Just in case you’ve missed the hype (we’re talking New York Times coverage), ZillionTV came out this week to great affect.

There are three (big) things about ZillionTV that make it different from previous generations of VoD (Video on Demand) set top boxes:

1. It has a strong content provider business model — in fact, like Hulu on the PC, ZillionTV in large measure funded by content providers themselves.
2. online casinoIt has a strong ISP business model — ZillionTV’s not an over-the-top (OTT) service; instead it will be offered in concert with broadband providers
3. It has a motion sensing interface (built around Hillcrest Labs’ backgammon free casino money free craps game play free black jack craps video poker strategy play black jack online how to win video poker casino game online uk best casino online casino secure online gambling jackpot casino online casino black jack learn to play craps how to win at video poker craps online blackjack casino game online casino betting free on line video poker casino games no download casino online gambling casino play free casino slots video poker machine bonus video poker free on line slots double bonus video poker free video poker games free casinos roulette online craps rules free on line casino rules of craps диваниraman amplifieronline casino free money blackjack 21 internet casino how to play craps free casino game download fortunelounge online casino free casino download free casino card game free roulette game free casino play no deposit free money casino internet casino online technology); bringing Hillcrest’s pointer technology and GUI to the TV set (along with Kodak’s Theater HD Player, which launched with similar technology last fall)

I think that this box is going to make a big splash in the market — it’s expected to be cheap for customers to purchase, cheap for them to watch videos (with a “free with ads” model in the works), and — the biggest difference — easy for customers to use.

The only thing I think is missing here is a keyboard functionality. Hillcrest’s onscreen keyboard is definitely best of breed (their tremor detection technology makes is much easier to point at letters on the screen than say a Wii remote — and much easier than up/down/left/righting with a standard remote). But this HD capable and powerful box can bring a lot more than just VoD to the TV. I think additional apps (T-Commerce, Web, email, etc.) are going to need some sort of a physical keyboard to be truly useful.