Re: [slim] http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com/ broken ?
I don't often go to the main site, but straight to the forum. Checking out the main site I see that the cringeworthy 'codebaby' has gone. Was she a victim of the problems with the site, or have logitech seen sense and given her a decent burial? -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=75619 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] TCP/IP and S/PDIF protocols
Kellen, Just to expand on DaveWr's point: TCP/IP has flow control and error correction S/PDIF has no flow control and embeds a clock signal in the S/PDIF data stream With TCP/IP (or USB come to that) the DAC can control the rate of flow of data from the server, and uses its own local and hopefully low jitter clock to rebuild the analogue signal. With S/PDIF the DAC is a slave to clock recovered from the input datastream. Solutions for the S/PDIF problem all revolve around filtering the derived clock in some way, and runing the DAC at an average clock rate, rather than deriving every clock pulse separately from the input stream. If you are looking for DACs that can use TCP/IP and have good quality local clocks, as DaveWr points out, the are called Squeezebox. I have a transporter, and I still regard it as one of the better DACs out there. Andy -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74341 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Logitech should hire Pippin! Those having difficulty w/Controller should get iPeng.
I am a huge fan of iPeng and have 3 copies across the various i* products owned by my family. I am in agreement however that an officialy supported product gives comfort to users that the product will continue to be supported going forward. A case in point would be Inguz, the room correction add in. By all accounts a fine piece of software that gives squeeze products significant dsp capability. I have held off implementing this as every squeeze software update seems to break Inguz, and it is only because of the dedication of the original author that the software is brought back to life. What if Pippin were to win the lottery tomorrow and spend his declining years on a beach somewhere? The next squeeze software update would probably break iPeng (see the developers forum for discussion of squeeze's lack of a stable framework to hang add-ins on), and who would bring iPeng back to life? No criticism of Pippin, he has done a fine job, but I would feel more comfortable if it were a Squeeze supported product. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=72308 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Any video steaming servers with library capability, like SqueezeServer?
Rather to my suprise, my son managed to get windows media centre to stream SD video wirelessly to a PS3. WMC manages the library, PS3 hardware outputs HDMI and optical audio. No funny drivers or setup, it just worked. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=71448 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] CodeBaby on new Logitech Squeezebox site
The animation looks daft, but of more concern is that who or whatever hosts Logitech's site doesn't seem up to the task. Over here in the UK, the performance of the site is now so poor that I give up most evenings because it takes so long to load a page. I had wondered whether it was the internet backbone UK / US links that were coincidently out of capacity, but other clearly US hosted sites (Audiogon for example) loads just fine. It is not much of an advert for a company trying to sell streaming media product when their own web page performance is so poor as to make it unusable. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=68531 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Bathroom compatible squeezebox
Depending on the construction, the things that normally suffers in high humidity areas are the speaker cones. I have installed ceiling speaker with polyprop waterproof cones and a duet / amp system in the loftspace to keep everything away from the water. The charger for the controller is in the bedroom, again away from the water. Although I have been negative about the stability of the controller, I cant say the same about its ability to swim. My wife has dropped it in the bath twice now, and given a day to dry out it still works OK. There are very specific regulations in Europe (and probably the US) about which electrical devices can taken or installed into a bathroom from a safety perspective. As a general rule, unless the device has been specifically designed for bathroom use, then dont do it. Damp hands and damp feet provide a very good path for fault current. Even if you keep the mains adaptor out of the damp area (eg wallmounting a touch in the bathroom with a remote psu), you are still relying on whatever insulation exists in the mains adaptor to keep you from wearing wings and playing a harp. Battery operation is by far the safest. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67790 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Where's Dean?
Dean, Sorry to see you go. I had figured that the senior Slim team would be departing when the earn-out came to an end. Congratulations to both you and Sean for the product line you created and your success in building the company up and selling it on - no small achievement. Just one question, with you and Sean gone - who is going to fix the Duet? -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67325 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] iPod / iPhone as a receiver
Just bought the app myself. Not got it going yet. Think the problem is stream format. Exposing my ignorance here, how can I set SC so that I send FLAC to all my squeeze boxes, but stream MP3 to the Squeeze Mobile? Thanks in advance. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66511 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Best of Luck - moving on...
