Boxee, a Method Ventures client, has announced the alpha launch of the Boxee service. Method has partnered with Boxee to develop a comprehensive, multi-platform brand system as well as the interface and experience design for Boxee’s breakthrough product.
The invitation-only alpha will debut on June 15th at XBMC DEV CON 2008. Boxee will enable users to organize, share and consume all their media content in a TV-centric manner. This turns the static TV experience into an interactive hub for not only media but also social-networking and communication in general.
Boxee uses XMBC, an open source (GPL) multimedia player for the Xbox from Microsoft. Incredibly versatile, XBMC can be used to play and view most common video/audio/picture formats, plus many more less known formats directly from a CD/DVD or of Xbox hard-drive, as well as stream files over a local network and from the internet. Boxee is the first platform to bring the XMBC platform to the masses.
Method's goal was to accelerate Boxee’s business growth by designing an innovative new brand strategy and identity to be used across all brand communications and touchpoints, and to develop the user experience, interaction model and interface for Boxee’s product and service. Method created a brand language the expressed the brand as well as the design language for the interface. In partnership with Boxee management, Method worked to help define the product feature set and validated against an audit of competitive products. Finally, Method created reference examples for developers and integrators to enable better and faster implementation. The Boxee identity system was recently awarded a Gold award in the Graphis Logo Competition.
“Boxee is an incredibly exciting company with a product that will prove to be game changing in one of the largest markets. The entrepreneurs behind Boxee are what really attracted us in the first place. Their vision, track record and near monomaniacal focus on execution and success are exceptional,” said Chris Tacy, Chief Innovation Officer at Method. “We believe that the partnership between Boxee and Method has been effective and positive and over time will grow into a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship. We are excited to be involved in such a wonderful company.”
To request an invite for the alpha, visit boxee.tv.
Recent Boxee press coverage:
CNET News:
Turning the TV into a "social media center"
Hands on with Boxee: A gorgeous social-media viewer
NewTeeVee:
Scoop: Boxee to go alpha on Monday
EngadgetHD:
Boxee: Open-source media streaming software heads for alpha
Zatz Not Funny:
Boxee: XBMC Reloaded
Hack a Day:
Boxee social media center public alpha
Life Hacker:
Boxee is xbmc with newer look and social flair
