Checking the Best Buy website produced news of a new wifi internet radio on offer in the US that crashes through the previous price points for which such a device has been available here in North America.
The receiver is named the IntelliTouch Wireless Internet Radio, Model ITC-IR1000B. It retails from bestbuy.com (apparently not yet available in the chain's stores) for $149.99 with free shipping. Its dimensions are H-5.5", W-9.5", D-5.25" and weighs in at 5 lbs. It requires connection via 802.11 a, b or g; and supports MP3, WPA and RM streaming. The receiver has a four line LCD display, provides 128-bit WEP data security, and a 5W single speaker with "deep bass effect". A purchaser reviewing the unit's performance referenced using with his stereo speakers, so apparently provision is made for external speaker connections. The only puzzler in the site's description is its reference to providing access for "up to 2500 radio stations". This seems a low number, although elsewhere in the description the reference is to "over 2500 stations"; so maybe the person responsible for placing this in the store's catalog was less than sure about the capabilities of internet radio to begin with. Browsing the wifiradioreview.com website, this unit appears identical to the Logik IR100, where it is stated that the receiver's operability is built around the Reciva technology. That would place the number of stations available to at least twice the claims made on the Best Buy website. The IR100 has been on the market in Europe for well over a year, selling in the UK last summer for as low as the equivalent of $100, so this product would appear to have a reliable and saleable track record. The two customer reviews on the bestbuy.com site each give the receiver top marks. Wifi internet radio appears to have been more quickly rolled out and embraced in the UK and Europe, but gradually many of these units are beginning to make their way across the Atlantic to us. The $150 price point is the lowest I've noted thus far for a unit sold in the U.S. John Figliozzi _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms To unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], or visit the URL shown above.