Damager, I am very nearly in your camp. My Wife is of the 'throw that damn thing away and give me my wave radio back' school, but I have stuggled through and now have a system which is stable - most of the time. I have recommended squeeze proucts (the Duet unfortunately) to non technical friends (3) who have now all given up on the system and have it gathering dust in cupboards. As an aging EE graduate who cut his teeth programming PDP-11s in binary from the front panel switches I have enjoyed learning about TCP/IP and wandering around my house with NetStumbler, but I think that raises real questions about whether the products are really ready for the mainstream. For those who care, my experience is: Transporter (wired) - no problems SB3 (wireless) - occasional problems Duet (2 of them, wireless) hopeless until the last couple of releases, still not great Boom (2 of them wireless) - occasional problems Given the new products that Logitech seem to have in development (Radio, Touch) it does look as if their engineering smarts are being dragged away from software developing and fixing for existing products and are working on the new stuff. Development of the whole new database back end must also be a significant distraction. This is unfortunate, as most forums on the web(correctly in my opinion) describe the squeeze products as innovative, but really only suitable for geeks. I do think Logitech should focus on getting their existing line stable. My next door neighbour has Sonos. In my opinion, it isn't cutting edge, looks clunky and has limited options. He had it professionaly installed, and says he has never had a single problem. My Wife would drop squeeze and get Sonos in a heartbeat. I just keep hoping that the next software release will fix all my problems -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67040 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] RedEye universal remote control?
GRC, IRtrans is a bit pricy, but is an impressive bit of kit. Very similar to the global cache product, it can be controlled by PC resident software (supplied) as well as the iPod app. Can drive discrete flashers or use the high output LEDs on the box. Took it to bits, nicely built, based on a PIC microcontroller. I notice that the iRedtouch site is now mentioning compatability with the Global Cache box (beta), you might be able to get one of these GC boxes cheaper than the IRtrans. The IRtrans PC software gives macro capability and can control the unit functionality from a PC, but if you want macros on the iPod you have to 'teach' the button you want to contol the macro the correct sequence of commands. A bit clunky, but it works. Switching between remotes is quick, two or three button presses on the iPod and the iPod responds immediately displaying the new remote. Slight delay when controlling devices, but not enough to be annoying. I particularly liked the feature that displays an image of the real remote on the iPod, makes it easy to use if you are familiar with an existing remote key layout. Had some problems with keys responding twice when pressed once - particularly the SKY HD remote. Problem solved by using the 'NATIVE' mode - IRtrans product support helped out and were very responsive to my query. Just a question on redeye - the site says beta trial has finished and it isn't available at the moment? -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66781 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] RedEye universal remote control?
I have been using iRedtouch - an iPodtouch or iPhone app that uses a network resident IR flasher. 1. Take a picture or use a scanner to get an image of the remote 2. Display picture on iPod 3. Define button areas on the picture (app comes with a very neat tool for doing this) 4. Teach the system from the original remote The system works, and I have no problems finding the buttons. Have a look at http://www.tinbert.com/iRed2/iRedTouch The IR flasher box is not cheap however, but seems to work well. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66781 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] New Logitech MM STREAM Squeezebox Touch spotted !!
atrocity;439598 Wrote: HDX 1000 uses the Networked Media Tank (NMT) middleware provided by Syabas, which is a established middleware company. I've got a Popcorn Hour, which is also using the Syabas middleware...it's nice enough, but it's not particularly stable (I'm using an older firmware, because the newer ones are even less stable), can't play DTS FLACs and isn't gapless. Reliability-wise, a Squeezebox is 100 and a Popcorn Hour is 50. Maybe the HDX1000 is better, but I wouldn't count on it. As an early adopter of the Duet, I don't exactly regard the Duet as a rock of stability, so if Squeeze is 100, and Popcorn 50, I wont hold out too much hope for me ever seeing a picture out of the HDX. The point that this raises is that as audio / video delivery devices turn more and more into fully fledged computers, then the pricing is becoming more and more computer like. It is interesting that the high end audio firms with the resources to develop equipment of this type (notably Naim and Meridian) are moving to offer streaming product, but trying to defend their price points. When 99% of the active devices in the box are digital, all of the functionality is software driven, and only the DAC and subsequent filters and line drive circuitry are analogue (and can justify the audio high end 'hocus pocus' premium) what does this do to the overall pricing of the box? I guess we shall see. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64706 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] New Logitech MM STREAM Squeezebox Touch spotted !!
