2. Wireless music

Turning now to the fun stuff, I'll start with Macsense's HomePod MP-100 Wireless Network Music Player. Styled to imitate a product with a similar name (but about three times that product's size), the HomePod can stream MP3 files over Ethernet and 802.11b network connections. A Java-based applet runs on Windows, MacOS and even Linux machines and works with the HomePod to make files stored there available for browsing on its multi-line LCD display. You can use either its built-in speakers or stereo outputs, and it also has a built-in FM tuner.

Although introduced all the way back at this past January's San Francisco MacWorld Expo, I was told that it will finally be ready for its close-up in mid-December and list for $249. By the way, I also saw networked music players from NETGEAR and a Agere-based reference design. NETGEAR's MP101 ($179 suggested list) should hit stores after Christmas.