Think of the Myka ION as a nettop built for your HDTV. The little media streamer utilizes an 1.6 GHz Intel Atom 330 CPU and an NVIDIA ION GPU to provide your TV with quality high-definition content. Actually, the Myka ION is more computer than dedicated media playback device, which is good thing. Well, a Linux-powered computer with Boxee and XBMC installed, that is.
The company claims that the Myka ION has enough juice to power Boxee, Hulu, and other Internet sites as well as playback HD content encoded at a high bit rate. After peeking the specs, which includes 2GB of DDR2 memory and the aforementioned hardware, I don’t see why it couldn’t. Video can be outputted to a display via VGA, DVI, or HDMI and the audio can ride on either optical or dig-COAX digital channels or over analog outputs. There is even a wireless network option, along with a Blu-ray drive and various hard drive size options.
But it’s the software that makes a streamer successful and this guy is stacked. It has everything: Boxee, XBMC, Hulu Desktop and it’s own GUI powered by a full version of Ubuntu 9.10. Needless to say that the Myka ION can probably play back any video file you throw at it.
All this nerdy goodness doesn’t come cheap. The base model Myka Ion without wireless or a Blu-ray drive and only a 160 GB hard drive, costs $379 and will take 4 – 6 weeks to ship. Once you add all the options, the price climbs to a $769, which is on par with media centers from Dell and HP. But Dell and HP don’t ship with what looks like to be a killer software suite.
I want one!!!
Sold!
Mmmm…sweet. Your gonna ask for 2 review units, right Matt? ;-)
I’m liking the fact we are having a stream of nice nettops suitable as decent media centers; but I’ve got to say I think that is one fugly looking thing. It looks like a cheap knock-off of an N64.
I’d much rather go for one of the ASRock offerings if I was after a small discrete media center.
http://www.asrock.com/nettop/index.asp
i’m actually waiting for ups to come today to bring me this acer nettop for $199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103228
that doesn’t seem to have enough to warrant the approx $200 difference.
Does this allow browser, and wireless keyboard mouse? seems like a great mac mini comptetitor, but i’d like to know more.
I hope you plan a more in depth review.
Yes, it runs a full browser and can be controlled by a wireless keyboard/mouse.
And yes, I do have a review sample on order with the company, but won’t get it for a few weeks.
You guys are first on the list!
Very interesting…..need a review!
Will it be able to send audio over HDMI, or just the analog + spdif outputs?
No audio over HDMI = no bitstream (or PCM) high definition audio :( Also means one more cable going to the receiver..
Yes, audio over HDMI is supported.
How are they adding a bluray drive if it all runs on linux? I thought the decryption wasn’t available…did I miss something???
The Blu-Ray player does require windows. We offer that as a dual boot.
Anyone know if the linux OS used in the Myka will support Guid partitions?
Yes. Myka ION is running a full Ubuntu 9.10