[slim] What to buy next?
I have enjoyed my Squeezebox setup for over 5 years but with the recent demise of the line I'm a bit stuck as to how to expand. My setup is relatively simple. I used to have a Duet in the living room and a Radio in the study, which pretty much took care of things. After building a summer house the Radio moved out there and in the winter it will likely find it's way onto my bedside table. At the same time a replacement computer (an iMac) went in the study. The plan was to run squeezeplay on the iMac. However a longstanding and seemingly insurmountable bug prevents the screensaver in OS X when squeezeplay is enabled (even when not playing) which renders this useless. So I need something to play music in the study. Another radio is an option, but it no longer fits in with the aesthetic in there (the iMac is all matt silver) and more importantly, the iMac also sounds better than the Radio (I have a nice little subwoofer attached via USB which really brings the best out of the newest iMac). Options are complicated further by the fact that the latest iMac has lost it's line in connection, although I believe that this can be relatively cheaply solved by a USB solution. So what are my options? As I see it at the moment I have a few, but if anyone has better suggestions please feel free to share them. 1. A second duet receiver from fleabay attached to iMac. 2. A new SB3 for the living room and relocate the current duet receiver to attach to the iMac. 3. An O2 Joggler attached to the iMac. 4. An iPod touch and dock running squeezepad attached to the imac. Any other suggestions? My preferences for something visually discreet and easy enough for the GF to operate! Thx all, Ant Ant's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16762 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
Is the girlfriend already used to using a phone, tablet or the duet controller. My thoughts are to try squeezelite on the Mac, its headless so doesn't have an interface as such but is controllable as any other SB using apps, web interface etc. You could even use squeeze play to control squeezelite on the Mac and quit so you don't get the screensaver issue. A joggler for control is also a good call, although I'd probably use it to control squeezelite on the Mac rather than inputting the joggler to a line in Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD jimbobvfr400's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=56857 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
Hi there Thx for that. To answer, yes GF happily uses duet controller and would be happy carrying on with that setup, as would I, although I use other devices also (work ipad and my phone). Wrt squeezelite, I have to confess that I know nothing about it but will now do some searching. If it is headless I presume it would be controllable via the various interfaces (controller, phone, ipad, SB Radio) but not visible or controllable on the imac? If so it sounds ideal... Tx, Ant Ant's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16762 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
bklaas wrote:
Add in that you get 3 months of free Netflix and that's something you
might already be paying for, it's really $11.
They have dropped the Netflix discount as I've understood:
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-google-ends-chromecast-netflix-promotion-20130725,0,483513.story
bklaas wrote:
Third, it's extremely analgous to Apple AirPlay in what it does (though
not in how it accomplishes it), but way more open and way cheaper.
Fourth, they released an SDK, and while it is not particularly
open-source friendly (really, no surprise there), if they sell as many
as I think they are going to, 3rd party development will follow and the
device will become more useful over time.
Agreed, it feels more like an AirPlay competitor than something that
tries to replace a full blown AppleTV/GoogleTV.
However, if I just consider my personal use case, I use my AppleTV 95%
of the time for Netflix and for the remaining time it's used for
AirPlay, so maybe this thing will replace the AppleTV for users who
primarily use Netflix.
bklaas wrote:
Fifth, it's super tiny and thus super portable. Your phone or tablet + a
chromecast becomes your roving A/V entertainment system. Wherever an
HDMI-capable TV or receiver and an available WiFi is, you're good to
go.
I wonder if I'm the only one who is starting to run out of HDMI inputs
on my TV, guess I soon have to select which devices I really want to
use.
Erland Isaksson ('My homepage' (http://erland.isaksson.info))
(Developer of 'many plugins/applets (both free and commercial)'
(http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/User:Erland).
If you like to encourage future presence on this forum and/or third
party plugin/applet development, 'consider purchasing some plugins'
(http://license.isaksson.info))
You may also want to try my Android apps 'Squeeze Display'
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.isaksson.squeezedisplay)
and 'RSS Photo Show'
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.isaksson.rssphotoshow)
*Interested in the future of music streaming ? 'ickStream - A world of
music at your fingertips'
(http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?98467-Pre-Announcement-ickStreamp=743516)*.
erland's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3124
View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234
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Re: [slim] What to buy next?
