The Sooloos

**joncourage** · 2006-10-10, 09:46

But.... Sean - you so need a hot model.

**tyler_durden** · 2006-10-10, 10:56

That's what I call a hot little box!

TD

**CardinalFang** · 2006-10-10, 13:40

Originally Posted by joncourage

let PC, or just a small laptop are imo superior to the limited abilities of any remote. I mean, you get the whole enchilada web interface with all the capabilities of the Slim software. What's the big deal about the Sonos remote, compared to that?

For me it's speed, both in updating the screen and starting up. A dedicated remote would be instantly on and scrolling through lists and album art would be at native code speeds, not web page refresh (even with AJAX it's not that snappy, and it isn't widely supported on mobile devices yet either). Also dedicated and correctly labeled controls and buttons would make it easier for the rest of my family to use - that scroll wheel on the Sonos makes it very attractive to iPod users. Also, I don't want everyone to have access to the server settings for example - there may be a way to prevent my kids from messing things up, but I'd rather them not see anything at all to do with set-up by default.

In short, I don't want a device masquerading as a remote, no matter how convincing, I want the real thing tailored for the purpose in both software and hardware affordance and usability.

In the meantime I'd settle for a faster Flash-based interface on a PSP instead - I did try making one myself using OpenLaszlo but found that my PSP didn't allow me to tunnel out to the server :-( Hopefully they'll put a better vesrion of Flash on there soon.

**joncourage** · 2006-10-10, 13:47

Makes sense, I can understand then why I didn't understand the need - none of those things really matters much to me.

I'm pretty impressed with the speed of the new version (6.5); a big improvement over 6.3 in my system. I'm also running Slimserver on a dedicated PC with the server and scanner running at the highest possible priority levels, that has helped quite a bit to keep it snappy.

Everyone in my household is pretty web-savvy, and we generally have a laptop (or 3

sitting near-enough to where we listen, so the Slim interface was readily adopted. I'd bet there are ways to secure the config settings, maybe plugins exist with password security? (isn't that already in the interface?)

Maybe there's a market for someone to develop a sonos-form-factor remote for slimserver.

**tamanaco** · 2006-10-10, 22:05

Originally Posted by joncourage

Maybe there's a market for someone to develop a sonos-form-factor remote for slimserver.

This is more or less what I've been saying for a while now. ->Dream Begin->... Slim Devices should contract or partner with a "Universal" remote control manufacturer like Logitech and build a GUI/WiFI/IR remote control tailored for the Squeezebox. A remote with a color LCD to view album art, lirics tracks, playlist… etc with a variable speed thumb-wheel to facilitate the navigation of the Slimserver music library. WiFi to get rich content like album art and to interact with the Slimserver. In other words, I'd like to control the content of my Slimserver library via a Squeezebox remote just like I control the content of my MP3 player. In addition this remote should also be a "Universal" IR remote. It'd use IR codes to control the rest of my AV system. I just want "ONE" remote. An over simplified example of such hybrid is the Logitech remote for the Xbox 360 which was made with extra buttons to control the Xbox http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...ONTENTID=11250

I agree with what cardinalfang says. The Squeezebox remote control should make the navigation through my music library a pleasant experience. A web interface is fine for changing the Slimserver settings, configuring the Plug-ins, troubleshooting/debugging and all that other stuff, but the web interface is overkill just to change a radio station while I'm lying on the sofa. Many, many computer based products have failed because develpers fail to realize that watching TV and listening to the stereo are mostly "passive" activities not interactive.

I know, I know... I tried Slimremote and the such, but I found that trying to use devices that were not designed to be remotes has its idiosyncrasies. I also know the SB has a wonderful remote, but once in a while I'd like to select albums and songs without having to look at the Squeezebox. Let me walk around the house and let me select the song I want to hear without having to go back to the living room and face the SB. Again, the existing remote is more than adequate for those that enjoy the character based interface of the Squeezebox. I'm talking about an "optional" deluxe remote... for additional $$$ with a graphical non-web based interface.

PS. WiFi can be a battery killer so the remote would have to be built with rechargeable batteries using the newer energy efficient WiFi chips and have a recharging docking station.

/>Dream End</

**seanadams** · 2006-10-11, 07:36

Originally Posted by tamanaco

->Dream Begin->... Slim Devices should contract or partner with a "Universal" remote control manufacturer like Logitech and build a GUI/WiFI/IR remote control tailored for the Squeezebox. A remote with a color LCD to view album art, lirics tracks, playlist… etc with a variable speed thumb-wheel to facilitate the navigation of the Slimserver music library. WiFi to get rich content like album art and to interact with the Slimserver. In other words, I'd like to control the content of my Slimserver library via a Squeezebox remote just like I control the content of my MP3 player. In addition this remote should also be a "Universal" IR remote. It'd use IR codes to control the rest of my AV system. I just want "ONE" remote. An over simplified example of such hybrid is the Logitech remote for the Xbox 360 which was made with extra buttons to control the Xbox http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...ONTENTID=11250