Austin/Dallas
12-30-2003, 03:53 PM
Streamium: Not your ordinary boombox
Internet radio is the FM of a new generation. Philips' top-of-the-line Streamium boombox uses a wireless Net connection to stream over 1,000 channels of music, talk and sports from the Net to anywhere in the house — or outside it — through your broadband Internet service. It will also play music files stored on your PC.
The 100-watt portable stereo is tastefully designed. Instead of the running-shoe look of most boomboxes, it sports a functional, machine-like look with a tasteful silver finish befitting its $400 price. The Streamium plays all the usual music sources — AM, FM, and CDs, including discs burned on a computer. But its killer feature is a Wi-Fi wireless Internet antenna that taps into any nearby open network. With Wi-Fi (also known as 802.11b) and broadband access proliferating in homes, the MCi-250 is the first boombox to take advantage of the wireless networking craze.
Being first has its drawbacks. Even if you're already a Wi-Fi enthusiast, the Streamium can be a bear to configure for wireless listening. You'll need to sign up at Philips' Web site to register your Streamium before you can access streaming radio stations from a selection of Internet radio providers: Andante, MusicMatch, Radio Free Virgin, AOL Shoutcast, Launch.com and MP3.com. Some require a subscription fee, while thousands more free stations aren't accessible by the Streamium.
Still, the hundreds of free stations on the list easily beat what's on your local FM dial. No commercials, no motor-mouth DJs or shock jocks, and better sound quality compared to the compressed sound of most FM stations. Punching your way through the station menus, you'll realize you may never have time to try them all. More likely, you'll find one you like early on and stick with it.
Have you already got a collection of MP3 files on your PC? The Streamium can play those, too, if you're willing to do some more tinkering. The box comes with a software package called PC Link, which requires you to also install the MusicMatch jukebox. If you can get through the somewhat daunting setup, the Streamium will talk to MusicMatch wirelessly to let you play your MP3s in the front yard. Philips' Wi-Fi boombox is still an early adopter's project rather than a foolproof consumer appliance. But if you want 990 more channels of block-rockin' beats than 1940s FM technology can deliver, check it out.
http://start.msn.com/i/e/playing/phillipsstreamium_225x303.jpg
Internet radio is the FM of a new generation. Philips' top-of-the-line Streamium boombox uses a wireless Net connection to stream over 1,000 channels of music, talk and sports from the Net to anywhere in the house — or outside it — through your broadband Internet service. It will also play music files stored on your PC.
The 100-watt portable stereo is tastefully designed. Instead of the running-shoe look of most boomboxes, it sports a functional, machine-like look with a tasteful silver finish befitting its $400 price. The Streamium plays all the usual music sources — AM, FM, and CDs, including discs burned on a computer. But its killer feature is a Wi-Fi wireless Internet antenna that taps into any nearby open network. With Wi-Fi (also known as 802.11b) and broadband access proliferating in homes, the MCi-250 is the first boombox to take advantage of the wireless networking craze.
Being first has its drawbacks. Even if you're already a Wi-Fi enthusiast, the Streamium can be a bear to configure for wireless listening. You'll need to sign up at Philips' Web site to register your Streamium before you can access streaming radio stations from a selection of Internet radio providers: Andante, MusicMatch, Radio Free Virgin, AOL Shoutcast, Launch.com and MP3.com. Some require a subscription fee, while thousands more free stations aren't accessible by the Streamium.
Still, the hundreds of free stations on the list easily beat what's on your local FM dial. No commercials, no motor-mouth DJs or shock jocks, and better sound quality compared to the compressed sound of most FM stations. Punching your way through the station menus, you'll realize you may never have time to try them all. More likely, you'll find one you like early on and stick with it.
Have you already got a collection of MP3 files on your PC? The Streamium can play those, too, if you're willing to do some more tinkering. The box comes with a software package called PC Link, which requires you to also install the MusicMatch jukebox. If you can get through the somewhat daunting setup, the Streamium will talk to MusicMatch wirelessly to let you play your MP3s in the front yard. Philips' Wi-Fi boombox is still an early adopter's project rather than a foolproof consumer appliance. But if you want 990 more channels of block-rockin' beats than 1940s FM technology can deliver, check it out.
http://start.msn.com/i/e/playing/phillipsstreamium_225x303.jpg