iPhone;438303 Wrote: I would love to see Logitech take a crack at video, but there is the HDX-1000 for $219 that I think does just about everything video wise. Looking at what is in the box, I can't figure out HOW they could make it for $219 much less sell it of that. That device is mentioned someplace in the Forums. Here is the 'HDX-1000' (http://www.hdx1080.com/index.php?page=shop.product_detailscategory_id=1flypage=flypage.ilvm_blue.tplproduct_id=3option=com_virtuemartItemid=100094vmcchk=1Itemid=100094) So having said that, is it worth trying to expand into that market when the price is hammered down that low already? Looking at the available box, it is like the computer market. Who in their right mind would start a mom pop computer business or try to start a new Computer brand with what is out there now IE no margin whatsoever? I have been banging on about the HDX1000 for a few months. Logitech have done well to maintain the pricing of their products, but I do see devices like the HDX as game changers. All the functionality of an SB, for less $$, with video, local hard disk support and a great case thrown in for free. I have ordered one, just to see if it really has anything inside the box for that price. On a similar note, I do think the Logitech Harmony product faces similar challenges from iPod touch based multi remotes. If I were Logitech, I would be tempted to stick a 'squeezebox' sticker on the front of an HDX1000, and spend all the development $$ I had saved on excellent front end and server software to support it. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64706 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] I am leaving Logitech!
Sean, Sorry to see you go. There are very few (no?) other firms where the founder took the time and effort to reply to questions on a web forum. This set the tone for the 'slim' approach, which has built up such a loyal following. It was your no-nonsense answers to a number of frankly daft audiophile questions that persuaded me to buy a transporter. I hope that logitech streaming media manage to hang on to the ethos and open approach that you fostered. I wish you well. Andy. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63759 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Who's going to fill Sean's shoes - technically?
I can't imagaine we will see a transporter #2, the market for £1000 streaming network players is very small. While Meridian, Naim and others can charge premium prices for streamers, it doesn't seem to fit the Logitech biz model, and I am not sure the Logitech brand name would support that level of pricing ex the loyal Slim following. The transporter does give the rest of the Slim range audiophile credibility, and there is value in that, but why design a new model? The world has moved on in the 9 or so years that Slim have been around. I do think the real challenge for logitech streaming media will be video, and with products like the HDX1080 being given away (I don't know how they make the box for the price they charge, let alone put anything in it) it is going to be a tough battle. Having said that, the Boom is clearly a quality product at a reasonable price so perhaps there remains a growing market for audio only streaming media. IMHO. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63775 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Any new toys coming out from SD
For what its worth, I think it Logitech are facing a number of challenges on a number of fronts. I am a big SD fan, (now up to 8 SD boxes in the house), but I think their biz model is under some pressure. SD's model is to charge for the box and give the software away. So, for the SB controller, iPeng has completely changed the game. Price comparable if you need to buy an iPod, a no brainer if you already have one. www.penguinlovesmusic.de For the streaming media boxes, I would guess video is the next 'big thing'. Have a look at the HDX box. At $219, it seems to be being given away. HDMI 1.3 and full 1080p. www.hdx1080.com Slightly away from SD, but using using an iPod as a universal remote puts you in Logitech harmony territory. www.airremote.com www.tinbert.com/iRed2/iRedTouch Dont think either are quite there yet (one seems to have stalled), but clearly this will be a challenge for logitech going forward. So what would I like? (and would buy tomorrow) A streaming media box with the video capability of the HDX1080, and the audio quality of a transporter. A handheld remote to control it based upon the iPod touch Outputs to drive IR flashers and an rs232 port so that the system could be fully integrated with a home AV system. If I am prepared to work at it, I could just about assemble my 'ideal box' (ex the audio quality of the transporter) from separate components currently available for less than the price of a transporter. Interesting times in mountain view I would guess. Before you write off SD, I think there is nothing out there currently to touch the Boom. I now have 4. The DSP approach and resulting audio quality is remarkable for a box with the form factor of the Boom. The transporter is great in its own way, but will never be a volume product at its current price point. I am however a huge fan of that as well. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=62455 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] iPeng Application 1.0 now on the App Store
Thanks all for the comments. I am definitely not suggesting Pippin butcher the iPeng, but I was thinking of a sister application for AV remotes. As for why anyone should want such a thing - I have 8 remotes in my AV room, one of which is always lost down the side of the sofa. I think Iredtouch is not associated with the manufacturer of the network resident IR driver that it works with, so I may try suggesting to the software author that he looks as whether it would be possible to use his user interface to work with a squeeze unit driving the IR leds. I guess it all depends on how much functionality is in the IR box. In principle the harmony unit should do all of this, but my Wife has given up on it as it is too complex to use, and crestron are out of my budget. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=55514 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] iPeng Application 1.0 now on the App Store
