Streaming internet radio to stereo

[mr x]

That duet is a cute little device. I looked at the SB, but it's lower down my list than the SBtouch. What's the story on the playbooks. They have their own operating system. Is RIM fucked? Are android based units the way forward?

[jeffsmith]

That duet is a cute little device. I looked at the SB, but it's lower down my list than the SBtouch. What's the story on the playbooks. They have their own operating system. Is RIM fucked? Are android based units the way forward?

RIM is definitely fucked. I think they put off the inevitable a bit longer by appointing the new CEO, bit the time is comIng unless they make up a lot of ground, and fast.

The Playbook might not be a bad option as I don't believe it relies on the Blackberry network at all. So at worst if RIM goes under you'd be without software updates for it. With the latest release of the Playbook OS 2.0, they can now run Android apps, so you get the best of both worlds. If budget wasn't a consideration, I'd definitely recommend going Apple…

[mr x]

I can spend what I want, but Apple is a choice of last resort. It's more about value. I don't see where an ipad price makes it a better option than a laptop, even a small 10'' Dell which comes in at half the price. On top of that, i've been burned enough times by the Apple family values...

[LiverDance]

I bought an acer iconia500 tablet and love the thing. Is has usb, micros sd, bluetooth, wifi, hdmi, and you can download torrents on it.

[jeffsmith]

I can spend what I want, but Apple is a choice of last resort. It's more about value. I don't see where an ipad price makes it a better option than a laptop, even a small 10'' Dell which comes in at half the price. On top of that, i've been burned enough times by the Apple family values...

Depends on who you ask—value is subjective. I've a house full of Apple products and have never had any issues, but that's a whole other topic.

I guess the question becomes are you looking for a laptop or a tablet. I seem them as fairly different items—tablet for more casual, entertainment use where a laptop (even an ultra book, or whatever they're being called now) would be for a bit more heavy lifting stuff.

[Jimmy]

For me, I'd go with an Android or Apple if I was going the tablet route. I'd avoid blackberry playbook , mostly due to the sure-to-come demise of blackberry.

If I was buying something solely for the purpose of streaming music from my laptop, I'd probably go with the duet. The tablet would be nice for the additional use though, so that would probably be my 1st choice... Still quite functional, while having additional use.

[mr x]

My problem with apple is that their version of support is 'buy the new thing'. At least RIM is upgrading their product, although that is a uncertain future for sure. The mini laptop is a bit different animal, but I look at the two items and think why am I paying significantly more for something that does less, and may wind up with less support...but, the tablet is smaller at 7'', and is slightly more portable....decisions...

[mr x]

I don't think Blackberry is dead, it's RIM that's in peril. Blackberry is still valuable as an asset, and I think it would be bought up before total destruction. But that's uncertain for sure.

[derek]

That duet is a cute little device. I looked at the SB, but it's lower down my list than the SBtouch. What's the story on the playbooks. They have their own operating system. Is RIM fucked? Are android based units the way forward?

Yes, they run their own OS.
Yes, they're fucked.
Yes, Android's the future.

And I second Jimmy's endorsement of Tiger Direct - I buy from them 3 or 4 times a year.

[jeffsmith]

My problem with apple is that their version of support is 'buy the new thing'. At least RIM is upgrading their product

I'm not sure that's entirely true. I just recently upgraded to an iPhone 4S from a nearly 4 year old iPhone 3G that had plenty of software upgrades and served me very well. My in-laws are using an Apple MacBook that I bought in 2004 and it still works great and is running the latest OS from Apple. Like I said, it's subjective and a person's opinion and experience will drive their view of a company/product line. It's no different than a discussion about vehicle manufacturers.

That said, I know a lot of folks that are quite happy with their Playbooks, even though I personally wouldn't touch a RIM product because I think their UI design is horribly and unnecessarily complicated compared to a lot of the other options out there. And while they did release Playbook OS 2.0, I wouldn't expect to see another major software upgrade for it since they're losing a significant amount on each unit sold.

