CardinalFang;254924 Wrote:
> I was on the beta programme and I must admit, this mirrors my thoughts.
> It's a potentially OK piece of kit, but at the suggested price, I would
> spring for the iTouch, it can even do VoIP calls now on top of having
> WiFi and an SDK for apps and the interface is much, much better than
> the new controller. OK, it's not a dedicated controller for the
> Squeezebox, so not a valid comparison perhaps, but given £300 to spend
> today, I would put it there, not on a Squeezebox controller.
>
> The scroll wheel on the beta controller is bad and the buttons are in
> the wrong places. It's big, has too many options and is frustrating to
> use. I'm also disappointed that the new receiver is lower spec than the
> old Squeezebox.
>
> I do feel slightly unfaithful for saying this though, I did get a
> controller as part of the beta programme, for which I am grateful for
> being given the chance, and perhaps it's living through that sometimes
> painful process that has tainted me, but my feeling right now is that
> the interface is still not good enough. It's clunky, unreliable and
> slow. My wife refuses to use it and has gone back to the old remote. I
> struggle on, but end up with the old remote most times - or sadly,
> using an Apple remote with Front Row on a MacBook Pro that is damn near
> silent. It obviously costs a lot more, but it is much more usable for
> me.
>
> Perhaps I should wait for product before further comment, but I feel it
> really needs to be a whole lot slicker - and I agree with the poster who
> said that the fact that it is full of unused, potentially exciting
> hardware is not a plus point. If I buy a phone and am told that it has
> great GPS, but I can't use it yet until I write some software for it,
> that doesn't make it a bargain. It maybe exciting for geeks, but for
> consumers it's a complete misfire.
>
> Gut reaction - a missed opportunity that won't steal many Sonos sales.
> The software isn't finished, it's still trying to appeal to the geeks
> and the new hardware should be better than the old, not "good" as was
> quoted elsewhere. Slim is meant to be the audiophile player vendor.
My thoughts exactly. The beta Controlers firmware does not cut the
mustard, its a ball ache to use. But given it's been offcially annouced
now they must think its close to being ready, which supprises me.
One thing i will say is that i am very supprised that the release
version is the same as the btea - i was expecting something much
slicker, although it's just about fine as it is.
But i will try and take the glass half full attitude regarding the
inactive headphone socket, which could be great - a feature i would
love to have working. They obviously ran short on development time, but
i am glad its not been removed.
But congrats to all at Logitech/SD. I really think this is the way
forward for you, just dont kill the SB3 too soon. I want a screen in
the main room, but i will by a Duel receiver for satelite listening
area's.
--
autopilot
SLIMSERVER:[/B] 7.0 APLHA (WINDOWS XP) + ALIENBBC, SLIMSCROBBLER &
LAST.FM.
*AMP:* CAMBRIDGE AUDIO 640A (LIVING ROOM) / DENON MD30 (BEDROOM).
*SPEAKERS:* MISSION 701'S (LIVING ROOM) / KEF CRESTA 1'S (BEDROOM).
*REMOTE:* T-MOBILE MDA VARIO / HARMONY 525 (IR) / *BETA TESTING JIVE
REMOTE.
[B]Clients:* 1 Squeezebox 3 + Softsqueeze.
'LAST.FM' (http://www.last.fm/user/domrevans/)
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