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#50174 - 17/12/2001 05:27 New product
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
(Refer to press release in the Announcements forum)

I'll answer a few questions that were asked before..

The software for this product was developed by the team in Cambridge.

The first version of the software does not synchronise with the car player - it does support the Rio 600, Rio 800, Nike 60/120, Rio Receiver and (via CDR burn) Rio Volt. We hope to add car player support to a later version (but it requires a lot more thought, as two-way synchronisation would probably be called for).

The product runs Linux. You can plug in a USB keyboard and get a shell up on the screen (I'll leave it for someone to work out how, though!).

The product has two USB master sockets as well as a slave socket. If you want Ethernet, you can plug in one of the supported USB to Ethernet adapters. HPNA is built in as standard.

The fan is very quiet, and variable speed depending upon the temperature inside the box. Most of the time it doesn't spin.

Rob

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#50175 - 17/12/2001 05:36 Re: New product [Re: rob]
thinfourth2
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 1742
Loc: The land of the pale blue peop...
Yes i can see synching with the car player would need alot of head scratching but i have a more important qustion can you get a waving Tux at start up.

Surprised not too see ethernet but if you can get it via ehernet no probs

So when are we going to see any demos in europe offical or otherwise
_________________________
P.Allison fixer of big engines Mk2+Mk2a signed by God / Hacked by the Lord Aberdeen Scotland

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#50176 - 17/12/2001 05:48 Re: New product [Re: rob]
muzza
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 21/07/1999
Posts: 1765
Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australi...
Congratulations guys! If the excellence of the Riocar platform is anything to go by, It's already an outstanding unit!

first questions off the rank:
is the OS upgradeable and how?
is it hackable or are you having to be a bit more tight lipped with the code?
are the hard disks upgradeable?
What are the other I/Os?
Will it have Prolux Visuals?!!!

This is one sweet unit. Too bad it probably costs several million in AU$
_________________________
-- Murray I What part of 'no' don't you understand? Is it the 'N', or the 'Zero'?

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#50177 - 17/12/2001 05:53 Re: New product [Re: rob]
jwtadmin
enthusiast

Registered: 05/09/2000
Posts: 210
Loc: Ipswich, MA
Wow what a product! A few questions/comments.

Is there a pc emplode type remote management software for it? I know that for my setup leaving a usb keyboard hanging around my already crowded audio center would not be appreciated. I hope that the USB connector is on the front!!

The price is a bit high. I had figured that this was the kind of product you were working on, but I thought with the larger form factor the price would be lower, like sub $1K.

Otherwise I want one!!

John
_________________________
___ John Turner "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission"

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#50178 - 17/12/2001 06:58 Re: New product [Re: rob]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
The new product will only be available in the USA for now. International release is more of an issue than for the Receiver because there are network infrastructure matters to be considered.

Rob, I fail to spot anything in the press release that would be the base for the above statement (from the Rio Receiver bbs)....

Care to elaborate?

/Michael

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/Michael

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#50179 - 17/12/2001 07:09 Re: New product [Re: jwtadmin]
mschrag
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/09/2000
Posts: 2303
Loc: Richmond, VA
... And is the protocol the same as the Empeg? i.e. Will third party apps work w/o modification?

Mike

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#50180 - 17/12/2001 07:19 Re: New product [Re: jwtadmin]
Roger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
Is there a pc emplode type remote management software for it?.

emplode v2.0b3 works completely as you'd expect with it. It will ship with emplode
v1.50, however.

I hope that the USB connector is on the front!!

One host connector is on the front, the other host connector (and the slave connector) is on the back.
_________________________
-- roger

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#50181 - 17/12/2001 07:34 Re: New product [Re: mtempsch]
Roger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
The 56K modem needs an ISP. Sonicblue don't have one lined up in Europe. Plus other issues like that.
_________________________
-- roger

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#50182 - 17/12/2001 07:45 Re: New product [Re: Roger]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
But if you use the Ethernet to connect your ADSL connection that will work right ? Or are SonicBlue going to in some way prevent those of us outside the US doing that as well ?
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Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday

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#50183 - 17/12/2001 07:46 Re: New product [Re: andy]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
No, that'll work just fine. Rather preferred too, for large online software updates.

