Check out the gCab . It's huge and expensive, but man, does it cut down the sound. I'm using one with an older Shuttle cube, and the noise level has gone from maddening to a mere whisper. The iMac next to it is a lot louder.
...does anyone know just how close it's going to be compared to usual?
Loads of info (sky maps, viewing charts, other graphics) in Where is Mars Now? at space.com.
A couple of choice quotes:
"As of May 15, the Red Planet is about 82 million miles (133 million kilometers) from Earth."
"On Aug. 27, 2003, Mars will be less than 34.65 million miles (55.76 million kilometers) away -- closer to our planet than it's been in nearly 60,000 years."
This looks like a less attractive version of the SliMP3 player from Slim Devices. There's an old Slashdot review by Taco, and a newer review on ONLamp.com (one year later, to the day).
It will read iTunes playlists. The server (open source, written in Perl) can be run on OS X, or on a Windows or *nix machine. No built-in wireless or amplifier, but it's the slickest and smallest component in my stereo setup now, at the cost of running an ethernet cable into the living room.
For me, the big advantage of the SliMP3 is the ability to interact with the large vacuum fluorescent display via a remote control from anywhere in the room. It would be less fun having to get up to read an LCD display (which looks tiny on the HomePod), or having to go to the computer to build a new playlist.
You could take a look at the Snack Sound Toolkit, which was originally developed to work with Tcl/Tk. It can now be accessed from Python and Ruby as well. There are a number of example programs included; with a little copying and pasting, you could probably create the application you desire.
Once it's completed, you can bundle your application into standalone form, so your friends don't have to install the toolkit or Tcl/Tk to use your program.
I remember having something like this in 1972. The aftermarket 8-track player in my Dad's VW squareback bolted under the dash and transmitted to the OEM AM radio. We eventually got an FM insert for the 8-track (plugged right in like a tape cassette). Voila, FM radio with 8-track-via-AM quality. Ahhh, good times.
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Nope, not the fanless iMac. It's a flat-panel with a fan. It's not annoying, but it overshadows the low susurration of the gCab-enclosed Shuttle.
Check out the gCab . It's huge and expensive, but man, does it cut down the sound. I'm using one with an older Shuttle cube, and the noise level has gone from maddening to a mere whisper. The iMac next to it is a lot louder.
...does anyone know just how close it's going to be compared to usual?
Loads of info (sky maps, viewing charts, other graphics) in Where is Mars Now? at space.com.
A couple of choice quotes:
"As of May 15, the Red Planet is about 82 million miles (133 million kilometers) from Earth."
"On Aug. 27, 2003, Mars will be less than 34.65 million miles (55.76 million kilometers) away -- closer to our planet than it's been in nearly 60,000 years."
It will read iTunes playlists. The server (open source, written in Perl) can be run on OS X, or on a Windows or *nix machine. No built-in wireless or amplifier, but it's the slickest and smallest component in my stereo setup now, at the cost of running an ethernet cable into the living room.
For me, the big advantage of the SliMP3 is the ability to interact with the large vacuum fluorescent display via a remote control from anywhere in the room. It would be less fun having to get up to read an LCD display (which looks tiny on the HomePod), or having to go to the computer to build a new playlist.
Once it's completed, you can bundle your application into standalone form, so your friends don't have to install the toolkit or Tcl/Tk to use your program.
Good luck!
$200 is a little misleading. For that price, you get a system with:
It also has no Windows license. Not that one is necessary, but it's included in the $1600 price of the eco-thing.
You're also comparing the power draw of a headless box to that of a box & LCD.
That said, I'd still choose the VIA C3 over the eco-thing. It's cheap (even after you add the above components), configurable, small, and quiet.
More info on the MK-90 (Emerson EWT950) here.
I remember having something like this in 1972. The aftermarket 8-track player in my Dad's VW squareback bolted under the dash and transmitted to the OEM AM radio. We eventually got an FM insert for the 8-track (plugged right in like a tape cassette). Voila, FM radio with 8-track-via-AM quality. Ahhh, good times.