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Mix Wi-Fi and Portable Digital Audio, Get Aireo

Posted by michael on from the only-difference-is-that-there-is-not-cat dept.

Midwestern gadget freak writes "What do you get when you mix Wi-Fi and digital tunes? The Aireo, which syncs with a PC over a high-speed wireless link instead of a cable or dock. It packs in other features not found in an iPod, but has a measly 1.5 gigabyte drive and won't work with any of the top music-download services. Its maker isn't a household name, but Best Buy will sell the things in a few weeks."

9 of 189 comments (clear)

  1. Measly 1.5 gig by HappyCitizen · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The summary says it has a measly 1.5 gig hd. Yes, some MP3 players of 20g or 10 or 40, but 1.5 is still a lot for many many songs. Hours on end to be truthful. If you frequently have time to update with your computer, I can't imagine 1.5g being a limit.

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  2. I see a big dissapointment by Savatte · · Score: 5, Funny

    When a female asks if you want to see her Aireo and doesn't lift up her shirt

  3. If every mp3 player is dubbed "iPod Killer" by revolvement · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why is it that the iPods are still the #1 seller? Is it brand name recognization, or is it just that maybe Apple's product is better in the long run?

    1. Re:If every mp3 player is dubbed "iPod Killer" by jeffehobbs · · Score: 5, Insightful


      It's the best product out there right now. It wins on:

      *ease of use (syncs and charges effortlessly with mac/pc)

      * player UI (you can find any one of 10,000 songs in less than 10 seconds, while driving... so I hear)

      * ease of music procurement (iTunes is a great mpeg3/mpeg4 ripper and it also hooks into the very good iTunes Music Store)

      *good looks (other mp3 players look like a robot's diseased ear that fell off)

      * cool accessories (there's a ton of iPod goodies out there, from car chargers to boom boxes to FR transmitters to...)

      Just my opinions, but sometimes things do well in the market not only because of marketing, but also due to actual quality and resultant word of mouth.

      ~jeff

  4. Re:Let's give a warm welcome to the iPod killer by beswicks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This post sounds like and advert, same copy as the site and everything...

    Just a few small points.

    1. How does it get 'wireless' power? I assume it needs a power cable to charge the battery. Maybe incar?

    2. With a mac the ipod syncs when it is docked, so the list would be.
    a. get ipod from car
    b. dock ipod
    c. sleep
    d. put ipod in car

    3. Its a bad idea to leave valuables in the car

    4. The thing that cracks me up most is the 'Pick your playlists' bit. With only 1.5GB vs 15GB in the same price ipod (which has 10x capacity but is 'overpriced'?) many will need to pick the mp3's they want in the software for this thing, more so than any ipod user.

    5. FM transmission is cool, but way lower quality then a wired connection

    6. Syncing over wifi to a car is going to take a long time, 11Mb/s max, prob 1-3Mb/s in reality, bit slower than the 400Mb/s of firewire.

    Just my 2 cents,

  5. Useless use of a good hardware combo by t_allardyce · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It doesnt say anywhere (or does it??) that it can link up with other Aireo's so whats the point? sticking a wireless link in it just so you dont have to plug the cable into your computer!? Ok so it could be cool if you want to leave it in the car or something but its not designed as a car stereo box so you would have to be pretty lazy to justify that. What would be really cool is if it could communicate with other mp3 players on the street so you could listen to what others were listening to (like jacking in with headphones but wireless) or even better, swap music with people. Im guessing they didnt do this for "legal" reasons but hopefully someone will come up with a firmware hack.

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  6. depends on what you call top... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    won't work with any of the top music-download services

    Sure it does, if it plays good ole' mp3s... because the "top music download services" are always going to be the free ones... perhaps the author meant "top pay services"...

  7. But... You still have to plug it in! by Cordath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wireless synching is a good idea, but you still have to plug the thing in to charge. In that sense, it hasn't gained any physical advantage over any other player. The interface for the iPod, especially on windows, sucks ass. If plugging it in automatically synched it and it automatically un-docked itself when done it would be every bit as good as the Aerio. Now... If someone could just figure out a way to charge these gizmo's wirelessly we'd be set!

  8. Re:Let's give a warm welcome to the iPod killer by EulerX07 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Did anybody ever catch that newscast about people hired by companies to promote products secretly? It was on cbs.

    Some of these actors would be on the streets, and keep asking passerbys to take picture of them and another actor on that brand new camera that just came out.

    On the more insidious end of the scale, they would hire pretty women (believe me, those REAL lookers in bars) to go smoke in bars, and give cigarettes/ask for a light. Men would of course be eager to please, and they would see what the lovely lady was smoking.

    And then...there were those that were paid to surf around public forums and do publicity like "I totally saw "whatever" movie, it's really good!, you have to see it!". Basically it's manufactured word to mouth. If parent isn't one of those drones, he's trying to look like one.