I haven't taken a chance to see if there are any good reviews out there yet, but I have found a little device that fits a major need in my household that I would love to test: SqueezeBox from a company called Slim Devices. It allows you to stream your CD collection (in AAC or MP3 format) to this device which hooks up to your stereo. What looks interesting are a few things:
1) The device reads the data off a central computer and does not simply play music remotely that is actually playing on a client on your computer. It reads the catalogue of songs directly, which means more than one of these means each one can be playing a different song/playlist.
2) It can read playlists not only from WinAmp/Windows machines, but also iTunes/Mac and XMMS/Linux (I know, iTunes is indeed available for Windows, but I am more interested in the Mac side of things). Let's say I am finally ready to dive into Linux, it is supposed to work there, too.
3) It connects to the central server via WiFi or ethernet. I can only imagine the hack options for this little bugger right now (creating a neighborhood music network). Yes, I know, I would probably have the RIAA screaming DCMA foul, but the ideas are there. (I could even VPN into my home network and play at the office - legally, I think.) Oh, on top of that, the server/service is free! Not yet another, buy a device only to find that you need special software to get it to work for you.
This item appears to have solved all of my concerns about other devices (i.e. it doesn't actually play the music itself, it is dependent upon one OS or another and I have yet another portable music player that I have to sync with a local connection). I hope these people stay in business long enough for me to take it for a spin.
via: slashdot.org
