14 DAY TRIAL // Eager to grab a slice of what is still a relatively small market segment, Research in Motion (RIM) developed what is known as the BlackBeryy media Box, or BlackBerry Cyclone media hub.
Media hubs might not be nearly as new an invention as TVs and multimedia players, but they definitely have been getting attention, especially ever since the Apple TV debuted.
Basically, these products are small electronics that connect to the web and delivers online media content to one's HDTVs.
The aforementioned Apple TV is just one example, while RIM (Research in Motion) has been working on a solution of its own.
Bearing the name of BlackBerry Media Box (its codename is BlackBerry Cyclone), it has the appearance of a small, black box that can be held in the palm of one's hand.
Of course, the size and shape aren't really surprising on a market where even mobile phones can play high-quality videos and act as web hubs for other electronics.
The BlackBerry Cyclone relies on WiFi in order to establish wireless connectivity to the Internet, as well as other electronics on the network.
Of course, the link to a HDTV is easy to establish, given that RIM did the expected and implemented support for the HDMI standard into its product.
That said, one should find it easy to stream videos from online sources such as YouTube and Netflix.
Unfortunately, as is usually the case with pre-release leaks, the full set of information on the media hub is now available.
Interested consumers might even have to wait a while for clarification, seeing as how the launch is set to occur later this year, during fall.
Then again, with the tendency of hyped up IT products to end up becoming the subject of leaks and reports, it might just be that more details will emerge sooner rather than later.