Blackberry itself is definitely in trouble—the next BB that was due for release for the first quarter of this year was pushed until the last quarter. I think that RIM's hardware is really the valuable asset. The Blackberry network itself is a model that I doubt many other companies wouldn't want to touch especially with the recent downtime issues.

[mr x]

I've been burned on two items by apple. Ipods that were incompatible with software on a mac OS for no other reason than forcing you to buy an upgrade, and hardware changes that eventually fucked my Bose soundock. There won't be a third strike. The Blackberry network itself is quite addictive and cultlike. In the same way I don't understand tribal addiction to Apple products, I see the same thing everyday with Blackberry. I think people are a bit quick to chisel that tombstone.

[jeffsmith]

In the same way I don't understand tribal addiction to Apple products, I see the same thing everyday with Blackberry.

The same can be said for Android. What works for some doesn't work for others. My company has run on Apple products for years with no serious issues and I've received great support, but I understand that it's not that way for everyone.

Have you looked into any Sonos products? Not sure what their capabilities are when it comes to CBC radio but I know they support a pretty wide range of internet radio.

[Bryan]

I use my iPad to stream everything, no complaints here. There is a "Tune In" app that basically has every radio station you can think of... plus, CBC has an app. I currently just hook my speakers up to the iPad directly, nothing fancy.

[mr x]

That's the semi-convenience of Apple devices. The docking feature. Yet having been burned on that before, 3.5mm is hard to beat. Unless somebody can tell me why mini computers are unreliable pieces of trash, I think that's where I am leaning. And I can see why Playbooks are slashed in price. LTE version on the near horizon.

[derek]

I don't think Blackberry is dead, it's RIM that's in peril. Blackberry is still valuable as an asset, and I think it would be bought up before total destruction. But that's uncertain for sure.

Yes, it's valuable - for a while - as an asset, but the longer RIM holds on the less valuable the asset becomes. They desperately need an idea man. The Playbook was not just an attempt to catch-up in a tablet market that caught them completely flat-footed, but it didn't even provide (and still doesnt!) many of the features that Blackberry's fanatic users expect. They had a captive and dedicated market, and they threw it away.

[derek]

In the same way I don't understand tribal addiction to Apple products, I see the same thing everyday with Blackberry.

The same can be said for Android.

Not really - it doesn't even have the same tribal nature as the Linux base it's running on. Androids aren't interchangeable so someone who loves his Samsung is less likely to buy an HTC. But you're right that it's different strokes for different folks. For all the use I'm already getting out of my Apple TV, I'm not thrilled with its user interface, and I've hated Mac's interface whenever I've tried it, and really dislike Apple's attempt to control the user experience from end-to-end.

[jeffsmith]

But you're right that it's different strokes for different folks.

Yup, as I said, it's akin to a discussion of car manufacturers or really any product that integrates tightly with people's day routines.

[mr x]

Yes, now yous just need to remember to apply those analogies to Blackberry users.

At any rate, I already have a thread for trashing Apple, lol. I think that the teeny comp is the way forward. It's a bit bigger than my preferred 7'', but for my purposes, provides equal or better value than ipod/iphone/ipad/nexus/squeezebox. Although the nexus will have be done this year, just waiting for koodo or hopefully wind to get it on tap.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Yes, now yous just need to remember to apply those analogies to Blackberry users.

At any rate, I already have a thread for trashing Apple, lol. I think that the teeny comp is the way forward. It's a bit bigger than my preferred 7'', but for my purposes, provides equal or better value than ipod/iphone/ipad/nexus/squeezebox. Although the nexus will have be done this year, just waiting for koodo or hopefully wind to get it on tap.

ipod and ipad have the added difficulty that you HAVE to use their app, not their website - i have had difficulty finding my way around the app to listen to previously aired shows, etc.

[mr x]

That seals the deal. Free wine thief to whoever can find me the best deal, lol.

[mr x]

Grabbed a Gateway 10.1" Intel Atom N570 Netbook at FS for $259.98. I tried a number of tablets, but I just don't see the appeal, or value for the price. Seem very flaky to me.