in various sizes from 55 inches to a whopping 83 inches, although the 55-inch version is sadly out of stock at the moment. Nonetheless, if you want to pick up one of the other sizes, you'll be happy to know that it has an OLED display with Samsung's proprietary Quantum Dot technology for better HDR, as well as HDR10+ and support for 4K upscaling so you can watch your older content. The middle-ground choice for size is probably this 65-inch QN65S90C, which is , so you get $1,100 in savings.

Audio / Video

This CD/Walkman-inspired MP3 player aims to be the next mixtape

The Ninm Lab Playdisc.

Ninm Lab is obsessed with retro gadgets, from cameras to cassette decks, and its latest project -- the Playdisc -- reimagines the humble MP3 player as a digital version of the mixtape (or mixed tape for those old enough to remember the 1980s). The Playdisc will initially debut on Kickstarter on April 25 with a backer price of about $50. Once deliveries begin, which Ninm says will be in August, the devices should be available on the Ninm Lab site for around $71.

The Playdisc looks like CD case, complete with a transparent, hinged plastic cover, but its overall dimensions are smaller and thicker. You can use it with any Bluetooth headphones, and there's a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones too. It even ships with a set of wired earphones that take their inspiration directly from Sony's original Walkman and feature interchangeable foam earpads to complete the mashed-up retro look.

Audio / Video

Best Paramount Plus deals: Get your first month free

Paramount Plus isn’t as big as some of the best live TV streaming services, but it has a lot of content people constantly want to binge or check in on. It’s home to the Yellowstone universe of shows, and every month what’s new on Paramount Plus includes a large variety of movies. Paramount Plus is a great standalone streaming service to turn to if you’re looking for something to watch. It comes in at a more affordable monthly price than most streaming services, costing just $6 per month or $12 per month when bundled with Showtime. But there are still ways to save on a Paramount Plus subscription, with several Paramount Plus deals to consider. Below you’ll find everything you need to know.
How to sign up to Paramount Plus for free for a week
The best way to go about watching Paramount Plus for free is by utilizing the Paramount Plus free trial. This is a pretty easy free week of access to claim, as all you have to do is sign up for a Paramount Plus account. The free trial is good for seven days, and it will give you full access to either the Paramount Plus Essential plan, which is regularly $6 per month, or the Paramount Plus with Showtime plan, which regularly costs $12 per month. Utilizing the Paramount Plus free trial is a great way to watch a particular sports event without having to commit to a monthly subscription, or to simply explore the Paramount Plus library to ensure there’s enough you’d like to watch before subscribing.

How to get a discount on a Paramount Plus subscription
If you're a student you can enjoy 25% off a Paramount Plus Essential monthly subscription. To do so, you simply need to verify your student credentials. You'll need to be a college or university student currently enrolled at an accredited, Title IV higher education institution to qualify.
How to save on your Paramount Plus annual subscription
An annual Paramount Plus subscription is a valid option if you're in it for the long term, as extended subscription will grant you some savings. Anyone who signs up for the Paramount Plus Essential plan for a year pays just $50 while the Premium plan costs $100. It works out as cheaper than subscribing on a monthly basis.