Media Streaming Server

#1 crazy4laptops

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Posted 23 June 2012 - 10:41 AM

My dad loves streaming AOL radio on his iPhone while he's eating dinner/working in the evenings, the sound quality on the iPhone isn't the greatest so I'm looking to step it up a notch.

I tried Plex, it's not up to doing AOL/Pandora radio... It can do everything but that (grr)

Also, I am trying to see what all I'm gonna need, like what kind of network speakers are good? Best software to stream music? And needs to iPhone or Kindle Fire app to control it.

I'm not tied to a specific O/S to run the media server/center either (Windows, Mac, Linux) Just something that doesn't require boatloads of RAM, that's about it.

This post has been edited by crazy4laptops: 23 June 2012 - 10:43 AM

Even the experts started out as beginners

#2 smax013

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 07:42 AM

crazy4laptops, on 23 June 2012 - 10:41 AM, said:

If he really likes his iPhone using the stuff on his iPhone, then you could look into an AirPlay solution (assuming AOL radio is AirPlay compatible...some apps "cripple" AirPlay...an example of that is HBO GO). This could be an AppleTV. I also believe that an AirPort Express hooked to some sort of speakers should work for such a scenario (I have only used it for playing from my Music app playing MP3s and AACs) or stand alone AirPlay speakers. I did just confirm that I can use AirPlay with Pandora to stream from my iPad to the speakers connected to my AirPort Express.

Such a solution would allow him to keep using the iPhone basically as he has been using it...but just dumping the sound to some "external speakers".

FWIW, the AppleTV also has streaming radio stations. And it can be controlled by Apple's Remote app.

It has been a while since I tried it, but the Remote app can also control a iTunes on a computer...and I believe this includes choosing which streaming radio station that iTunes is playing (iTunes does have streaming radio stations). And the advantage of using iTunes on the computer you can set it to stream to multiple speakers. For example, I can have something playing in iTunes (whether it be an AAC/MP3 song or a streaming radio station) and have it set to play on the computer speakers (on my upper level), on the speakers connected to my AirPort Express (on my middle level), AND on my AppleTV connected to my receiver (on the lower level)...i.e. have music on all the level of my house. Streaming from a iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad by way on AirPlay can only go to ONE set of speakers.

#3 smax013

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Posted 26 June 2012 - 09:51 PM

I did confirm that I could remotely choose streaming radios stations in iTunes by way of the Apple Remote app on my iPhone. And I could also use the Remote app to select which "speakers" (the computer, speakers connected to my AirPort Express, and/or my AppleTV)I wanted to play the music thru. I would assume that if I had "direct" AirPlay speaker (those speaker systems with built-in AirPlay) would also be available by way of this route.

Thus, if your father can find radio station that he likes through iTunes (and there are a crap load), then an AirPlay solution should work rather well whether using an AirPort Express with speakers (any sort of computer speakers will work...or you can use a typical headphone jack to right/left RCA connector adapter to connect to a receiver that already has speakers), "direct" AirPlay speakers (here is an example), or an AppleTV (connected to a TV or home theater system). You could then either stream content directly from the iPhone or from iTunes on the computer.