Thanko's i2! Stream forces your friends to hear your jams

So we've basically seen the wired version of this in Belkin's RockStar, but at least that made a modicum of sense. This, however, does not. Thanko's i2! Streams works as such: you plug one of the wireless transmitters in between your DAP / PMP and headphones, and up to five of your pals simply hold onto a receiver unit with earbuds of their own. As you can guess, those five pals now have your music piped to them through the air. The only problem? Why hold on to one of these things when you could pick up a chintzy DAP of your own down the street for a couple yuan / yen / whatever? Thanko's wonders never cease...

[Via CrunchGear]

[Boarderwoot @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:48AM]

Anyone who'se ridden in a car with a group and fought over the radio station would know that this is a horrible idea...

[inteller @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:27AM]

Or you could just get a Zune and send songs to your friends and not need this extra piece.

[Stork @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:29PM]

Assuming you could find someone else with a Zune..

[01 @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:45PM]

As with many products like this, I simply can't imagine a situation where I'd need to share an audio source with [B]5[/B] people...

[kal326 @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:48AM]

Well sense I can't read Japanese, nor did I want to take the time to get the page translated I didn't figure out the range of the device. However if its good for 50ft-100ft then these could be used for some interesting hijinks when connected to speakers.

[Benson @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:46AM]

Being far too non-lazy for my own good, I got it translated. (Honestly, machine translations of Japanese are even _funnier_ than hand-mangled Japlish, if that's possible.)

Results: 2.4 GHz, 10m range. So about like BT. And there are, as best I can tell, three channels, color-coded with that button in the center illuminating in the appropriate color. Or, in glorious translation:

Chanel you push the button, LED 7 will change color. I was set to red. Let me also red! ! Enjoying a song together at a little listen to this song! Green ask! ! And another friend comes over to talk, Channel press the green button to do a different song to share with friends! ! (Parent up to three machines) that this just by pressing a button would be easy.

For the whole scoop:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.thanko.jp/i2istream/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.thanko.jp/i2istream/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Den%26hs%3DGxi

[Benson @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:39AM]

So why not an FM transmitter, and your friends all have FM radios which they could TUNE AWAY if they don't like your music?

Oh, that's right, we're talking Thanko here; not supposed to make sense.

No thanko!

[sotec_productions @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:56AM]

@Stork

Funny that you mention that. I've had a Zune for a few months now and besides my fiance, who got her Zune at the same time as I did, I haven't met one single person that even knows what it is. They always ask if it's an ipod. Needless to say, I haven't used the WiFi option more than once after I found out that the sent songs are only good for a few listens. LAME.

Out of the blue, my Zune software stopped opening, erring out. I spend 2.5 hours on the phone with Zune tech support, to no avail. The support was very patient, and we tried everything possible, he/or she then contacted the research dept. because neither of us could figure out why my computer was rejecting the software and the actual hardware Zuneplayer (we never even made it to the hardware aspect), so the last couple questions he asked were if I had any 3rd party software installed. Stupid question who's answer could take a LONG time. So I divulged that I had Avast! installed, and he quickly deduced my problem to the fact that Avast was blocking the software from opening, even though it was on the allow list. It was the sudden change in pace and anxiety in his voice that told me M$ has no fucking clue how to troubleshoot their own software/hardware.

Anyway, I'm thinking of selling it and getting an ipod. At least I can hack the hell out of an ipod. I've had my eye on Rockbox for a while now...

[petepete @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:31AM]

haha these guys dumped 1000 of these at my school. No joke. They came, gave a demo, a survey on the product and a raffle for them in December and in June they announced the winners of them and turns out everything that took the survey got some..
Basically having some time in on this, you push the button with the icon thing that looks like a comma with a LED on the side to turn it on which also controls the volume. then you hit the lower button to listen, upper circle button for broadcasting. middle button with colors to change 'channels'.
the survey had them listed at 200 dollars for a pair. seeing that 6 months later they changed it to 100, I am sure that they realized that 200 for the basic package was too much. Expect to see 2packs and singles. Singles should cost 50 dollars which is still insane.

Cons:
-the jacks and stuff. you get a 7mm[standard correct] audio cable that goes to 3.5 [i think?] which plugs into the botton of the device. then you plug your headphones to the top. Its a hassle to carry.
- takes a while to charge and it doesnt last too long.
- the prices are ridiculous. even though my highschool is well rather rich, we still gawked that the prices. no way in hell we would buy one of these things.
Pros:
- it does work, i would be streaming through the walls in class on opposite sides of the rooms

[ShadowKain @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:02PM]

Can anyone tell me what DAP stands for?

[01 @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:55PM]

I think you meant "since." Unless you meant you have an awareness about not speaking Japanese, in which case I apologize.

[01 @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:57PM]

Sorry, that should have been a reply to Kal326. So we're never going to get the comments fixed, is that what I'm gathering?

[tehchu @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:35PM]

past midnight rock band anyone?

[mikepalmgren @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:08AM]

So I can plug this in-line with my headphones and have the kids in the back two rows listen in without wires? It sounds good for the family truckster without a built in DVD system.

And it will prevent my kids from strangling each other with their cords? Oh wait is that a pro or a con? Pro, honey, definitely a pro.