Derrick
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- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
- Messages
- 5,085
- Reaction score
- 5
We used this device for a couple of weeks, and even though the sound quality is not as great as some of the other Internet radio devices we have tested, it’s still very impressive.
If you have not used the Internet to listen to online radio, you have been missing out on one of the best things the Internet has to offer. Tuning into any of one of the thousands of online radio stations is easy if you are using a PC, but what do you do if you want to tune into your favourite online station away from your PC?
In a nutshell, the MusicPal is like a clock radio on steroids. Using your home wireless LAN, the MusicPal doesn’t need to be connected to a PC to stream music straight from the Internet. Once unboxed and plugged in, the MusicPal will detect any wireless networks in your area, and allow you to connect to one. You can also connect to secure networks by turning the knobs a few times to enter the passkey to your network.
The design of the MusicPal is pretty straightforward and you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a regular bedside radio. The two large knobs handle the volume and tuning respectively, while the Menu and Play/ Pause buttons need no explanation. Searching for online radio stations is simple thanks to the MusicPal’s user interface. You can also have the device subscribe to your favourite news RSS
feeds, meaning you will be able to catch up on world events as you wake up in the morning. Should you want to listen to your favourite album instead, you can also have the MusicPal stream music straight from your PC. Should you not have a wireless LAN in your house, you can simply plug a network cable straight into the device. The Freecom MusicPal also features a 3.5mm headphone jack and composite RCA outputs, handy if you want to stream Internet radio through your home theatre system.
We used this device for a couple of weeks, and even though the sound quality is not as great as some of the other Internet radio devices we have tested, it’s still very impressive. The large LCD is easy to read at night, and the inclusion of an alarm clock makes this product rather useful in the bedroom. The firmware on this device has also been cleverly designed and searching for new radio stations is rather straightforward. The unit is also small enough to move around the house, and this would also be a clever solution to play music by the pool or braai if you have a decent wireless LAN at your disposal. The only thing you need to be aware of is that in order to make full use of this device, you need a decent Internet connection. We used it on a 4Mbps ADSL connection without any issues, but the user experience may vary if you use one of the wireless technologies or even a slower ADSL connection.
If you have not used the Internet to listen to online radio, you have been missing out on one of the best things the Internet has to offer. Tuning into any of one of the thousands of online radio stations is easy if you are using a PC, but what do you do if you want to tune into your favourite online station away from your PC?
In a nutshell, the MusicPal is like a clock radio on steroids. Using your home wireless LAN, the MusicPal doesn’t need to be connected to a PC to stream music straight from the Internet. Once unboxed and plugged in, the MusicPal will detect any wireless networks in your area, and allow you to connect to one. You can also connect to secure networks by turning the knobs a few times to enter the passkey to your network.
The design of the MusicPal is pretty straightforward and you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a regular bedside radio. The two large knobs handle the volume and tuning respectively, while the Menu and Play/ Pause buttons need no explanation. Searching for online radio stations is simple thanks to the MusicPal’s user interface. You can also have the device subscribe to your favourite news RSS
feeds, meaning you will be able to catch up on world events as you wake up in the morning. Should you want to listen to your favourite album instead, you can also have the MusicPal stream music straight from your PC. Should you not have a wireless LAN in your house, you can simply plug a network cable straight into the device. The Freecom MusicPal also features a 3.5mm headphone jack and composite RCA outputs, handy if you want to stream Internet radio through your home theatre system.
We used this device for a couple of weeks, and even though the sound quality is not as great as some of the other Internet radio devices we have tested, it’s still very impressive. The large LCD is easy to read at night, and the inclusion of an alarm clock makes this product rather useful in the bedroom. The firmware on this device has also been cleverly designed and searching for new radio stations is rather straightforward. The unit is also small enough to move around the house, and this would also be a clever solution to play music by the pool or braai if you have a decent wireless LAN at your disposal. The only thing you need to be aware of is that in order to make full use of this device, you need a decent Internet connection. We used it on a 4Mbps ADSL connection without any issues, but the user experience may vary if you use one of the wireless technologies or even a slower ADSL connection.