Pippin, Chris, Having read your comments, I can see this is rather more involved than I had appreciated. I looked at Airremote and Iredtouch and they are both pretty much what I was after - iPod multiple remotes - but both involve buying relatively expensive hardware that sits on the network and drives the IR leds to control the AV equipment. I already have that functionality in the squeeze products and they are already sitting next to the devices I wish to control. So I had hoped that it would be a 'relatively' simple task to use the squeeze IRBlaster capability under the control of iPeng to drive the AV equipment. Pippin, if you have a couple of minutes to have a look at the websites for the two products mentioned, they do a good job of describing the functionality I am looking for. This does raise an interesting question for Logitech and other box manufacturers who make their money by giving software away and charging for the box. While some may disagree, the Squeeze Controller and Logitech Harmony handheld remotes are not is the same league as the iPod touch, either in form factor or usability. Harmony in the UK is twice the price of an iPod touch, and is not without its issues. Whether Apple realised it at the time or not, they have produced a multi purpose handheld controller that happens also to be an iPod. This could be a game changer for Logitech and similar. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=55514 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] iPeng Application 1.0 now on the App Store
Pippin, Slightly off topic, but have you looked at using the IR capabilities in squeeze products to give iPeng control over other AV devices? To my simple mind, it doesn't seem that much of a stretch. I was wrestling with my Logitech harmony remote yesterday, which has a beast of a touchscreen interface and thought that the iPeng / iPod type application would be much better. Wouldn't involve any additional hardware except for the IR wand as I think squeeze products (apart from duet?) can drive an IR LED directly. The concept of a single remote using an iPod touch that was wireless / networked across all my AV equipment sounded very appealing. Just a thought. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=55514 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Boom and Duet popular on Ebay
I would suspect part of the demand on Ebay reflects European buyers who are attempting to circumvent the differential pricing structure of Logitech. Where the prices on Ebay higher than the price of a 'new in the box with warranty' from Slimdevices in Europe? -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=61151 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Boom and Duet popular on Ebay
I wish it was different. I would agree that in many cases, products are more expensive in Europe. Many arguments as to why, expensive distribution channels, higher employment costs, the list goes on and on. For the savvy European buyer, most of this can be circumvented by buying from the US over the net. Back in the days of Slim you could buy from their US site, and ship to Europe. Logitech have barred European destinations from Slim on-line store and Europeans are now at the mercy of a very flaky Logitech European distribution system and sigificantly higher prices. To give a couple of examples, if I wish to buy any Slim accessories I have to email customer service first because I cant get them off the Slim site, and when the Boom was launched (in spite of Boom's being 'stacked up in the backroom in mountain view') we had to wait about a month while Booms filtered their way through a distribution channel that was clearly more suited to wireless mice. So the service has gone down, and prices have gone up. We do have better beer however. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=61151 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] SBC cradles now for sale...
For those of you in the UK looking for a UK adaptor plate to fit the wall-wart supply, I was directed by another forum member to www.watt-power.co.uk who sell adaptor plates that fit perfectly. Didn't cost much so I bought a handful. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=59922 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] SBC cradles now for sale...
mparry;395340 Wrote: Yes the power supplies do require the power plate which is not included. yes, we will ship accessories overseas.To find out how email us at sa...@slimdevices.com No, we do not sell returned Transporters as new.They are used for tradeshows and other functions. Ahh. Just re-read the thread and came across this. What we have here (for us long suffering European residents) seems to be a chink in the Logitech you have to use our decrepit European distribution system so we can keep our differential pricing armour. It still peeves me when I remember trying to get a boom when they first came out and was told that 'we have boxes full in our back room' in Mountain View and the UK delivery at higher price was 4 weeks. Just for grins, you should see the places that Slim will ship to out of the US (have a look at the drop down box on their website). I am not sure all of them are even inhabited. Pretty much everywhere in the world except Western Europe. I may need to move. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=59922 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Squeeze controller losing network connection
Jim, I would like to pick up on one of Denmennis's points about the number of views vs. the number of posts (over 7000 views now). It has been suggested elsewhere in the forums that the SBC contoller problems are relatively isolated - the reason given that there are relatively few users posting on the subject. I think it more likely that having checked the site once or twice and having established that the cause is being championed by a vocal few, most owners (myself included) are happy enough to let someone else do the work and wait for the fix. I don't know (and wouldn't know how to establish) whether this forum supports polls, but it may be useful for your software team to establish what percentage of users are having SBC connection problems. On behalf of the silent majority, I would like to thank all of the posters who are continuing to bring these issues to Jim's attention, and the professinal response of the slimdevices team in their responses. Andy. -- Andy8421 Andy8421's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16846 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=45031 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
