Squeezebox Line Comes to an End

Are we jumping to a conclusion perhaps still regarding "SB is dead"?

It's not clear to me from anything I've read yet that the Squeezebox line is dead.

IT could just be a marketing refocus to make newer devices easier to use and more appealing to the masses.

As long as Logitech maintains compatibility between all their recent devices and the server, things should be OK and continue to improve over the long term.

I will not cry if they just offer a player with no DAC in that I and many who care use external DACs anyhow which is where most of the sound quality is determined.

It would not make sense to me for Logitech to kill off their current market while moving forward to gain new users.

We'll see....

ALso, the news releases on teh new products only indicate that these new products are targeting the mobile listener market mainly. THat makes sense from a marketing perspective to gain new users. There is nothing to indicate that home audio users will be ignored. THey are currently well covered by teh Squeeze devices.

Gaining a larger market shoudl be a good thing for Logitech that might help keep the entire line including products for home audio use more viable.

We'll see....

Just read the threads on the slimdevices forums. There are some great posts from current and former Logitech employees. The new system is incompatible with the SB Touch. Current SB Radios can be upgraded to the new system.
They are going in a completely different direction.
Current SB does not go through the internet for streaming files on a local server, the new system requires the internet.
No random play on the new system.
The current system will be supported for some time due to consumer protection laws.
The software side may be ok for a while longer due to an active community, but there is said to be no new hardware for the current system.

IF even possibly true I would suggest SB fans communicate their displeasure to Logitech.

I will try to read some more when I have time but for now will take any unofficial comments on forums with a grain of salt.

The home audio market is surely not a big target for anyone, but Logitech already has developed viable solutions for that. All they need do is make minimal investment to continue to support it moving forward as they try to broaden their market into mobile applications, which is clearly "where it is at" these days.

If they do not, I would be willing to bet that some savy home audio company, perhaps even one that is popular on a site like this, snatches up the SB technology rights to continue to move forward.

If that does not happen at a minimum, it will be sad day for the future of home audio. CD players and turntables just will not cut it alone anymore these days.

You've said it well, Mapman.

In the end, with all the continued speculation about Logitech's direction, my next iteration of a front end will be a Mac, USB out to my external DAC. I'm tired of guessing and stressing.

I feared this would happen when Sean got greedy and sold. A profound shame in the history of the evolution of digital home audio.