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News aggregatorTurn Your iPhone or iPod Touch Into a Multi-Room Wireless Music RemoteShared by Jeff
This looks like a very cool alternative to the $1000+ Sonos music system.
When you're done here, any iPhone or iPod touch will do exactly the same thing, in addition to all that email, calendar, internet, and mapping functionality that's made them so popular already—and for hundreds of dollars less. You can play music in any room individually, or in several rooms with the music playback synced between rooms. The special sauce in this setup is a feature of Apple's AirPort Express wireless routers called AirTunes, which streams iTunes music wirelessly over your home network to any room in your house. AirTunes isn't new by any means, but with the advent of the new Remote app for the iPhone and iPod touch running 2.0 software, its usefulness has increased dramatically; it's become a Sonos killer. What You'll Need I'm going to price out the cheapest (or nearly cheapest) version of this setup, including the price of the iPhone or iPod touch. If you already have any of the necessary equipment, the price drops significantly.
The Linksys WRT54GL router is not required, but it's inexpensive and it's what I'm using. It's likely you've already got a basic wireless router on your home network, and as long as you can set it up as a Wireless Distribution System (WDS), you probably won't need to buy a new router. The Apple AirPort Extreme ($180) is the easiest to set up with an AirPort Express, naturally. In my setup below, I used the much cheaper, much cooler WRT54GL running the free, open-source Tomato router firmware (which I showed you how to install here). The previously mentioned DD-WRT firmware supports WDS as well. If your current router supports WDS, you can shave an extra $50 off the setup price.
Now that you've got all that, you're ready for the heavy lifting. Set Up Your Base Router This setup should work with any router that supports WDS—check your router's manual and/or administration interface to find out if it does. If you want to follow along exactly with me, I'm using the open-source Tomato firmware (if you don't have it installed on a supported device, here's how).
Start up the AirPort Utility, again with the AirPort Express plugged into your main router with an Ethernet cord. Click the AirPort Express name in the sidebar. This time, click the Manual Setup button. We'll be making a lot of changes in the AirPort Express setup to get it working as a wireless bridge (and iTunes extender), so make sure you've got the information we gathered above on hand.
The next to last thing you need to do is open up the iTunes preferences and tell your computer to look for remote speakers with iTunes. You'll find this checkbox in the Advanced tab of the iTunes preferences.
After all the sweat you've put in so far, this step is dead simple. We've already covered how to set up the Remote App on your iPhone, so I won't go into all the details here. Once Remote is set up and running on your iPhone or iPod touch, you can play back and remotely control your entire iTunes library from anywhere in your house you've got an AirPort Express set up. To toggle your speakers, just hit Settings in the Remote app and toggle the speakers on or off.
Indifferent swimmers break 8 world records while whining about Speedo's LZR Racer continuesFiled under: Wearables ![]() If you hadn't heard by now, Speedo's new LZR Racer swimsuit has caused a respectable amount of controversy for itself in the run-up to the Olympics. The innovative, NASA-aided design cinches up on a swimmer and reduces drag by as much as 10 percent, and detractors claim Speedo has thrown a bit of buoyancy in there for good measure. FINA, who has the last word on such matters, has approved the suit, says that buoyancy claims are unproven, and has pointed out that all major manufacturers have suits available to all athletes free of charge, removing any concerns that the $500 suits -- which only last for 10 uses -- will pose an obstacle to poorer countries. Unsurprisingly, some of the biggest criticism of the suit has come from countries tied up in sponsorships with other suit manufacturers, while a good many countries and athletes have broken from lucrative deals to swim Speedo. So, what's the actual damage? 48 world records were set this year before the olympics, 44 of those wearing the suit. Since the olympics have started, 8 records have fallen, and that number is certain to grow. A large number, to be sure, but we'd say the time for crying over Speedo's awesmazingness is over, and the time to watch really muscular people with large feet break world records is upon us. Read - DailyTech Read - Sports IllustratedPermalink | Email this | Comments iPhones and Twitter at conferencesShared by Jeff
