Some of you may have seen my earlier thoughts on the Sonos Digital Music Player system. Today, Sonos addresses two of my big complaints with their ZP80 unit – Price and Audio Connectors.
The ZP80 ditches the built-in amplifier, allowing you to easily connect the device to your existing amplifier, home theater or the like using a optical or coaxial SP/DIF connector. The casing for the unit has also been updated.
Unfortunately still no support for Windows Media PlaysforSure Music Services or iTMS, but it will play non-DRMd WMA and a host of other formats. Both are specifically called out as “not able to be supported”. You can still connect an external source such as a PfS or iPod device and stream it around the house.
Still, this is a great step in the right direction of affordability and connectivity. Availability is slated for this Spring.
(Courtesy iPodNN.com)
You have to hand it to Intel. Their runaway success with the branding of their Centrino mobile technology platform (basically a reference design/chipset for WiFi/Network/Video/Sound/Processor) has given birth to the Intel Viiv brand (pronounced “VIIVe” like Vibe with a “v”). Viiv PCs will offer Windows XP Media Center and bring new technologies like Intel’s Quick Resume technology, 7.1 surround sound and guaranteed HD video playback in a dual-core processor design that will offer a quieter solution than many on the market today. One of my favorite features is the ability to put the PC into a low-power state, where it appears to be off, but can continue to record TV, with Media Center at the helm.
