New ‘iPod’

Posted on June 4, 2008

There will be a new kid in town this summer with the introduction of the PoD. I recently reported on the Netflix Roku which is able to receive broadband feeds of Netflix subscribed content and play to a TV rather than a computer.

Verismo Networks has previewed “the PoD,” a tiny box that brings web content to your TV monitor without needing a PC in between. I dubbed it as an ‘iPod’ since it brings the i, the Internet, directly to the TV. But it isn’t offering a port of the I to the TV. Remember, there is no computer required for this device meaning there is no PC interface to format the content and then pass it on. With this box, the broadband is a direct connection. This product is designed to provide video feeds such as YouTube direct to TV.

Verismo has partnered with YouTube and BitTorrent to get access to their content, and vTap to search for anything else. Apparently YouTube will also be marketing the PoD to its users, which would definitely help a new company get exposure! The box can also handle anything with Windows DRM, so you can watch Amazon Unbox and CinemaNow downloads right on your TV.

The PoD, along with a remote, is set to go on sale later this summer for $99.