14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that after Samsung bought smart TV startup Boxee in 2013 and failed to develop what became known internally as the “Perfect Experience,” or PX, the company decided to simply shut down the entire project and lay off the Boxee staff.
Similar to another smart TV hub that appeared on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, Boxee was a dedicated media tablet that wanted to replace the traditional TV remote, and give users access to a centralized guide with live TV listings and streaming content, based on a custom-built user interface that had the genuine advantage of looking unlike any other multi-purpose mobile device .
The idea of Samsung after buying Boxee was to build a remote control that would reside somewhere public in the house and would be controlled by anyone passing by, with access to TV programming being available to anybody. It wouldn't be an app-loaded device, but rather a clean next step from your present-day remote control.
According to Variety, Samsung even looked to partner up with a number of streaming services and TV service operators to include their apps and content on the tablet. In addition, the South Korean company wanted to integrate the Boxee with all of its high-end TVs in the U.S. In a sense, Samsung was preparing a traditional remote control revolution, in order to help consumers rediscover how to watch media content on smart TVs. It clearly had big plans with Boxee.
Grand plans killed by fear and avarice
Until it all fell to pieces. Samsung wanted the launch of the product to take place at CES in Las Vegas this past January, but issues caused by the company’s partners, who didn't want to let go their app-centric services, delayed the implementation of a seamless media streaming into the Boxee.
This delay went on until later in 2015, and after another round of failed talks, until 2016. On top of that, Samsung's executives felt extremely insecure about the development of such a controversial project out of their immediate reach, all the way in the U.S.
Ultimately, critical delays and political pressure killed the Boxee project and saw the entire elite Boxee staff that was working in New York laid off. Apparently, former Boxee CEO Avner Ronen also left the company.
Just like Ouya a couple of days ago, this is the sad case of a startup company with much potential that ends up being eaten by much bigger and cynical fishes, to be later closed down with no regard for the lost potential.