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A whole new batch of devices and stores support FLAC: for portables there are the iAUDIO T2 and iAUDIO F2, TrekStor's Vibez, the Onda VX737, and the AP3000 from Green Apple. For the home stereo, Slim Devices' Transporter and Ziova's CS510 and CS505. For music in FLAC format check out digital-tunes for electronic and underground, or FestivaLink.net for live shows.

Bluedot's BMP-1430 portable supports FLAC.

AudioReQuest's new S.Series music servers support FLAC.

Cowon's A2 now supports FLAC with the latest firmware, and Olive's new Opus both plays and records to FLAC.

The new Iwod G10 portable supports FLAC.

Want some FLAC with your Volvo? Volvo's Digital Jukebox, developed with PhatNoise, is fully integrated with the car's audio system and available for the S60, V70, XC70, and S80. PhatNoise's PhatBox in 2002 was the first device to support FLAC natively and has gained a loyal following.

There is no way you need your entire collection instantaneously. So all these "I have better things to do with my time" people just don't seem to be using their brains about how they're likely to use that MP3 player.

There are people for whom this is useful, but it's not your average Slashdot reader. Wealthy people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have people set up their home theaters and whole-house audio systems. The professionals that set these up will often install mp3-based music servers such as the AudioReQuest http://www.request.com/ or the Escient Fireball http://www.escient.com/. These installers will usually pre-load the music servers for their clients. A CD ripping service would be very useful for them, but not for the average slashdotter.

There's already several things similar to this out there:

http://www.elanhomesystems.com/product/music/viadj /viadj.asp
http://www.slimdevices.com/
http://www.escient.com/products.html
http://www.request.com/us/

The system has been shipping for months, and was announced and prototypes shown at CEDIA last year.

It's a nice system and worked well. It is larger than it looks in the photos.

I would generally recommend the Audio Request with a house amp though, if you're willing to spend a couple thousand more.

Why reinvent the wheel? If your time is worth $00, then maybe you should.

Personally, I would get a Arrakis Digilink DC6 6-output system for your scenario.

Arrakis

They probably have DC4 (the 4-output version) available at a discount from people who upgraded.

Contact Jon Young @ Arrakis

(For a single zone system, the Audio Request is the winner. Request - they also have zone expanders, but for 6 zones I'd be inclined to go with the Arrakis as an all in one system).

For those people who would be inclined to say "oh, it's expensive. I want something for $100" let me say this: My time retails at $125/hr. Why spend 100+ hours hacking together a system and tweaking interfaces, ultimately having something that mostly works, but will be a lifetime drain on your time, and have no value to anyone else because no one else would be able to fix it or upgrade it? Buy something off the shelf and use it! The Audio Request runs QNX, and you can sign into it and modify it a bit if you want. Both Request and Arrakis have had teams of programmers and engineers working out the bugs and coming up with good interfaces for thousands of hours, not to mention adding new features (request recently added FLAC and album art to their OS). Place a value on your own time, and you'll see that these units are not unreasonably priced.

aem

You bring up some good points and yes, most people wouldn't be able to perceive the difference between a properly mastered liveset encoded lossy and lossless. But by providing a lossless version the consumer is given the freedom to choose what lossy codec to use for his portable/DVD-player (be it Vorbis, MP3 or even MPC). And there already is hardware playing FLAC files.

How many people could even tell the difference between a FLAC encoded live concert and a properly encoded 128-192kbs AAC/256kbs MP3 via LAME with the advice of r3mix.net/whatever the hell settings you ogg guys use for archival quality.
r3mix.net, which has been spreading misinformation about MP3 and audio in general for a long time, has been dead for over a year now. The --r3mix setting has been deprecated by the code-level tweaked --alt-presets, which provide a way better sound quality tuned in many blind listening tests (ABX). For more information visit www.hydrogenaudio.org

ARQ2-135 or their new TeraServer

Absolutely the best engineered component MP3 player available.

ReQuest Multimedia

rs232, tcp/ip, and IR control, digital out, tv out (composite and s-video), analog out, analog in, built-in samba and webserver, runs QNX, excellent support, pre-written modules for control from high-end systems like Crestron, drives are swappable, fully-documented open protocols, java remote, etc, etc. Highly recommended. I have an ARQ1 that I'm very happy with, and I get to play with ARQ2-135's almost everyday.

