Samsung puts an end to Boxee’s secret project, lays off dozens of employees
The plan for Samsung to develop a dedicated media tablet to replace the television remote has come to an end. The team working on the project, largely Boxee employees that transferred to Samsung in 2013, have been laid off as a result. The project, known internally as Perfect Experience, would have competed with Chromecast and other streaming devices while being unique.
Variety, the publication that learned of PX’s cancellation, describes what Samsung was working on:
At the center of PX, which had been in development for around two years, was a dedicated media tablet that aimed to replace the traditional TV remote. The tablet was supposed to give users access to a unified guide with listings of live TV and streaming content with a custom-built user interface that looked unlike any traditional multi-purpose mobile device, according to multiple sources familiar with the project.
Content from streaming services and television providers were among the partnerships Samsung was seeking out. Other than that, PX probably would have operated like Android TV does today. The only difference would have been the hardware and software controlling everything. Samsung likely would have had an advantage by bundling the tablet with its high-end televisions.
A debut was initially pegged for CES 2015, but delays pushed the launch to late 2015. Following even more delays, a release was forced into 2016. Variety reports that content providers were balking at Samsung’s desire to have content embedded into PX’s guide; therefore, users would have been able to skip apps entirely. Organizational conflict was also mentioned as a possibility leading to the project’s end.
Former Boxee CEO Aver Ronen was working with Samsung, too, and is among the employees that have left Samsung.
A Samsung representative commented on the report: “It is our policy to not comment on rumors, speculation or personnel matters.” The rep went on to note that the company will continue investing in areas that “enhance the Samsung experience” for consumers.
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