The guts of the machine are a 400MHz processor, 32MB RAM, and 8MB flash memory, plus two external antennas for wider coverage. You can also stream media from USB drives through the USB port to UPnP devices. It’s 802.11n compliant, of course, and will retail for $US120.

Main point? That it’s Linux-based, so people can shove apps on there like BitTorrent downloaders and whatever else you can find that runs on Linux. [Linksys]

They were basically obsolete from the beginning: Massive plastic coffins that beamed media from your PC to your TV. That’s it. For $US400. And now they’re returning to the abyss, where they belong.

Price: $US1000 (as tested)

The Verdict: Despite having some great ideas, the WHA system lacks any semblance of reliable quality and performance. It felt rushed and unpolished, whether it was the cheap feel of the products—a collection of wireless players and a controller, all which you’d buy a la carte to suit your household needs—or the glitchiness of system software. When it was working, the ability to push and share content from one zone to another, connect to internet music services and connect your own devices directly were all very nice. But getting there was a headache, and the system was unreliable—to say the least—even when running.

While it is nice that the Linksys 802.11n streaming means you don’t need every component tethered via Ethernet—or, as in Sonos’ case, a whole separate wireless network dedicated to music and music only—it also increases the complexity of setup tenfold. Each component must be plugged into the router via Ethernet (or in the case of the Remote, your PC’s USB), and you have to use Windows software to detect and configure each and every device in a multi-step wizard. In the case of the Director, a screen-equipped WHA music player, I tried to connect to the network without the PC, and it did work, but when I entered my network password incorrectly once, the only way to backtrack and reenter the password was to reboot the system.

Also, in a separate test we ran using a Time Capsule as the main wireless router, we had too many troubles to list. We’re still unclear whether or not it was a problem with the Apple router or a faulty component from Linksys, but either way, if you use non-Linksys routers, be forewarned you may experience added difficulty.

Once I actually got the system working, it wasn’t long before a torrent of random problems started to kick in. Plugging a FAT32-formatted HDD into the Director’s USB port would cause the system to freeze. Rhapsody would sputter and spew after a few minutes before ultimately dropping the connection. The response between the remote and the device in question would lag. Despite selecting a playlist from my iPod, only one track at a time would play. Sometimes the Director iPod wouldn’t detect the iPod at all.

The touchscreen remote actually performed admirably, but its use of a cheaply built resistive touchpanel for a finger UI meant that it wasn’t very responsive. (Calibration did help, but it was still annoying.) Essentially, you spend more time worrying about WHA breaking down than you do enjoying your music.

Despite being the most versatile streaming audio player we’ve seen to date, the lack of quality control really makes the Cisco Linksys Wireless Home Audio system a product line to avoid. (Note: To ensure that our negative result wasn’t a fluke, we tested two separate sets of brand-new Linksys components in two distinct households, and we experienced severe problems in both instances.) For roughly the same price you can pick up Sonos’ two comparable Zone Players and an 8-gig iPod touch to run Sonos free software, giving you a much more polished, easier to use package. [WHA on Giz]

Speaking of costs – it’s not exactly cheap. There are two models: the NMH305 which goes for $650, and the NMH405 which adds an LCD screen and a 6-in-1 card reader and costs $700. To pick one up, you’ll need to head to either Len Wallis Audio or one of a handful of Harvey Norman stores, at least in the short term. Considering that it’s still quite a technical item, the limited distribution is probably a good move, although it will be interesting to see how many of you are willing to pony up the cash for one of these…

[Linksys]

The Wireless Home Audio system comes in a variety of form factors, including standalone CD players with touch panels, hubs that connect to your home theatre system, iPod docks and systems with detached speakers. They all have the ability to interface with one another, play music simultaneously according to designated zones, and since they’re all DLNA 1.5 compliant, they can pull music from the same digital libraries and connected devices. The components also play nicely with the new Linksys Media Hub NAS.