PR link at request

(I have played with Arrakis DC6, Escient Fireball's, Lansonic, and prefer the AudioRequest by far. If I was going to recommend a runner up, it would be the Arrakis because of the 6 zones, but the AudioRequest wins for me because of MP3 support, upcoming OggVorbis support, better interfaces and it is their primary business).

ARQ2-135 or their new TeraServer

Absolutely the best engineered component MP3 player available.

ReQuest Multimedia

rs232, tcp/ip, and IR control, digital out, tv out (composite and s-video), analog out, analog in, built-in samba and webserver, runs QNX, excellent support, pre-written modules for control from high-end systems like Crestron, drives are swappable, fully-documented open protocols, java remote, etc, etc. Highly recommended. I have an ARQ1 that I'm very happy with, and I get to play with ARQ2-135's almost everyday.

PR link at request

(I have played with Arrakis DC6, Escient Fireball's, Lansonic, and prefer the AudioRequest by far. If I was going to recommend a runner up, it would be the Arrakis because of the 6 zones, but the AudioRequest wins for me because of MP3 support, upcoming OggVorbis support, better interfaces and it is their primary business).

For companies to produce portable Vorbis players, they need to be made aware that there is a market for them. Every day, I hear the same thing from Vorbis listeners; 'I'm not buying a hardware portable music player unless it supports Ogg Vorbis.' It's nice to hear, but we can't do anything about it (we're not a hardware company). So, this page is here to let you send that message to people who can. Remember, be polite!

The Companies:

Frontier Labs - URL - has told a lot of people that they're considering implementing Vorbis support for the NEX II machine. Here's their information:

Frontier Labs
Unit 2206 - 8, Cyberincubator, Kodak House II
No. 321 Java Road
North Point, Hong Kong
Telephone: 852.2527.3322
Fax: 852.2528.5277
E-mail: techsupport@frontierlabs.com

iRiver - URL - has said they are planning to support Ogg Vorbis in the future via firmware upgrade, but the schedule is not yet finalized. Here's their information:

iRiver America
1716 Ringwood Avenue
San Jose, CA 95131
Telephone: 1-408-452-7940
Fax: 1-408-452-9944
E-mail: contact@iriveramerica.com

UPDATE: Forwarded E-mail from iRiver America

The engineers have Ogg Vorbis under consideration to support. However, at this time, there is no decision whether it will be supported in the future or not.

Regards,

Erica L. Briggs
Customer Service Representative
iRiver America, Inc.
Direct: 408.452.7940

Wouldn't you like to see Vorbis on the super-sexy iPod? We would, too. Here's some contact information for Apple Computer (URL):

Apple
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
Telephone: 408-996-1010

UPDATE: Don't forget to drop a note to Apple about the iPod at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html!

Other companies producing audio hardware:

Archos Technology Inc. - URL
3-A Goodyear
Irvine, CA 92618
Telephone: (949) 609-1400
Fax: (949) 609-1414

ReQuest Multimedia - URL
435 2nd Ave.
Troy, NY 12182
E-mail: bizdev@request.com

Evolution Technologies - URL
118 Kitty Hawk Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
Telephone: 919-544-3777 / toll-free: 866-848-8070
E-mail: info@nowevolution.com

UPDATE: Note from Evolution Technologies

Evolution Technologies, Inc. is committed to support our consumers music appetite. We will support the formats that are consistent with both their desires and good business practices. While we have not ruled out supporting "open source" formats, we must first evaluate the acceptance levels with the buying public so that our organization can justify the expense of developing a new compatible CODEC. When the demand is sufficient, we will support the technology.

Sonic Blue - URL
2841 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054-1838
Telephone: (408) 588-8000

I-Jam Multimedia LLC - URL
1092 National Parkway
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Telephone: 847-839-1233
Fax: 847-839-1277
E-mail: ehamnett@geltzerpr.com

Alaris, Inc. - URL
44061 Nobel Drive
Fremont, CA 94538

Creative Labs, Inc. - URL
Developer Relations
1901 McCarthy Blvd.
Milpitas, California 95035
Telephone: 408-546-6425
Fax: 408-432-6717
E-mail: devmusic@creativelabs.com

Daisy Technology, LLC - URL
111 N. Market Street, Suite 624
San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: 408-286-7697
Fax: 408-351-3330
E-mail: info@daisytech-usa.com

