oh my god, i want one

[Macette]

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_overview.html

has anybody around here seen/used this thing? it looks AWESOME.

 

[tomf87]

Here's something similar from 2001. Never kept up with it though..

http://www.tomshardware.com/network/20011220/index.html

 

[cubist]

And there's MacSense's HomePod, too. Looks like there are plenty of products in this segment.

 

[SilentPanda]

For the price, you almost might as well get a Tivo (once it supports AAC files).

 

[mactastic]

Does this work over 802.11? Or do I still have to plug some cord into my 'book? I want wireless AV straight from my laptop to my home theater!

 

[Nik_Doof]

wow i was impressed with the original SLiMP3.... 802.11? <neo>woah</neo>

 

[Flowbee]

Originally posted by SilentPanda
For the price, you almost might as well get a Tivo (once it supports AAC files).

...if ever. I signed up for Tivo's Home Media Option several months ago when reports were that AAC support was 'just around the corner.' As of today, Tivo has no timeline for when (or if) it will support AAC. I still love it for mp3 streaming, but I'd like to re-rip my collection into AAC.

 

[frank5050]

It was just announced yesterday and isn't shipping yet.

I have the previous version (SliMP3) which lacks built-in 802.11b and digital outs but I simply use a Linksys WET11 ethernet bridge to connect to my WLAN.

Their server software integrates very well with iTunes. This is what I think is one of the main advantages of the products from Slim Devices (as opposed to Audiotron and some others), you don't have to load up another program to discover and catalog all your files. You simply load the Slimserver software and it keeps up with your iTunes library.

I'm curious about the MacSense homepod device (Gloo labs powered?). I don't believe it's a shipping product yet so it's hard to evaluate. The Slim Devices products are getting more mature all the time.

Will be interesting to see where this product segment goes in the future. And yes, I wish I could stream MP3's to my DirecTivo (stand-alone Tivo's work now) but I got tired of waiting for this support to emerge.

 

[sparkleytone]

my brother has 4 audiotrons. they are pretty cool and all, but i'd rather have something rendezvous enabled. it makes it much easier. other than that, its nice

 

[3-22]

Expensive...

Seems kinda pricey for just audio.. I was looking at maybe getting the Mad Catz GameShark Media Player for my PS2. You'll need a PS2 network adapter and a wireless PS2 remote would make it more convenient. Anyone try it yet? No AAC suppport...

http://www.gameshark.com/playstation2/articles/436532p1.html


The GameShark Media Player features:
- Works on Windows, OSX, and Linux.

- Playback capability of video formats: MPEG-1, 2 & 4, DivX 3.X, 4.X and 5.X video, and others

- Playback capability of music formats: MP3 and OGG

- Viewing of standard digital photography formats: JPEG and PNG

- Support for 16:9 display ratio and progressive scan (480p)output (with a HDTV and component cabling)

- Easy to use auto-configuration network setup

- Full trick-play functionality (VCR functions, such as fast-forward, rewind, pause, stop and play)

- Support for video resolutions: up to720x320 (letterbox and 512X384 (4:3)

- Parental or access controls

- Multi-server, multi-client support

 

[Rezet]

Yeah... its a nice thing but I dont think i'd spent 299.99 My stereo system is 2 meters away from my G5 and i can just buy a wire (which i have from radioshack $4.99) and just wire it...

 

[mcl]

Re: oh my god, i want one

Originally posted by Macette
http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_overview.html

has anybody around here seen/used this thing? it looks AWESOME.

It's not available yet. But I'm one of the original developers for the server code (wrote the Live365 streaming code for it).

I highly recommend the SliMP3. Works beautifully (and I've been using my beta unit wirelessly since I got it, via a switch and a wireless bridge).

Sean's a good guy, and this new product should be just as robust and desireable as the current SliMP3.

 

[Macette]

Re: Re: oh my god, i want one

Originally posted by mcl
I'm one of the original developers for the server code (wrote the Live365 streaming code for it).

Hi there! When it says "SlimServer 5.0 can convert other file formats to MP3 on the fly", does this mean a loss of quality? How does it go with high bitrate files?

I'm really, really tempted by this thing.

 

[g808]

isn't this the samething as the Linksys Wireless Media adapter?

It's available on Amazon for $135 after rebates.

 

[mcl]

Re: Re: Re: oh my god, i want one

Originally posted by Macette
Hi there! When it says "SlimServer 5.0 can convert other file formats to MP3 on the fly", does this mean a loss of quality? How does it go with high bitrate files?

I'm really, really tempted by this thing.

No loss of quality, unless you're converting to a more lossy format from a less-lossy format.

It does just fine with low and high-bitrate files, though of course the processing, being server-side, will depend on the processor you throw at it.

 

[mcl]

Originally posted by g808
isn't this the samething as the Linksys Wireless Media adapter?

It's available on Amazon for $135 after rebates.

Not unless the Linksys Wireless Media adapter runs open-source server code, an open network protocol, and is the successor to the SliMP3.

This device, and the SliMP3, are simply devices that connect to two things: your network, and your stereo. The server code's mostly Perl, and runs on most every platform (OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Windows NT/XP/2k). If the machine running the server code can access the MP3s you want to play, then the SliMP3 can play them.

The server code also streams from various Internet streaming sources, and feeds the stream to the device for output to your stereo.