• The Conductor (DMC350) is an all in one player that has it’s own speakers, a seven-inch touchscreen for navigating digital libraries and a CD player.
Price: TBC

• The Director (DMC250) is a stand alone receiver with a 100 watt amplifier that has RCA and Speaker out to connect to your existing sound system. Price: $US450

•The Player (DMP100)is intended to be plugged into an existing home theatre system, merely relaying digital audio via RCA cables to your sound system. Price: $US300

• The Controller (DMWR1000) is similar in function to Sonos’ controller but this unit works over Wireless-N, has touchscreen functionality, as well as a D-pad. This is how you would navigate your media library with The Player connected to your stereo. There’s even chatter of possibly offering an iPhone controller app down the road. Price: $US350

• There are also a smattering of accessories such as speakers ($US150), an iPod dock ($US80), and a basic IR remote ($US30). When the iPod dock is plugged in, any of the other devices can access the content on the iPod, as long as a wi-fi connection is present.

As far as bundles go, there will be three bundles offered—the Premier Kit, the Trio Kit and the Executive Kit. The Premier includes 1 Player, 1 Director, 1 Controller and 2 IR remotes for $US1000. The Trio includes 2 Players, 1 Controller and 2 IR remotes for $US850. The Executive includes 1 Director, speakers and an IR remote for $US550. The entire Wireless Home Audio system, except the Conductor, should be available immediately. The Conductor is slated for a Q1 release.

Cisco Multi-Room Home Audio Solution Enhances and Extends
the Listening Experience for Consumers

Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio makes it easy to play music
from a variety of sources wirelessly throughout the home

Las Vegas – January 7, 2009 – Cisco® today announced the Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio system at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. From the world leaders in networking, the Wireless Home Audio system utilizes Wireless-N technology to deliver a rich audio experience to any room in the home. Users can create a party atmosphere with immaculate synchronisation when listening to the same song throughout the entire home, or send different music to customised “zones”. The Wireless Home Audio solution also puts millions of songs at your fingertips through integrated Internet services such as Rhapsody, AudioLounge, and RadioTime. An optional Docking Station for iPod enables your content on Apple iPods™, including Podcasts, Audio Books, and purchased iTunes content, to be played through any Wireless Home Audio device on the network. Wireless Home Audio products also work great with the newly announced Linksys by Cisco Media Hub that gathers and presents the available media on a network.

Facts/Highlights:

Complete Solution
The Wireless Home Audio product family includes three available options for playback devices that allow consumers to bring wireless audio to any room – the all-in-one Conductor, the Director with powerful amplifier and the Player which is the ideal addition to existing sound systems. A Wireless-N Controller enhances the Wireless Home Audio experience by providing touchscreen access to all available audio from anywhere in the home. Consumers can easily unleash audio from their iPods by simply slipping it into the available Docking Station for instant access to all of the songs, playlists, and other audio content on the device. In addition, with millions of songs available from Rhapsody in the US and AudioLounge in Europe, Wireless Home Audio users can search for tracks, discover new artists, and create playlists to be sent to any room. A “Favorites” function gives one-touch access to any content from any source.

Great Audio Quality, Precise Synchronization
Cisco, the world’s leader in networking technology has applied its years of knowledge and expertise to develop an amazing lossless digital audio delivery solution that preserves the full depth and richness of the recording, as originally intended by the artist. Through distributed decoding technology, each Wireless Home Audio device receives unmodified audio source material without any trans-coding or compression. The audio is then reproduced and synchronized to within microseconds, virtually eliminating echo artefacts so often evident in other wireless audio systems.
Wireless Simplicity
With Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio, music can be unleashed from existing digital libraries that are stored on a PC or other device, integrated Internet services, or even an iPod, with no need to run new wires around the home, or undergoing complex home renovation to install the devices. As a complete wireless solution, Wireless Home Audio products enable consumers to fully equip their homes with a world of music that is at their fingertips.
Standards-Based Compatibility 
Following Cisco’s standards-based approach to networking, the Wireless Home Audio products utilise Wireless-N technology to provide greater value to the consumer by allowing each device to achieve its full potential as an extension of the solution rather than requiring that one of the devices be hard-wired to a router. Wireless Home Audio products have been built to utilise the DLNA 1.5 standard, extending the value of the solution by making it accessible to and from a broad variety of devices. The products are compatible with standards such as HomePlug, Wireless-G, and Ethernet to allow consumers to choose the mix of networking technologies that is right for them.

Products

Conductor DMC350 Wireless-N Digital Music Center
The Conductor is a complete, portable, self-contained wireless music system with integrated speakers that can be used to bring music to any room of the home. All it needs is a power outlet. It features a seven inch LCD touch screen for easy navigation through your music library and an integrated CD player to play those songs that you have not digitized yet. An individual IR Remote is included.

