Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
The Xtremer
This is one of several devices that plays back media files through a TV or HiFi system. Its low price point and inclusion
of HDMI make it a good foray into media streamers. It is a good test unit because it supports media playback from its
internal disk, an external drive, or the network—both wired and wireless. This makes it suitable for trying different
configurations without buying additional boxes. In addition to music and movies, it also supports image previews,
weather reports, and live streaming from YouTube, Picasa, and Flickr.
Squeezebox
This device was launched in 2003 and is one of several that acts like an audio-only version of the MediaMVP with a
similar scope for “hackability.” It also works on a client/server arrangement. The server in this case is a set of open
source Perl scripts called SqueezeCenter (formerly SlimServer) running on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. This
provides the clients with the audio data for your locally stored music and a way of connecting to external sources
such as Internet radio or your MP3tunes music locker. It is also able to control the client machines by sending them
commands. The server itself doesn't play audio, although you could run a software client on the same physical
machine to transparently achieve the same result.
You then need one or more client machines (that is, head units) to play the music in a remote room, connected
by either a wired or wireless network. This head unit can be as follows:
u
Squeezebox Classic, with display and outputs to a HiFi amplifier
u
Squeezebox Receiver, without display, controlled remotely
u
Squeezebox Boom, with display, built-in amplifier, and speakers
u
Transporter, reportedly a higher-quality playback engine
u
A software client
With an appropriate remote control, you can link the Squeezebox instances together so that they all play the
same music, providing a full, whole-house audio system.
Server Software
Installation under Linux is straightforward, and by using the software client, you can test the environment without
purchasing any hardware. First, go to
/etc/apt/sources.list
, and add the following anywhere in the file:
deb
http://debian.slimdevices.com
stable main
Next, do this:
apt-get update
apt-get remove --purge slimserver # in case of an old install
apt-get install squeezeboxserver
And, after ensuring that your music collection has the appropriate read and execute permissions set for the (new)
SqueezeCenter user, you can connect to its web server (on port 9000) and configure the server.
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