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5.1 Sound Card Delivers 3 Streams of iTunes

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that's-a-whole-lotta-streams dept.

An anonymous reader writes "How do you distribute simultaneous streams of DRM-protected iTunes from a single computer to multiple rooms of the house? Autonomic Controls demonstrated a unique solution at the recent Electronic House Expo (EHX). The company's Media Control Server EX software turns a PC with a 5.1 sound card into a three-zone music distribution server. (Add a second card for six outputs). At EHX, the solution was demonstrated with a multiroom audio system from NuVo, whose keypads could be used to browse and select songs, playlists, genres, artists, etc. The Autonomic software merges WMA and iTunes files into a single library for easy access." I have mixed feelings about this: on one hand, this is a really clever idea and a cool hack. On the other hand, the fact that DRM makes something like this necessary is truly infuriating.

5 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. Time is on our side... yes it is. by imstanny · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have mixed feelings about this: on one hand, this is a really clever idea and a cool hack. On the other hand, the fact that DRM makes something like this necessary is truly infuriating. DRM has never been a road block to innovation. At worst, it is a nuisance that will eventually be bypassed.
    1. Re:Time is on our side... yes it is. by MadnessASAP · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Right because everyone who buys music on iTunes is a retard right? According to Wikipedia iTunes has sold over 4 billion songs and out now the 2nd largest music provider. (Walmart was first) Now I couldn't find the # of individual users but I think you've just called quite a few people idiots. My guess would be they just don't care, they have an iPod and they have iTunes and everything just fucking works they don't care about backing up or fair use they just want to buy some music and put it on their iPod.

      --
      I may agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to face the consequences of saying it.
  2. Simple by jpmorgan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Whatever happened to the right tool for the right job? Screw iTunes and buy DRM-free music from Amazon.

    1. Re:Simple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Or buy DRM-free music from ITMS.

  3. Rear 5.1 outputs by dj245 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The sound chips for those rear 5.1 outputs are often lower quality than the front on many 5.1 sound cards. Something to think about.

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.