In Use
When it comes to making sense of your music library, all four systems take a slightly different tack. The Roku impressed us by being able to hook up to both the iTunes and SqueezeCentre servers on our PC as well as Windows Media Centre. Being able to run off iTunes also means that although the Roku still won't play your DRM-protected files at least it lets you know they are there. The Logitech will only run off SqueezeCentre, but as this does a very solid job of reading ID3 tags.
Sonos' wireless remote: cumbersome but fully featured
The Sonos server software looks directly at your music folders and does a pretty good job of translating that into a friendly form the wireless remote control can display while you're perambulating. But its ability to compile a usable catalogue from an iTunes library didn't quite match that of SqueezeCentre. Bottom line, if iTunes is your everyday music software - and for many, many folk it is - the Logitech and Roku devices do the best job.
Philips' remote, Logitech's and Roku's (left to right)
The Philips depends on good old UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) which is fine if you're using a compatible media player to organise your files or have everything laid out in folders but a bit hit and miss if you are an iTunes user, keep all your music tracks in a single, gargantuan folder, and simply add your music library to a UPnP server for the sake of streaming.
COMMENTS
I am happy with my NP1100
As indicated in your review, set-up is simple for Roku and Philips. I have choosen the Philips because it was cheapest and didn't want to spend too much to test a new technology.
Result is I am very happy with my NP1100 which is quite nice and so easy to use. I am also amazed by the number of station available.
When I have plug-it in the first time, SW has been automatically updated and now BBC is working very well.
I really love this device which allow me to listen internet radio without PC and also all my MP3 on my Hi-Fi system.
Tks for your usefull comparizon.
Problems with Squeezecenter & Ubuntu
If your music sits on a Linux server, check that the Squeezecenter server software works on your machine before parting with your hard-earned cash on the Logitech offering.
There are known problems trying to get Squeezecenter 7.2 running on Ubuntu 8.04 and derivatives. The advice from Slimdevice's support team is limited to telling you to go and read the forums - thanks guys.
I for one have given up with this and am going to investigate the Sonos product.
Aren't these technically a violation of copyright?
After all it is making available to others. If they have a receiver and live close enough they could pick up your transmissions and GOD FORBID copy it onto a cassette tape, then encode it to FLAC (sarcasm).
Honestly though, surely there is a legal question about these devices. They duplicate the copyrighted works don't they. And transmit them to all and sundry.
Bloody Freetards, paying lots of money to make available copyrighted works. I think that you all should pay the artists, no the music labels on a per listen basis.
(....paytard)
Roku in Pinnacle disguise too
You can get a down market version of the Roku SoundBridge in Pinnacle clothing. DLNA compliant, I use a Buffalo NAS with a UPnP server built in. I generally use the web interface for all set-up as it's much easier than the remote, much better way to set up the radio streams. The Pinnacle version has an SD card slot for a local music library too.
I would avoid the Logitech
It's not DLNA compliant, and uses it's own propitery streaming system (something which if it were Sony doing this, would be dragged over coals for).
I like the idea of having the media info on the remote, but for the moment, my trusty Noxon2's work just fine.
