Comments on: The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Lovechild http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:23:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Pandora Goes Mobile, and Sonos, and More http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-1547434 Pandora Goes Mobile, and Sonos, and More Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:29:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-1547434 [...] normal home sound system. Sonos has been aggressive about getting deals done with partners. They launched with Rhapsody last year, and announced support for Microsoft DRM earlier this year - meaning music from AOL Music [...] [...] normal home sound system. Sonos has been aggressive about getting deals done with partners. They launched with Rhapsody last year, and announced support for Microsoft DRM earlier this year - meaning music from AOL Music [...]

]]> By: RazorSharp iPods & Raw Gadgets » Blog Archive » Pandora Goes Mobile, and Sonos, and More http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-1397162 RazorSharp iPods & Raw Gadgets » Blog Archive » Pandora Goes Mobile, and Sonos, and More Sat, 26 May 2007 13:51:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-1397162 [...] normal home sound system. Sonos has been aggressive about getting deals done with partners. They launched with Rhapsody last year, and announced support for Microsoft DRM earlier this year - meaning music from AOL Music [...] [...] normal home sound system. Sonos has been aggressive about getting deals done with partners. They launched with Rhapsody last year, and announced support for Microsoft DRM earlier this year - meaning music from AOL Music [...]

]]> By: Online Poker/ http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-1115588 Online Poker/ Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:02:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-1115588 <strong>Online Poker...</strong> Play now... Online Poker…

Play now…

]]> By: Sonos Now Plays Microsoft DRM’d Songs http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-683701 Sonos Now Plays Microsoft DRM’d Songs Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:18:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-683701 [...] Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported to some degree. [...] [...] Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported to some degree. [...]

]]> By: Multimedias.mobi » Sonos Now Plays Microsoft DRM’d Songs http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-679550 Multimedias.mobi » Sonos Now Plays Microsoft DRM’d Songs Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:40:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-679550 [...] Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported to some degree. [...] [...] Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported to some degree. [...]

]]> By: Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Sonos Now Plays Microsoft DRM’d Songs http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-677714 Techcrunch » Blog Archive » Sonos Now Plays Microsoft DRM’d Songs Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:06:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-677714 [...] Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported. [...] [...] Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported. [...]

]]> By: EveryDigg » Blog Archive » The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Lovechild http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-240929 EveryDigg » Blog Archive » The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Lovechild Wed, 04 Oct 2006 12:00:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-240929 [...] Sonos today announced that the latest version of their home music devices now support streaming music from Rhapsody. We have previously written about Sonos and a couple of weeks ago we spent some time with the two founders of the company talking about the future direction of the company..read more | digg story [...] [...] Sonos today announced that the latest version of their home music devices now support streaming music from Rhapsody. We have previously written about Sonos and a couple of weeks ago we spent some time with the two founders of the company talking about the future direction of the company..read more | digg story [...]

]]> By: LIVEdigitally http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-202278 LIVEdigitally Mon, 18 Sep 2006 05:16:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-202278 <strong>Sonos 2.0 - the best gets better!...</strong> I first heard about Sonos pretty soon after it launched. In fact, I found myself at CES 2005 “face to face” with them over and over again, competing for various new product awards (I think we split evenly, but I’m not positive on tha... Sonos 2.0 - the best gets better!…

I first heard about Sonos pretty soon after it launched. In fact, I found myself at CES 2005 “face to face” with them over and over again, competing for various new product awards (I think we split evenly, but I’m not positive on tha…

]]> By: steve http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-200648 steve Sun, 17 Sep 2006 02:30:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-200648 I truly desire the Sonos system, but currently it doesn't have a 5.1 solution does it? One poster mentioned that he uses it in a home theater situation, but if I'm really going to unify my music system shouldn't some dvd-alicious 5.1 sound be able to be pumped into any room I want, and in 5.1 in whatever room has the speakers? I truly desire the Sonos system, but currently it doesn’t have a 5.1 solution does it? One poster mentioned that he uses it in a home theater situation, but if I’m really going to unify my music system shouldn’t some dvd-alicious 5.1 sound be able to be pumped into any room I want, and in 5.1 in whatever room has the speakers?

