The scoop: Boxee Box, by D-Link, about $200.

What it is: This cube-like box connects to your high-definition TV (via HDMI) and the Internet (via wired or wireless) to provide Internet TV services (watching movies, TV shows and other content), as well as accessing your own photos, movies or videos. The hardware uses the Boxee media center software, which provides the application and user interface. Boxee software is also available for PC owners who want to access the Internet video services, and Boxee is looking to integrate software on other hardware boxes (TVs, set-top boxes, etc.).

The D-Link Boxee Box comes with a two-sided remote control (front and back). The front side has a play/pause button, 4-way navigation and a Select/Enter button. On the back side is a qwerty-style keyboard, which definitely helps when typing in information like log-in passwords and wireless network security codes. If you own an iPod Touch or iPhone, you can turn it into a remote control for your Boxee with a free app download.

Why it's cool: Like other media center devices of this sort (the Roku box and AppleTV immediately come to mind), this box offers a way to view Internet TV services through your TV in high-definition instead of on a PC screen. The service also offers social network support, letting you link to Facebook and Twitter (as well as Tumblr, Google Buzz, and Flickr) for sharing purposes. If you have friends that are also using Boxee, you can tell them what you're watching and recommending, as well as see recommendations from them.

On the content side, the things you can watch are more niche programming that you'd find across the Internet (Revision3, Funny or Die, Joost, Blip.TV, etc.) Major content providers offer limited programming via RSS feeds (such as ABC, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, etc.). If you're already a fan of the Boxee PC application, moving to the Boxee Box makes sense.

Some caveats: Currently, the box doesn't support high-profile Internet TV services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU and VUDU 3, so the content currently available is limited. Especially movies -- it's hard to find a lot of current movies available for viewing. There are more TV shows available than movies, but again, it's limited by the services that the box supports.

Watching some of the movies was hit and miss. For example, I tried to watch the classic film "His Girl Friday" on the box -- it was being offered through two different sites (including YouTube Movies) -- but both time I tried to watch it, the movie didn't play.

There's potential here with the box, but it needs to have the Hulu Plus (with its subscription fee) and Netflix application support in order to put it on par with offerings from the less-expensive and more-content-available devices from Roku and AppleTV.

UPDATE: The Netflix app is now available for the Boxee Box, after a simple software update to the box you can access your Netflix Instant queue and search for other streaming titles through the box. I also learned to appreciate the two-sided remote more, as it was easy to type in my e-mail address and password to get the app activated (different from Roku and Xbox, where you have to use a PC Web browser to activate the account via a code). The on-demand video service VUDU is also available, and Hulu Plus is still on the 'coming soon' list. With the addition of these two apps (Netflix and VUDU), I've raised my grade on the Boxee Box to 4 stars.