But, it is doing what I want it to do. I have it connected to my network through a CAT5 cable due to my wireless network using WPA encryption, and to my sound system through RCA cables. It is able to stream online radio stations, specifically the BBC World Service and Voice of America. And it sounds fantastic while doing this! It can also play music stored on my USB thumb drive fantastically!
So, if you don't need it to perform it's main advertised function, streaming audio from your Windows computer, then I'd definitely recommend it. Too bad Macsense and Gloo let this fine device just die a premature death.
Works for me!, If you upgrade the firmware to the latest (albeit beta) version available from MacSense, things work well.
I use in on wired ethernet, which removes all the problems that come (and should be blamed to) WiFI - "lack of signal", interference, hangups (due to loss of wifi signal) etc.
I wish Macsense would have given more attention to this device. Development of firmware and server software bugfixes seems to have stopped.
The software is written in Java and can be used from Linux or other non-windows or non-Mac software. You have to call the .jar files directly, without using the .exe (or MacOS) "launcher", which is just a stub.
In the hands of Sun Microsystems, this would have been a success like the IPod. Too bad Sun doesn't seem to be interested in the home / end-user market.
It simply doesn't work, It simply doesn't work. Well, it doesn't work if you go wireless. But isn't that the whole point? If you wanted to run a line, you wouldn't need this. There basically is no tech support. They claim there is email tech support, but I have emailed them numerous times with no response. They should be investigate by the AG'f office.
Would someone please tell me why the audio server won't start?, Well, I upgraded the software, and the rom and everything else I could figure out how to do on Macsense's on page.
I still can't get the audio server software to start!
It's really frustrating, because I'm pretty good at this stuff usually.
Emails to Macsense have gone unanswered.
If someone wants to help me...I would be forever grateful!
Steve
[...
Its tempting for the money, but pass on this one., Sounds like a lot of great features before you buy it, but here's the downside:
-It crashes...a lot. The firmware is unstable.
-It has bad speakers
-The internet radio functionality (which is why I bought it) is only available after seeking out the beta firmware and flashing it yourself....NOT something your average person can do easily.
-Even after the firmware upgrade, it crashes on 3 out of 5 radio streams, and is slow on the rest.
-It only works with WEP wireless encryption....modern routers use WPA, and WEP is not secure, Do you really want to open your whole network to strangers just to have some streaming music?
On the whole, there are much better players out there for more money. I bought this because it was cheap as dirt, but it has been nothing but a hassle.
Great concept but poor execution!!!!, Its a great concept and I had big expectations but to no avail. the Homepod server.exe will not work with Windows 7 x64. i tried to update the firmware but the version is back from 2004.
I have decided to return the product and my recommendation is not to buy it unless you want to try is out with Windows XP.
Very Disappointing, What a disappointment this was! I bought the HomePod so I could stream my music collection into the bedroom. I settled on the HomePod because of the built-in speakers, and because the software was open-source with a community of developers.
Once I received the unit, it took several hours before I was up and running running and updated with the latest software. The software update was pretty involved, too. (See the MacSense site for details.) I expected the built-in speakers to be bad from reading reviews, but they turned out to be much worse than I ever imagined! Fortunately, the sound was fine using PC speakers on the headphone jack, or going to my home stereo with the RCA jacks.
I have a fairly large music collection and navigating it on this thing was quite annoying. The remote was difficult to use - you must be within a few feet of the thing and pointed right at it. The buttons also have no tactile qualities, so you have to memorize the layout if you want to use it in a dimly lit room. When browsing your music, you can only scroll through a list and only in one direction. You cann't jump to a specific letter and once you reached the Z's it didn't loop back to the top of the list again. I ended up listening to a lot of A-E artists while I had the thing and not much else, unless I remembered to create a playlist for it.
The screen was just awful, too. Very hard to see more than a few feet away or at any angle other than straight on. The unit would also frequently freeze up if left paused or on standby. Restarting it took several minutes to get back to the music list.
The HomePod requires a server program running on your PC in order to access your music.
Too much trouble, no support, Buy this only if you are a "hacker" type and want to spend hours getting it to work. The PC software is very poor and the unit is slow and buggy. The remote has a very limited range. If the software was improved on the PC side and the bugs removed from this device, then it would be worth it.
Also, MacSense has not yet honored their rebate on this and it has been well over 10 weeks. They have not responded to my email about it either. Very disappointed.
Rough round the edges but still a "Cool Geek Toy"., Don't be fooled by the "Mac" and "Pod" in the name, nor the iPod white case, and iPod-like wheel. This is a product made by a distributor of Apple computers and not Apple themselves. Had Apple made it, it would undoubtedly have been a much more pollished product, and a lot less fragile in it's interface.
As it is the HomePod is a workmanlike gadget for reading your MP3s across a network and playing them remotely. Setup is easy-ish. With only a single previous experience of setting up a wireless computer, the wireless setup on the HomePod took half an hour or so and a careful reading of the instructions. Server software is required on the PC (or an Apple), and this could be better explained. For instance loading an iTunes library file and the MyMusic folder from the PC, causes the HomePod's library listing to become a little garbled, and the HomePod to crash sporadically. This could definitely be handled better. There are also Linux servers available for the HomePod available on the internet.
The HomePod itself comes with an old version of the firmware and software, and upgrading the software is well worth the effort, for those with some technical savy.
Using the HomePod is easy and satisfying: the music files are listed by artist, author, trackname, genre and playlist, and the software interfaces well with iTunes. Reportedly it also works with Real Player and the MS Media Player, although I've never tried these.
There is also an FM radio tuner built in - but the reception is so bad that this is completely worthless. There is also an internet radio facility which appears pretty neat, but I have used it only briefly.
The homepod includes its own very low quality speakers but also has 3.5mm ear plug, and phono plugs to attach external speakers.
ITS ONLY $20.00, (What's this?) I feel sorry for the people who paid over 100.00 for this unit but for 20.00 it is a really cool gadget. I get horrible FM signal at my home and dont have a 50 gazillion mp3 collection so my primary plans were for the online streaming. It works with Live 365 flawlessly once I added the beta firmware. It looks like the people behind the "GLOO" software are MIA so I dont expect any more software updates or support for that matter.
Compatible with Apple iTunes, MusicMatch Jukebox, NullSoft WinAmp, and many other media management applications..Streams music to home speakers, headphones or built-in stereo speakers via an existing wireless or wired Ethernet network..Standalone unit plays MP3, Internet radio and is upgradeable to support AAC, WAV and WMA very soon..Play music from any USB storage device like a Flash Drive, via the USB Port..Access and play music from 10,000+ Internet Radio stations.. Imagine being able to select from any computer in your home or office and choose the music you want to listen to on any speaker or headphone set. Simply select your music from the LCD screen on the HomePod and you are set. HomePod works outside on the patio, in the garden or while organizing your garage. The device scans surrounding computers on the wireless network for available media libraries and list them for selection and playing. Host Server software runs on a PC, Mac, or Linux machines. Macsense HomePod is a digital stereo component that allows users to take advantage of their existing wireless network to stream music files stored on their computers to HomePods located anywhere in the house. Until now, MP3 music lovers have been forced to connect their computers to their home stereos, or to make duplicate copies of their music files to CDs and portable storage players if they want to listen to their music away from the computers. But now, with HomePod's 802.
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