Convert Your Router to a WiFi Radio

Jeff Keyzer took an Asus WL-520gU Wireless Router and turned it into a DIY WiFi Radio. He removed the USB connector and wired it directly to simplify things. The cabinet was built from scratch by one of his neighbors. Excluding the case, it only cost him $147.09. Check out his other materials and instructions if you would like to duplicate his efforts. Nice job, Jeff.

Via mighty Ohm

VTech IS9181 Internet Radio Hits the US

VTech has allowed those in the US to share their IS9181 Internet Radio. This WiFi musical streamer can act as your home audio hub. It has a class D amp with 3W front-facing stereo speakers with 10W subwoofer. Search over 11,000 Internet stations with 1 touch access or remote by country, state or genre. When you tire of radio, hook up your MP3 player or PMP.

Via VTech IS9181 Internet Radio

Tangent Quattro Internet Clock Radio

Internet radio gets better all the time. The Tangent Quattro combines WiFi radio with a classy housing in black, white or walnut. Search for over 5000 stations, either by location or genre. The Alarm radio with snooze button streams music from your PC or MAC without turning it on. The Quattro can also double as a stand-alone speaker when connected to your MP3 player. Best of all, after purchase, there is no addition subscription fee.

Via Tangent Quatro Internet Clock/Radio

CasaTools Multi-Room Music Server

CasaTools has unveiled their XL Music Servers that can receive up to 9 music sources by touchscreen, depending on the model. Pre-loaded with their CasaTunes software, the device has a 250GB hard drive that can hold over 1,600 albums or 20,000 songs. Additional music can be added via CDs, iPod, or Internet downloads. Add to that external streaming from AM/FM, satellite and SHOUTcast. Their XLi has four internal music sources and can be used in up to 6 rooms. The XLe comes with 5 sources and can control up to 12 rooms. Add 4 external boxes and you have 48 rooms of tunes. The XL Server can also be controlled from your computer and will be available sometime this quarter at a price starting at $1,499.99.

Via CasaTools

GenevaSound Comes Stateside

GenevaSound has finally become available in the U.S. This fine Swiss "furniture music" combines wood with all-in-one audio sounds. The system has a built-in slot-loading CD player, FM tuner and a line-in connection for all iPods and iPhones, as well as wireless systems, satellite radio, TVs and PCs. Inside the deluxe box are all-digital Class D amps with Geneva EmbracingSound signal processor that uses algorithms for excellent stereo sound. Not to mention it looks bitchin'. Their top of the line audio home theater will cost you $3,999.99, comes in black or white and will make the entire neighborhood green with media-envy.

Via Geneva Sound

Control4 Table Top Touch Screen

We find it somewhat amazing that things we saw on TV and read in sci-fi books only a few years ago are possible now. Control4 has released its Table Top Touch Screen for whole house automation. With a simple interface, you can control your home theater, multi-room music, security, smart lighting, temperature control and more by Ethernet or WiFi. The screen has a 16x9 format and four customizable buttons and has optional access to online Rhapsody. Look for it to come out sometime this month. By the way, if you are not the tabletop type, the touchscreen is available in a wall mountable model.

Via Control4

Squeezebox Offers Napster

Logitech has added Napster to its
Squeezebox music players. You only need your existing wireless home network to receive access to 7 million songs on demand from both major and independent labels. Create your own playlist or let Napster Automix create a custom one for you after you select a few of your fave tracks or artists. After a free 30 day trial period, you pay a subscription fee of $12.95 per month.

Via Logitech

Freakin' Friday! CC CWF WiFi Internet Radio

Thinking of making the switch to Internet Radio with a stand-alone player? The CC CWF WiFi Radio has access to over 11,000 stations worldwide. At the small size of 3.9 x 6.5 x 3.9", you can search by location and genre at the same time. The device features 99 memory presets, an alarm with 5 settings, a sleep timer and an Ethernet port. Since it is wireless you can stream music and audio from your PC or Mac. The CC WiFi so impressed us by its simplicity and style that we have made it our Freakin' Friday pick this week at its moderate price of $191.38.

Via CC CWF WiFi Radio

Creative Lowers Xmod Music System Price

We've told you before about Creative Labs Xmod wireless music system with its simplified usage. It takes your music files and makes them sound better than an original CD with X-fi technology. No home network is needed since it wirelessly transmits from your PC to anywhere in your home. What we couldn't tell you back then is that the Xmod has recently been reduced 60%. At a price of $91.99 with free shipping, even an amateur can set up the music system as it needs no special software or driver to operate. Plug in and you are good to go.

Via Creative Labs Xmod wireless music system

Zebra DMX-306 Wireless Mic For Closet Karaoke Singers

We don't mention karaoke around here much, but we know you fans are out there. Zebra has a wireless mic set for perfect for your neighborhood tavern or those who want to keep it at home. The DMX-306 has professional VHF/FM transmission quality with low noise and distortion, and a wide frequency range. The pair of mics were recently marked down to $39.52 from $51.37. That equals out to less than $20.00 per voice.