]]> By: Olaf Kreitz http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-199808 Olaf Kreitz Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:30:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-199808 If you think Sonos/ Rhapsody is too pricey for you, check out the Pandora/ Squeezebox combo. Pandora lets you also stream your own radio channels which you create on basis of one song or artist. They pick music that fits that genre then thru what they call the <a href="http://www.pandora.com/mgp.shtml" rel="nofollow">Music Genome Project</a>. Slimdevices' Squeezebox lets you wirelessly stream Pandora stations as well as all your music on your computer to stereo near you. They start at $249 and while Pandora is free (ad supported) if you wnat to use with Squeezebox you have to subscribe ($36 p.a.). This is still too much? Then be as cheap as I am: I use Pandora's free service on my Powerbook and connect to my stereo via Airport Express. Total one time investment: $99 for a refurbished Airport E. and $29 for Airfoil, the software that streams audio from any app to your Airport E. (as Apple only supports iTunes). Works great and you can connect to as many rooms as you want, just need more Airport Express boxes. If you think Sonos/ Rhapsody is too pricey for you, check out the Pandora/ Squeezebox combo. Pandora lets you also stream your own radio channels which you create on basis of one song or artist. They pick music that fits that genre then thru what they call the Music Genome Project. Slimdevices’ Squeezebox lets you wirelessly stream Pandora stations as well as all your music on your computer to stereo near you. They start at $249 and while Pandora is free (ad supported) if you wnat to use with Squeezebox you have to subscribe ($36 p.a.).
This is still too much? Then be as cheap as I am: I use Pandora’s free service on my Powerbook and connect to my stereo via Airport Express. Total one time investment: $99 for a refurbished Airport E. and $29 for Airfoil, the software that streams audio from any app to your Airport E. (as Apple only supports iTunes). Works great and you can connect to as many rooms as you want, just need more Airport Express boxes.

]]> By: PlasticBoy » Blog Archive » Sonos Rhapsody Streaming with no PC http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197761 PlasticBoy » Blog Archive » Sonos Rhapsody Streaming with no PC Fri, 15 Sep 2006 22:54:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197761 [...] The latest software update for Sonos music players allows them to stream music directly from Rhapsody. Previously, you had to keep the Rhapsody jukebox software running on a Windows PC in order to access the service from any hardware players. In other news, Sonos is still way too expensive. [...] [...] The latest software update for Sonos music players allows them to stream music directly from Rhapsody. Previously, you had to keep the Rhapsody jukebox software running on a Windows PC in order to access the service from any hardware players. In other news, Sonos is still way too expensive. [...]

]]> By: accelzone - techie weblog » Sonos Teams with Real: Rhapsody in Your Livingroom http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197521 accelzone - techie weblog » Sonos Teams with Real: Rhapsody in Your Livingroom Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:03:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197521 [...] The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Love Child [Tech Crunch] [...] [...] The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Love Child [Tech Crunch] [...]

]]> By: CrunchGear » Blog Archive » Sonos Teams with Real: Rhapsody in Your Livingroom http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197510 CrunchGear » Blog Archive » Sonos Teams with Real: Rhapsody in Your Livingroom Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:00:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197510 [...] The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Love Child [Tech Crunch] [...] [...] The Sexy Sonos-Rhapsody Love Child [Tech Crunch] [...]

]]> By: Michael Arrington http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197369 Michael Arrington Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:31:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197369 it's funny though, it does read like a press release. it’s funny though, it does read like a press release.

]]> By: Josh http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197325 Josh Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:09:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197325 I second what Jay says: It's all about the remote. I also found that, with the addition of Rhapsody, I'm liberated from having to own and maintain a music library. I mean, I have 100 gigs of music for the Sonos, and I know that some day, the NAS will die. So of course I have to back it up. That process--ripping music, copying it to a drive, and backing up the drive--is onerous. For $10 a month, I have access to way more than I could ever own. Add in all the meta data Rhapsody delivers, and it's no contest: This works. I only wish Real, which owns Rhapsody, would merge/buyout Sirius or XM. I want this service in my car... I second what Jay says: It’s all about the remote.

