Smart Home Blog

As you may know to listen music with SlimDevices streamer Squeezebox you should have a SlimServer running on your PC (Linux, Mac or Windows). It’s possible to control specified streamer via its remote control. But there is a way to control whole system using Nokia770 and optimized SlimServer web interface. Just install and run version 6.5 and point Nokia770 web browser to

http://your.server.ip.address:9000/Nokia770/

Bingo! Now you can control any SlimDevices playes (Sqeezebox or Transporter), choose room, artist, track etc. Moreover, you can listen music on your Nokia770 (you just need to configure its audio player).

It seems that Nokia770 (and its next generation N800) is going to be very popular device for using as intelligent remote control. As example, have a look:

• The Media Center with the Nokia 770 as the Controller
• MoodSeer
• Nokia770 as Plutohome Orbiter

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The new Clever Media Control system (CMCS) is designed to allow Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition to sit at the heart of a whole house digital media solution. It can be used for viewing, searching and playing back music stored on MCE and for controlling the multi-room audio distribution system as well as other commonly used entertainment products.
The original CMCS user interface is based on a touch-screen application. So, the ideal control panel for it is some Windows-based UMPC such Samsung Q1. Additionally, CMCS uses the Autonomic Home MCE Control Server to provide part of its feature set. This makes CMC Server compatible with both AMX and Creston control tablets in addition to the CMC Client.

CMCS can control multi-room audio distribution products from NuVo and Russound. So, it might be a good solution to build music system for your home if you prefer Windows as OS.

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British company Pinnacle Audio presented its an ultra-high-fidelity, hard-drive-based music server - Athenaeum. It may store about 9,000 CDs with lossless compression. So, you’ll enjoy a rich, rounded sound.
The main unit uses embedded Linux and features four hot-swappable hard drive bays, with modules available from 160GB to 750GB. The Athenaeum has web based user interface which developed with AJAX. So, it’s possible to control the server from any PC with modern web browser. The system comes with Nokia770 as control panel (resently I already blogged about two projects which also use Nokia770 as remote control: moodSeer and Linux Media Center). However, the Athenaeum can be integrated with proprietary whole-house audio control systems from Crestron or AMX (the additional software modules are needed for that). Moreover, direct serial port commands allow an easy integration into any control system.
Additional touted features include:

Ability to import existing digital music collections, gleaning meta-data from ID3 tags and filenames
Windows filesharing

• Compatible with iPods and other portable music players
• Automatic CD ripping when CDs are inserted
• 24-bit, 96kHz DAC
• 22Hz-22kHz,-0.4,-0.4dB claimed frequency response
• 104dB (A-weighted) (D/A)100.4dB (A-weighted) (A/D) claimed dynamic range
• 0.002 percent claimed THD (total harmonic distortion)
• Control system (Crestron, AMX) library modules provided
• Serial port and API allow control system integration
• 430 x 450 x 135mm

It seems that the Pinnacle Audio Athenaeum music server is available not there are not any words about its price.

[via LinuxDevices]

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Audibot is an Linux-based audio device that Tables Turned distributes to radio stations and music venues. Connect it to an audio source and it automatically records, formats, and uploads MP3 recordings to any website.
Audibot allows to use it by many users with uniquely encoded USB key. So, each DJ can make its own show with only one device. Finally, the Audibot broadcasts an Internet radio stream as many others devices such Squeezebox. So, you will able to listen show of others owners of the Audibot
The Audibot is based on Linux and it’s open source system. So, you can do any improvement you want. The Audibot is available and tagged by $1200.

[via Engadget]

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After buying Slime Devices Logitech added support to the online MP3tunes Music Locker service for its Squeezebox. MP3tunes Music Locker is a service which allow to you store your music content online. So you’ll able to listen it anywhere where Internet connection exits.
Now with Sqeezebox you can play music from your PC and from MP3tunes Music Locker as well.

A premium MP3tunes Music Locker costs $39.95 a year which includes unlimited storage space, bandwidth and device access (you also get a two month free trial period with that).

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