DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 26, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The way you experience media on your TV will be revolutionized with the Middle Eastern & African availability of the Boxee Box by D-Link in January 2011. The striking black box allows users to watch available movies and TV programmes from the Internet, stream videos from nearly any website, exchange recommendations with friends using social media sites like Facebook, organize and enjoy personal music, photos and videos, and browse the Internet, all from a simple to use remote. The Boxee Box by D-Link gives consumers a new, exciting and easy-to-use way to experience free or paid for content on the Internet, changing the way they interact with it forever.

As part of the Middle Eastern & African availability, D-Link announced that the Intel Atom CE4100, Intel's system-on-a-chip designed for TV and Internet integration, will power the Boxee Box. The powerful Intel-based hardware allows Boxee's open software platform to deliver up to full 1080p HD over a wired or Wireless N network. With hundreds of apps already available and an intuitive interface, the Boxee Box by D-Link gives users unparalleled access to on-demand entertainment and newfound control over their TV.

The Boxee Box by D-Link has already received critical industry acclaim, and a 'first look' at the media device earned it the accolade of 'Best of Innovations in the Home Entertainment' category at CES in January 2010. Since then, D-Link and Boxee have worked closely together to add further capabilities and content to the platform that allows you to make the most of the huge library of free and paid content available on the Internet, as well as easy and secure access to your own digital content and social media networks. Boxee Box by D-Link content providers and apps include the BBC, Last.fm, CNET, CNN, Channel 4, Comedy Central, Facebook, ITV, MTV Music, mySpaceTV, YouTube, Flickr, and Picasa.

Harrison Albert, Regional Director at D-Link Middle East & Africa commented, "D-Link has always been committed to pioneering Digital Home experiences for consumers, transforming the home network so that new entertainment possibilities can become a reality. The Boxee Box by D-Link is the start of a new revolution in home entertainment as we bring the limitless world of Internet content to the TV. The Boxee Box by D-Link will be a catalyst for smart TV within the Digital Home, allowing consumers to discover new content and enjoy it in high definition."

"Too many people have to enjoy what they want to watch hunched over a laptop all alone," stated Andrew Kippen, vice president of marketing for Boxee, "We've partnered with D-Link to come up with what we believe is the best way to enjoy the best content from the Internet on a TV - no PC required."

The Boxee Box by D-Link will be available in January 2011 from all IT retailers in the MENA & Africa region.

Internet freedom on your HDTV

The Boxee Box is one of the world's first media devices capable of browsing the Internet directly from a TV without the need for a computer. With its highly intuitive user interface, you can personalize and create a bespoke home screen categorizing all your media on one screen.

Plays your digital stuff

The device can be used to play and view practically all common video, music, and photo formats from home media collections and the Internet in up to full 1080p High Definition.

Tailored to the sofa

The unique QWERTY remote control means that accessing content already available on the Boxee Box, navigating the Internet for new content and consuming personal entertainment is as fun and easy as on a computer. Users can also use free remote apps for the iPhone, Android, and Palm Pre in addition to the standard Boxee Box remote.

See what your friends are watching

Core social features of the Boxee Box make it easy for friends to discover new content from each other through social networks like Facebook, Twitter and more. Users can share anything they're watching or listening to with their friends on Boxee and other social networks with just a few clicks on the remote.

An expanding open platform

Since anyone can build on top of Boxee's open App platform, users and companies can craft their own truly customized experience. If there isn't already an application, the Boxee Box by D-Link allows you to create your own to access and organize your favorite content in a simple click.

D-Link brings smart TV to the Digital Home

For people looking to get more entertainment into their living room, the Boxee Box by D-Link quickly turns any HDTV into a Smart TV with near limitless content courtesy of the Internet. Boxee Box users will also receive dynamic firmware updates, meaning that software and service upgrades are 'pushed' directly to your device, so there is no need to perform awkward manual upgrades and you always have the latest service. Built-in security options like login access and parental controls ensure the Boxee Box by D-Link and its content remains secure.

"Consumers are ready for the smart TV experience, bringing Internet-based applications and services into the living room," said Wilfred Martis, General Manager of Retail CE, Intel Digital Home Group." Taking advantage of the advanced performance and media capabilities of the Intel Atom CE4100, the Boxee Box by D-Link is poised to make a major impact on smart TV."

Boxee Box Hardware Specifications (DSM-380): - HDMI port - Optical / Stereo Audio - Connects wirelessly (Wireless N capability) or wired to your network - Two-sided remote included with simple navigation and full QWERTY keyboard - 2 USB ports and 1 SD card slot - Supports all popular codecs and formats including Adobe Flash 10.1, MP3 and Divx - Intel Atom CE4100 processor