I also found that, with the addition of Rhapsody, I’m liberated from having to own and maintain a music library. I mean, I have 100 gigs of music for the Sonos, and I know that some day, the NAS will die. So of course I have to back it up. That process–ripping music, copying it to a drive, and backing up the drive–is onerous. For $10 a month, I have access to way more than I could ever own. Add in all the meta data Rhapsody delivers, and it’s no contest: This works.

I only wish Real, which owns Rhapsody, would merge/buyout Sirius or XM. I want this service in my car…

]]> By: Jay http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197260 Jay Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:30:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197260 As Larry mentioned, it's apples and oranges when comparing the Sonos and Squeezebox. Yes, the Squeebox does the job, it just doesn't do it in such a unbelievably cool manner like the Sonos. All I can is remote, remote, remote. It is what you are paying the high cost for. I have had a Sonos for over a year and it is definitely worth it. The remote gets passed around parties with people adding tracks to the play list. As Larry mentioned, it’s apples and oranges when comparing the Sonos and Squeezebox. Yes, the Squeebox does the job, it just doesn’t do it in such a unbelievably cool manner like the Sonos.

All I can is remote, remote, remote. It is what you are paying the high cost for. I have had a Sonos for over a year and it is definitely worth it.

The remote gets passed around parties with people adding tracks to the play list.

]]> By: Mark http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197184 Mark Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:03:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197184 I think the other difference is sonos also supports playing the same music on all boxes in your house at once properly syncronized so there is no echo effect. Not sure if anyone else has implemented that yet and actually has it working. It is expensive but each sonos box is a small pc essentiall with a wireless network built in, a four port switch, and a small amplifier to run the speakers. The fact that you can plug additional music sources into the back of one box (for example digital cable sound output or your conventional cd player) and listen to it on another box in another room is also a cool feature. That is my two cents... I think the other difference is sonos also supports playing the same music on all boxes in your house at once properly syncronized so there is no echo effect. Not sure if anyone else has implemented that yet and actually has it working. It is expensive but each sonos box is a small pc essentiall with a wireless network built in, a four port switch, and a small amplifier to run the speakers. The fact that you can plug additional music sources into the back of one box (for example digital cable sound output or your conventional cd player) and listen to it on another box in another room is also a cool feature.

That is my two cents…

]]> By: alan http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197178 alan Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:58:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197178 @ Mark S re Napster...in my opinion YouTube is becoming the video equivalent of Napster in its heyday - iffy quality but incredible range of Long Tail content. @ Mark S

re Napster…in my opinion YouTube is becoming the video equivalent of Napster in its heyday - iffy quality but incredible range of Long Tail content.

]]> By: Larry http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197161 Larry Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:45:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197161 Speaking as a former SlimDevices Squeezebox user that converted six months ago to all Sonos, I can say that Sonos is in a completely different league than Slim. The biggest differences are in the user interface and in the speed of the overall system. The Slim has no user interface to speak of unless you run it on a PC and when you get over 20,000 songs it slows to a crawl. Sonos has the remote control which is a marvel and is extremely responsive even with my 35,000 tracks. I liked the Slim system but it doesn't hold a candle to Sonos. The Rhapsody intergation is nice but it really doesn't set Sonos apart like the other aspects. All the other media players have similar types of integration already. Speaking as a former SlimDevices Squeezebox user that converted six months ago to all Sonos, I can say that Sonos is in a completely different league than Slim. The biggest differences are in the user interface and in the speed of the overall system. The Slim has no user interface to speak of unless you run it on a PC and when you get over 20,000 songs it slows to a crawl. Sonos has the remote control which is a marvel and is extremely responsive even with my 35,000 tracks. I liked the Slim system but it doesn’t hold a candle to Sonos.

The Rhapsody intergation is nice but it really doesn’t set Sonos apart like the other aspects. All the other media players have similar types of integration already.

]]> By: Dan G http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197159 Dan G Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:44:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197159 Nik, I don't think copying and pasting PR text into posts is a very good idea... the change from where you stopped writing and the PR stuff began is all too noticeable. Can you not write your own copy - and be sound less breathless/be more critical than the marketing folks? ____ Further to other folks have said, what can a Sonos device do that a Squeezebox can't? Nik, I don’t think copying and pasting PR text into posts is a very good idea… the change from where you stopped writing and the PR stuff began is all too noticeable.