Yes exactly that, although you can control from the mac using the Web interface. If the mac is running your server then the local player plug in for LMS is an easy way to setup squeezelite running on your server computer. Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk 2 jimbobvfr400's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=56857 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
Ant wrote: The plan was to run squeezeplay on the iMac. However a longstanding and seemingly insurmountable bug prevents the screensaver in OS X when squeezeplay is enabled (even when not playing) which renders this useless. Have you tried setting this environment variable as described 'here' (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?96328-ANNOUNCE-SqueezePlay-for-Mac-OSX)? export SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER=1 I autostart squeezeplay at login and my screensaver kicks in as usual. I'm still running 10.6 so it may be that this no longer works with a more recent OSX. Ralphy *1*-Touch, *4*-Classics, *2*-Booms, *2*-Squeezeslaves, *3*-Squeezeplays, *3*-Squeezelites 'Squeezeslave' (http://code.google.com/p/squeezeslave/) 'donations' (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donationsbusiness=LL5P6365KQEXNlc=CAitem_name=Squeezeslavecurrency_code=USDbn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donate_SM%2egif%3aNonHosted) always appreciated. ralphy's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3484 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
hi Ralphy thx for that advice. I am still new to OS X and have no experience of terminal, but I will look to trying that out. However I have just installed squeezelite and while it seems to work there also seem to be terrible sync/buffer issues at least while playing through spotify. Also it refuses to play mp3 files, although I am sure I have seen that issue described elsewhere on the forum, so no doubt I'll be able to find a solution. More pressing is the dropout/sync/buffer issues which, as I write this, are driving my GF up the wall! Ant's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16762 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
erland wrote: I wonder if I'm the only one who is starting to run out of HDMI inputs on my TV, guess I soon have to select which devices I really want to use. Erland, this HDMI switcher may ease selection: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%A9-SWITCH-input-output-Switcher/dp/B001DAHS5Q Neet© - 3 Port HDMI AUTO SWITCH 3x1 Mini Hub Box (3 way input 1 output) 1080p Full HD v1.3b HDMI Switcher Squeezebox Classic:2; Duet: 1; Boom:1; Touch:1; Squeezelite. Server: Sheevaplug with Squeezeplug, (backup:Win 8 Pro 64 bit, Raspberry Pi with Squeezeplug), iPeng, iPeng for Ipad, Squeezepad, LMS Version: 7.8.0 latest nightly kesey's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10786 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
Ant wrote: hi Ralphy thx for that advice. I am still new to OS X and have no experience of terminal, but I will look to trying that out. However I have just installed squeezelite and while it seems to work there also seem to be terrible sync/buffer issues at least while playing through spotify. Also it refuses to play mp3 files, although I am sure I have seen that issue described elsewhere on the forum, so no doubt I'll be able to find a solution. More pressing is the dropout/sync/buffer issues which, as I write this, are driving my GF up the wall! For the drop outs you may need to also increase the portaudio library latency setting. 86 works well for me. export USEPALATENCY=86 If you are using the built-in audio device you'll most likely need to define USEPAPLAYNICE as well. export USEPAPLAYNICE=1 I haven't encountered the mp3 issue. Are you using the r247 download from the link I posted earlier? I confirmed that r247 plays mp3 files. I'd look at your lms server settings, perhaps you have bandwidth limiting enabled for squeezeplay but don't have lame installed. Ralphy *1*-Touch, *4*-Classics, *2*-Booms, *2*-Squeezeslaves, *3*-Squeezeplays, *3*-Squeezelites 'Squeezeslave' (http://code.google.com/p/squeezeslave/) 'donations' (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donationsbusiness=LL5P6365KQEXNlc=CAitem_name=Squeezeslavecurrency_code=USDbn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donate_SM%2egif%3aNonHosted) always appreciated. ralphy's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3484 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
hi Thx again. I have yet to try these options. In the meantime I have discovered that my external usb audio device sounds absolutely terrible when playing through either squeezeplay OR squeezelite, yet works nicely when playing either through itunes or spotify. I don't want to sound defeatist, but perhaps there is a limit as to what I can expect from free 3rd party plugins? WRT version, I definitely have r247. I will check my LMS settings wrt bandwidth limiting and lame, although the MP3 files in question are on my local LMS server and play perfectly well on the Duet so I suspect that that part is OK... It is very frustrating though, as it so very nearly works! bw, Ant Ant's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16762 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
erland wrote: They have dropped the Netflix discount as I've understood: http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-google-ends-chromecast-netflix-promotion-20130725,0,483513.story Agreed, it feels more like an AirPlay competitor than something that tries to replace a full blown AppleTV/GoogleTV. However, if I just consider my personal use case, I use my AppleTV 95% of the time for Netflix and for the remaining time it's used for AirPlay, so maybe this thing will replace the AppleTV for users who primarily use Netflix. I wonder if I'm the only one who is starting to run out of HDMI inputs on my TV, guess I soon have to select which devices I really want to use. But it still doesn't do lossless audio, it only support Chrome browser codecs! DaveWr's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9331 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
kesey wrote:
Erland, this HDMI switcher may ease selection:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%A9-SWITCH-input-output-Switcher/dp/B001DAHS5Q
Neet© - 3 Port HDMI AUTO SWITCH 3x1 Mini Hub Box (3 way input 1 output)
1080p Full HD v1.3b HDMI Switcher
Have you used it so you know it works reliably ?
Looks suspiciously cheap for something that doesn't loose quality, works
reliably and is automatic.
Erland Isaksson ('My homepage' (http://erland.isaksson.info))
(Developer of 'many plugins/applets (both free and commercial)'
(http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/User:Erland).