Hugo

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#50184 - 17/12/2001 07:46 Re: New product [Re: Roger]
thinfourth2
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 1742
Loc: The land of the pale blue peop...
no way of getting cddb over ethernet simply as most folk with one of these is going to have an ISP or enter your logo on details via emplode or front panal
_________________________
P.Allison fixer of big engines Mk2+Mk2a signed by God / Hacked by the Lord Aberdeen Scotland

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#50185 - 17/12/2001 07:48 Re: New product [Re: thinfourth2]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
CDDB is on disk, up to a point (about 450,000 titles). If it's newer than that, it needs a net connection to tag correcty - but it will back-annotate any CDs that need tagging at that point.

Hugo

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#50186 - 17/12/2001 07:48 Re: New product [Re: muzza]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
> is the OS upgradeable and how?

It runs Linux in the same way as the car player (double boot from flash and so forth). The kernel could be patched in just the same way.

> is it hackable or are you having to be a bit more tight lipped with the code?

I'm not sure what you mean by hackable. You can get a Linux console right up on the screen with a USB keyboard. The database, software and so forth will look quite familiar to someone who has experience with the car player.

> are the hard disks upgradeable?

There won't be an official upgrade path as far as I know. Unofficially, the product ships with a CD which will build a new disk.

> What are the other I/Os?

2 x USB Master (1 on the front, 1 at the back)
1 x USB Slave
Analogue out on RCA's
Digital out on TOS Link
Home PNA
Telephone
Consumer IR (for supplied remote control)

The USB provides for USB-Ethernet, keyboard and joy pad (you can play SDL games).

> Will it have Prolux Visuals?!!!

Yes!

Rob

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#50187 - 17/12/2001 07:50 Re: New product [Re: thinfourth2]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Yes, you can connect to the net (for tags or software updates etc) via Ethernet or PNA instead of the modem, if you have a suitable LAN.

Rob

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#50188 - 17/12/2001 07:53 Re: New product [Re: altman]
thinfourth2
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 1742
Loc: The land of the pale blue peop...
CDDB on the disk now that is incredable anything else like this that might make it over to the empeg.
_________________________
P.Allison fixer of big engines Mk2+Mk2a signed by God / Hacked by the Lord Aberdeen Scotland

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#50189 - 17/12/2001 08:08 Re: New product [Re: thinfourth2]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
How would that be useful on the empeg? It's only of use to products which can rip/encode by themselves.

Rob

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#50190 - 17/12/2001 08:25 Re: New product [Re: altman]
kim
member

Registered: 21/07/1999
Posts: 140
Loc: Helsinki, Finland
Give us some tech specs...

How fast StrongARM it has?

What is the screen resolution, bitdepth and refresh rate?

How the screen is illuminated? Backlit? Separate contrast/brightness control?

Kim


Edited by kim (17/12/2001 08:40)

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#50191 - 17/12/2001 08:39 Re: New product [Re: kim]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
206Mhz StrongARM
16Mb RAM
1Mb Flash
320x240x4bpp greyscale (OK, bluescale) screen

CPU utilisation is far nearer the max than with the car player, as this product background rips and encodes.

Rob

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#50192 - 17/12/2001 08:59 CD speed? [Re: rob]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
What speed is the CD drive in the machine for burning?

I still have mixed feelings about if I would really use one, but it does seem to be a very nice product. From the blurrs on the pictures on RioCar.org, it looks like the screen is bright enough to elliminate the need of either standing next to the unit or using a TV as a monitor for the device.

