MusicStreamer
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Squeezebox Touch delayed until February: Bah, Humbug!
Despite being proudly introduced to the world in early September, it seems as if Logitech's Squeezebox Touch is still fighting the good fight on its way to mass production. Originally, the device was slated to go on sale this month in order to get wrapped and tucked beneath a-many Christmas tree, but now we've heard directly from the company that it won't be shipping out until February 2010. We took a brief tour around the web, and sure enough, most respected e-tailers aren't showing any stock (or any sign of stock); what's odd is that we know at least a few of these things leaked out onto the market, though the whole "Logitech denying its existence" scenario that we saw play out back in August certainly makes a lot more sense now. Either way, it looks as if you'll be waiting if you're believing the official word, which just so happens to be quoted in full after the break.
Squeezebox Touch unboxed and in the wild
Well, what do we have here? Looks like someone got their hands on Logitech's Squeezebox Touch a little bit early and was kind enough to snap some pictures. According to the hapless owner and photographer, however, it's stuck in software update mode and the company's support line refuses to acknowledge its existence. Major bummer, but when it does work, here's what we've gleaned from the side of the box: a 4.3-inch 24-bit color LCD with capacitive touch, 802.11b/g WiFI, Ethernet, USB drive and SD card support, a variety of audio out including digital optical, and an infrared proximity sensor. Audio streaming support is still there, naturally, so you'll have access to Pandora, Sirius, Last.Fm, and pretty much every major provider. Hit up the read links to see the pictures and express your sympathy. [Thanks, Kris P]
Ask Engadget HD: Best multi-zone music server under $2,000?
We've got a wide-open one for you this week, so be sure and simmer on it for an extra long while before contributing."I just got into a new home and I'm hoping to procure a multi-zone music server. I'm really new to the field, so I'm pretty overwhelmed by all the options. I need at least three zones and 250GB of hard drive space. Other than that, I'd just like general advice about good units under $2,000. Help!"George is right -- there are darn near an infinite amount of options out there, but the money cap does narrow things down a bit. What's streaming audio throughout your house right now? Got something simple and sweet? Share it!Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Cisco to invade homes next year with new wireless music streamer
After slowly sneaking its branding onto its Linksys devices, and welcoming us to the non-defined "Human Network" with ubiquitous GE-style feel good advertising (above), Cisco is finally ready to make a real play for our hearts and pocketbooks with a new wireless audio streamer -- among other consumer-friendly products -- to be unveiled at CES next week. The products so far are vaguely defined, but it seems like a Sonos-type device in the cards, with a video streamer for use with a TV (and that handy Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem) and eventually a TV-based videoconferencing device both in development. The latter would be a full-HD setup, in the vein of the company's $40k+ Telepresence rooms currently available to corporations and inexplicably rich comic book heroes, but dramatically cheaper of course. Unfortunately, that won't be available for a year or two, and in the meantime we'll have yet another vaguely useful media streamer on our hands -- we can't wait!
Build a DIY music streamer out of a NetGear WGT634U
Sure, you can score any number of network media streamers for about $100, but none of those will teach you anything -- except maybe that there's too many other Wi-Fi networks in your building for it to work. On the other hand, England's Rob Hardwick says you can build a wireless music streamer with an LCD screen and remote for around £90 ($178). Using the guts of a NetGear WGT634U, the open-source OpenWrt firmware, and some creative cablemaking, Hardwick hacked up a pretty decent remote-controlled streamer. While it may not be the prettiest thing we've ever seen, Hardwick says the knowledge gained during the build can be "extremely invaluable." Isn't that always the case? Hit the read link for the complete breakdown.
Terratec's NOXON 2 radio / music server now does iPods
Joining the hordes of other fine music servers out there that have caved to the silent iPod demands, Terratec's latest has ponied up the ten-percent in order to boast about iPod compatibility. The NOXON 2 music streamer sports a stylish white, silver, and black motif, a top-mounted iPod dock, USB host port for connecting flash drives and external HDDs, optical audio output, headphone jack, streaming internet radio sans a PC, FM tuner, a wireless remote, built-in in Ethernet, and WiFi to boot. The device also supports OS X, Linux, and several flavors of Windows, 802.11b/g, 802.3(u), UPnP, WEP, WPA / WPA2, and a plethora of audio formats including MP3, M3U, PLS, OGG, AAC, WAV, and WMA. Notably, this unit actually packs its own 2.1 speaker system if you're on the go, which consists of a three-inch "subwoofer" and a pair of 1.5-inch tweeters, leaving us all to wonder where the integrated mids are. Still, such a convenient little streamer won't run you cheap, as Terratec apparently feels this thing is worth a whopping €349 ($473).[Via Slashgear]
Terratec's NOXON 2 music server now does iPods
Joining the hordes of other fine music servers out there that have caved to the silent iPod demands, Terratec's latest has ponied up the ten-percent in order to boast about iPod compatibility. The NOXON 2 music streamer sports a stylish white, silver, and black motif, a top-mounted iPod dock, USB host port for connecting flash drives and external HDDs, optical audio output, headphone jack, streaming internet radio sans a PC, FM tuner, a wireless remote, built-in in Ethernet, and WiFi to boot. The device also supports OS X, Linux, and several flavors of Windows, 802.11b/g, 802.3(u), UPnP, WEP, WPA / WPA2, and a plethora of audio formats including MP3, M3U, PLS, OGG, AAC, WAV, and WMA. Notably, this unit actually packs its own 2.1 speaker system if you're on the go, which consists of a three-inch "subwoofer" and a pair of 1.5-inch tweeters, leaving us all to wonder where the integrated mids are. Still, such a convenient little streamer won't run you cheap, as Terratec apparently feels this thing is worth a whopping €349 ($473).[Via Slashgear]
