Remember the Boxee Box, the unusually-shaped STB housing the Boxee media system? Now the company tries again with Boxee TV-- a more traditionally-shaped STB combining over-the-air TV broadcasts, web apps and DVR functionality.

Unlike the Boxee Box, the Boxee TV carries a pair of TV tuner (with coax input), an external antenna and a number of built-in apps for services such as Netflix, Youtube, Vimeo and Pandora. It plugs into the existing cable line or HDTV antenna and provides a slick user interface for live TV viewing.

But what makes the Boxee TV really interesting is cloud-powered DVR functionality-- one promising unlimited broadcast TV recording at 1080p resolution and 5.1 surround sound. The STB even lacks on-board storage, depending entirely on RAM for buffering.

Users can watch recordings uploaded to the Boxee cloud from any internet-capable device, as well as on their TVs.

One interesting element missing in the Boxee TV is the double-sided keyboard remote. Instead the package contains a simpler control solution with a limited button selection.

So far the Boxee TV will only available be in the US from November 2012, with no word whether it will cross the pond to European territories in the future.

Go Introducing the Boxee TV

As we all know, Microsoft wants to take over living rooms through the Xbox 360 console-- and as it happens it now launches Xbox Music, a streaming music service for the 360, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

Xbox Music liberally borrows features from all familiar online music services. It offers around 30 million songs, with Spotify-style streaming, artist-based radio, cloud storage and an iTunes-style music store. The UI is also familiar, since it uses the tiles Microsoft likes so much.

Pricing varies from free (if ad-supported) to monthly subscriptions and pay-per-song.

Xbox 360 users will get Xbox Music first, as a Dashboard update. The service also comes pre-installed in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 devices, with all versions sharing the same UI.

Windows 7 or Windows Phone 7 users will not be able to access the service though... and have to stick to the Zune Music Service instead.

The service will be available in 15 global regions on launch, a list Microsoft plans to expand to 22 in the future.

Go Introducing Xbox Music

Crestron will showcase a range of new products and solutions at InfoComm MEA: from the TSW-750 touch panel, CLWI in-wall dimmers and energy efficient CLED LED fixtures, to Capture HD and the latest additions to the DigitalMedia product line.

Products on show include:

TSW-750: A space-saving, surface mount touch screen featuring a clean, contemporary appearance with edge-to-edge glass and Core 3 UI™ graphics. Additional features include high-performance H.264 video, Rava™ SIP Intercom, and standard gang-box installation.

DigitalMedia Presentation System (DMPS): The next generation of MPS Multimedia Presentation System, DMPS offers an HD presentation control and signal routing solution.

Capture-HD: For university campuses and corporate enterprises, CAPTURE-HD provides staff/presenters with a one-button solution to schedule, record, publish online and view lectures, presentations, medical procedures and seminars.

Media centre and server maker VidaBox increases its European presence following an an exclusive distribution agreement with Modena-based AlhenaCom.

AlhenaCom is the exclusive Italian VidaBox distributor, and the agreement expands distribution throughout continental Europe.

"Thanks to the excellent feedback received from the Italian customers in these months and thanks mainly to the excellent relationship between our companies, I am sure that the European market will give us a great satisfaction for our continued cooperation," VidaBox president Steven Cheung says.

VidaBox sells multiroom Blu-ray, DVD and digital media server products, as well as iDevice-based control systems, media extenders and even iPad mounting solutions.

Go VidaBox Signs Exclusive Distribution Agreement with AlhenaCom for Continental Europe

While some might insist mobile device apps will soon replace universal remotes, others prefer the traditional remote. Now Logitech combines both solution with the Harmony Touch remote.

The Harmony Touch has a centre-mounted 2.4-inch colour touchscreen with support for the tapping, swiping and scrolling controls, as well as a number of physical buttons. Users can access some options (such as volume control and channel selection) through both touchscreen and buttons.

A favourite channel menu allows the selection of up to 50 customisable channel icons, creating a visual twist on the familiar favourite channel lists.

The myharmony.com website allows simple setup, custom programming and syncing with previous Harmony One presets.

Providing what Logitech describes as "unprecedented control," the remote is compatible with 225000 devicesand controls of up to 15 devices, including the the Logitech TV Cam HD system.

Go Logitech Harmony Touch

Extron Electronics announces immediate availability of the DTP HDMI 230 twisted pair extender for transmission of HDMI, audio, and bidirectional RS-232 and IR control signals up to 230 feet (70 meters) over a single CAT 5-type cable.

The HDCP-compliant extender provides an economical and effective means for extending HDMI with embedded multi-channel audio from HDMI-equipped devices. In addition, the DTP HDMI 230 accepts analog stereo audio signals and digitizes them for simultaneous transmission over the same single twisted pair cable. Designed for extending HDMI, audio, and bidirectional control in space-challenged environments, the DTP HDMI 230 features compact enclosure sizes and remote powering.