I'd like to thank you for the information, but you should give credit to slim on your site about mp3beamer where appropriate. Just because you had a bad encounter doesn't mean you shouldn't give some credit.
Especially for this: http://mp3beamer.com/ss_java.html I mean come on, you even left the softsqueeze string in there. On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 21:58:54 -0800, Michael Robertson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I've seen several questions about MP3beamer (http://www.mp3beamer.com) on > the list I thought I'd address. > > Q: Is MP3beamer just re-badged slimserver? > A: MP3beamer is a suite of products. The server component of MP3beamer does > share some code with slimserver but it is a different product with some > unique features. Some of the unique features are ability to stream songs > with remote iTunes listeners, auto-rip CDs, one click installation and > setup, control application, UPnP support, and remote syncing. You'll find > screenshots of most of these at: http://mp3beamer.com/screenshots.html > > There are actually several pieces of software which make up the MP3beamer > experience. MP3beamer comes with Linspire, an ultra-easy desktop Linux > operating system which makes it easy to setup and maintain a MP3beamer > machine. Linspire installs in about 5-10 minutes and makes MP3beamer > installation a very quick process via CNR (click-n-run). See: > http://www.linspire.com/cnr Also included is Lsongs, an easy to use music > manager for Linux which has been tuned for automatic ripping and seamless > interaction with MP3beamer. MP3beamer Sync is a super-useful utility which > allows a remote user to sync their song collection from MP3beamer to a > remote machine for offline playback. > > Q: Is MP3beamer GPL? > A: Parts of MP3beamer are GPL. Parts are based on Slimserver. There are > some parts which are not GPL, specifically code licensed from a 3rd party > which we do not have the rights to GPL. > > Q: Is the source code provided for MP3beamer? > A: Yes, for those parts which are GPLed. MP3beamer was constructed with > some assistance from Linspire engineers. You can read about Linspire's > support for open source initiatives here: > http://info.linspire.com/opensource/ > > Q: Do you charge $79 for the software? Is that permissible under the GPL? > A: Yes, it is permissible to sell software under the GPL. Read here for > more information: > http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney > > MP3tunes sells MP3beamer hardware for $399 and is a full PC, but it's about > 1/3rd the size of a desktop machine which makes it a good size for a music > appliance. It runs Linspire and includes access to all the software for > MP3beamer. If customers wants to install on their own machine, they can > purchase the MP3beamer suite of software for $79. This includes Linspire > which is $59 program plus MP3beamer server software, Lsongs and MP3beamer > Sync so I think it's a good value. There are definitely things that > MP3beamer can do which slimserver cannot which if those features and one > click install have value to people makes it a good price. If those features > don't have value and people don't mind setting up their own machines, then > it's not a good value. > > Q: Will MP3beamer work with Squeezebox? > A: Yes. > > Q: Why isn't the Squeezebox listed on the MP3beamer site as a recommended > hardware device? > A: There are several reasons. > > 1) We're targeting MP3beamer as a mass market product. This means we > emphasize easy of use and low-cost. While definitely not as expandable, > there are some devices like the Linksys and SMC units which are less then > half the price of Squeezebox unit ($125 vs $279) which is critical to reach > the mass market with the music appliance concept. And some units like > Linksys even have speakers which make them standalone boom boxes which is > ideal for our target market. > > 2) We have yet to put up a the complete list of devices. A more > comprehensive list of devices will go on the MP3beamer web site this week > with another dozen or so hardware units which should work with MP3beamer. > > 3) I like Squeezebox. In fact, I bought 8 over Christmas time and gave to > my executive team as gifts. I called up Slimdevices asking if we could work > with them on MP3beamer project. My multiple calls and emails were finally > returned after 3 weeks, but unfortunately it was an absolutely awful meeting > and I don't use those words lightly. I laid out plans for our product. I was > very abruptly told that Slimdevices had no interest in working with us. They > said they were working on other things for next few months which they could > not tell me about and they had no time for us. When I asked if we could get > demo units to showcase with MP3beamer at the Desktop Summit trade show (see: > http://desktopsummit.com), I was told 'No'. I asked for marketing literature > I could hand out I was also rebuffed. Then I called a couple other companies > and got a much warmer response and they gladly sent us units to demo and > literature to pass out. Still at the conference I brought in my own personal > unit so there would be at least one Squeezebox on display at the show. > > I have a history of rooting for and supporting the underdogs against big > competitors. But in this situation for the reasons cited above, I decided to > focus our attention on Linksys and SMC units which is probably the best > decision given our target market and the events outlined above. > > -- MR > > > Michael Robertson > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Read the latest Michael's Minute here > > CEO, Linspire Inc - World's Most Affordable Choice > CEO, SIPphone Inc - Call worldwide for free! > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss > > > _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
