Myka - set top box , streams up to 1080p, open source

[Modelworks]

This could really be great. Seems it has all the necessary items and even includes a bit torrent client built in. It runs linux and they made it open source so people can change whatever they like.


I'm sure it will not be long till people get it working with Hulu, Netflix, and any other site since you can make the site think you are a browser on a pc. There is also talk that since it has a usb port and uses linux that people may be able to make it usable with usb capture and tuner devices so that it becomes a DVR for broadcast tv. This could become the HTPC dream box



$279 for a unit with 80GB HD. starts shipping April 6,2009.


The smart thing to get though would probably be the developer box.
1TB HD included for $359
http://myka.tv/index.php?optio...rticle&id=63&Itemid=69

http://myka.tv/

General Information

Myka is a state of the art internet video player. Video files are downloaded from the internet on to Myka's hard drive. These videos can be played back directly to a television. Myka also has BitTorrent built in. That means Myka can download using the BitTorrent peer to peer protocol directly, no need to go though a PC. Myka is controlled by a remote control or can be programmed from the web.



Key Features

*
WiFi enabled - 802.11/N
*
Direct ethernet connector for direct connection
*
HDMI, Composite, S-Video and SPDIF ports for maximum flexibility
*
Internal hard drive choice of 80, 160 or 500 gigabytes
*
BitTorrent peer to peer software built in
*
USB port for expansion

Embedded Architecture

*
450 DMIPS SOC
*
16 MB Flash memory
*
256 MB DDRAM
*
Linux operating system

Video

* MPEG1/2/4 Elementary (M1V, M2V, M4V)
* MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG)
* MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS, TP, TRP, M2T, M2TS, MTS) * VOB * AVI, ASF, WMV
* Matroska (MKV) * MOV (H.264), MP4, RMP4 Video codecs:
* XVID SD/HD
* MPEG-1
* MPEG-2 -MP@HL
* MPEG-4.2 - ASP@L5, 720p, 1-point GMC
* WMV9 -MP@HL
* H.264 -BP@L3 ,MP@L4.0 ,HP@L4.0 ,HP@L4.1
* VC-1 -MP@HL ,AP@L3 Subtitle formats : SRT, SMI, SUB, SSA
* Aspect Ratio:4:3 and 16:9,auto format detection
* Out Definition:480i,480p,576i,576p,720p, 1080i or 1080p

Audio

* Audio containers:
* AAC, M4A
* MPEG audio (MP1, MP2, MP3, MPA)
* WAV
* WMA
* FLAC
* OGG Audio codecs:
* WMA, WMA Pro
* AAC MP1, MP2, MP3 LPCM FLAC Vorbis Audio pass through

* Volume Control:32-level adjustable,mute
* Output Modes:Mono/Stereo/Dolby Digital

 

[Kaido]

Ooh, spiffy.

I really wish someone would merge something like this with XBMC

 

[Kaido]

Hey, isn't that the same remote as the Popcorn Hour?

 

[aphex]

Looks nice!

 

[Slick5150]

Yeah, I've been holding off on putting together a new HTPC until these things came out.

The Popcorn Hour/iStar/etc devices are nice in that they can play any 1080p you throw at it, but the UI is so awful its limited in practicality.

This thing, by being open source, could help bridge that divide. XBMC is unlikely though as it isn't an x86 processor, and NOBODY is working on porting it over to a completely different CPU architecture.

 

[Slick5150]

Wait, you can't play movies over your network at home??

Edit: Well in the developer forums it says you can.. I just don't see the option anywhere, but maybe they arent' showing it off or something.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Wait, you can't play movies over your network at home??

Edit: Well in the developer forums it says you can.. I just don't see the option anywhere, but maybe they arent' showing it off or something.

They didn't list a lot of stuff , just the cliff notes version.

It can play over the network, streaming from a pc or to a pc or to another Myka box.

 

[Slick5150]

Well, I'll be the guinea pig and ordered one. I got the developer kit. Not that I'll be developing anything for them, but it did seem like the better deal to get that w/ the 1tb HD.

