Ask Slashdot: Can You Convert Old iPods Into A Home Music-Streaming Solution?

Slashdot reader zhennian wants to stream music throughout his entire house, "and was hoping that with three old iPods I might be able to put together a centrally managed house-wide audio system." Ideally it would be possible to control what's playing from a central web interface using an app on an IOS or Android device. With the iPods already plugged into docking stations and on the home wifi network, I assume it should be possible.

A search of the Apple app store didn't bring up much and forking out $AUS400 for a Sonos One or equivalent seems wasted when I've already purchased iPod docks. Can anyone recommend an App that will still be compatible with old (ie. 2007) iPods and might do this?
Or is there a better cheap alternative? Leave your best answers in the comments. Can you convert old iPods into a home music-streaming solution?

Comments

Or is there a better cheap alternative?

[nospam007]

Get refurbished Echo dots for under 35 bucks.

Additionally to playing music in all the rooms, voice-operated, it will open the door, make calls, control the lighting and read books to you or good night stories to the kids and help them with their maths.

Re:Or is there a better cheap alternative?

[jellomizer]

Now to open doors, make calls and adjust lighting. How much extra stuff on top of that $35 do you need?

For the most part Echo alone is as useful as you voice assist on your smartphone. And for smartphones you can get stuff to open doors, control lighting. However I never checks the specs to see if a smartphone can make calls. They never advertise that feature.

Squeezebox solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Assuming the ipods are iOS based then you could use an app like iPENG classic to make the ipod into a squeezebox player
Then you just need a computer or raspberry pi equivalent to run the server software on and you should be set to go

I'm sure you can

[thegarbz]

Just like you can convert and old car into a bicycle I'm sure you can turn iPods into a Frankenstein's monster example of what technology was not supposed to do. The result will nearly always be inelegant, frustrating and I'll bet you a Mars bar you'll throw it away soon after you finish and buy an of the shelf solution anyway.

Speaking of buying these DIY solutions often end up costing fat more than you estimate as you find repeated shortcomings in what you create.

Take it from me, don't proceed unless you're a hobby tinkerer or a bored engineer who enjoys the busy work.

What site do you think this is?

[Anonymous Coward]

I love these sorts of questions. Dear Slashdot, I have 8 Linksys routers from 2006 in my closet, I would like to know how to wire them together to create a smart garage door opener. I know cheap turnkey solutions exist, but that would involve googling them. I'll be patiently awaiting your answer. Love, A Faithful Reader

Re: What site do you think this is?

[guruevi]

Then you realize an ESP8266 can do all that in a footprint about 1/100th of the router at a price which is about the difference in energy costs to run the router another year.

Re:What site do you think this is?

[angel'o'sphere]

Perhaps you should first make a Beowolf cluster with them?
Then you could open/close all doors/windows in your neighbourhood!

Airfoil is close.

[darkith]

Airfoil will stream content from an iOS device to a computer, and then to multiple target devices (many brands), including iOS 7+ devices running their satellite app. Has balancing and zones, etc.

My brother has it setup this way, using a mishmash of old iPods, Airport expresses, AirPlay compatible speakers and and Apple TV.

Squeezebox

[fluffernutter]

Logitech Squeezebox is still around. Install squeeze server on any PC in your home, and squeeze player on the iPods, attach to radios whether it be through the aux in or an old one with a dock, done. Remote control with Orange Squeeze on your phone, or though the Squeezebox console.