You! Yes you! Do you love your MP3?

*swoon*

Ok, confessions of a gadget-queen. I love my gadgets. I got my latest gadget today. This exceeds any gadget you could possibly imagine having. Well, as long as you love your mp3. And you're sick of them playing off your computer and ignoring the lovely stereo you might have in your lounge. And if you are, then THIS IS FOR YOU! Trust me. It's a Squeezebox, by Slim Devices. I got the wireless version, but it also does ethernet. It basically plays the mp3s from my LAN, straight to my stereo. Well, in my case, straight to my Creative Extigy and my 6.1 speakers. With a very sexy interface, and *amazingly* easy to use remote control. Gives you the quickest access to your music collection.

And my collection is pretty big. You can search for tracks, create playlists on the fly, browse artists, albums, all those things you're used to doing in Winamp or Media Player. But this is sexier! And so easy to use.

This is what it took to install it.

Install software on the server, pick the music folder, pick a playlist folder.
Plug the thing in.
Turn it on.
Confirm the wireless settings.
Confirm it's new ip address (or use DHCP).
Pick your gateway.

Bingo, it's ready to show you what music you've got, and play it straight to your stereo.

Oh - firmware updates. Normally a pain in the arse, right? Not for your Squeezebox. I turned it on. It said "Updates available, press and hold brightness to install". I found the brightness button on my remote, pushed it, and bingo, firmware update done.

I mean, this is laughable. Nothing is supposed to be this easy. Nothing *is* this easy. Like, who the hell makes hardware like this? No one. It's simple, sexy, and a brilliant idea and yes I know I can't stop gushing.

I think I'm making my iPod jealous.

It's my new gadget and I'm in love.