Posted 10/13/09 at 05:49:40 PM by Bart Salisbury

 Sonos has expanded the breadth of its multi-room music system offerings with the introduction of the ZonePlayer S5. The S5 works in combination with the Sonos ZoneBridge or ZonePlayer to provide streaming music through your house. New to the Sonos system is an iPhone/iPod Touch app that allows control of each S5, individually or in unison.

The Sonos system is based on a SonosNet wireless system, which uses mesh network technology, where each device or player serves as a repeater. Because the system is standalone initial set-up and expansion is relatively effortless. Set-up and control of the system is through a free iPhone/iPod touch app or with the Sonos Controller application (for Mac or PC), included with the S5.

The $399 S5 contains 5 speakers: two tweeters, two 3-inch mid-ranges, and one 3.5-inch woofer. Each speaker is driven by its own Class D digital amplifier.

The Sonos system allows access to your personal music collection, through your home network; more than 25,000 internet radio stations, and online music services; such as Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS.

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Posted 10/05/09 at 01:45:47 PM by Paul Lilly

Following HP's lead, who announced last week it was offering buyers of new laptops across Asia the opportunity to get 1,000 free music tracks, Dell has partnered with Napster with a deal it believes is even better. Selected laptop and desktop customers will be given a year of free Napster service.

By going the subscription route, customers who purchase a qualified PC will have access to 8 million music tracks, 60 DRM-free tracks to download and keep, the ability to stream online from any PC, and unlimited downloads on up to 3 PCs.

Systems eligible for the free 12-month subscription will come from Dell's Studio and Inspiron lines, including some systems sold through Best Buy in the U.S.

Advertising and availability for the new promotion is expected to take place sometime by the end of October.

Update

Dell's hookup with Napster appears to be even sweeter than originally reported. After catching wind of our post, Jennifer Wilbur, a rep for Napster, told us the following:

In the report, you say "and unlimited downloads on up to 3 PCs." This is inaccurate. The MP3s are completely unrestricted, so not restricted to 3 PCs. Also, the streaming service can be accessed from any machine using the subscribers username and password.

Jennifer Wilbur
Principal
Rockstar Communications [for Napster]

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