Fanhattan unveils Fan TV set-top to power cloud DVR, live TV, streaming video

Fanhattan said it will release a streaming video set-top and buttonless "touch remote" later this year that viewers can use to navigate TV and Web video by swiping the device.

Source: Fanhattan

The Silicon Valley-based firm signed designer Yves Béhar to help it build the Fan TV set-top, which it describes as "sleek and visually stunning." Boxee took a similar approach with the launch of its first set-top, the Boxee Box, in 2010, hoping the cube-shaped device would distinguish it from rivals like Roku.

"People don't need a stack of devices in their living room, each delivering only part of their entertainment experience. Fan TV will replace the need for a separate cable box, DVR and streaming device, and will streamline your living room by bringing your entertainment life into one beautiful place," Fanhattan CEO Gilles BianRosa said in Thursday's announcement.

Since its foundation in 2011, Fanhattan has made content acquisition and distribution a big part of its business strategy. In December 2011, the company announced it had struck deals with Lifetime Television, Sony's Crackle and PBS, enabling customers with Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone or iPad to watch free content on their devices.

Fanhattan also allows users to search an aggregated database of streaming video providers--such as Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), Hulu Plus and Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN)--for content. This streamlines the process by allowing consumers to check several services at once rather than having to navigate each provider's catalog individually.

According to an article in TechCrunch, the Fanhattan interface offers almost three times as many shows and videos as those on the iOS app alone. The company said it integrates 29 streaming services with more than 100,000 movies and TV shows.

Fanhattan didn't say how it will price the Fan TV set-top when it debuts later this year.

For more:
- see the Fanhattan release
- CNET has this story
- check out the TechCrunch article

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