updated soundbridge info; itunes integration

[Anthony Wood]

If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site. It has been updated to include more accurate information about the shipping product, as well as support for our itunes built-in player that will talk directly to itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple). The complete manual is also now available online.

regards

[Steve Martin]

You guys have truly exceeded my expectations (well, except for ship
date ;-)

You truly rock!

Sounds like this will make it work just like an Airport Express client?

If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site.  It has
been updated to include more accurate information about the shipping
product, as well as support for our itunes built-in player that will
talk directly to itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple).  The complete
manual is also now available online.
 
regards
 
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

--
Steve Martin
Smart Calibration, LLC http://www.smartcalibration.com/

[Mike Kobb]

Glad to hear it!

It's not quite like Airport Express. With Airport Express, you basically
have a remote set of speakers, but the UI is still iTunes on your computer.
With SoundBridge, you use the remote control and the built-in display.

Net result: you can listen to music in a different room from your computer
and have full control.

Also, you can have up to 5 SoundBridge units in different rooms all playing
from the same collection (but all playing whatever the person in that room
wants to hear), whereas Airport Express supports only one remote set of
speakers at a time.

--Mike

Post by Steve Martin
You guys have truly exceeded my expectations (well, except for ship
date ;-)
You truly rock!
Sounds like this will make it work just like an Airport Express client?

If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site.  It has
been updated to include more accurate information about the shipping
product, as well as support for our itunes built-in player that will
talk directly to itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple).  The complete
manual is also now available online.
 
regards
 
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

--
Steve Martin
Smart Calibration, LLC http://www.smartcalibration.com/
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[Steve Martin]

Even better. When I first heard changes were coming (and saw the note
about Apple Lossless through slimserver) I was getting pretty worried.
Now I'm questioning the Airport Express I have ordered (not really,
I've got lots of uses for that!).

Post by Mike Kobb
Glad to hear it!
It's not quite like Airport Express. With Airport Express, you basically
have a remote set of speakers, but the UI is still iTunes on your computer.
With SoundBridge, you use the remote control and the built-in display.
Net result: you can listen to music in a different room from your computer
and have full control.
Also, you can have up to 5 SoundBridge units in different rooms all playing
from the same collection (but all playing whatever the person in that room
wants to hear), whereas Airport Express supports only one remote set of
speakers at a time.
--Mike

Post by Steve Martin
You guys have truly exceeded my expectations (well, except for ship
date ;-)
You truly rock!
Sounds like this will make it work just like an Airport Express client?

If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site.  It has
been updated to include more accurate information about the shipping
product, as well as support for our itunes built-in player that will
talk directly to itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple).  The complete
manual is also now available online.
 
regards
 
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

--
Steve Martin
Smart Calibration, LLC http://www.smartcalibration.com/
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

--
Steve Martin
Smart Calibration, LLC http://www.smartcalibration.com/

[Fred Holmes]

Thanks Mike,
You answered the one question I had so far without my even having
to ask it. I assume that the 5 units is for wireless as well as wired
ethernet?
Fred

Post by Mike Kobb
Also, you can have up to 5 SoundBridge units in different rooms all playing
from the same collection (but all playing whatever the person in that room
wants to hear), whereas Airport Express supports only one remote set of
speakers at a time.
--Mike

[Mike Kobb]

Sure, although a typical home WiFi network may start to run into some
bandwidth issues with five clients running at the same time, depending upon
your signal quality and such.

Post by Fred Holmes
Thanks Mike,
You answered the one question I had so far without my even having
to ask it. I assume that the 5 units is for wireless as well as wired
ethernet?
Fred

Post by Mike Kobb
Also, you can have up to 5 SoundBridge units in different rooms all playing
from the same collection (but all playing whatever the person in that room
wants to hear), whereas Airport Express supports only one remote set of
speakers at a time.
--Mike

_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[Christopher Duda]

Post by Mike Kobb
Glad to hear it!
It's not quite like Airport Express. With Airport Express, you basically
have a remote set of speakers, but the UI is still iTunes on your computer.
With SoundBridge, you use the remote control and the built-in display.
Net result: you can listen to music in a different room from your computer
and have full control.
Also, you can have up to 5 SoundBridge units in different rooms all playing
from the same collection (but all playing whatever the person in that room
wants to hear), whereas Airport Express supports only one remote set of
speakers at a time.
--Mike

Will the SoundBridge be able to access music files from a Network share much
like the HD1000 does? I have two HD1000's that access my music collection
sitting on a NAS. I do not want to have to run iTunes or SlimServer to play
my music from the SoundBridge.

