Pandora on VUDU?

[jleavens]

I think now that VUDU Labs is up and running, we're going to see more and more of these internet streaming content applications added to VUDU.

[Rusdude]

CNET article is live again -- http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10185691-1.html

[tamanaco]

Originally Posted by redwein

But then again, Tivo has Rhapsody and doesn't everyone have to have everything to compete?

As I said, I'm not against it and yes, having more is better. I see the Vudu box "primarily" as a device to play Video as it is "optimized" for that purpose. The Squeezebox features a high fidelity 24-bit Burr-Brown DAC, which has a good reputation in the audiophile community because of its clean output and ultra-low distortion. The SqueezeBox "natively" handles MP3, WAV, AIFF, FLAC and WMA. I don't know much about the specific hardware inside the Vudu box, but I'd bet that it is better for video than it is for audio. The box also supports HDX content which, as far as I can tell, no one else in this space does. I bought a Squeezebox and Vudu box because each one of them was tops on the quality for audio and the quality of video that they reproduced. At this price range I could not find better boxes or a single box that did both audio and video at the same level of quality.

I might not be on everyone side here with this one, because I would rather see Vudu enhance the "core" functionality of the box (Video). Bells and whistles that do not take advantage of its superior video quality will not help Vudu differentiate its offering. Other players with boxes in this space have already added support for stream audio. Adding support for "local" external storage either via the USB/Ethernet ports to hold HDX content, portability of purchased content, enhance the download capability of the box to accommodate folks with high bandwidth connections, adding more titles to the rental/purchase selections, adding other sources of video with HD or (HDX?) content... things of that nature should have priority over adding audio streams. Why?... becase high quality/definition video is the Vudu box's edge over the competition. Of course, if Vudu has a lot of money on hand to add audio sources... I'm all for it. But if the funds are limited enhancing the "core" functionality of the box would be better. If money is lacking, opening the box via Vudu Labs to outside developers so that they could add things like Pandora would save Vudu development money which they can use to enhance the core functionality of the box. Vudu can make the Vudu box and "excellent" video component, but I doubt that with the existing hardware they can make the Vudu box a "decent" audio component.

Again, I'm bit bias here, because I can press a key in my remote and get high quality audio from Pandora and almost an endless number of streamed audio sources via my SqueezeBox.

Edit: Well, I guess the CNET announcement makes it official... so much for the point I was trying to make.

[redwein]

Hm. They should stick to high quality video, huh? So they shouldn't even consider Hulu then since much of it is pretty low quality.

[Citizen Erased]

It's live!

Go to Vudu Labs and it's at the top of the list.

Guess this give me one less reason to buy a Squeeze Box (I've run out of HDMI ports anyway!).

[tamanaco]

Originally Posted by redwein

Hm. They should stick to high quality video, huh? So they shouldn't even consider Hulu then since much of it is pretty low quality.

I bet you that the quality of Hulu's video stream and of most other video stream providers will get better sooner than later.


Edit: Not much content so far, but they got some HD already http://www.hulu.com/hd/

[tamanaco]

Originally Posted by Citizen Erased

It's live!

Go to Vudu Labs and it's at the top of the list.

Guess this give me one less reason to buy a Squeeze Box (I've run out of HDMI ports anyway!).

If audio quality is not that important to you... you'll be fine with the Vudu box. Btw, the Squeezebox does not have HDMI ports. It only outputs audio.

[Citizen Erased]

Originally Posted by tamanaco

If audio quality is not that important to you... you'll be fine with the Vudu box. Btw, the Squeezebox does not have HDMI ports. It only outputs audio.

Well, with Pandora, we're talking about mpeg'ed data anyway so it's not like I expect CD quality in the first place.

I agree with pretty much most of what you wrote above, btw. I'm sure we will see updates on those features too. I'm just very glad they have also added Pandora as it's a pretty cool feature. It will definitely help sell some boxes.

[tamanaco]

Originally Posted by Citizen Erased

Well, with Pandora, we're talking about mpeg'ed data anyway so it's not like I expect CD quality in the first place.

I agree with pretty much most of what you wrote above, btw. I'm sure we will see updates on those features too. I'm just very glad they have also added Pandora as it's a pretty cool feature. It will definitely help sell some boxes.

I agree... and I'm happy that we have Pandora on Vudu. As I said... more is better. Actually now that it's in the Vudu box I'm going to get my wife a separated account so that she can create her own Pandora stations and listen via the Vudu box. She keeps pressing thumbs + - on tracks she likes/disklikes on my account and messes the mood of my Pandora stations.

I have not tried it yet... but can one listen to Pandora and play one of those Vudu games simultaneously?

[RonV]

Originally Posted by tamanaco

I have not tried it yet... but can one listen to Pandora and play one of those Vudu games simultaneously?

You can only have one VUDU Labs application runing at a time...I tried the same thing out this morning and the music stopped as soon as I got back to the VUDU Labs menu....