Roku SoundBridge M1000
In the wireless network music player market, Roku’s SoundBridge M1000 ($199.99) stands out. Released by Roku in 2003, the M1000 is the last remaining network music player in what used to be a three-model line.
Roku Soundbridge M1000
The M1000 is a lightweight aluminum cylindrical unit with a modern industrial look to its design. It has a Vacuum Florescent Display that is easy to read, and it comes with a small base mount and remote control. Its settings are saved when unplugged, so users can move it from bedroom to kitchen to living room to backyard as needed.
The remote control is ergonomically designed, comfortable to hold, and not overlarge, but many of its buttons are not intuitive. Users will likely need to spend some time experimenting or reading the manual to fully put it to use. Since it’s the only way to interact with the device, this is definitely worth doing.
The M1000 streams music from your PC (or Mac)—or radio direct from the Internet—over 802.11b/g networks; it also has an Ethernet (10/100 RJ-45) port for wired networks. The M1000 is only a music player, it doesn’t have any storage capacity of its own.
To access stored music, it requires access to a music server, which most users will already have installed on their systems. SoundBridge is compatible with Windows Media Connect, iTunes, Rhapsody, Musicmatch Jukebox, and SlimServer, for example.
SoundBridge plugs directly into powered speakers by 1/8” cable, or to a stereo system’s Aux (or other Line Input port) using RCA (red/white) audio cables, which are included. (SoundBridge also has coaxial or optical SPDIF digital connectors, but cables are not included.)
Once the unit and the speakers are powered on, SoundBridge will automatically search for a Wi-Fi network. If it finds only one and if that network has no security keys set, it will automatically connect to the PC with the server software installed. If it detects more than one network, users are prompted to enter the correct SSID.
Technorati Tags: wireless network music player, Roku, SoundBridge, M1000
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