Also I am sad to hear no native WMA support for the SoundBridge (or even the
HD1000)...With so many other hardware vendors able to provide native WMA
support to their equipment I was hoping Roku would do the same (the SlimServer
option is not a good fit for me - I do not want to have a PC running to listen
to my music). I use WAV for archival purposes (this is what the HD1000's
access) and WMA for portable device usage. Wave is not optimal because of the
lack of tag support. Ideally I would like your devices to natively play a
lossless format (either WMA-Lossless or FLAC) so I could get rid of the Wave
files all together (I am not a big fan of AAC - I don't want to get into a
religious war with anyone it is just that AAC and iTunes do not fit into my
current or future audio/video plans). I know you support MP3 on both put I
find it to be to fat and audio quality leaves something to be desired (at
least on the HD1000's connected to my stereos - on my devices it would be fine
but I still think WMA beats MP# and AAC in Aduio quality).

[Anthony Wood]

soundbridge currently does not have Windows file sharing (samba) built in.
We have tentative plans to add it, but nothing definite.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Duda" <***@msn.com>
To: <roku-***@lists.rokulabs.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:26 AM
Subject: [Roku-tech] Re: updated soundbridge info; itunes integration

Post by Christopher Duda

Post by Mike Kobb
Glad to hear it!
It's not quite like Airport Express. With Airport Express, you basically
have a remote set of speakers, but the UI is still iTunes on your computer.
With SoundBridge, you use the remote control and the built-in display.
Net result: you can listen to music in a different room from your computer
and have full control.
Also, you can have up to 5 SoundBridge units in different rooms all playing
from the same collection (but all playing whatever the person in that room
wants to hear), whereas Airport Express supports only one remote set of
speakers at a time.
--Mike

Will the SoundBridge be able to access music files from a Network share much
like the HD1000 does? I have two HD1000's that access my music collection
sitting on a NAS. I do not want to have to run iTunes or SlimServer to play
my music from the SoundBridge.
Also I am sad to hear no native WMA support for the SoundBridge (or even the
HD1000)...With so many other hardware vendors able to provide native WMA
support to their equipment I was hoping Roku would do the same (the SlimServer
option is not a good fit for me - I do not want to have a PC running to listen
to my music). I use WAV for archival purposes (this is what the HD1000's
access) and WMA for portable device usage. Wave is not optimal because of the
lack of tag support. Ideally I would like your devices to natively play a
lossless format (either WMA-Lossless or FLAC) so I could get rid of the Wave
files all together (I am not a big fan of AAC - I don't want to get into a
religious war with anyone it is just that AAC and iTunes do not fit into my
current or future audio/video plans). I know you support MP3 on both put I
find it to be to fat and audio quality leaves something to be desired (at
least on the HD1000's connected to my stereos - on my devices it would be fine
but I still think WMA beats MP# and AAC in Aduio quality).
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

[Dave Dodge]

I have two HD1000's that access my music collection sitting on a
NAS. I do not want to have to run iTunes or SlimServer to play my
music from the SoundBridge.

Perhaps someone could put together a SlimServer equivalent that runs
on the HD1000.

-Dave Dodge

[Anthony Wood]

it actually works using a different protocol than Airport Express. We use
Apple's DAAP, which lets you browse the itunes content. Apple Express has
the UI on the itunes an creates a virtual "remote speaker".

Attached is a PDF that compares soundbridge to some of the competition.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Martin" <***@mac.com>
To: "Roku Tech Mail List and Discussion Group"
<roku-***@lists.rokulabs.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Roku-tech] updated soundbridge info; itunes integration


You guys have truly exceeded my expectations (well, except for ship
date ;-)

You truly rock!

Sounds like this will make it work just like an Airport Express client?

If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site. It has
been updated to include more accurate information about the shipping
product, as well as support for our itunes built-in player that will
talk directly to itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple). The complete
manual is also now available online.
regards
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

--
Steve Martin
Smart Calibration, LLC http://www.smartcalibration.com/

[Scott Lehman]

So even with the new ability to play directly from iTunes, it cannot
play Apple Lossless encoded files from iTunes? I only see Apple
Lossless mentioned along with Slim Server, which would be able to
leverage QuickTime to do the format conversion I guess.

That is something I'd want, though I guess I can hold out hope that the
Apple Lossless codec may come in a future software update. I'd ask if
it's coming, but I already know the official answer to that question ;)

Scott

[Anthony Wood]

correct...

