My KickStarter Project: A Low Cost AirPlay Receiver
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/931927530/tunebridge-a-simple-affordable-airplay-enabled-rec
Hey Hacker News!I wanted to share with everyone my first KickStarter project: the TuneBridge. TuneBridge is a simple, easy and affordable audio streaming device. Using Apple's AirPlay, TuneBridge lets you stream your music or podcast from a wide variety of devices to just about any speaker or receiver out there. No need for special speakers or receivers, no more wires to contend with.
What I think is most exciting about the TuneBridge is the affordability. The target retail price is $59.99. This opens AirPlay up to just about anyone and any device.
This project is a huge leap for me to move out of a 9 to 5 engineering role and into the world of product startups. I'd love any feedback you guys may have.
Best, Brandon
I got excited about this due to the cheeper price but lack of internet is a huge problem and it essentially "breaks" the device functionality. These devices were not meant to connect to wifi hotspots lacking internet conductivity. I have created wifi-hotspots with no internet conductivity in the past and it is hard to keep a device connected to it due to the device trying to find a real source of internet.
1. Existing Network: You can configure the TuneBridge to connect to your existing home wifi network. This allows any iOS device, Mac, or PC connected to your home network to stream to the TuneBridge.
2. Direct: You can also connect directly to the TuneBridge. The TuneBridge will create an ad-hoc network that your device can connect to. This network is configured in a way that allows iOS devices to continue using their 3G data for the internet connection.
If you have any other questions, just let me know!
TuneBridge definitely looks like a more consumer focused option, but for the price you could put RPs in a nice case with custom software and still make a profit.
Why introduce a device from a different manufacturer ... in this case a Kickstarter project from someone with no track record of producing successful consumer electronics.
There are two products out there already that provide this exact functionality, from the same company that produces your devices you want to stream from, and everything works together seemlessly.