One of my friends (ahem) likes to play with his iPhone during meetings. I was at the fantastic Start Conference yesterday. I noticed something; for the first time, as many people were using iPhones when ignoring talks as were using laptops. At tech conferences the geeks have their laptops open and are paying more attention to web surfing than to the speakers. At Start08, half those geeks (me included) were looking at their iPhones instead. In part that's because the Wifi didn't work very well. But also the iPhone is capable and more convenient than a big ol' computer. One of the best uses of a laptop at a conference is participating in the IRC backchannel chat. iPhones don't do IRC (or do they now?) but we have an alternative: Twitter. Specifically, a Twitter search for a conference specific tag. I really enjoyed refreshing that page on my phone during a talk and seeing the commentary. It's also nice that the Twitter backchannel is persistent, non-anonymous, and archived. I've always hated how many people at conferences (or in meetings) ignore the speaker and focus on their computers. Isn't the whole point to be together in person, to communicate face to face? But I get bored during talks too. The iPhone is a nice compromise; small enough to be discrete, limited enough capability to capture a bit of partial attention without drawing you in entirely. One of my friends (ahem) likes to play with his iPhone during meetings.58/365 - iPhone 3Gquack1701 posted a photo: After much hassle, I now have an iPhone 3G. It's my first "smart phone" and I love it. One word of warning... It's battery is way undersized, and you can't swap out batteries. nobody@flickr.com (quack1701)iPhone 3G
My biggest complaint with the iPhone is it's battery life. After setting up the iPhone to sync both my gmail and exchange mail, I was lucky if the battery would last until I got home from work. Turning off the Wi-Fi helped a lot. Over the weekend I turned off the auto syncing of mail and all of a sudden, the battery seemed to last forever. Thus far, I have found two "killer apps" that are really making me love the iPhone. The first is Shazam. Ever heard a song in the background and wonder, what song that is? Well, you don't have to wonder any more. Shazam has the ability to pick out songs in loud places and determine what is playing. It then provides links to iTunes and YouTube for the song. The second apps is Pandora Radio. You tell Pandora a song you like, then it starts streaming songs similar to it over the iPhone. A few votes up or down on what it selects, then you have a stream full of songs you like. Now I have the ability to stream internet music in my car. Sweet! Best part, it doesn't seem to kill the battery (that fast). stevenBarcamp Houston 3
I enjoyed the panels on Mobile technologies (David Herrold), Public Relations (Ed Schipul), Creative Thinking (Kelsey Ruger), and Using Flickr Professionally (TheFuzzball). Houston is full of talented, intelligent, and motivated people. I can't wait until the next barcamp. My photos of Barcamp Houston 3 are on flickr. stevenCalifornia Supreme Court strikes down noncompete clausesBreaking: Local Idiot Plans To Post Comment On InternetThis just in: Local Idiot To Post Comment On Internet In a statement made to reporters earlier this afternoon, local idiot Brandon Mylenek, 26, announced that at approximately 2:30 a.m. tonight, he plans to post an idiotic comment beneath a video on an Internet website. photo of local idiot via The Onion Related Posts
This is a blog post from Laughing Squid For more content like this, subscribe to the RSS feed, Twitter & FriendFeed. Breaking: Local Idiot Plans To Post Comment On Internet 52/365 - Ice Cream Thiefquack1701 posted a photo: You can't leave ice cream unattended in this house. You turn your head for 5 seconds and a cat sticks her head in it. iPhone 2.0.1 now available through iTunesFiled under: Cellphones ![]() Well, finally. iPhone firmware 2.0.1 has just been released by Apple, and we're hoping it solves the myriad problems introduced by 2.0: crashing apps, interminable keyboard delays, choppy scrolling -- you know what we're talking about. We're pulling down the 250MB file now, we'll let you know how things turn out -- won't you do the same? Update: Well, it took its sweet time to install, but things seem a little tighter and snappier all around. We'll give it a day or so of actual usage before we pronounce things A-OK, though -- how's it going for you? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Permalink | Email this | Comments 49/365 - Popcornquack1701 posted a photo: Today's theme - Guilty Pleasures. Stuffing my face with popcorn! 48/365 - Pagerquack1701 posted a photo: My darned pager would not stop going off tonight. Every time I'd start to play with the camera I was interrupted by the pager. Tonight in the life of Steven, the pager was the most significant (annoying) thing. Judge Rules That Early Termination Fees Are ILLEGAL In California [Class Actions]
According to the lawsuit, this ruling will affect about 2 million Californians, and may affect other, similar lawsuits that are pending in other states, says the San Jose Mercury News. "We are disappointed," Sprint Nextel spokesman Matthew Sullivan told the paper. Consumer's Union (you know them as the publisher of Consumer Reports) were pleased with the ruling. “This is a huge victory for consumers,” Chris Murray, senior legal counsel for Consumers Union said in a press release, but expressed concern that the FCC might step in and start regulating the fees. “Not only did this case generate an extensive record showing that these fees are not really used to subsidize wireless phones, but are instead simply used to lock consumers into contracts. Contract law says that's illegal. Let's hope the FCC doesn't turn around and give the wireless industry a get out of court free card.” We're looking forward to seeing how this affects our readers in California, so if you're battling Sprint over an ETF and you live in CA, send your story to tips@consumerist.com. Let us know how they're reacting to this ruling!