If you like to encourage future presence on this forum and/or third
party plugin/applet development, 'consider purchasing some plugins'
(http://license.isaksson.info))
You may also want to try my Android apps 'Squeeze Display'
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.isaksson.squeezedisplay)
and 'RSS Photo Show'
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.isaksson.rssphotoshow)
*Interested in the future of music streaming ? 'ickStream - A world of
music at your fingertips'
(http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?98467-Pre-Announcement-ickStreamp=743516)*.
erland's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3124
View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234
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Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
erland wrote: Have you used it so you know it works reliably ? Looks suspiciously cheap for something that doesn't loose quality, works reliably and is automatic. I have a similar device - works 100% Touch - Muse M50 EX TPA3123 T-Amp Mini - Acoustics Q10 speakers Logitech Radio + remote Raspberry Pi + Squeezeplug LMS + Squeezelite - Logitech Mini Boombox speaker Cubieboard + Fedora 18 + LMS 7.8 + Squeezelite - Soundwave SW100 bluetooth speaker O2 Joggler + SqpOS + Sony amp + Mordaunt Short speakers castalla's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15624 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
DaveWr wrote:
But it still doesn't do lossless audio, it only support Chrome browser
codecs!
I don't think you should look at Chromecast as something you would use
for your primary music listening.
For audio usage, I think it's more focused at handling the case when a
friend visit and he/she want to play something or when you want to
discover/preview music before purchase or when you play something from
one of the online streaming services (barely none offer lossless
formats). Some people want lossless also for these use cases but for the
other 95% of the potential buyers, the Chrome codecs will be good enough
in these scenarios.
Considering it's plugged in with HDMI, it feels like Google have
designed it more for video usage than audio usage.
Erland Isaksson ('My homepage' (http://erland.isaksson.info))
(Developer of 'many plugins/applets (both free and commercial)'
(http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/User:Erland).
If you like to encourage future presence on this forum and/or third
party plugin/applet development, 'consider purchasing some plugins'
(http://license.isaksson.info))
You may also want to try my Android apps 'Squeeze Display'
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.isaksson.squeezedisplay)
and 'RSS Photo Show'
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.isaksson.rssphotoshow)
*Interested in the future of music streaming ? 'ickStream - A world of
music at your fingertips'
(http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?98467-Pre-Announcement-ickStreamp=743516)*.
erland's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3124
View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234
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Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
erland wrote: Which one ? Even cheaper! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0020426AG/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8psc=1 Touch - Muse M50 EX TPA3123 T-Amp Mini - Acoustics Q10 speakers Logitech Radio + remote Raspberry Pi + Squeezeplug LMS + Squeezelite - Logitech Mini Boombox speaker Cubieboard + Fedora 18 + LMS 7.8 + Squeezelite - Soundwave SW100 bluetooth speaker O2 Joggler + SqpOS + Sony amp + Mordaunt Short speakers castalla's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15624 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] What to buy next?
Ant wrote: In the meantime I have discovered that my external usb audio device sounds absolutely terrible when playing through either squeezeplay OR squeezelite, yet works nicely when playing either through itunes or spotify. I don't want to sound defeatist, but perhaps there is a limit as to what I can expect from free 3rd party plugins? No, if they are properly set up, SQ will be the same WRT version, I definitely have r247. I will check my LMS settings wrt bandwidth limiting and lame, although the MP3 files in question are on my local LMS server and play perfectly well on the Duet so I suspect that that part is OK... Check 'this thread' (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?99124-Cannot-play-mp3-radio-streams-but-aac-streams-workp=751803viewfull=1#post751803) wrt the mp3 issue [ extGUI4LMS - an alternative web interface: 'forum' (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?98186-Announce-Alternative-Web-Interface-(beta)) / 'homepage' (http://code.google.com/p/extgui4lms/) ] Roland0's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=56808 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99259 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
erland wrote: Have you used it so you know it works reliably ? Looks suspiciously cheap for something that doesn't loose quality, works reliably and is automatic. I actually bought this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-SWITCH-REMOTE-output-Switcher/dp/B001PL5QDY/ref=pd_cp_ce_0 which was appreciably more expensive at £19.95...the extra was for an IR remote control. So far so good, it works perfectly. Squeezebox Classic:2; Duet: 1; Boom:1; Touch:1; Squeezelite. Server: Sheevaplug with Squeezeplug, (backup:Win 8 Pro 64 bit, Raspberry Pi with Squeezeplug), iPeng, iPeng for Ipad, Squeezepad, LMS Version: 7.8.0 latest nightly kesey's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10786 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] Google Chromecast
Picked one up Friday at my local Best Buy and to my surprise still got the 3 free months of Netflix though Google and Amazon had already cut that off. Works great and especially like using it to cast a Chrome tag of Pandora One from a laptop to get the superior 192K audio feed which sounds much better than the 128K P1 my Squeezebox Touch provides. Had to use the supplied USB power cable when I plugged it into my AV receiver but this gave an unexpected benefit as when I cast a tab my receiver powers up and switches to the correct HDMI port automatically, also no need for the TV to be on if I'm only interested in the audio i.e. P1, web radio, etc. and for that sort of audio the sound quality is fine. So at a net cost of $11 well worth it for me to stream audio alone, but it also casts Hulu, etc. from Chrome too. No doubt many apps will include Chromecast soon and am curious what bitrate Pandora will use, according to the web Pandora will add a Chromecast feature shortly but I have not found any info on what the bitrate will be... bluto99's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=54150 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99234 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
