I stumbled upon this ( http://www.sonos.com ) and I was wondering to what extent the n770 could be adapted to work like the Sonos system.
The easiest solution I could figure out is to set up a streaming radio station on the PC and stream MP3s to the n770. However, there'll be no track selection/control with this solution.
I'd like to hear about your ideas on how to go about this.
There are many network music players...Sonos devices, Slim Devices's Squeezebox, the Roku SoundBridge, to name a few. These all have network protocols that permit external device control. Many obey UPnP protocols.
I personally have two Roku SoundBridge devices and have drooled over the prospect of controlling them with my 770. I have developed a controller for the SoundBridge devices and am adapting it to the 770. The problem is that the controller is written in Java. There is a JVM for IT 2005 (I was using jamvm) but nothing yet for IT 2006.
Once something like jamvm is implemented for IT 2006, I can continue the interface work. I had things limping on the 770; the interface was too "heavy" (resource intensive) for the 770. SOmething simpler is in order.
Anyway, these things are definitely possible. It's exciting to think about using the 770 to control other household devices, especially music players.
Yes, the slimserver installation includes a software squeezebox emulator (written in java), called softsqueeze. When launched, the slimserver software will see a player running on localhost (in addition to any hardware players on the network, and consumers of the mp3 stream like the 770) , which can be controlled over the network by the 770.
I am using free software from SlimDevices (SlimServer and SoftSqueeze), several of the computers on my network, and the Nokia 770 to recreate a Sonos-like experience in my house.
I have SlimServer running on my home network file server (where all my music files are stored). I have SoftSqueeze running on my Media Center computer (connected to my home theater and TV in the family room), a general use laptop in a common area of the house (with wireless USB stereo speakers), and a computer in my office/study.
Using the SlimServer web interface, accessed from the 770, I can control the playback of my .mp3s and internet radio at all 3 locations. The software was free, the computers were already in place, so all it cost me was the $350 for the 770 (this was one of the primary reasons for purchasing the 770) and $50 for the wireless USB speakers for the one computer. The Sonos system is very nice, but for less money, I have essentially the same capabilities, with the added functionality of the 770.
Going one step further....I know that Pandora.com and SlimDevices, makers of Squeezebox, have partnered to allow for Pandora streams directly thru the Squeezebox. Using the free software from SlimDevices, is it possible to get Pandora to stream to the N770 via your PC/server? And if so, could you walk around with it outside of the range of your own wifi network?
Pandora.com uses Flash 8, which, as has been lamented over and over in these forums, the 770 doesn't support.
I have neither a Squeezebox nor a 770, but being able to listen to Pandora will walking around would be yet another reason for me to buy on this holiday season.
Thats what I am actually trying to do in my spare time. The player is an Asus WL-500g Deluxe, a wrt-like wifi access point, running a slighly modified version of OpenWRT. The magic in the Asus thing is that it has a couple of USB 2.0 ports, where you can attach a usb to spdif (or analog audio) converter. I have a "no brand" one, really small thats just like a cable from the access point to the AV amplifier.
Software is based on mpd with an ajax web frontent.
Ok, the 770 is used just as a web browser, but people usually stare at it like something magic
