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Logitech Buys Slim Devices

Posted by ryuzaki0 on

Logitech today announced the purchase of Slim Devices, longtime makers of network audio players SliMP3, Squeezebox, and the new Transporter. A couple years back Logitech bought Harmony Remote, becoming the makers of all my wireless control devices for my entertainment center (Bluetooth mouse, remote control, and PS2 controllers). Now they make my Squeezebox, too.

9 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Was it these guys that... by WasterDave · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ....were on slashdot a few years back hand soldering resistors onto logic boards to get their first batch out the door? If it was, well, way to go back bedroom hardware hackers! There is hope beyond yet another godforsaken web project yet :)

    Dave

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    1. Re:Was it these guys that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I believe you're thinking of the same crew. I've done a little work with the owner, Sean Adams over email. When I last looked in on slimdevices about a year ago, he had a shippable product, but it did indeed still seem quite home-grown. Seems to have paid off - congrats Sean!

  2. hmm, not sure that's a good thing by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 3, Interesting

    logitech makes CRAPPY drivers. their software side of things is really bad.

    large companies almost ALWAYS ruin smaller ones when they buy them (out).

    I have a slim mp3 hardware box. its reasonably well designed and mostly trouble free.

    but honestly, I am not going to hope for much more now that they're no longer a small company ;(

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  3. Re:Not so sure ... by bartyboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My experience with Logitech (or their Harmony Remote) has been stellar. My Harmony Remote 680 is probably my favorite piece of equipment in my entertainment system, and I only bought one because it controls everything I own and doesn't break after I drop it. Additionally, one thing I cherish about my Harmony Remote is its integration with the remote control database and ease of setup. The remote has a few oddities, but it's a solid piece of hardware. I'm certain that Logitech has not screwed up Harmony Remote by buying it.

    Isn't anecdotal evidence great?

    (On a more serious note, I highly recommend the Harmony Remote to anyone with more than two remote controls in their entertainment system. The wife loves it, too.)

  4. Very interesting by NaCh0 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As a squeezebox owner, good and bad thoughts are passing through my head...

    Will the quality remain top notch in future versions?

    Will we see price drops?

    Will logitech be able to pull off a killer device that combines the squeezebox with an equally versitile video component? (mpeg,wmv,mov,avi,etc)

  5. Re:Not so sure ... by AmaDaden · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My experience with Logitech hasn't exactly been stellar.

    Really? I have never had any problems with Logitech what so ever in the past few years. To the point where I only buy Logitech stuff. The same is true for my friends. What logitech stuff have you guys had problems with? I've never used anything from Slim Devices but I would think that this would be good for them. Logicitech should have the power and money to make what ever they make even better or at the very lest cheaper and easier to find.

  6. Will they kill Slim Devices? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Since Logitech already has (probably a poor equivalent to Squeezebox):
    http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details /US/EN,CRID=2653,CONTENTID=11828

    will they use this acquisition to squash the best kept secret in music streaming?

    I've been listening to my Slimp3 box since they first shipped them sans the snazzy case and Slim Devices remote control! It still rocks and I wouldn't consider any alternatives until it dies.

    I wonder too about Logitech dropping Linux support since I have a Harmony remote control too and they promised Linux drivers several years ago and never delivered. Also they are slow to integrate feature requests.

  7. Older people and Harmony remotes... by norminator · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I love my Harmony, but I think people need a good introduction to it, otherwise they don't understand it, because they think it's more complicated than it is. My dad came over, picked up the remote and turned off the TV, but not using the big "Off" button at the top... he went through the device menu, selected TV, then hit the soft button for power. Then he proudly proclaimed that it was a man's remote because women wouldn't be able to use it.

    I didn't have the heart to tell him that you can do just about anything you want with one button press. Maybe someday I'll tell him all about the Activities buttons...

    In the meantime, my mom just looks at the remote and shakes her head.

  8. Re:Not so sure ... by mspohr · · Score: 2, Interesting
    My Harmony remote has been great. It's easy to set up thanks to the online configuration databank.

    Also, big suprise was that they have great technical support. I had a question and talked to a real person who was very helpful. The tech support people can even set up your device for you since they store the configuration in their database.

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