HI Chris,
While I've been playing more and more music from my NAS, I've been wondering if the BDP really needs to be a server, instead of only being a dedicated digital player. Imagining the BDP without attached local USB drives, and only connecting to the (ether) net.
What software would you need for that? Could it be a dedicated Plex version for Unix for example, and would it fit on a BDP?
Just as you have made a bdp1usb recently, stripping out its sound card, you could make an ever thinner client, optimized for playing streams and elsewhere stored files. And by doing so, relieve the BDP from the MPD software and BDP-version of it.
I feel the BDP is starting to be torn apart: a very potent dedicated computer hardware wise, a tough unix machine on the other hand, somewhat behind in the user interface and functionality. Prone to more and more issues of non-responsiveness and needing to reboot ever so often. we'll sit tight, since we love the machine the way it plays music. Still, some endurance is needed...
I know Bryston (you) is working its socks off, developing the software. But compared to several other interfaces, it is starting to be a bit 'dated'.
Hope you will consider this thinner client minus MPD, and love to hear your thoughts on it.
Cheers, Marius