Mediabox or a hot kitchen combo device?

This starts off well. On July 27, a @Media KickOff event was held in Graz where the first Mediaboxes were distributed to Austrian marketers. These devices are to be tested by the end of September, with users sharing their experiences. Why another extensive testing phase is required after the one in Italy remains a mystery.

Waking up in the morning, turning on the TV, watching commercials while earning money, and at the same time frying your breakfast egg—it sounds almost too good to be true. Some humor is probably needed to soften the bitter aftertaste in this case.

What was announced as a promising marketing tool turns out, upon closer inspection, to be more of a potential kitchen combo device.

@Mediabox owners report numerous functional issues.

Particularly noteworthy is the seemingly innovative additional feature of the Mediabox: It heats up so much during operation that it could serve as a frying pan. Users report that you could literally fry eggs on it. This would probably make it one of the most expensive frying pans on the market—after all, a Mediabox costs a whopping 200 euros. Perhaps in the heat of the moment, this additional feature was simply forgotten to be mentioned.

The included remote control is also not without its flaws. It only works in the immediate vicinity of the box. A relaxed TV evening from the sofa? Not a chance.

We also received reports that after a software update, the box stubbornly remains trapped in an endless update cycle, making operation a test of patience. But that’s not all: The volume control seems to have a mind of its own, which can only be tamed by restarting the box.

We also managed to get hold of a Mediabox and had it examined by a technician. It quickly became clear: This is a true multitasker—but not in a positive sense. The processing of the electronic components is more reminiscent of a hobby workshop than professional production. Many solder joints were done by hand and not by soldering robots. Companies that produce larger quantities in this area work fully automated. Even from the cheapest Chinese manufacturers, one would not expect such unprofessional workmanship. It remains to be seen how Freidl and Co. intend to solve this dilemma.

The onboarding of major retail chains also seems to be problematic. A senior technician from one of the largest companies in the electronics retail sector confirmed to us that they would never offer such boxes.

Without large retailers—and without enough advertising—the income is missing to realize the Mediabox project.

While the testing phase is officially set to run until the end of September, it already seems to be emerging that the Mediabox does not live up to its promises. We therefore recommend not leaving the device running unattended.

A detailed report from the technician will be published shortly.

We will keep you updated!