Myka to ship BitTorrent media hub April 6
updated 03:45 pm EDT, Fri March 27, 2009
Myka Ships April 6
Myka today said it would start shipping its self-titled media hubs shortly after their initial batch is finished production on April 6th. Originally unveiled last year, the set-top box is designed as an open-source alternative to devices like the Apple TV and the VUDU Box that uses BitTorrent as its underlying framework. The feature lets users download commercial and unofficial content without being dependent on any one connection or service. Myka doesn't immediatly have content deals but claims to be in negotiations with "major" providers.
The open-source component extends to the Linux foundations of the media center interface, which supports third-party apps to support new features or services.
The system also unofficially supports pre-made, free content from sites like Flickr or YouTube as well as HD movie trailers from Apple. File format support is also broader and involves rarer media formats like Matroska containers, VC-1 and XviD as well as multiple music formats, including FLAC and OGG. Myka notes its hub can either play content stored locally, on its hard drive, or from an attached USB drive.
Each system includes Ethernet and Wi-Fi for networking as well as HDMI, component and RCA for video. Prices are split by capacity and start at $279 for an 80GB model while scaling up to $389 for a 500GB edition. Developers signed up for the company's apps program can also buy a 1TB version for $359. [via BetaNews]