Apple hasn't release the specs to the apple lossless codec yet.
They say they "probably will", at which point we'd update the itunes client
to support it.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Lehman" <***@harmony-central.com>
To: <roku-***@lists.rokulabs.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:26 AM
Subject: Re: [Roku-tech] updated soundbridge info; itunes integration

Post by Scott Lehman
So even with the new ability to play directly from iTunes, it cannot
play Apple Lossless encoded files from iTunes? I only see Apple
Lossless mentioned along with Slim Server, which would be able to
leverage QuickTime to do the format conversion I guess.
That is something I'd want, though I guess I can hold out hope that the
Apple Lossless codec may come in a future software update. I'd ask if
it's coming, but I already know the official answer to that question ;)
Scott
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

[Mike Kobb]

Apple hasn't yet released the specs on that codec. We've requested them,
and if they are released we plan to support it.

Post by Scott Lehman
So even with the new ability to play directly from iTunes, it cannot
play Apple Lossless encoded files from iTunes? I only see Apple
Lossless mentioned along with Slim Server, which would be able to
leverage QuickTime to do the format conversion I guess.
That is something I'd want, though I guess I can hold out hope that the
Apple Lossless codec may come in a future software update. I'd ask if
it's coming, but I already know the official answer to that question ;)
Scott
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[Peter Gutbrod]

Post by Anthony Wood
If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site. It has been
updated to include more accurate information about the shipping product, as
well as support for our itunes built-in player that will talk directly to
itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple). The complete manual is also now
available online.

That's really good news.

Now that it looks, Roku has chosen iTunes as the streaming server of choice
for Soundbridge, there is still the problem, that you must have a Mac/PC
running iTunes to access your music library. Do you all have your computer
running 24 hours a day? I don't! So I still have to wake my Mac manually and
launch iTunes, when I want to listen to music with Soundbridge.

There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)

It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable Soundbridge
to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't running already.

Please Roku could you add something like this into the boot sequence of
Soundbridge? Probably just integrating the launchTunes client with added WOL
functionality into Soundbridge, so the shirt-pocket people could still make
their money with the server apps.

Would make the product much more useful for daily use.

Regards

Peter Gutbrod

[Mike Kobb]

WOL?

Post by Peter Gutbrod

Post by Anthony Wood
If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site. It has been
updated to include more accurate information about the shipping product, as
well as support for our itunes built-in player that will talk directly to
itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple). The complete manual is also now
available online.

That's really good news.
Now that it looks, Roku has chosen iTunes as the streaming server of choice
for Soundbridge, there is still the problem, that you must have a Mac/PC
running iTunes to access your music library. Do you all have your computer
running 24 hours a day? I don't! So I still have to wake my Mac manually and
launch iTunes, when I want to listen to music with Soundbridge.
There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)
It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable Soundbridge
to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't running already.
Please Roku could you add something like this into the boot sequence of
Soundbridge? Probably just integrating the launchTunes client with added WOL
functionality into Soundbridge, so the shirt-pocket people could still make
their money with the server apps.
Would make the product much more useful for daily use.
Regards
Peter Gutbrod
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[BJ Johns]

WOL - Wake On LAN

http://ahh.sourceforge.net/wol/
http://www.youngzsoft.net/cc-get-mac-address.htm

Post by Mike Kobb
WOL?

Post by Peter Gutbrod

Post by Anthony Wood
If you are interested in SoundBridge, check out our web site. It has been
updated to include more accurate information about the shipping product, as
well as support for our itunes built-in player that will talk directly to
itunes via DAAP (licensed from apple). The complete manual is also now
available online.

That's really good news.
Now that it looks, Roku has chosen iTunes as the streaming server of choice
for Soundbridge, there is still the problem, that you must have a Mac/PC
running iTunes to access your music library. Do you all have your computer
running 24 hours a day? I don't! So I still have to wake my Mac manually and
launch iTunes, when I want to listen to music with Soundbridge.
There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)
It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable Soundbridge
to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't running already.
Please Roku could you add something like this into the boot sequence of
Soundbridge? Probably just integrating the launchTunes client with added WOL
functionality into Soundbridge, so the shirt-pocket people could still make
their money with the server apps.
Would make the product much more useful for daily use.
Regards
Peter Gutbrod
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[Dave Dodge]

Post by Peter Gutbrod
There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)
It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable
Soundbridge to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't
running already.

WOL?

Probably "Wake On LAN", i.e. send the Mac some sort of packet to wake it
out of sleep mode first.

-Dave Dodge

[Mike Kobb]

Gotcha! TVM. (Thanks Very Much ;-) )

--Mike

Post by Dave Dodge

Post by Peter Gutbrod
There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)
It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable
Soundbridge to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't
running already.

WOL?

Probably "Wake On LAN", i.e. send the Mac some sort of packet to wake it
out of sleep mode first.
-Dave Dodge
_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[Fred Holmes]

I have been wrestling with the desire to have my music on a NAS,
but find that most devices like the Soundbridge and Linksys Wireless
Music-B require a server applet. And of course iTunes and
Musicmatch Jukebox do offer all the benefits of music library
management. If I go the dedicated PC route for my music library,
I would love to have the system go to a powered down state until
such time as someone wants to listen to music. If it is possible to
have the Soundbridge wake up a dedicated music server PC with
a Wake-On-Lan signal, please let me know as that will help me
with my decision.

