ADA's iHome Multi-Center: a Windows MCE which plays iTunes's DRM'd music

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 13th 2006 at 9:25AM

The iHome Multi-Center on display at CEDIA has been around for awhile but somehow managed to slip below our radar. Still, when a Windows Media Center Edition device touts the ability to playback Apple's DRM-protected AAC files, well, it makes sense to double-back and take notice. The device is said to exploit iTunes and the Quicktime APIs to create a two-zone (analog and digital audio) music server in addition to its MCE capabilities. The magic created by using Quicktime as the output driver makes the iHome the only server product we know of that will playback your FairPlay tracks purchased off the iTunes store. The slab even busts-out an IP control server which generates both full-sized and mini flash-based HTML pages for two-way control over the system from any networked device sportin' a web browser with Flash support. Sweet. The iHome MCE features a couple of 400GB disks (750GB disks coming early next year) and an HDTV video card for a luxurious, $8,000 addition to your home audio rack. You do have one don't you?

[Via TalkAbout:CEDIA]

Filed under: Media PCs

Tags: ADA, CEDIA, drm, fairplay, iHome Multi-Center, IhomeMulti-center, itunes, MCE, protected AAC, ProtectedAac, quicktime, windows Media Center Edition, WindowsMediaCenterEdition, WMCE

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

bob @ Sep 13th 2006 9:32AM

but has it been tested with itunes 7?

Neutral

Zach @ Oct 4th 2006 2:29PM

That's one ugly looking HTPC.

Neutral

Patrick @ Sep 13th 2006 10:14AM

It's a rack server, Zach. You're not supposed to be looking at it too often.

Neutral

Jeff @ Sep 13th 2006 10:21AM

"The magic created by using Quicktime as the output driver makes the iHome the only server product we know of that will playback your FairPlay tracks purchased off the iTunes store."

Last I checked, iTunes itself is a "server product".

Stick it on a networked PC and you have an instant music server. I've been serving up music on my home network this way for years now.

Neutral

Michael Gannotti @ Sep 13th 2006 12:58PM

Very Cool!

Neutral

Christopher Price @ Sep 13th 2006 4:25PM

Wouldn't it just be cheaper to stick an iPod in the unit? Oh, wait, I think I just figured out its "secret technology"...

:)

Neutral

Kevin Baggs @ Sep 14th 2006 9:11AM

There is another device that allows you to play DRM music over WiFi. It is called the Sirocco from Sondigo. It sells for $139.99 and supports digital output via coax or optical. I posted about it in my blog...

http://kevinbaggs.com/2006/09/13/playing-music-via-wifi/

Neutral

dan @ Oct 17th 2006 9:23PM

This software syncs my iTunes library to MCE and plays my protected mp4 tracks.

www.mcetunes.com

Neutral

dan @ Oct 17th 2006 10:09PM

Sorry, make that m4p tracks ... fat fingers!

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