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Streaming Your MP3 Library
| 9.03.2005
Here's a couple of assumptions before we get started:
1. You know what an MP3 is
2. You've heard of iTunes from Apple
3. You know how to play Mp3s on your computer
4. You like Music
iTunes is one of the more elegant and intuitively designed software products AND MP3 player in existence. What's best is that it's FREE and works on both MAC and Widows. Just visit the site and download it. If you're at all into MP3s, you've probably assembled a library of files whether you've ripped them from your existing CD library, bought them through the ever-popular iTunes Store or have "found" and "traded" them online utilizing one of the several Peer-to-Peer applications such as Acquisition for the MAC, my favorite...
Now there are several ways to listen to your music. You can listen directly from your computer using the internal speakers, through a variety of powered speakers by plugging them (or headphones) into the sound jack on your computer or even by running a sound patch cord from your computer directly into your stereo. But what if your computer isn't in the same room as the stereo or like me, you have a relatively large library sitting on a semi-dedicated computer? Apple thinks it had the answer by introducing something called the AirPort Express which is basically a Wi-Fi device that streams music from iTunes wirelessly to your home stereo. It's easy to set up: Plug it into an available electrical outlet, connect it to your stereo and use iTunes to set it up. Within a few minutes, it's streaming music from iTunes to your stereo. Pretty cool, right? Well, kind of right but Apple made the same mistake with this as it did with it's iShuffle - - no display and limited controls. So lets say your iTunes library (on the semi-dedicated computer) is in one room and your stereo is in another. Every time you want to change the song or know what's playing, you have to walk to the other room to do it. In my case, that means up a flight of stairs and back down again. Now there have been a few third party remotes that have been created to help change, play, pause the songs which is nice but should also tell you about an interface that was a little under-baked. For $129.00, it's not a bad deal. It's basically 1/3 the price of something better along with only 1/3 of the features.
There are a variety of other devices that have similar functionality, but have full interfaces on them letting giving you full control to all the basic functions but also a readout so you can see what's playing or cued up to be played. The best part is that you don't have to run to another room to do anything. You have full control right from the device which is next to the stereo that you're listening to. I won't go into all the available devices now, but one that I have is called Roku. These highly-designed metal tubes come in 3 display sizes (and associated prices) and are truly plug-n-play. You can hook them up via an internet cable or use them wirelessly. They come with a basic remote control and finish off the job that Apple started with the Airport Express. They're a bit more $$ (just came down in price) but worth it if you're serious about getting the most out of your library.
posted at 3:10 AM
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Hoverblog Archives August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 September 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 Latest Links Myallo - Uses an “interest profile” to find the most interesting Web pages on the Internet, and can actually learn over time. Acquisition - Probably the slickest P2P file sharing application on the web. Beautiful and intuitive OSX-like interface. iPod Music Liberator-Great little shareware for copying music directly from your ipod into ITunes and your finder...No Stealing Bad Music! MusicPublisher - For those of us who are not content just sharing the songs within ITunes, this little app lets you also share any iPod you have docked to your computer as well.
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1 Comments:
Fantastic! I'm buying one of these soon. The prices have been slashed recently as well which is an added incentive. Keep the geek reviews coming!
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