Libox

Libox, founded in 2008 by serial entrepreneur Erez Pilosof, operated as a free platform for accessing and sharing high-definition media collections across various devices. Pilosof, who previously founded Walla!, a major Israeli web portal, created Libox to address the challenge of managing and sharing media across multiple devices while maintaining original quality. The company received funding from investors like Evergreen Venture Partners and Rhodium. After releasing a beta version on June 22, 2010, the company ceased operations in 2011.

The service functioned by creating private clouds that communicated between devices and web browsers using a combination of algorithms, grids, and peer-to-peer networking technologies. This approach meant files were not uploaded to a central server but streamed directly from the user's computer, allowing the service to be free and without storage limitations. Users could add media to the Libox desktop application, making it instantly available on smartphones and other computers via a web browser. The platform was cross-platform, with a downloadable desktop application for both Windows and Mac, and a web-based interface. It also allowed users to share their media collections with friends by creating contact lists.

The business model was centered on providing the service for free, leveraging a patent-pending combination of P2P, grid, and distributed computing technologies to avoid the costs of centralized cloud storage. By decentralizing storage to the users' own devices, Libox eliminated the need for storage capacity limits. The platform aimed to provide a seamless way for individuals to enjoy their personal videos, photos, and music anywhere, without worrying about file formats or quality loss. An iOS app was available, and an Android application was reportedly in development. Keywords: media sharing, file streaming, peer-to-peer, P2P media, personal cloud, cross-platform media, digital media collection, file synchronization, remote media access, video streaming, music streaming, photo sharing, Erez Pilosof, distributed computing, private cloud, desktop media application, web-based media player, mobile media access, Walla!, Evergreen Venture Partners