Hasta La Ideas

Last night in Brooklyn software company Boxee, the people behind the eponymous internet-programming-on-your-TV software, unveiled their new soon-to-be-released physical product: The Boxee Box, a set-top device intended to work in conjunction with their software.

However, though they’re calling it a “set-top” box, it’s not really going to fit on top of your set if you have a flatscreen. The chunky form factor instantly drew fire from the likes of The Inquisitr’s Duncan Riley, whose damning headline read “What the hell were they thinking?”

Now I’m all for interesting industrial design, and the design of the Boxee Box comes from the same guy who designed the XBox 360. But there’s a flaw that strikes you like a hot iron thrown by an irate ex: the angles (for lack of a better term.)

…It’s an attempt to be trendy that will immediately limit the box in practicality because unless it’s the size of a small book (in height at least), it isn’t going to fit into 95% of home TV/ entertainment units. Seriously: right angle pointy bits? WTF?

At least Boxee can’t be accused of urging their design hires to copy Apple’s set-top box, with whom it will compete.

The Boxee Box is due to be released in early 2010–looks like they missed Christmas, so someone’s gonna get fired–and will reportedly retail for $200.

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