Is Kaleidescape falling further behind in Music as other companies are offering much better systems/software?
Can you give an example?
The K system is capable of everything other systems can do but the software is not keeping up with innovation of other music servers.
Again, an example will be helpful.
Offering the ability to work with Mac is long overdue.
I know quite a few people want to see Kaleidescape integrate with iTunes somehow but as for myself thats is not something I want, need or require and here is why.
First off I use Kaleidescape for music 90% of the time the other 10% is for movies (my wife is the opposite, she uses Kaleidescape for movies 90% of the time and music 10%). When I use Kaleidescape for music I want to hear full, uncompressed, lossless audio. Compare that to iTunes, Rhapsody, or any other download/streaming service where you are going to get 256kb at the highest which is nowhere near the audio quality of the Kaleidescape.
Second, for music I still by CD's to import into Kaleidescape and if I ABSOLUTELY need it now I purchase music from Music Giants, burn it to CD and import it to Kaleidescape. Read my posting about Kaleidescape, iTunes, bit rate and music downloads
HERE and
Here.
Third, I think whats needed, more then iTunes integration is support for SACD (Super Audio CD). I have quite a large connection of SACD's but I can not import them into Kaleidescape which is a real bummer. I have been told over and over that Kaleidescape will not support SACD in the future.
Sooloos is offering streaming
Again at what bit rate? Do I want to spend $15,000+ to stream 128kb internet audio when a $200 AppleTv that streams the same 128kb internet radio station will due?
Don't get me wrong, at some point Kaleidescape will offer streaming and downloading of audio but unless it's at the caliber of Music Giant's it will be a "me too" type of thing.
I think the K is still the best video server on the market, but in this market could they not bolster there sales by improving the music side of things and become the leader in music servers also.
Kaleidescape is working on this but do not expect to see anything soon. By soon I mean with in a year AT LEAST.
For some reason when it comes to video people want the highest quality they can get. I know there is a contingency of potential Kaleidescape owners who are waiting to purchase a Kaleidescape system because it does not do Blu-Ray and are waiting for the Blue Laser Player. But when it comes to audio we gone in the reverse direction. We have gone from hi fidelity audio (Think of it in terms of Blu-Ray) down to Compressed, MP3's (iTunes/Rhapsody, think of analog, SD TV). When it comes to audio I want the best possible audio reproduction I can possibly get with my Kaleidescape system just as I do with video. I feel iTunes, Rhapsody and internet streaming just does not cut it on a Kaleidescape due to the poor audio quality.
These are just my personal opinions.