This is a set of links to products which start to merge computers and home entertainment. I'm still looking for the best device to control music in my house, so if you see anything you would like to share, let me know. My email is tony_ataiu.to

MP3 players

There are all sorts of MP3 players. Some hold the files on their internal disks. The smarter ones serve files off the any machine on the network.

SliMP3 network MP3 player

They sell some interesting stuff. It networks (wireless or cat5) to your server and lets you navigate the MP3 library in a through a little display. The server software runs on windows, mac, linux and bsd - they give you the source so you can port it to others. You hook it up to your amplifier. This might make a nice addition to your stereo rack. Of course, you can add multiple slimp3s, so different things can play in every room. This guy hacked his up to make a portable one

Lansonic Audio Digital Audio Server and MP3 Player

The Lansonic is similar to the SliMP3.

Griffin Technology - PowerWave - "Swiss Army Knife for Sound"

This is a nice looking external audio input/output device. You connect it via USB audio to your computer so it can do the D/A conversion outside of the electrically noisy environment. It's got a power amp so you can just connect good speakers to it and go. They also make a bunch of really cool Mac and iPod products.

stereo-link

Stereo link is like the PowerWave, but it bills itself as more of a precise audiophile device. It has no power amp, so you must connect to your receiver.

Gateway - Connected Music Player

Gateway used to sell the "Connected Music Player" (model 3500926). It was similar to the above devices, but now looks gone. Maybe you can get a used one cheap on ebay.

PVRs - Personal Video Recorders

Think TiVO

SnapStream

SnapStream makes Beyond TV (formally Personal Video Station) which is a TV tuner card for your PC and software which makes it TiVo like.

Digital Picture Frames

The digital picture frame is a concept where you put a keyboardless display somewhere and feed it pictures. The pictures may come from a file server, a special purpose device, or off the net.

Wallflower

This is a really nice product. Wood framed display, wireless connection to your PC. It presents itself as a filed server on your network, so you just open the folder and drag in pictures. All devices should be this simple. These guys do a review where they talk how these are made from recycled computers.

Ceiva

Billed as a great way to share digital pictures with grandparents. My friend says it sucks for a lot of reasons, the two big ones being that it requires a monthly service fee and a phone line.

Remote control and home automation

You've got to control everything, so you either need an X10 system, wireless remotes or networked touchscreens around the house.

Player Software

When you're building your own media player, you'll need software to play music and video. If you're doing it on linux, there are several competing sound technologies. NIH syndrome is rampant here. I've not been able to figure out what is the right choice yet.

xine - Video Player for linux

Nirvis Systems - CDJ

Does the CDDB lookup for CD in your changer library, so you can get a better indexing.

SoundDesk - A sound mixer for OSS/Voxware

OSS/VoxWare - 4Front Technologies

The Network Audio System (NAS)

Advanced Linux Sound Architecture

321 Studios: DVD X Copy

Other Stuff

TitleTrack Jukebox

This is a hardware/software combination which lets you remote control your iMac and in turn have it drive (over s-link) a bunch of Sony CD changers. This effectively makes a remote controlled CD jukebox, but it also integrates in MP3s stored on the mac.

GoVideo

GoVideo makes very nice DVD players, DVD+VCR combination players and DVD recorders.

RackFrame - affordable equipment racks

Axcess.com - Structured cabling systems for the home

HomeTech Solutions - more cabling systems

Zultys Technologies IP Phone

MonitorWorld.com - workstation monitor, cable, adapter, and video card information.

Kima wireless

They sell stuff which sends audio over a wireless link to a receiver, which then remodulates as FM, so you can play it on your radio or receiver. Why?

SolarPC Home Page

If you're going to put a PC in your entertainment rack, it should be fanless.