Apple p44-49 manual Sending Music and Video from Your Computer, Roku SoundBridge M1000 84%

HOME NETWORKS

SENDING MUSIC AND VIDEO FROM YOUR COMPUTER

One ofthe handiest things about a computer network is thatyou can use a TV or hi-fi to listen to music, watch videos or view photos thatyou’ve stored on a computer elsewhere in the house.

To do this, you need a media extender, a box which plugs into your TV or hi-fi. It receives music orvideo from your computer and converts it so that the TV or stereo can play it.

You can send music to the extender wirelessly butvideo will tend to stutter because the wireless link struggles to keep up with all the data required. Ifyou want to send video from your computer to a TV, buy an Ethernet cable (around £12 for25m).

AUDIO MEDIA

EXTENDERS

The Best Buy audio	reasonable range of	your music sound too
extenders are easy to	file types – different	glitchy and digital.
set up and have clear	formats ofdigital	(The other models
instructions to help you	music, for example.	are just as good as the
through the process.	We also make	Best Buys on that
And they work with a	sure they don’t make	front, though.)

1 Roku

AUDIO EXTENDER

1Digitise your music and video

The first step is to put music and video on your computer.Your computer probably has either iTunes or Windows Media Player software on it; both are good for converting CDs into digital formats, such as MP3s, which take up less memory on your computer. To find software to convert DVDs, go to www.google.com and type in ‘DVD rippers’.

All media extenders work with normal MP3 tracks. But be careful if you use other formats which have built-in copyright protection.Your media extender – which we’re going to buy in step 2 – won’t work with all types of format.

For example, if you’ve bought songs from Apple’s iTunes online music store, they’ll work only with Apple’s own Airport extender.

2Buy a media extender

There are two types of media extender: those that receive only music and those that handle music and video.

Music-and-video models all let you use a remote control to choose what to watch; the TV screen shows the options and menus.

Music-only models usually have a remote control and a small built-in screen that shows the track name. (The only exception to this is the Apple Airport Express.)

For the media extenders to understand what your computer is telling them, they have to be compatible with the software it uses to play the video and music. If you don’t have this already, you can download it free from the internet.

1 Roku SoundBridge

M1000 84%

£180 from online retailers

This is a great way to send music from your computer to your stereo. It’s easy to set up and use.You can even search remotely for a track on your computer – no traipsing through to the computer to change songs.The menu options are logical and easy to understand and the remote control is well laid-out and comfortable.

It works with Windows Media Player and iTunes software. But copyright protection stops it playing any music you’ve bought from the iTunes website.

2AppleAirport Express 83%

£90 from www.apple.com/uk

Compared with the Roku (1), this is a simple product, with no remote control or screen. But it is the easiest way to send music around the house and it sounds great. And it’s the best choice for people who’ve bought lots of songs from the iTunes website.

Its simplicity is refreshing but it will be too basic for some people.You can’t skip tracks or playlists, so if you want to change your tune, you have to walk to your computer – not very futuristic.

2Apple

AUDIO EXTENDER

USING THE TABLE

We tested the latest extenders from big brands.

Price

We give a guide price for what you can expect to pay for the products online.

Compatibility

This shows the main media software packages you can use with the extender.

iTunes Apple’s player. WMP Windows Media Player. WMC Windows Media Connect.

Custom Extender comes with its own software.

Performance

Quality The quality of the sound and video outputs. Extenders lost marks for stuttering and glitches, blurry pictures or indistinct sound. Versatility Based on how many different formats of music, video and photo file the extender can relay.

Ease of use

Set-up Shows how easy the device is to get working initially. It takes account of the clarity of instructions and whether the software is intuitive. Use How easy it is to select the music, video or pictures you want.

48JANUARY 2006 WHICH?