You've known how to wirelessly connect the music on your computer with your massive hi-fi speakers since about
the dawn of the caveman, but that doesn't mean Creative won't try to make it seem
revolutionary. The company has this week announced immediate availability of its Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes, which essentially functions as a wireless adapter for any pair of regular old speakeroonies. The name is a marketing-inspired misnomer as the device will work with all manner of software, including Windows Media Player, Napster, Rhapsody, LastFM and even YouTube. The relative straightforwardness of this unit is appealing, though we're skeptical about Creative's claims of zero signal drop-offs, given that transmissions are done via the already crowded 2.4GHz wireless frequency. If you just have to hear it for yourself, entry fee is $149.99.
posted Jul 22nd 2009 10:03AM
I bet it wont stream itunes drm tracks
It will...Your PC basically see's this as another audio output. So whatever your PC is playing is heard via this.
I wonder if it comes with a snooze button.
150? Are you frigging serious?!
I'd buy an airport express LONG before I bought this POS. Add airfoil and voila, all wireless digital audio.
No thanks.
Word. An Airport Express + iPod Touch (or iPhone) + Remote.
I third the $99 Airport express... (you can also get a refurbished or used one for around $50 online) All you do is plug the little thing into a AC outlet where it can get a WiFi signal and then plug-in your speaker system to the audio out. Now you have iTunes music on your home theater system.
And the best thing is if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you get an excellent WiFi remote control for iTunes, complete with full viewing of your PC's iTunes library with cover flow. Its the absolute best "poor man's Sonos".
Yeah, I've got an Airport Express and some Vers iPod speakers I bought @ Sharper Image closeout. It's HARD to find a powered portable speaker setup with a wood cabinet, not that plastic crap. I don't care about the iPod dock on top, but I did want an all-in-one speaker system so the only cable I have is from the AX to the speakers.
As a bonus, you can take the airport express when you travel. I only use it ~20% of the time, but that 20% of the time it is absolutely awesome. You really never know when you'll need it, and most of us won't bother with taking a full-on router setup... whereas the AX just goes right in your bag and you don't even notice it.
Ditto on the Airport Express, which doesn't need to tie-in with the bespoke wireless adapter, and just runs over a normal wireless network.
Yes, but will it work with Zune software?
WinAmp?
Video Games?
MIDI files?
My Monster Cables?
Come on Creative, I need to know these things.
YAWN. Already have airport express & airfoil. Creative is too late to the game.
...it streams any audio your system makes...
So will this come with crippled firmware/drivers, and when someone hacks up some good ones, they'll get a cease and desist? Or will it just have a firmware update sometime down the line that'll brick the unit, and Creative will leave it up for download until the next revision?
where are the shelf systems that have internal hard drives or allow externals to be plugged in, i get the whole wireless thing but 90% of the population is functionally retarded
It's just a USB audio device (either a generic one or maybe a Live! or XFi USB) with a transmitter (possibly FM, maybe other tech)
Nothing to see here, move along.
And it will stream any audio your system makes. Even the terrible GS synth supplied with Windows! (Oh the joys)
Useless! Just another waste of electricity and more waves to fry your brain.
The PR blurb doesn't even mention whether is has a digital out. I mean, come on, I have three Airport Express units by now, why should I even look at this?
just because it's 2.4GHz doesn't necessarily mean it's going to drop. there are wireless products out there that work off the same frequency but use frequency hopping so there's no interference.
Really don't see the appeal/price point of this at all. For the last couple of years, I've been using a Logitech wireless music device to stream all of the audio from my Macbook to my stereo, over a 2.4ghz link; just a small white rechargeable transmitter dongle that plugs into the headphone/audio out jack on my Macbook (or anything with a 3.5 headphone jack), and a tiny black box with stubby antenna that's plugged into the Aux phono inputs on my amp. Plays all my music, via iTunes/Frontrow/whatever absolutely faultlessly, no latency, no dropout, etc. Sure, it's probably not audiophile quality, but I'm a musician with a good ear (or two), and for me it's absolutely spot on for day to day use. What's the point of this ramble? Well, my brother-in-law picked up a job lot of them on eBay for £15 each; look up "Logitech Wireless Music System" on eBay; you won't be disappointed!