Can you not write your own copy - and be sound less breathless/be more critical than the marketing folks?
____

Further to other folks have said, what can a Sonos device do that a Squeezebox can’t?

]]> By: CyBrShRk http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197131 CyBrShRk Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:28:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197131 Looks fantastic but is so overpriced I can't see this ever surviving long term. There are other options out there at a fraction of the cost that stand a better chance. Looks fantastic but is so overpriced I can’t see this ever surviving long term. There are other options out there at a fraction of the cost that stand a better chance.

]]> By: hoo doo http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197126 hoo doo Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:26:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197126 The Sonos/Rhapsody package is way too expensive. You can get the same thing -- with just as good sound -- from SlimDevices' SqueezeBox with Pandora. And since SqueezeBox is open-source, there are thousands of free plugins for it. The Sonos/Rhapsody package is way too expensive. You can get the same thing — with just as good sound — from SlimDevices’ SqueezeBox with Pandora. And since SqueezeBox is open-source, there are thousands of free plugins for it.

]]> By: David Cowan http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197104 David Cowan Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:17:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197104 Let me join the chorus of happy users. You have to see this product in action to appreciate why it is more than just a distributed MP3 streamer. There is nothing more family-friendly than Sonos' wireless controller with a color display (nice for cover art) and iPod-like controls, positioned conveniently on your wall in its charging cradle. Without booting up a PC, you can build playlists on the fly right on the controller. You can send different playlists, radio stations, and external line input sources to zones across your home, or you can distribute one perfectly synchronized stream throughout. Let me join the chorus of happy users. You have to see this product in action to appreciate why it is more than just a distributed MP3 streamer. There is nothing more family-friendly than Sonos’ wireless controller with a color display (nice for cover art) and iPod-like controls, positioned conveniently on your wall in its charging cradle. Without booting up a PC, you can build playlists on the fly right on the controller. You can send different playlists, radio stations, and external line input sources to zones across your home, or you can distribute one perfectly synchronized stream throughout.

]]> By: Mark S http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197044 Mark S Fri, 15 Sep 2006 16:51:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-197044 I have the sonos system installed in 3 houses. This new integration takes it from "really cool" to a true breakthrough system. In the past you could not access the entire sonos library from the controller - you could only access content that you had "added" to your "library" on your account. This has all changed and it's really pleasing to use the system. Many of the previous posts seem to miss the point that this is a wireless system with multiple nodes. You can control any number of rooms from one controller, without wires. This is an incredibly flexible system and the price point is a tiny fraction of wired systems that offer the same level of control.... without access to a music library like rhapsody. This delivers on the promise that I think we all first saw with napster - but it's legal and almost as cheap - 10 bucks a month for all you can eat. Incredible. And you don't have download, rip, burn or anything else. I have the sonos system installed in 3 houses. This new integration takes it from “really cool” to a true breakthrough system. In the past you could not access the entire sonos library from the controller - you could only access content that you had “added” to your “library” on your account. This has all changed and it’s really pleasing to use the system.

Many of the previous posts seem to miss the point that this is a wireless system with multiple nodes. You can control any number of rooms from one controller, without wires. This is an incredibly flexible system and the price point is a tiny fraction of wired systems that offer the same level of control…. without access to a music library like rhapsody.

This delivers on the promise that I think we all first saw with napster - but it’s legal and almost as cheap - 10 bucks a month for all you can eat. Incredible. And you don’t have download, rip, burn or anything else.

]]> By: Tom http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-196810 Tom Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:52:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/09/14/sonos/#comment-196810 I have had the Sonos gear installed in my home now for over a year. The Media Room, the living room, bedrooms, patio and of course at the pool. These units are by far the best thing since sliced cheese. Sonos support has been fanastic and the controllers are the envy of all the neighbors! I have had the Sonos gear installed in my home now for over a year. The Media Room, the living room, bedrooms, patio and of course at the pool.

These units are by far the best thing since sliced cheese. Sonos support has been fanastic and the controllers are the envy of all the neighbors!

]]>