[tonton]

It's simple. Take an iPod. Take out the hard drive. Put in airport. Fix the firmware to load music from a wireless network over airport and voil�. The perfect home listening device.

Have one hooked up to your stereo, with an infrared remote control and digital readout interface added, or use it with headphones around the house or office.

Should be around $150.

[clarkgoble]

This is actually not that hard. Get one of those cheap radio headsets. You know, the ones that can pick up FM radio stations but nothing else. Get a radio broadcast transmitter that works in a house. Hack it so it is slightly higher power. Now you've got exactly what you described.

Here's one that does it, although there are cheaper ones if you look around.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/electron...fmstertra.html

If you google around much, you can find instructions to increase the range to 5 miles.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

$150, ya right

[tonton]

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
$150, ya right

How much does an airport card cost Apple (can't be more than $50)? How much is a 1.8" hard drive? Subtract the difference.

[tonton]

Originally posted by clarkgoble:
This is actually not that hard. Get one of those cheap radio headsets. You know, the ones that can pick up FM radio stations but nothing else. Get a radio broadcast transmitter that works in a house. Hack it so it is slightly higher power. Now you've got exactly what you described.

Here's one that does it, although there are cheaper ones if you look around.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/electron...fmstertra.html

If you google around much, you can find instructions to increase the range to 5 miles.

But there are a few problems here.

1. You'd have to go back to your machine to change songs, etc.

2. The sound quality is crappy (same goes for wireless headsets).

3. What about using the device not through a stereo?

There is already a non-portable device which exists (can't remember what it's called) that connects to an MP3 server via ethernet and performs the exact function of the HomePod I suggest, except that it's like 400 bucks!

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Apple sells just an Airport card for $99, now add a battery and CPU.

$150 my ass.

[tonton]

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
Apple sells just an Airport card for $99, now add a battery and CPU.

$150 my ass.

Come on. Apple sold the Airport card at $99 when it was introduced at MWNY '99. Everyone knows they overcharge for it.

I'm not saying what I think Apple would sell it at. They would probably price such a device $250. I'm just saying what price they could sell it at and still make a profit.

[Emotionally Fragile Luke]

Don't hold your breath man.

[clarkgoble]

Most wireless headsets suck because the transmitter is too weak. (Just like those crappy iPod car adaptors) If you look at the link I provided, those *aren't* weak transmitter. They are very powerful so the complaints you had won't apply.

The changing tunes thing is a bit of a pain though, I'll grant you that.

The TiVo - Rendezvous thing is a partial fix, although it would only go to your home stereo and you need to network everything. C'est la vie.

[Tristrami]

I just want my ipod to tell TIME.

[mattmarshall]

Originally posted by Tristrami:
I just want my ipod to tell TIME.

it already does. go to extras>clock

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

How about this? It even has the same name as what you ask for:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=139591

[tonton]

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
How about this? It even has the same name as what you ask for:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=139591

Oh, my GOD! I'll Sue, I tell 'ya!

I can't believe they did exactly what I suggested (minus the portability and interface of the iPod) and called it by the same freaking name!!!

I must get the award for closest MacWorld prediction based on pure luck EVER.

Edit By the way, I think I'll be buying one. $199 is reasonable. Still, I wish it were walk-around portable...

[TheMosco]

That thing would loose battery life in an hour. It is not feasable. Airport drains too much battery. The quality might not be too bad but it might be difficult to configure the ipod for a wireless base station(how would type a password in for the the base station on an ipod?).