If anyone knows of apps like 'launchTunes' for the PC world,
please point me in their direction.
Fred

Post by Peter Gutbrod
Now that it looks, Roku has chosen iTunes as the streaming server of choice
for Soundbridge, there is still the problem, that you must have a Mac/PC
running iTunes to access your music library. Do you all have your computer
running 24 hours a day? I don't! So I still have to wake my Mac manually and
launch iTunes, when I want to listen to music with Soundbridge.
There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)
It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable Soundbridge
to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't running already.
Please Roku could you add something like this into the boot sequence of
Soundbridge? Probably just integrating the launchTunes client with added WOL
functionality into Soundbridge, so the shirt-pocket people could still make
their money with the server apps.
Would make the product much more useful for daily use.
Regards
Peter Gutbrod

[Mike Kobb]

We don't have the capability in 1.0, but we'll definitely explore it for a
later release. I have my music on a G4 with four drives, so I'd love for it
to go to sleep as well.

--Mike

Post by Fred Holmes
I have been wrestling with the desire to have my music on a NAS,
but find that most devices like the Soundbridge and Linksys Wireless
Music-B require a server applet. And of course iTunes and
Musicmatch Jukebox do offer all the benefits of music library
management. If I go the dedicated PC route for my music library,
I would love to have the system go to a powered down state until
such time as someone wants to listen to music. If it is possible to
have the Soundbridge wake up a dedicated music server PC with
a Wake-On-Lan signal, please let me know as that will help me
with my decision.
If anyone knows of apps like 'launchTunes' for the PC world,
please point me in their direction.
Fred

Post by Peter Gutbrod
Now that it looks, Roku has chosen iTunes as the streaming server of choice
for Soundbridge, there is still the problem, that you must have a Mac/PC
running iTunes to access your music library. Do you all have your computer
running 24 hours a day? I don't! So I still have to wake my Mac manually and
launch iTunes, when I want to listen to music with Soundbridge.
There is a shareware app called launchTunes available at
http://www.shirt-pocket.com (I'm not affiliated with them in any way)
It remotely starts iTunes on all your computers whenever you launch iTunes
on your master Mac. Combined that with a WOL signal could enable Soundbridge
to start up the requested music server, in case it isn't running already.
Please Roku could you add something like this into the boot sequence of
Soundbridge? Probably just integrating the launchTunes client with added WOL
functionality into Soundbridge, so the shirt-pocket people could still make
their money with the server apps.
Would make the product much more useful for daily use.
Regards
Peter Gutbrod

_______________________________________________
Roku-tech mailing list
http://lists.rokulabs.com/mailman/listinfo/roku-tech

------
Mike Kobb
Senior Software Engineer, Roku
Get more out of your high-def TV.
High-definition photos, art, music and more.
http://www.rokulabs.com
tel: [phone] x12 fax: [phone]

[Peter Gutbrod]

Mike,

WOL = Wake on LAN, as Dave already said. It is simply broadcasting the Magic
packet, which consists of several time the MAC address of the Ethernet card
of the system to wake up. Very simple, can be accomplished with a few lines
in PERL. On all newer Macs/Powerbooks that works from sleep mode, on some
PCs that even works from Power off state (i.e. booting the system).
In case Soundbridge doesn't find the iTunes library on the IP address it
streamed music from the last time it was running, it could ping that
address to see whether the system is running. If not it could send the WOL
signal and ping again for about 2 minutes. As soon as the ping is
successful, it could run the launchTunes client. If the library isn't
available after some time, it should time out as there is no way to make the
streaming server available remotely. Otherwise it is ready to go.

Similar thing could happen, when switching off Soundbridge. It could
remotely quit iTunes (i.e. with launchTunes ) then send an Apple Script
request to put the Mac to sleep. Or having some server process running on
the Mac/PC, that accepts a client request from Soundbridge to put the Mac/PC
to sleep. Instead of having several apps/scripts working together, probably
all this functionality, WOL, launching/quitting iTunes, putting machine to
sleep could be integrated in one client/server app (two versions for
Mac/PC). There should be some preferences, where you can enable/disable to
allow Soundbridge to put the computer to sleep and probably an (optional)
dialog box: "Soundbridge wants to put you computer to sleep mode.
Accept/Cancel." It wouldn't be so nice, if my Mac suddenly goes to sleep
mode, while I'm working on my 20 pages report, just because someone switched
of Soundbridge ;-)

Peter