Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliance maker Infrant Technologies announced a partnership with music server maker Slim Devices that will let users of Infrant’s ReadyNAS systems stream audio over their home networks using SlimServer and the Squeezebox.
Infrant’s ReadyNAS NV is a RAID-based NAS system that works with multiple platforms including Macs. It’s equipped with Gigbit Ethernet and comes in a heavy-gauge metal chassis that’s evocative Apple’s own pro desktop industrial design. Inside the chassis is four lockable hot-swappable Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk trays. The system can support up to 2 terabytes (TB) of storage capacity with drives currently available from Infrant.
The Squeezebox is a small interface that connects to your home network using 802.11g-based wireless networking or Ethernet interface. The Squeezebox touts a vacuum florescent display, wireless remote control, digital to analog conversion and analog, digital optical and digital coaxial audio outputs, as well as a headphone mini-jack.
Paired with the SlimServer software, which can be installed on Mac OS X v10.3 higher as well as various flavors of Windows and Linux, the Squeezebox streams digital audio into your stereo or home entertainment system. It also works with Internet radio stations. Now the Infrant ReadyNAS system can be used as a digital jukebox.
The SlimServer software works with FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA Lossless, Apple Lossless, MP3 and unprotected AAC audio files.
Infrant’s installation of SlimServer on the ReadyNAS line doesn’t restrict its use as a network-based storage system, either — you can continue to use the device as a network-based backup or file server.
For its part, Slim Devices is offering customers a package that combines the 1TB model of the ReadyNAS NV with two Squeezebox interfaces for $1,499.
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