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#50193 - 17/12/2001 09:04 Re: CD speed? [Re: drakino]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
More importantly than the speed (for me anyway) is what encoding software is being used and what kinds of options can be configured for it? Does it support VBR? Does it support the finesse of the latest LAME encoders? The encoder is what can make/break this type of product for the discriminating crowd. Other than that, everything else sounds very sweet.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this product goes far for Sonicblue.

Bruno
_________________________
Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#50194 - 17/12/2001 09:31 Re: New product [Re: rob]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Well, I guess there's only one major outstanding question - how do we convince PaulH to start an HSX-109 forum?
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One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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#50195 - 17/12/2001 09:32 Re: New product [Re: rob]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
What has the reception been like from press & public at the CES, Rob?

Also, how do you think it compares to the HP MusicCentre? Have you had anyone comment or make comparisons?
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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#50196 - 17/12/2001 09:38 Re: New product [Re: altman]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
CDDB is on disk, up to a point (about 450,000 titles). If it's newer than that, it needs a net connection to tag correcty
Yeah, but that assumes that CDDB information is correct, which it usually (okay, often) isn't. What are our options for fixing it? Can we update the track information ourselves? Can we update the built-in CDDB? Can we submit updates to the official CDDB? Can we use a different CDDB server? Can we update the on-disk database manually?

Also, can the device be used as a CD transport? That is, can it read the cdda data off the CD (or however you want to put/do it) and immedately send it over the TOSlink without reencoding it? Or even just as a normal CD player, sending the audio over the RCA cables?
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#50197 - 17/12/2001 09:38 Re: New product [Re: schofiel]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
CES is January 8th - 11th 2002 - but they choose their award winners ahead of time so they can showcase them throughout the show.

I've never used an HP MusicCentre so I can't comment on how we compare.

Rob



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#50198 - 17/12/2001 09:43 Re: CD speed? [Re: drakino]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
It'll burn at 8x after imaging the disk (which can take longer than 8x, though).

Hugo

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#50199 - 17/12/2001 09:45 Re: CD speed? [Re: hybrid8]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
It uses ARM's MP3 encoder and our own ripper. The ripper is about as good as it gets - it can rip damaged CD's that most programs throw up at. The encoder is ARM's optimised Fraunhoffer engine, which a certain empeg developer worked on while he was at ARM. To get a nice unbiased opinion I asked him if it's any good: "Yes it's very good. And it was very expensive."

So there you have it

We don't currently offer VBR encode (playback is no problem), but you can select your CBR bitrate. If you want you can have the player automatically encode a second file at a different bitrate for downloading to portables.

Rob

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#50200 - 17/12/2001 09:46 Re: New product [Re: wfaulk]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
This is CDDB2; the info is better than the "free" CDDB database (eg, few truncated titles, genre & year info, etc). It's the same stuff that you get with (eg) a registered version of musicmatch.

You can update the track info yourselves, by hitting the edit button, by plugging in a USB keyboard, or via emplode.

You can't change CDDB server (there is only one; the gracenote one), and can't upgrade the database yourself (there may be updates available, however, but they are ~400MB. Incremental updates may come later).

It can be used as a CD transport to just play a CD, yes.

Hugo

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#50201 - 17/12/2001 09:47 Re: New product [Re: rob]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
And yes, it has separate contrast/brightness controls. it's a CCFL backlight.

The screen is actually 480x320, not 320x240 rob!

Hugo

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#50202 - 17/12/2001 09:50 Re: CD speed? [Re: drakino]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
The screen is nice - quite bright, decent resolution, nice shade. Colour TFT would be nicer but probably not necessary for this application. As with the car player, there's a choice of display modes, some of which give lots of detail in small type, and others (such as Transient) which give just the essentials in large type. The HSX transient mode is rather cute - it looks just like Top of The Pops.

The text display modes can be overlayed on top of the visuals, which is quite sweet.

Rob

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#50203 - 17/12/2001 09:54 Re: New product [Re: altman]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Wow, Hugo, the product is even better than I realised! I'm gonna order mine NOW!



Rob

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