Procell Media - URL
69 Wrexham Road
Whitchurch, Shropshire
SY13 1HT
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 (0)1948 665048
Fax: +44 (0)1948 667099

G-NET Canada Headquarters - URL
11 Sinclair Court
Cambridge, Ontario
N1T 1K2 CANADA
Telephone: 519-623-4901
Fax: 519-623-3229

For companies to produce portable Vorbis players, they need to be made aware that there is a market for them. Every day, I hear the same thing from Vorbis listeners; 'I'm not buying a hardware portable music player unless it supports Ogg Vorbis.' It's nice to hear, but we can't do anything about it (we're not a hardware company). So, this page is here to let you send that message to people who can. Remember, be polite!

The Companies:

Frontier Labs - URL - has told a lot of people that they're considering implementing Vorbis support for the NEX II machine. Here's their information:

Frontier Labs
Unit 2206 - 8, Cyberincubator, Kodak House II
No. 321 Java Road
North Point, Hong Kong
Telephone: 852.2527.3322
Fax: 852.2528.5277
E-mail: techsupport@frontierlabs.com

iRiver - URL - has said they are planning to support Ogg Vorbis in the future via firmware upgrade, but the schedule is not yet finalized. Here's their information:

iRiver America
1716 Ringwood Avenue
San Jose, CA 95131
Telephone: 1-408-452-7940
Fax: 1-408-452-9944
E-mail: contact@iriveramerica.com

UPDATE: Forwarded E-mail from iRiver America

The engineers have Ogg Vorbis under consideration to support. However, at this time, there is no decision whether it will be supported in the future or not.

Regards,

Erica L. Briggs
Customer Service Representative
iRiver America, Inc.
Direct: 408.452.7940

Wouldn't you like to see Vorbis on the super-sexy iPod? We would, too. Here's some contact information for Apple Computer (URL):

Apple
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
Telephone: 408-996-1010

UPDATE: Don't forget to drop a note to Apple about the iPod at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html!

Other companies producing audio hardware:

Archos Technology Inc. - URL
3-A Goodyear
Irvine, CA 92618
Telephone: (949) 609-1400
Fax: (949) 609-1414

ReQuest Multimedia - URL
435 2nd Ave.
Troy, NY 12182
E-mail: bizdev@request.com

Evolution Technologies - URL
118 Kitty Hawk Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
Telephone: 919-544-3777 / toll-free: 866-848-8070
E-mail: info@nowevolution.com

UPDATE: Note from Evolution Technologies

Evolution Technologies, Inc. is committed to support our consumers music appetite. We will support the formats that are consistent with both their desires and good business practices. While we have not ruled out supporting "open source" formats, we must first evaluate the acceptance levels with the buying public so that our organization can justify the expense of developing a new compatible CODEC. When the demand is sufficient, we will support the technology.

Sonic Blue - URL
2841 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054-1838
Telephone: (408) 588-8000

I-Jam Multimedia LLC - URL
1092 National Parkway
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Telephone: 847-839-1233
Fax: 847-839-1277
E-mail: ehamnett@geltzerpr.com

Alaris, Inc. - URL
44061 Nobel Drive
Fremont, CA 94538

Creative Labs, Inc. - URL
Developer Relations
1901 McCarthy Blvd.
Milpitas, California 95035
Telephone: 408-546-6425
Fax: 408-432-6717
E-mail: devmusic@creativelabs.com

Daisy Technology, LLC - URL
111 N. Market Street, Suite 624
San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: 408-286-7697
Fax: 408-351-3330
E-mail: info@daisytech-usa.com

Procell Media - URL
69 Wrexham Road
Whitchurch, Shropshire
SY13 1HT
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 (0)1948 665048
Fax: +44 (0)1948 667099

G-NET Canada Headquarters - URL
11 Sinclair Court
Cambridge, Ontario
N1T 1K2 CANADA
Telephone: 519-623-4901
Fax: 519-623-3229

See:

Escient Fireball
Audieorequest ARQ2 Pro

-Andrew

Similar question: for those of us with Audio Request or Arrakis network music servers, what will the CD do?

