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Device Profile: Acoustic Energy WiFi Internet radio
(Aug. 25, 2005)
一家高端英国音箱厂商正在为节假日is prepping
基于内嵌Linux的无线网络桌上收音机。Acoustic Energy's prosaicly code-named "Wi-Fi网络收音机"将支持“所有3种主要的媒体流格式”，它说，to
tune in a声称的99%在线广播电台。
Acoustic Energy
Acoustic Energy
(AE)音箱command up to 每对$7,000美元，在50个出口市场销售。An
online reseller
serves markets without local dealerships. AE began in 1987 in
the pro audio market, but introduced a budget line in 1995 after
forming a partnership in the "远东"，it says.
然而，AE Wi-Fi网络收音机是由一家位于剑桥并专攻网络收音机模块的公司Reciva在英国设计的。A 2002 startup, Reciva recently enticed Warren East, CEO of embedded processor
IP giant
ARM Ltd.
to join its advisory board.
 AE公司说，它的Wi-Fi网络收音机将支持播放Real
Audio, WMV, and MP3流媒体的电台，给与其"无与伦比的内容选择，从伦敦的BBC Radio1到圣保罗的Radio Calypso!"
Unsurprisingly, given the BBC's July, 2001 decision to
停止在美洲和其他地方的免费短波广播，AE也广播，”没有订费，没有信号覆盖问题，也没有国际内容的界限“。
AE网络收音机把一个802.11b/g Wi-Fi连接连到了用户连接宽带的无线路由器上。每次打开收音机的时候，都会下载电台列表，从一个由Reciva from a private Internet
gateway maintained by Reciva. The gateway currently boasts 2,500
stations, each tested daily and通过国别和种类分类，Reciva公司表示。
Reciva的频道列表也包括on-demand audio sources,
"像BBC's popular 'listen again' feature," it says.
And, the AE Wifi radio can also be used as a media adapter --
that is, to sort, access, and play audio content stored on
networked PCs.
AE says its WiFi radio can deliver better clarity than DAB
(digital audio broadcasts), when used with high-bitrate
stations. The plain, modern-looking device incorporates twin
full-range AE stereo drivers in a ported enclosure for efficient
bass reflex. It also has a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack.
What's under the hood?
AE had not replied
to inquiries by press time, but a recent Reciva press release
heralding East's advisory board seat strongly associates the AE
WiFi radio with Reciva's "Barracuda" Internet radio module:
"East joins Reciva just as the first volume orders are being
placed for the Barracuda Internet radio module. Acoustic Energy
has just announced that it is adopting Reciva technology as it
enters the Internet Radio product market," the release says.
The
Barracuda module (pictured at right) appears to be based on a
processor of Reciva's own design. The company discloses little
information about the chip. However, it seems possible that in
addition to an ARM core, the chip may incorporate a media
acceleration engine based on
ARM NEON,
a suite of media processing instructions introduced in October
of 2004. A processor supporting NEON instructions requires only
10MHz to decode an MP3 stream, ARM claims.
Additionally, when ARM introduced NEON, VP of marketing Mike
Inglis said "most customers" would combine it with OptimoDE, a
data engine IP module基于VLIW技术that can be
refreshed with microcode to support, for example, emerging media
streaming protocols. "[Neon and OptimoDE] will deliver
desktop-quality audio, video, and 3-D graphics using a solution
that can be reprogrammed for changing industry standards,"
Inglis said at the time.
AE
makes no claims that its WiFi radio will support future
streaming protocols. However, it does say the WiFi会支持商业性的网络广播。According to AE's FAQ about the WiFi
radio, "Future 'subscription-based' internet radio services will
be available on a pre-pay or pay-per-access basis as they come
on-line." VLIW DRM, anyone?
 The
Barracuda模块尺寸为2.4 x 1.8 x 0.24英寸，putting it
among the very smallest of 许多能够运行Linux的小型单板机。Yet, Reciva
says only a few components are required to create a wireless
Internet radio based on the Barracuda, 如右图所示的Reciva的图中。
Barracuda支持I2S DACs (数字音频转换器)，并通过一个USB 1.1 host port支持有线和无线网络模块。
Reciva supplies its Barracuda module configured with a 2.4.26
Linux内核，along with a filesystem based on
Familiar Linux,
一个开放源distribution that originally targeted PDAs，如HP iPAQ h3600。The Barracuda supports a
显示模块with 32 x 126 pixel resolution，比典型的PDA显示屏稍小。
The Barracuda's Linux environment supports 动态或静态IP抵制分配，WEP、Hidden SSIDs (通过一个旋状盘输入)以及WPA (然而AE Wi-Fi网络收音机看起来只支持128位WEP）。解码支持的包括MP3；Real
音频4、5和8；以及WMA 2、7和8。支持的列表格式包括ASX、RAM、M3U、RPM以及PLS。支持的音频媒体流协议包括RTSP (实时媒体流协议)、MMS以及HTTP。支持的Wi-Fi芯片组朱包括ZyDAS的ZD-1211和Atmel的AT76C50。
硬件控制包括了一个用于音量和电台列表的的旋转钮， 支持预置高达10个电台，一个"回复（reply）" 键that AE says will允许Wi-Fi用户来”respond to
internet radio station competitions, adverts, or opinion polls
-- as and when they become available“，以及一个”standby“键。
在specifications sheet（规格表）上可以找到有关Barracuda的其它详细资料。.
Availability
Acoustic
Energy公司的WiFi网络收音机将在”十一月份出货“，这家公司表示，价位定在200英镑(约为$360美元)。
专家评述
参见产品评测部分（点击进入）
上市时间
2006年1月
上市价格 $360美元
网上商城 人民币2920元
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