The Logitech Squeezebox Touch is finally shipping, and our friends over at Engadget got their hands on an early unit. In his positive review, Tim Stevens gives the networkable music player high marks for sound quality and server software OS compatibility. Stevens also praises the touch-screen interface, but counters with the note that it’s not terribly useful when you’re across the room on the couch. The Touch is bundled with a remote as well, but it’s apparently not as satisfying. Here’s how Stevens wraps up the column:
…It’s best suited for a situation where your entertainment system isn’t too far out of reach, because interacting with the Touch is, unsurprisingly, best when you can touch it. If that’s you, we think it’s a great option, but we’re thinking the Duet is still a slightly more couch-friendly option if your entertainment center is out of reach — and if you don’t mind having another remote kicking around, of course.
As a long-time Squeezebox fan, I’ve been keeping an eye out for the Touch since we covered the gadget last June. However, initially I was intrigued because there weren’t a whole lot of widgetized display choices at the time. That’s rapidly changing now that the iPad is on the market, and I think I’d rather have my Squeezebox be just… a Squeezebox. On the other hand, I know from my Slacker player just how awesome it is to have cover art visuals along with additional band and album info. So maybe there’s room in between the iPad and the clock radio for a sub-$300 Squeezebox Touch. I’m hoping to get my hands on a loaner soon to decide for myself.
Mari. Thanks for the update. My head has really been buried in the sand of late. My 2nd generation Squeezeboxes and Boom are still going strong so I have no real excuse for an upgrade yet. I love the Boom’s alarm and the Squeezebox Server (aka SqueezeCenter or SlimServer) software. Solid, extensible and open.
Thanks again.
I happen to have the Duet, Boom and Radio. The Touch is a weird device in that it is better driven when held in both of your hands. What I was hoping to see was a dockable touch screen so you could browse, flip and touch through the menus while the base stays connected to your speakers and the power cable. The Duet with its remote would be a good analog to what I am thinking. I’m looking forward to your review, however I think I already made up my mind. If anything, a good android/iphone/ipad SB app would be just as good for someone who has one or more SBs already.
Bob- No real excuse to upgrade here either – Still loving my Classic.
gmoshe27- I like the dockable touchscreen idea. On the other hand, maybe you do just control the receiver with your phone/ipad, etc. Why add in another piece of hardware?
For those of you that have a Classic, have you found it difficult to navigate? I just joined the Squeezebox bandwagon when I replaced my iPhone docking alarm clock with a SB Radio. I’ve been trying to find an alternative to an AppleTV in my home theater and hoping that the Squeezebox will fit the bill. Just trying to figure out whether to go with the Touch, the Duet, or one of the Classics…
Bill- I don’t find the Classic difficult to navigate except maybe when having to set up new apps. (Typing in passwords is a pain) For daily use, it is easy peazy. On the other hand, if I was looking to pick up a Squeezebox today, I’d look seriously at the Duet. It puts the menus right in your hand.
Am surprised no one has mentioned iPeng app for the iPod touch – I use this app all the time with the Squeezebox Radio. Works fabulously. Controls the radio (even turns off and on etc.) from anywhere in network range – songs/stations/apps are completely visible on the iPod. Volume is controllable from the couch etc. Also can’t see the need to upgrade in my case.
Yup, I agree with the Engadget review–the only interface I need on this thing is on my TV or on a device in my hands. For now my Apple TV will suffice, but in the long run what I’d really want would be an iPad with WiDi–e.g. I run the application with the device in my hands and a separate device mirrors the iPad interface on my TV just like Intel’s current Laptops, using the existing 802.11n hardware with an extra layer of software on top of it. The TV connecting device could even be an Apple TV, but something simpler/cheaper would be entirely possible as well. Would let me watch iPad movies, browse the web communally, play music for a party from various sources, etc etc. Even stream from my Desktop iTunes collection…
I’ve been using a Touch for right around a week now, and have really enjoyed it so far. Setting it up was easy, as it took me under 30 minutes to setup the device, create an account, and install the server software while holding a 4 month old, so things don’t get much easier. I also installed the iPeng application for my iPhone, and I’ll install it for my wife’s phone as well, so I can control everything easily without even needing to see the screen, though I have no issues controlling it with the standard remote, or the touch screen.
I’d considered the Duet in the past, but heard some bad things about the remote being flaky, and with the iPeng app having to pay for a nice remote that I’d never use was a waste to me. The Touch also adds support for 24/96 audio which is nice as more downloads start to support that option, and I can play my ripped DVD-Audio discs through it (2 channel, of course). I also got the SquezeServer software running on my NAS, so no additional PC is needed for me to run it.
Compared to all the other streaming audio things I have tried in the past (PS3, many different receivers and preamps, Yamaha MusicCast system, etc…) the Touch is a far better design overall. The touch interface is better than the remote, but the remote works plenty well, and much better than the remote for any other music streamer I’ve had. I plan to add a 2nd Touch for the baby’s bedroom so I can listen while I’m in there as well.
The remote that comes with the duet is supposed to be able to control all SB devices, including the new touch.
Where the Squeeze family of devices shine is in the server end – I ripped all 500+ of my CDs to lossless FLAC files that live on a small server in my basement. The server software can run on windows, mac, etc. but I use debian for my server (which is built of old junk and costs me nothing but for electricity).
I can stream 7000 songs to my SB radio, the duet attached to my stereo, or to the audio card of my server which is hooked into the entertainment center in the den. No monthly fees, no proprietary formats, no single-platform closed-source software – it’s awesomely simple and robust.
Along the Apps for the iPhone now there are also some very nice looking like SqueezePad on the AppStore.
Actually this is what the Touch should have been: the music in your hands instead of far away from your couch.
Anyway: both together are a perfect fit. At a party anyone can see what is playing on the Touch … while the iPad with SqueezePad makes the round among all guests.
Cover art does it for me. It really is a nice feature to see what the case looks like. Great for music zealots like myself. If you have a moment, check out my review of the Sqeezebox Touch: http://joshuaknowles.com/logitech-squeezebox/logitech-squeezebox-touch/