Squeezebox Duet announced

[amcluesent]

Logitech Makes Grab at Sonos' Audience with Squeezebox Duet

"The Squeezebox Duet offers an innovative controller with a full-color LCD screen and compact receiver, enabling people to wirelessly browse, select and play all their PC music on their existing stereo systems."

[OneDesi]

That looks beautiful - me dont need but me want

[gstott]

More info on this here http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=41805 if anyone is interested. Why can't they just combine this remote thing with a universal IR remote (like a harmony)?

Kinda like the display on my squeezebox.

[Autopilot]

I already own one, have done for months

Well, thats not completely true... i own the "Jive" remote part (which i am beta testing for Logitech). It controls the SB3 i own, but can control multiple devices SB3's, Transporters... and now the 'Duet' (rubbish name IMO).

It's funny, because while they tried very hard to keep this secrect, they let slip in some of the Jive menu's what the nature of the next product would be - and its exactly how i imagined it.

I'm not totaly conviced myself, the SB3's beautiful screen is one of it's best features, but as a member of the Squeezebox family, rather than replacement (I hope) it will have fans im sure. It would be good if the remote part can be bought seperatly.

EDIT: I see the 'Jive' (code name) remote i have is now to be called the 'Squeezebox Controler' and is to be sold seperatly or as a bundle with the Duet. Not sur about a SB3+Controler or Transporter+Controler Bundle.

One of the biggest down side to the new Screenless and IR-less Squeezebox Dual is the fact you wont be able to use a universal remote like my Harmony.

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by dean (Dir. of Engineering) on official forums

To clear up a little bit about the new product announcement.

There are two new hardware products, the Squeezebox Receiver and the
Squeezebox Controller. These are available separately, but when
bought together the bundle is called Squeezebox Duet.

Squeezebox Receiver is based on the existing Squeezebox 2/3 hardware
platform with the same amount of memory, CPU speed, wireless card,
etc. In fact the firmware that's running on it is essentially the
same as on the classic Squeezebox. It lacks a headphone jack and
uses a different (but quite good) DAC. In place of a VFD display it
has a single button with an RGB LED behind it. The color of that
button is under software control and indicates if the device is
connected and working properly. The button acts as a pause/unpause
control, or if you press and hold, puts the Receiver into setup mode.

Squeezebox Controller is exactly the same hardware that folks from
the community have been testing under the code-name "Jive Hardware
Beta", as discussed here: http://forums.slimdevices.com/
forumdisplay.php?f=19

It's based on an entirely new ARM-based hardware architecture and a
new software platform which has been under development as the Jive
software and will be renamed SqueezeOS.

The Controller uses its built-in 802.11g wireless to talk to
SqueezeCenter and/or SqueezeNetwork as an alternative way to control
your Squeezeboxen or Transporter and has nice 2.4" display and enough
buttons to navigate and play your music on your other devices.

The Controller also has a small built-in speaker and headphone jack
which are used for sound effects for the user interface. Future
software updates could make the Controller a player itself, streaming
your music (or any of the internet radio or music services on
SqueezeNetwork) to the headphone jack. If and when that software
update happens, the Duet bundle would be like getting two players in
one box.

There's also an SD card slot in the unit, an IR transmitter, a 3-axis
accelerometer and an expansion port on the bottom. What software
features get added depends largely on what the community comes up
with, there's already a bunch of neat applets and other software that
have been created during the beta program.

I'm REALLY excited about these new products. Folks have been asking
for a couple of new products from us for a while: a less expensive
Squeezebox and a remote with a display. We did that.

But it gets better. The Squeezebox Controller is based on a totally
new and open platform for software development. In the same way that
SqueezeCenter (nee SlimServer) was a platform for our community to
create new ways of listening to music, Squeezebox Controller and
SqueezeOS are platforms for building new ways of controlling your
music and more.

You ain't seen nothing yet.

-dean

Looking good - the community of developers are great, hopefully they will do some good stuff with this very flexible platform too. I really think Sono's will be scratching the heads now...

[Peter314]

A friend has speakers in one room connected to an amplifier in another. He would like to be able to control the music played by the amplifier while sitting in the room with speakers.

Does anyone know if the Duet system would let him do this (he has a wireless network)?

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by Peter314

A friend has speakers in one room connected to an amplifier in another. He would like to be able to control the music played by the amplifier while sitting in the room with speakers.

Does anyone know if the Duet system would let him do this (he has a wireless network)?

Yes, this is exactly the type of thing its designed for.

[Peter314]

Thank you. I'll suggest he look into it.

[t-force]

Originally Posted by gstott

More info on this here http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=41805 if anyone is interested. Why can't they just combine this remote thing with a universal IR remote (like a harmony)?

Kinda like the display on my squeezebox.

There have been rumours that the next Harmony remote may well integrate with the Jive system. One thing you need to remember is that the new remote (or Squeezebox Controller) does NOT directly control the Squeezebox Receiver (or an SB2 or 3 if you used it with those), rather it controls SqueezeCenter, so it talks directly to the network; so unless you have a remote that is Wi-Fi enabled, you're not going to be able to emulate that in a universal remote. I would imagine that this has been done to provide an easy way of the remote showing exactly what is playing - you couldn't really do that with an IR remote, where the communication is one way - remote to Squeezebox.

[gstott]

Have found my dell axim (wifi enabled) works quite well as a controller. As you say, what I'd like is a harmony type device with the ability to control IR devices and control my squeezebox. Then I could ditch the pile of remotes in my living room...........

[wywywywy]

Any idea whether this is Unicode capable?
Or is it English only like the Sonos?

Thanks.

[t-force]

I believe the SB3 is Unicode capable, so it wouldn't surprise me if the new one was.

[Zarch]

Just bought a Harmony 555 to remove all the remotes from my system and was going to get a SB3 as my next purchase and use the Harmony!

As nice as it looks(and it does), another remote is the last thing i need.

Think i might have to stick to my guns and get the SB3. (or i could be persuaded! LOL)

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by mickwall

Just bought a Harmony 555 to remove all the remotes from my system and was going to get a SB3 as my next purchase and use the Harmony!

As nice as it looks(and it does), another remote is the last thing i need.

Think i might have to stick to my guns and get the SB3. (or i could be persuaded! LOL)

No, go for the SB3 then. The Duet Squeezebox Receiver is not meant as a replacement for the SB3 like some people seem to think. God for an SB3, then maybe use the cheaper Receivers to extend to the other rooms in future if you want.

[SimonO]

Originally Posted by Autopilot

...I really think Sono's will be scratching the heads now...

Why ???