Re: Developing replacement for AT

Sorry, but I wouldn't touch any device that doesn't support WMA.  Of all of
the lossy fle types, I find WMA to have the best quality.  Aside from that,
it is a very popular format, and I wouldn't want to own a device that I have
to pussyfoot around with to play my files.

Danny Rego


----- Original Message -----
From: "Glenn Richards" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 7:15 AM
Subject: [AT] Developing replacement for AT


> Right... the project is a bit tentative at this stage, but a group of us
> are looking at developing a replacement for the Audiotron. We're
> currently building a prototype on an embedded development board, and
> aiming to have the following features:
>
>  * Support for MP3 (obviously), WAV, OGG and FLAC files
>  * Extensible architecture allowing new features/formats to be added
>  * USB interface for eg 802.11g interface
>  * Similar UI, front panel controls/display
>
> Additionally we're looking to possibly include the following options:
>
>  * Ability to plug in a USB hard disk and CD-ROM. The unit would then
>    function as "master", with other units on the same network operating
>    as "slave". CD-ROM would enable ripping to FLAC format.
>
>  * Web interface, as on the Audiotron
>
> Currently we are experimenting with an embedded development board, and I
> have a number of samples of a high quality Burr-Brown DAC with SPDIF
> capability.
>
> I have not included WMA or internet radio support in the above spec, as
> we're aiming this at the high quality audio market and 56Kbit/sec MP3
> streaming isn't quite up to audiophile standards! WMA is lossy (and
> proprietary!), and the intention here is to use FLAC as the primary
> format for reasons of quality.
>
> So, anyone have any comments? Any features of the AT that you can't live
> without? Or any features you've always desperately wanted on the AT?
>
> --
>  Glenn Richards                                     Tel: (01453) 845735
>  Squirrel Solutions                 http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/
>
>  IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation
>
>