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Wireless Music/Media Player Roundup?
robmueller asks: "Like most of you here on Slashdot, I've got my entire music collection on my PC, and would like to share it around the house to at least my lounge room stereo. While the AirPort Express is still a month away (mid July), and the lack of a remote control seems like a problem for a stereo away from the computer, there's a number of other devices out there already; D-Link DSM-320, Squeeze Box, Actiontec, Virtuoso MC-500 (uh... looks like the Actiontec), and a standard 'we hooked it up for 5 minutes' review of several more devices here. However, I want to hear from people who have actually used one, and what they liked, didn't like, ease of use, audio only, is audio & video useful? etc. So who's using one of these things?"
With a streaming setup, you need a much more expensive computer device to receive anything. FM radios are a dime a dozen. You are unlikely to listen to more than one stream at once.
What you want is something like this . Plug it into the sound-out of a cabled media computer (or, heck, a Wireless Music/Media Player, if you feel the need to comply with the latest buzzwords). Put the computer wherever you have the space (closet, basement, attic) and keep your stereo clutter-free. Tune the FM transmitter to a free space low on the dial (89.3 or so), and listen to your streams on any stereo in/around/outside the house. So long as you aren't stepping on any other nearby frequencies, and the reception drops off significantly enough before you get more than a few houses away, you shouldn't have much worry about complaints.
Or you can drag your Wireless Music/Media Player out into the backyard the next time you want to host a barbecue. Of course, "wireless" doesn't usually apply to power cables and wall warts.
In a related story, the IRS has recently ruled that the cost of Windows upgrades can NOT be deducted as a gambling loss.
Would be something that not only streams music, but can also stream karaoke! Think about it, it would be so awesome if you could go to the iTunes music store from your laptop, d/l a song(normal version, plus karoake file with lyrics and timing, and even music video if appropriate, or you could do like the karaoke bars do in Japan and just put generic videos of people on the screen), then send it up on your bigscreen tv(and nice speakers) using an airport express kind of device. The sales of songs to drunk people on the iTunes music store would go through the roof! I mean, if you really want a song, what are you going to do, go to a p2p network to try to find a legit karaoke version or just go to the iTMS(since you will probably already have iTunes open) and buy the song.
Come on Steve, lead the pack!