Logitech prepping Squeezebox updates

Cashing in on the all-things-touchscreen craze, word comes to us from ZatzNotFunny that Logitech will be bringing updates to its Squeezebox lineup which include refreshed Boom and Duet specs and the all-new pictured "Squeezebox Touch." A bit redundant on the name, isn't that, Logitech? We'll also overlook the fact that "Squeezebox Touch" makes us think of something decidedly Chumby-ish, as details on the line updates are thin and the name could change. Either way, the device is definitely lacking in hard buttons, which is more to go on than the FCC line art of whatever Sonos is conjuring up with its CR200 controller.

[Major4Play @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:45PM]

What total bastards, don't Logitech realise Apple own the word touch and infact invented it ?

[mehrad @ Jun 24th 2009 12:28AM]

I am so happy. I was about to order a Boom literally next week.

[rb @ Jun 24th 2009 10:11AM]

i, for one, find your facetious remark quite amusing! highly ranked!

[bdav @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:50PM]

Sounds interesting - I just hope they don't give up on the fair amount of focus SlimDevices put on audio quality in later models and make it all Logitech-ey - I have been worried about Logitech slowly integrating the SBs to fit closer with their product lines ever since they took SD over.

[Silas Miller @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:54PM]

Agreed...

[SuperQ @ Jun 24th 2009 2:19PM]

The people working on the squeezebox biz unit are still very focused on the quality side of things. The latest mass-market product, the Boom is amazing. Check out the audio design white paper that the engineer(s) wrote about the details that make it sound better than most cheap tabletop streamers.

I know I'll probably be adding one of these to my network. :)

[aj121489 @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:56PM]

Mama's got a squeezebox she wears on her chest, and when daddy comes home he never gets no rest, 'cause she's playin all night, and the music's all right

[pfuego @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:53PM]

who?

[aj121489 @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:58PM]

I'm kinda disappointed if you're the first one to recognize the song, but yes that's The Who

[Eric Van Boven @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:59PM]

so what if apple owns the word. Cisco owned the wore iphone. Apple just took it. So why should a company not be able to do the same? And if im not mistaken, touch was the in the dictionary long before Apple became a company.

[JimboJones @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:24PM]

jesus, stop these creepy remotes and create app for all big smartphones which does not need computer on NAS with SqueezCenter between phone and the Squeezebox

[djfake @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:27PM]

The "touch" thing sounds like very uninspired marketing... think "e" or "i", right? But on the other hand, if this is like the "classic" squeezebox, but also offers USB/SD input - the option to not be running a slimserver - that's an interesting twist. And hopefully, still only $299.

[Gorilla800lbs @ Jun 24th 2009 12:30AM]

A small Squeezebox with speakers? Perfect. I'd put one in the kitchen and the little one's bedroom, but until now there was no product like that.

[Paul Webster @ Jun 24th 2009 12:51AM]

A small Squeezebox wth speakers is the Squeezebox Boom ... which has been available for nearly a year.
The Touch does not appear to have speakers - i.e. it is more like the Classic

[Galicki @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:34PM]

Unfortunately for Logitech. The best solution is a Mac Mini or Linux Nettop(running squeezecenter)+ iphone or touch running ipeng from the app store. Even Duet owners agree that the ipeng+apple solution is the best controller.

[BobTurbo @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:38PM]

The squeezebox looked 100 times better before Logitech bought the product from slim devices.

[bartoron @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:49PM]

Man, I basically never use my Squeezebox Boom. It's a good product, but it's just not that useful when you have access to a computer all the time.

[jm9843 @ Jun 24th 2009 12:17AM]

The Squeezebox Boom is intended for when you are NOT around a computer. If you are around a computer all of the time than you bought the wrong product.

[SuperQ @ Jun 24th 2009 2:33PM]

Agreed, if you just sit in front of a PC all the time, it's kinda silly. I moved recently and haven't gotten all my stuff setup yet. My boom + wifi + squeezenetwork has been providing all the unpacking music I need.

[PhotoFre@k @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:04PM]

Does it comes when you squeeze it?

[eattrn @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:09PM]

If everything is going touchscreen can someone please come out with a screen that doesn't leave fingerprints and smudges. I hate touchscreens for that reason alone. http://www.eattrn.com/

[darrenj @ Jun 26th 2009 7:07PM]

Does Squeezebox offer an interface where the music menu that appears on the SB appears on your computer monitor instead, kind of like the AppleTV does with iTunes music? The squeezebox software is confusing for my guests when i have friends over, and the SB menu navigation on the device is confusing unless you've used it before. I thought that if the device menu was put onto a larger screen and people could see the nav trail better it would be more user friendly.

[Gorilla800lbs @ Jun 24th 2009 3:08PM]

@ Paul:

The newsbit at Slashgear mentions integrated stereo speakers. If that is true, then Squeezebox Touch addresses a list of issues that kept me from buying Boom:

- size: I don't want this bulky, black, and relatively big unit in a kitchen or the kids room
- network dependency: you can take this thing where you don't have a wired connection and the wireless penetration is sketchy
- simplicity: my wife and younger kid would rather prefer "just to press a play button" than wade through menus, which becomes possible with local media support.

[Freedom Town @ Jun 24th 2009 6:07PM]

Uhhhh, just get Boom??? I don't see how you think that won't satisfy your needs

[Ludens @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:40PM]

If Slimdevices/Logitech where to stay ahead. They should announce a device that would stream audio AND VIDEO. That would make it interesting to far more people (IMO).
But of course there would be some challenges and choices in making such a product...