Slimdevices Squeezebox 3

The latest music streaming device from the people who brought us the original and impossibly cool Squeezebox (this is number three, for those who are counting) is, if anything, even more handsome than its predecessors.

The device is a small brushed aluminium slab that sits propped at a jaunty angle by its stand.

It features a bright 320 x 32 pixel LED display, which makes it easy to navigate through menus.

Set up is a piece of cake, too. Plug it into the mains and connect it to a stereo system via either analogue (RCA phono) or digital (optical and coaxial) audio connections.

Unlike the Logitech Wireless Music System for Ipods, which will only work in an ad-hoc Bluetooth environment, the Squeezebox is a Wifi device and will discover any available wireless networks all by itself.

If appropriate, youíll be prompted for Wep or WPA keys.

On the PC side of things, the software required to stream music from computer to player needs to be downloaded from the Slim Device's website.

The Slimserver application then runs in the background providing a bridge for all music available on the host computer to the Squeezebox itself.

Slimserver's behaviour - which includes frequent rescans of the music library and seemingly random network activity - can be a little disconcerting. The software is, however, enormously adaptable.

Music libraries and the Squeezebox device itself can all be controlled via the web client, which in turn can be accessed by any Wifi device on the network.

Slimserver's open source nature means that a community of keen plug-in creators has built up.

You'll find extra functionality such as RSS feeds, fonts and even games can be added to the system as it develops.

Some users have even reported using their Sony Playstation Portables as network remote controls, using the Slimserver client to browse through sleeve art and select music.

With all this, and the ability to listen to Internet radio even with the PC switched off, the Squeezebox is undoubtedly the suavest audio-only streaming device around.

It might be a bit on the pricy side, but it looks and sounds great.

See also:

Microsoft Xbox 360

The most powerful and versatile games console to date  01 Dec 2005

D-Link DSM-320 media player

Stream audio and video around your home  16 Feb 2005

Philips Streamium SL400i

A wireless streaming device that's very easy to set up, but expensive  14 Jan 2005

Apple Airport Express

Simple wireless audio streaming  07 Jan 2005

Pinnacle Showcenter

Stream media to your TV and stereo.  29 Jun 2004

Onkyo TX-NR801

A great price for a quality sound receiver.  22 Apr 2004

Linksys Wireless B Media Adaptor

One of the first adaptors for streaming music and photos.  18 Aug 2003

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