[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi guys - I hope this is OK to post because I think this is content most of us will be interested in. I have written my first installment of what I call "Laid-back Library Control". Here is a snippet and the link.

One of the most popular questions I hear today is, "how do I control my music library from my listening chair?" There are numerous answers to this question. Some are thousands of dollars and somewhat complicated. Others are hundreds of dollars and pretty easy to use. To me this is a no-brainer. I don't want a support contract for my remote so I am steering away from a separate computer like a tablet PC running VNC or another remote control application just to control my library. I also don't want to run a several thousand dollar audiophile system with a cellphone or a web browser from an iPod touch. These two options and their derivatives do not appeal to me. Call me old school, but what I want is to hit buttons and listen to music. I want access to my library through an intuitive interface that is straight forward and is built for this purpose only. Did I say I don't want to use a mobile phone/iPod/internet browser/laser pointer/calendar/remote control etc... to play a little John Coltrane? You get my point. K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid.
In the first installment of "Laid-back Library Control" I delve into ...

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/node/59
__________________
Chris

The Computer Audiophile | Turn Down The Silence

http://www.computeraudiophile.com

[low.pfile]

Great find TCA! It sounds like a nice remote solution. I look forward to screenshots of the remote screens during different modes in your Installment #2. The design is a bit stale, to say the least, (and I gotta say it, since I do ID, and in this market design can make or break) but keyspan was never known for great design.

I don't need this currently as I currently use both an ipod touch and macbook pro with remote apps.

~enjoy your music, ed

[ooheadsoo]

I would be so excited if I used itunes.  Unfortunately, I don't.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Great find TCA! It sounds like a nice remote solution. I look forward to screenshots of the remote screens during different modes in your Installment #2. The design is a bit stale, to say the least, (and I gotta say it, since I do ID, and in this market design can make or break) but keyspan was never known for great design.

I don't need this currently as I currently use both an ipod touch and macbook pro with remote apps.

~enjoy your music, ed

Hi low.pfile - I am pretty skeptical of the iPod touch as a remote control. Please let me know if it is working well, I would love to hear that it is!

Chris

[dwk]

I agree with ooheadsoo - if this isn't locked into iTunes and provides some sort of open protocol/sdk, I'd be very interested.

I just picked up a Nokia 770 and am taking my first steps on using it as a remote for my Linux based system. I'm still optimistic (which probably just means I haven't gotten far enough to get frustrated yet

[The Computer Audiophile]

dwk - I am hearing more and more comments like yours. I am getting a sense that openness and greater versatility are very high on people's lists. Let us know how the 770 works out. I think you are approaching it with the right attitude. Cautiously optimistic!

Chris

[sts9fan]

I have a Nokia N800 that I got for free.  It works well and is a really cool remote.  Although I pretty much just use my SB remote due to speed.  The tablet is just too slow for my style of flipping.   

I also don't want to run a several thousand dollar audiophile system with a cellphone or a web browser from an iPod touch.

Why?  Do you have to have cost parity? 

[The Computer Audiophile]

I didn't buy a luxury stereo system that is built for sound and listening pleasure only to be hindered by the remote control. I could have word-smithed it a different way, but I chose to use the wording I did and I think it gets my point across.

Thanks for the question though, I will keep this in mind when completing installment 2 and other articles on the site.

Chris

[sts9fan]

I didn't buy a luxury stereo system that is built for sound and listening pleasure only to be hindered by the remote control.

Hindered how?

[The Computer Audiophile]

To me using a mobile phone to control an audiophile system is a hindrance. Just my opinion.

[sts9fan]

An I pod touch is not a phone.  How is using it as a browser a hinderence?  Do you actually listen to the stuff you talk about on your site?  Like the BelCanto DAC3?

[The Computer Audiophile]

I did not suggest that the iPod touch is a phone. I have yet to see an iPod control an audiophile system as well as a standard remote. Does the iPod touch offer RF or just infrared? The iPod touch is not a purpose built device for remote controlling.

I do listen to much of what I talk about. In fact IO have two local Bel Canto dealers. Not many other sites are passing along the information about Bel Canto releasing an 24/96 DAC this year. I think I am offering good information. If it is not useful to you I can't help that. I think you have a lot of work to do bashing all the sites you do not like.

[sts9fan]

I also don't want to run a several thousand dollar audiophile system with a cellphone or a web browser from an iPod touch

Not bashing just trying to get the scoop.  Ipod touch uses wifi.  Honestly if you think running itunes on a remote is your "solution"  some people here may question that.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Ok cool. I get ya now.

I do wonder about everyone else's opinion, so please feel free to jump in!

[dwk]

dwk - I am hearing more and more comments like yours. I am getting a sense that openness and greater versatility are very high on people's lists.

Well, in my case I'm a Linux guy, and so any product that doesn't offer a degree of openness and versatility is generally pretty useless. Eventually folks figure out how to hack it, but to me a product that is iTunes specific or WindowsMedia specific is completely uninteresting.

Let us know how the 770 works out. I think you are approaching it with the right attitude. Cautiously optimistic!

Chris

Finally got everything set up this weekend. I'm using mpd on linux as my player, and the basic but functional phpMp web interface. The Nokia works brilliantly as a remote.  For the $100 I paid for it (from an AC member, no less) it's fantastic - the high res screen (800x480) makes all the difference. I don't think this would work with the typical 320x200 screens on cheaper pda's.

[Double Ugly]

I do wonder about everyone else's opinion, so please feel free to jump in!

I think the time and effort you're putting into this is commendable, Chris.

I already have a system in place that meets my needs at present, but that doesn't mean I and others can't take a lot away from your experiences.  What you're doing is mostly thankless, but I appreciate it. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Thanks a lot "DU"!