Buying An iPhone Is A Huge Pain In The Butt For Business Customers <br>[Frustrations]Shared by Steven
I too am having problems getting an iPhone because I have a company discount on my account. Why doesn't Apple want my money?
James writes (to Steve Jobs): ...Since opening day, I have been tracking stores in my travels in Virginia, North Carolina and New York, since I have been traveling through all those states in the last few weeks. Last night, the Richmond Short Pump Apple store again had stock. I had a flight at 10am the next morning and figured I could leave my house at 630, get there at 730, hopefully have the phone by 8:30 and be at the airport by 9. When I arrived I was third in line and all went smoothly. I had all of my information and was on my way, until the Apple store employee got an error. 'Are you a corporate customer with ATT?', he asked. I answered yes, at which point they told me they could not activate the phone this morning, therefor could not sell me an iphone. They tried to call ATT but to no avail and I was not allowed to purchase. 'There is an ATT store across the street, you should try them'. I talked to the ATT store, and they in fact did not have any. 'Can I buy a phone, take it over there and activate it?', I asked. 'No. Sorry.', said the employees. At this point i started to express just how lame this policy is (all in good taste), all the while making it known that it wasn't their fault directly, but Apple should know better than this. I see this as a very broken customer experience, as ATT has no stock compared to Apple stores, but I cannot buy one from an Apple store since I must activate before leaving. So as a 'business customer', I have to jump through extra flaming hoops for this? As I understand it, the iPhone is a direct competitor with other business solutions such as the Blackberry Bold. This is not a very good start to my first experience with an iPhone. Something that is supposed to make my life easier and more convenient has already wasted more time and frustrated me quite a bit. If anything, business users usually get leverage, not the run around. By making it that you cannot purchase a phone without activation in store, the equivalent of DRM (which lets not kid ourselves, people will break it) has caused a horrible experience to me and probably many others. In my head a solution would be to let mainstream consumers buy and activate at apple stores, business users only at the att stores. I understand the wish to build hype with a product (like the Wii), however there is a very fine line between hype and frustration and a real difference between a personal/business communications product and a home entertainment system. In part of building an experience you must plot the various customer journeys and scenarios, the one of the business customer was certainly not overlooked, but it seemed that in the end, no one cared that it is fractured, time-wasting and detrimental to the experiences that Apple is known for building. As unfortunate as it is, I must say I am truly annoyed at this point in time and would have expected more from a company that is such an innovator in this industry. I am truly done trying to buy an iPhone, it has already wasted more of my time and resources than the cost of the iPhone itself and will be spending no more time on this task. James says that after not being able to get an iPhone on "opening day" he was told that business customers would have no problem activating their iPhones at the Apple store, so we understand his frustration. People are going to unlock the phones anyway, why make your customers miserable? (Photo: Todd Kravos ) 45/365 - Immortality through photographyquack1701 posted a photo: Immortality through photography. Red Fin: Just How Bijou Are We Talking About?![]() The secret of great real estate photography is making a place look bigger, while dispelling the sense that you are about to be swallowed whole by a huge animal. Thanks to Sara at lovelylisting (a blog you will enjoy). Original is here. 44/365 - Hot?quack1701 posted a photo: Today's theme was "hot or not". What do you think? Disagree With Walmart's Bike Policy? Take Off Your Clothes In Protest! [Activism]
...She got kind of flustered and said that it was a different situation but couldn't explain why. So I said that if they also sold shorts in the store that I'd better not wear those in either and I took off my shorts. Same goes for the shoes and sunglasses. Now I'm standing there in my spandex and a sports bra and I ask here if I can leave my things behind the customer service counter where they will be safe until I finish making my purchases and she said that I couldn't come into the store without shoes on, to which i responded "but I certainly can't wear shoes into the store because you sell those here and someone might think I've stolen them." She threatened to call security if I didn't leave so I told her that I would never be coming back to that store again and that I was glad I hadn't driven there since the gas to go four miles was probably more expensive than what her underpaid employees make in an hour. Her expression when the shirt came off was absolutely priceless...I was pretty tempted to take off the spandex too but I wasn't sure what constitutes indecent exposure in Virginia so I figured I'd err on the side of caution. Still I had a decent sized crowd gathered before the end of the discussion. Wal Mart is Evil so I took off my clothes [Bike Forums] 42/365 - Pizza Pizzaquack1701 posted a photo: I'm in the mood for a good pizza. This one contains onions, garlic, jalapeños, bell peppers, and turkey pepperoni. |