Re: AUDIOTRON Digest - 4 Mar 2005 to 5 Mar 2005 (#2005-61)

> Date:    Sat, 5 Mar 2005 12:15:46 +0000
> From:    Glenn Richards <[email protected]>
> Subject: 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
>

Great idea, here are my suggestions:

First of all stay with the on-board display - no need to switch a TV on -
and wired ethernet. Coax digital out is an essential . RAM could be made
expandable by using standard DIMM's on the main-board.

Second, I would really like to be able to wake up a server from sleep state
from the audiotron front panel or remote. So support for Wake-on-LAN would
be an improvement. Then of course the opposite: putting the AT on stand-by
could also trigger the server to enter sleep mode.

Bluetooth would be nice so you can use any bluetooth device as a remote.
Imagine using your mobile phone as a remote. The web interface should of
course fit the handheld screen.

A more advanced web-interface. I especially miss the option to create
playlists in a flexible way, i.e. by means of a sort of query tool.  I would
like to be able to give AT commands like: 'play me all songs of genre 'rock'
or 'new-wave' from years 1978 to 1985'. iTunes has a similar feature, it is
called dynamic playlists.

Make the menus customisable. My most often used selection sequence is
artist-album. It would save me some clicks if 'artist' and 'album' were the
first menu-item instead of second and third.

Good luck with your efforts,

Bram