Escient FP-1 Music Manager released

It's been a little while since we've heard about Escient FireBall products, and it looks like they've brought a new one to the table: the FireBall FP-1 Music Manager ($600), a networked music player that'll stream music from your docked iPod, another FireBall server, or from your Mac / PC using the FireBall music server software via standard Ethernet or an optional WiFi adapter. The FP-1 will play AAC, FLAC, MP3, WMA and iTunes purchases without any problems, and is available now through Escient's network of dealers via its website. Seriously, though, wouldn't this be a lot sweeter if it had some fire-themed artwork on the top, like those Dells we were eyeing earlier this year?

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

[Roy Chao @ Sep 20th 2006 10:47PM]

600$??? O_O 1ST :D!

[Justin Pitta @ Sep 20th 2006 11:19PM]

Zune all the way!

Anyone wanna buy an iPod 60GB?

[Jim D @ Sep 21st 2006 12:09AM]

Is it just me or does the finish on that box look absolutely terrible? I'm all for the functionality, but I can't figure out why the ipod would look so nice and the finish on the actual unit would look that terrible.

[LittleJoe @ Sep 21st 2006 1:15AM]

Yes... it looks like they just sanded it.

[Jared Boehm @ Sep 21st 2006 2:43AM]

I'll take my modded XBOX with XBOX Media Center for under $150 thank you very much.

[Darth Tony @ Sep 21st 2006 9:22AM]

It looks like they're going with the 'Already-Been-in-a-Fire' look. Very Mad Max.

[Rick Lyon @ Sep 21st 2006 11:48AM]

I love the $3 satin black spray paint look, it's elegance is barely matched by the glossy piano black finish of the iPod.

[nahtass @ Sep 21st 2006 4:56PM]

I-Pods are dying. They were garbage when they hit the market and several years later they proove that the US consumer is unaware of quality and Apple continues to spit out cool looking niche marketed garbage.

[tekdroid @ Sep 25th 2006 3:01PM]

might as well be the first one to say it: FLAAAAAC!
http://flac.sourceforge.net