Via Zebra DMX-306 Wireless Microphone

Think Cisco Linksys System or Upgrade

Now that electronics are becoming more affordable, think about setting up your tunes with more than just your iPod and mini-speaker or video on more than your old TV. Cisco's Linksys has always provided quality products. Here are some of latest wireless Linksys wireless gadgets for those who have basic systems or newbies to the brand.

A good sound system can cost you thousands, but the
Linksys Home Audio Executive Kit is an inexpensive alternative. The kit comes with one wireless Director, an IR remote and a set of speakers. Simple to install, it is compatible with your Wireless-N router. We think you will get so hooked that you will have tunes in every room in your house (including the bathroom!) The basic system is $549.99 with free shipping included.

Out this week is the
Home Audio Docking Station for iPods and MP3 players. At a size of 5 x 8.9 x 1.3" and a weight of 8 oz., the system connects by DMC250 Director in your existing Cisco home system. Included are adapters for several different iPods. The station is available for only $79.99.

Also unveiled this week is the truly cool wireless N Home Audio Music Player Extender. Hook it up to your existing stereo, home theater receiver, or surround sound system and your entire family can get access your own tunes or millions of those on the Internet. It includes an IR remote or you can order a
Controller for remote access in another room. At a price of $299.99, think about your teens' happiness when you bring this one home.

Now available for pre-order is the
Linksys Stereo Speaker Kit. These bookshelf speakers can up your stereo to surround sound or simply improve on your current ones. They have 3/4" neodymium silk tweeters and 4" high-Gauss woofers. Add to that tuned ports and gold-plated terminals and a price of $149.99 for the pair.

Of course, the best recommendations come from those who already have, so if you are one of those who own a Cisco Linksys System, we would appreciate your input!

Via Cisco Linksys Wireless

David Weiner Ventures Unveils the Art.Suono Wireless Music Transmission System

If you're into artsy electronic toys, you might want check out the Art.Suono Wireless Music Transmission System from designer David Weiner. According to SlipperyBrick.com:

Design house David Weiner Ventures has unveiled a wireless music broadcasting device which is iPod friendly. It is called the Art.Suono Wireless Music Transmission System and iPod Dock and it will be available for around $1,500.

Doesn't the Art.Suono look a lot like one of those explosive devices bad guys slide along the floor like in movies like Diehard?

We'd really be interested in the sound quality of such a small device. If we get a chance to check out the Art.Suono, we'll let you know.

At SlipperyBrick.com

Hands-on Review: Grace ITC-IR1000 Wireless Internet Radio with Pandora Radio Support

One of the great things about technology is how much it evolves. One of the things that sucks about technology is how much it evolves. As technolgy devices become more evolved and complex it usually means you need a degree from MIT to hook up some of these devices that are coming out. So when we get a device here at NAV that is easy to hook up and does exactly what it's supposed to do, we get a tad excited. We'll start out this review of Grace ITC-IR1000 Wireless Internet Radio by saying it fits right into that "easy to use - but powerful" genre.

We told you about the ITC-IR1000 last month after we found out that the radio could also play Pandora radio streams. You've heard us here at NAV mention a few times that we're big Pandora fans, so we were pretty excited about getting our review unit.

Continue reading: "Hands-on Review: Grace ITC-IR1000 Wireless Internet Radio with Pandora Radio Support"

Wow! What a Nice Chumby...I Mean Streaming Internet Device!

The other day I went to a friend of mine's office and he started showing off his Chumby to me. Now as I.........okay that didn't exactly sound right so maybe I better start over. The other day I went to a friend of mine's office and he showed me his Chumby Internet Device. I'd have to say it was pretty impressive and quite unique. We know the Chumby has been out since late last year but this is the first time we actually found someone using it. Basically the Chumby is a wireless internert device that's a tad smaller than your typical alarm clock that streams content to "widgets" on the device.

The device is capable of streaming radio, news, weather and a lot more. I didn't get to spend much time with the device so I'm not quite sure how I'd use it but I'd assume it would set next to my computer and serve as a background tool while using my main computer. The Chumby might also be a great beside table device to keep an eye on your late night Ebay auctions. We'll work on getting a review unit to give you more of a detailed look but we wanted to let you know the Chumby is a pretty cool device.

Here's a few more details from Chumby.com:

What's a chumby?

The Chumby is a compact device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web: news, photos, music, weather, celebrity gossip, webcams, sports scores - using your wireless internet connection. Always on, it shows - nonstop - what's online that matters to you.

How does it work?

Just plug it in, connect to your wireless network, and use your computer to choose a playlist of "widgets" (the bite-sized applications that run on a chumby - check them out on the Browse Widgets page). And if, say, you want to see news, the surf report, and traffic in the morning, and animations, web cams and eBay auctions at night, you can group widgets in "channels." Watch constantly updated info, or use interactive widgets that take advantage of its touchscreen or motion sensor. You can even share widgets and send ecards to other people's chumbys.

With over 600 widgets across 30 different categories such as weather, social networks, photos, sports, news, entertainment, videos and much more, you'll find lots of stuff you'll love.

The Chumby is bit pricey at just under $200 but with a touchscreen and motion sensor, this just might be a cool little device to have around the house or office.

At Chumby.com

Chumby at Amazon.com