• January 7, 2010

Highly touted Web-to-TV service Boxee Thursday opened up its software to public beta, making it available for download via Windows, Mac or Linux. The platform allows users to access streaming media on their TV sets with a cable connection from a PC to the television. In the month since Boxee launched the private beta, the company said it has identified and fixed many bugs in the new version.

Boxee also announced a new partnership with CBS' TV.com to offer users content from shows including "Family Guy," "Heroes" and "NCIS." Other new content partners include indie video hub blip.tv and entertainment site IGN. Boxee has been in a running battle with Hulu, with the Web video hub blocking its programming from the service. The company says some Hulu content is now available.

Boxee last month also announced a dedicated set-top box that it formally unveiled at CES this week. Built by D-Link and Astro Design, the cube-shaped box will sell for under $200 and will allow users to stream programming and access other Web content without having to connect to a PC. The new box is scheduled to ship in the first half of 2010. --Mark Walsh