I've played around with most every other device like this in the past (I still have the iStar HD at home. They FINALLY updated the firmware for it after 3 months of it being somewhat borked. It works well again at least). We'll see how this one stacks up.

 

[Myka]

Hi,

I'm from Myka. I've been seeing some traffic coming from this site (thank you google analytics).

Happy to answer any questions here or you can write me at

dan@myka.tv

cheers.

 

[Slick5150]

Hey - Thanks for joining in..

A couple questions:

1) Can it play discs backed up as .ISO files?

2) What network protocols does it support? Samba/NFS/???

3) What HDMI standard is it? Can it bitstream HD audio? (Dolby TrueHD / DTS MA)

4) Any plans for Hulu support?

 

[Myka]

A couple questions:

1) Can it play discs backed up as .ISO files?

Yes

2) What network protocols does it support? Samba/NFS/???

Myka supports -

NFS
Samba
UPnP AV

There is also a usenet client and an FTP server

On the developer edition we also leave telnet running

3) What HDMI standard is it? Can it bitstream HD audio? (Dolby TrueHD / DTS MA)

HDMI 1.1 and DTS is supported, I'll have to check on TrueHD

4) Any plans for Hulu support?

Hulu is tricky, they want you to stream from their own environment, where as youtube lets you get at the stream directly. We will be making several announcements over the next few days about content partnerships.

hope this helps.

 

[abaez]

This looks really cool. My friend is actually looking for an HTPC. Is the hard drive upgradable?

 

[Myka]

Yes it is. It will accept 2.5 inch or 3.5 inch SATA drive.

 

[RKS]

looks like it's time to part out the HTPC and sell my WD PLayer

 

[Slick5150]

Since its Open Source, I'm assuming you're planning on having a number of 3rd party applications released for it. Will those be housed in a central location, or is it up to the user to find whatever it is they're looking for and add it on to their Myka box?

 

[Myka]

We will be creating sever space for them.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this vs a Popcorn Hour? I'm close to pulling the trigger on the PCH, but if this is better than I might wait. The big selling point on this seems to be that its open source.

 

[abaez]

The only reason I'd hesitate buying this is because it's new and there isn't much info out there, but outside of that everything looks fantastic (open source, codec support etc). I mean, the guy who created it (runs the site?) is here answering our questions personally.

Besides, there is a 30-day guarantee, so just return it if you don't like it. Companies like this deserve support.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: the DRIZZLE
Does anyone have any thoughts on this vs a Popcorn Hour? I'm close to pulling the trigger on the PCH, but if this is better than I might wait. The big selling point on this seems to be that its open source.

I had a Popcorn Hour (and currently have an iStar HD which is essentially the exact same thing). Honestly, for playing movies they're ok, but they are more or less useless for music due to poor UI.

I've pre-ordered the Myka box and will share my thoughts on how it compares once I get it.

 

[Muadib]

This could be good. We await your review Slick!

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Myka
We will be creating sever space for them.

Any update on when this thing is shipping? Your website said the production units were in and ready to go, but I haven't heard anything on my order being shipped yet.

 

[bobdole369]

Hmmm, how about when the BT file is a rar? Does this thing have a PC like interface?

 

[shingletingle]

Originally posted by: Myka
A couple questions:

1) Can it play discs backed up as .ISO files?

Yes

2) What network protocols does it support? Samba/NFS/???

Myka supports -

NFS
Samba
UPnP AV

There is also a usenet client and an FTP server

On the developer edition we also leave telnet running

3) What HDMI standard is it? Can it bitstream HD audio? (Dolby TrueHD / DTS MA)

HDMI 1.1 and DTS is supported, I'll have to check on TrueHD

4) Any plans for Hulu support?

Hulu is tricky, they want you to stream from their own environment, where as youtube lets you get at the stream directly. We will be making several announcements over the next few days about content partnerships.

hope this helps.

If it doesn't bitstream HD audio (TrueHD and DTS MA), then that is a big problem.

 

[erwos]

If it's only HDMI 1.1, it can't bitstream HD audio.

 

[sirspotti]

If a bluray drive could somehow be attached this would be perfect