Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sonos CR200 controller outed by the FCC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/20/sonos-cr200-controller-outed-by-the-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/20/sonos-cr200-controller-outed-by-the-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/20/sonos-cr200-controller-outed-by-the-fcc/#comments Without a doubt, Sonos makes an excellent wireless distributed audio system. If we had to nit pick (and we do), then its massive controller, the CR100 is easily the first thing to complain about. For starters it's a $400 remote control that does one thing, it controls your Sonos audio system. Granted, the CR100 is rugged, splashproof, and turns on in an instant thanks to a built-in accelerometer; features that can't justify the price, however, in light of the solid Sonos did its user base when it released a free Sonos controller app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app even one-ups the CR100 with its on-screen QWERTY since the CR100's scrollwheel isn't exactly the best interface for typing out the name of an artist search. So imagine our intrigue when we saw a new CR200 Sonos Controller pass through the FCC. The new controller appears to prefer a portrait orientation (instead of landscape like the CR100) and was tested across 802.11g WiFi frequencies with a 24Mbps fixed data rate. While that doesn't give us much to go on, at least it passed the tests meaning we could be close to an official announcement. Considering the controller's physical design hasn't changed since its launch in January of 2005, a few more days or weeks of waiting shouldn't be a problem.

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Sonos CR200 controller outed by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocontrollercr100cr200distributeddistributed audioDistributedAudiomeshmusicportable audioportableaudioremote controlRemoteControlsonossonos controllerSonosControllerwireless audioWirelessAudioSat, 20 Jun 2009 02:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/sonos-2-8-adds-deezer-radio-to-multi-room-systems-in-europe-upd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/sonos-2-8-adds-deezer-radio-to-multi-room-systems-in-europe-upd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/sonos-2-8-adds-deezer-radio-to-multi-room-systems-in-europe-upd/#comments
After plunking down a grand for Sonos' impressive 2-room bundle, it's always nice to see a freebie or two arrive via software updates. While not quite as big a release as version 2.7 was for Sonos' wireless (or wired) multi-room audio system, 2.8 does add free Deezer Radio service to Sonos users in 30 countries across Europe -- think Last.fm's artist smart lists with the ability to skip tracks only better dressed and with a knowledge of geography. Sonos is also updating its free iPhone / iPod touch controller application by extending native language support (Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish added to English) and granting access to the sleep timers and wake-to-music alarms you've setup using the Sonos software controller running on your desktop. This update brings the features of the iPhone Controller up to par with Sonos' own dedicated controller and thus makes the €399 price for the CR100 all the more ridiculous.

Fortunately, for a limited time (until May 31st) Sonos is heavily discounting its €399 Sonos Controller as long as you buy it bundled with a ZonePlayer -- a box required for adding new speaker zones. The ZP90 and Sonos Controller combo is available for €599 (a savings of €149) while the amplified ZP120 and Controller combo is available for €699 (a savings of €199). The offer seems bent on preventing you from purchasing a relatively fragile but multi-purpose €219 iPod touch with onscreen keyboard to control your whole-house audio instead of Sonos' rugged and water-resistant CR100 Controller with scroll-wheel QWERTY. Try harder Sonos, even Apple learned to ditch the scroll-wheel. A few more interface shots after the break.

Continue reading Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller

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Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.8cr100deezerfirmwarehdotherssoftware updateSoftwareUpdatesonossonos controllerSonosControllerzp120zp90Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/sonos-2-8-adds-deezer-radio-to-multi-room-systems-in-europe-upd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/sonos-2-8-adds-deezer-radio-to-multi-room-systems-in-europe-upd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/sonos-2-8-adds-deezer-radio-to-multi-room-systems-in-europe-upd/#comments
After plunking down a grand for Sonos' impressive two-room bundle, it's always nice to see a freebie or two arrive via software updates. While not quite as big a release as version 2.7 was for Sonos' wireless (or wired) multi-room audio system, 2.8 does add free Deezer Radio service to Sonos users in 30 countries across Europe -- think Last.fm's artist smart lists with the ability to skip tracks only better dressed and with a knowledge of geography. Sonos is also updating its free iPhone / iPod touch controller application by extending native language support (Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish added to English) and granting access to the sleep timers and wake-to-music alarms you've setup using the Sonos software controller running on your desktop. This update brings the features of the iPhone Controller up to par with Sonos' own dedicated controller and thus makes the €399 price for the CR100 all the more ridiculous.

Fortunately, for a limited time (until May 31st) Sonos is heavily discounting its €399 Sonos Controller as long as you buy it bundled with a ZonePlayer -- a box required for adding new speaker zones. The ZP90 and Sonos Controller combo is available for €599 (a savings of €149) while the amplified ZP120 and Controller combo is available for €699 (a savings of €199). The offer seems bent on preventing you from purchasing a relatively fragile but multi-purpose €219 iPod touch with onscreen keyboard to control your whole-house audio instead of Sonos' rugged and water-resistant CR100 Controller with scroll-wheel QWERTY. Try harder Sonos, even Apple learned to ditch the scroll-wheel. A few more interface shots after the break.

Continue reading Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller

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Sonos 2.8 adds Deezer Radio to multi-room systems in Europe, updates iPhone controller originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.8cr100deezerfirmwaresoftware updateSoftwareUpdatesonossonos controllerSonosControllerzp120zp90Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:00:00 EST