Welcome Myka ION

We just announced Myka ION. It's based on work we have been doing for our private network customers. We felt it would really rock in the consumer world. After getting some feed back from the forums we decided to go ahead and commit to production.

This machine is a blast. You should see it run Boxee. Details are up on the website.

First myka Private Networked Signed!

Haven't had much time to blog recently. We've been working on our first private network. Well, we did it. Closed our first one. I can't release the details. I can say it is sports related.

Customers of our private network product get:

• Completely customizable user interface. Your network, your brand.
  
• Content subscription services. Automatically send shows to your customers.
  
• Custom case (with a minimum of 100 units).
• Easy to add functionality
• Flexible pricing options.
  
• Complete turnkey solution - your network can be up and running in as little as 60 days.

Once we are further along we will release more details. Thanks to everyone (both internal and external) who helped close this.

Netflix and Hulu

We have been working on ways to provide access to both Netflix and Hulu. NetFlix does not publish their device API unless you are a major CE player. We're not there, yet.

We have been working with technology from a company called Media Mall. Their product is called PLAYON.

It works great. I'm able to watch NetFlix movies and full shows from Hulu. Myka renders the video stunningly well on a HD screen.

A few issues:

• Your network has to be up to snuff. 802.11/G won't cut it. You need to be N or wired.
• Your PC has to be moderately beefy. The PLAYON specs need to be looked at.
• It does require that your PC be on and running the PLAYON server.

All that having been said, it's very nice. You have access to all the full episodes on HULU. Checkout the CBS/Classic TV/Star Trek. Anything that let's me watch Star Trek is a good thing.

There is a free trial and then a one time fee.

We'll be posting this to the main site with instructions in the next little while.

Some Early Customer Feedback

Our team has put in a lot of work getting Myka out the door. We have developers on both coasts, a graphic designer, a manufacturing partner in China, hosting services, packaging help and friends and family that support us. There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of risk.

It is always nerve wracking to release your product, then have to wait to see if anyone likes it.

Well, we're starting to get some feedback posted in some forums.

And they're good.

Here is an EXAMPLE

This is our moment of truth! Can't pop the champagne just yet but it sure does feel good.

Good Article On The State of Internet Media

The reason we decided to get into this business was because of the changes we were seeing on the horizon. This work is much to hard and risky if you don't believe in the larger picture. Henry Blodget just wrote a great piece on this.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE.

One of my favorite quotes goes something like, "Change is the medium of opportunity".

There are fundamental changes happening in media. With Myka, we now have a seat at the table. Now that we are shipping, I'll spend some time talking about our view of the media world.

Got to go, pack and ship more Myka!

Get them while they're HOT

Production is in full gear now. We can ship units out immediately. It takes a lot of work by a lot of people to get to this stage. I'll post a more formal thank you to everyone after I catch up on some sleep. It's all good.

Units have ARRIVED!!

One of the fun things that happen when you do a project like this, is when a whole bunch of units arrive. Well, we got boxes and boxes in today.

Can't have anymore fun than this! More later.

First Look At The Production Case

This is a photo of the actual production case. Every once in a while, something exceeds my expectations.

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

Haven't posted in a while. We've been getting Myka ready for shipping. Been very happy with how the UI had progressed. Doing the classic 20 hour start up days (and loving it!). As soon as I catch my breath, I'll give a full run down.

Don't Always Listen To The Experts

When we started this adventure, we talked to a lot of venture capitalists. Part of my speach 2 years ago was a prediction that television sets were going to start adding internet connectivity.

Well, I was roundly dismissed. Don't get me wrong, these are very smart and connected people, but they were dead wrong.

Some of the reasons I was given -
1. I don't understand the TV manufacturing business. It takes 18 months to bring a set to market and no manufacturer would take that risk.
2. TV's with other stuff built in have never done that well.
3. I was being very naive to think that change could happen that fast.

I eventually had to pull that part from my pitch, go too many negative arguments I could not win.

Well, LG Electronics, Sony, Vizio, Panasonic have all announce TV's with internet connections.

The lesson here is follow your instincts, smart people are often wrong.

Guy Kawasaki has some great examples of experts being wrong

Don’t let the bozos grind you down

2 kinds of bozos:
- The slovenly bozo with no credibility
- The successful bozo, which is the most dangerous since people tend to believe them.

Examples of “dangerous bozosity”:
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers”
Western Union dismissed the telephone in 1876
“It’s too far to drive and I don’t see how it can be a business” Guy’s reply to an offer to be CEO of Yahoo. He says it cost him $2bn.

Anyway, as I always say, "Being right is great! That and $1.25 will get you a cup of coffee"

Just don't believe everything people tell you, no how matter how smart they are.

Our UI Video

We needed to present our UI vision for Myka to a potential partner on the west coast. Instead of getting on an airplane or attempting a Skype video conference, we decided to create a quick UI demo. Pardon the low production values. We did this in one take and completed everything in half an hour.

It's HERE on YouTube.

Saved us a trip and got the point across. There just maybe a business there.