While these are computer-controlled, they are absolutely not computers but audio servers for providing whole-house audio. They read the audio
cd using a cd-rom however. Damage to one of these X-thousand dollars devices would really piss me off.

aem

The MPST Digital Jukebox reminds me of that unit. Not because it could play MP3s, or didn't play Ogg, or because it ran an embedded OS. No, it reminds of the ARQ1 because I wouldn't buy it for the very same reason: There's no way to get your music off the thing except through an audio cable. I looked through the MPST web site for this unit. I know it's Linux-based. But how can I log into it? I want to be able to get music off of it as easy as I get music onto it. I have a PC upstairs, and a stereo downstairs. If all my music is on the MPST, then how do I listen from my PC? Hell, how do I back my music up? You can't.

Someone needs to make a simple music appliance like the MPST, but it needs that one crucial feature: you need to be able to get your music off of it as easily as you can get it on to it. You have an smbd running which shares the entire /music slice, or export that music partition via NFS. Or even let me stream from it via HTTP (and then I can write LWP scripts to mirror/spider/play my tunes). But just let me get my music off it somehow. It would also be cool if it had a PCMCIA slot so that you could stick in additional drive space/RAM/802.11b. And a way to get custom software on it would be cool. A bash prompt would be really cool

Oh well. But as long as we're in the land makebelieve, with cool music appliances that do everything everyone wants for only like $100, I want one more thing: Can I have a pony?

-B

I don't understand what all the hype is about. I have a Toshiba DVD player which does a fine job of playing CDRs with MP3's. Even cheaper would be the Apex DVD player. I guess if you have gigs and gigs of MP3's, you don't want to burn them onto CDs?

You might want to look at an AudioRequest. It has ethernet, a TV- or front panel-based UI, 30 GB of disk, plus ethernet, etc. etc. The remote works just fine as well. It also does things like automatic freecddb lookups, automatic encoding and catagorizing, plays CD-Rs burned full of MP3s, and lots more.

It's a QNX-based device. But it's all about the right tool for the job, right? I could personally care less whether my AudioRequest runs Linux or not as long as it actually runs. Worth mentioning, I guess.

-B

"Personally I'd rather see a standard stereo component sized box, a UI that operates through your television and normal remote, and 30+ gigs, but this one is looking like a great start."

Then get an Audio Request.

I like BeOS and all, but if you want this NOW, you could check out the Audio ReQuest.

It's a home audio component with a big hard drive full of mp3s. It has an RJ45 in the back for your home ethernet. It transfers files to/from any computer on the same network with their branded software, and their next software update will make it do SMB.

It had audio quality problems, but an update on the soundcard made the quality much, much better. I hope they add digital outs in a future model.

It connects to a tv and has a remote to let you navigate your collection and sort by artist/album/whatever.

It has a CD drive that rips and encodes mp3, and I believe it also looks up titles from CDDB if on the internet. It also encodes from any input source you want to plug into the back of it. My dad is mp3ifying his LP collection this way.

It also has nifty visual effects it does on the tv while it plays, if you like.

My two wishlist items: ogg vorbis support (hopefully with multichannel) and 802.11b wireless networking.


-------

It looks like this device tries to be everything to everybody. But as a result none of the individuel functions is working well.

In addition there are several things looking 'fishy' to me:

• The Sega games with 300 Games included, are these properly licensed from Sega ?
• The 'region-free' feature. As far as I know it is no longer legal to sell region-free DVD players. Somewhat similar to cell-blocked scanners.
• Why is the SCART-Output 'optional' ? At least here in Europe this is an essential feature !

If you want a good DVD you are better off buying a device dedicated to do a good job.

If you want a good MP3 device there is Audio Request with an excellent product.

I'd like to see now a DVD working the same way Audio Request works but for video. Add some Tivo-like features, with disks like the new 180GB Seagate this starts to be possible.

Markus

It seems to be conspicuously missing radio functionality. If you live in a bigger city with lots of selection, or have a particular format you like to listen to (eg. public radio), then the radio functionality would be helpful.
--

the list includes:

• Kerbango internet radio
• Penguin radio
• audio request home MP3 stereo jukebox
• there are a few others that I can't find now, or haven't found yet.

The price sits at $799 right now and if it comes down to $699, I'm buying one. It has all the feature I want and integrated with my stereo. Way cool IMHO.

This thing looks pretty spiff. A self-contained component MP3 jukebox with ethernet. Supposedly has Linux & MacOS software coming.

I like the idea behind the Dell thing if it doesn't require its own storage. The last thing I need it a dozen 30GB drives all over the house.