Director DMC250 Wireless-N Music Player with Integrated Amplifier
Features a 50-watt per channel integrated amplifier powerful enough to be placed in any room as a more permanent solution to access digital music, and includes a line in and out to connect to speakers. Its full colour LCD display makes navigating through your music library simple. An individual IR Remote is included.

Player DMP100 Wireless-N Music Extender
Allows you to access digital music from existing stereo or surround sound systems in the
home. Its compact design allows it to blend well with any décor making it an ideal option to extend music to any room in the home utilizing your existing audio equipment. An individual IR Remote is included.

Stereo Speaker Kit DSPK50 
designed to compliment the Director – Wireless-N Music Player. Pair them to create a complete, high-quality wireless sound system and experience your digital music all around your home, at your control.

Controller DMWR1000 Wireless-N Touchscreen Remote
Designed to control the complete Wireless Home Audio system wirelessly. It features a large, colour touchscreen, thumbwheel, and engaging interface designed to let you easily control any one or every one of your Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio devices, including a docked iPod, from anywhere in your home, even when they’re out of sight.

Docking Station for iPod MCCI40
Allows consumers to extend their available Wireless Home Audio library to include all of the content on their iPod, including Podcasts, Audio Books, and purchased iTunes content.

IR Remote DMRIR500
Comes standard with the Conductor, Director, and Player. Its simple button layout and slim form factor allows you to easily control your audio devices when you do not have a Controller nearby.

To simplify the purchasing process, three Wireless Home Audio kits are available:

Premier Kit:
A two-room starter kit that includes Director and IR Remote, Player and IR Remote, and Wireless-N Controller.

Trio Kit:
A kit for consumers looking to add the power Wireless Home Audio to their existing audio systems, the Trio Kit includes 2 Players, 2 IR Remotes, and a Wireless-N Controller.

Executive Kit:
An easy way to add a Wireless Home Audio capabilities to any room, the Executive Kit includes a Director, IR Remote and matching speakers.

Supporting Quotes:

Greg Memo, vice president and general manager, products, Cisco Consumer Business Group.
“After years of research and testing, we are answering the consumer’s call for a wireless home audio system that seamlessly consolidates music content from all of their sources into one solution with incredible audio quality. By both expanding the amount of accessible music and simplifying the experience, we have developed a family of products that work together to greatly enhance the experience of enjoying digital music throughout the home.”

Mike Wolf, director, Digital Home, ABI Research
“We believe that today’s home usage paradigm for digital music will transition from being PC-centric to one that is networked and accessible throughout the home. Cisco’s products allow consumers to enjoy their digital music collections over the network and point to where we believe this market is going.”

Worldwide Market Trends:
In a recent IDC survey, 46% of home network owners and 27% of non home network owners were interested in streaming music from their computer or the Internet to their stereo. (IDC, June 2008)

ABI forecasts total worldwide networked audio shipments will grow from 6.4 million to 38 million with a CAGR of 68%.  (ABI, 2007)

Nearly a fourth — 22% — of US households have at least one iPod. That’s nearly 25 million households that currently have an iPod. Thirty percent of them have more than one iPod. (Forrester 2008)

Pricing and availability:
The Wireless Home Audio products are available in the United States from authorised Linksys by Cisco retailers, authorised resellers, and VAR partners. Cisco anticipates availability in stores in Denmark and The Netherlands during the first quarter of 2009. The Conductor will be available in the first quarter of 2009.

Estimated street prices are as follows:

Premier Kit – $999.99/ €999.99
Trio Kit – $849.99/ €849.99
Executive Kit – $549.99/ €549.99
Conductor – Pricing available at launch
Director – $449.99/ €449.99
Player – $299.99/ €299.99
Stereo Speaker Kit – $149.99/ €149.99
Controller – $349.99/ €349.99
iPod Dock – $79.99/ €79.99
IR Remote – $29.99/ €29.99

Well, it’s finally launched in Australia. It’ll set you back about $350 bucks, but it’s available. When the US guys reviewed it, they thoroughly enjoyed its ease of use and solid data speeds, so if you’re in the market for a new router, this could be a solid option.

Full press release, for those release junkies out there, is below.

LINKSYS ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ITS FIRST
SIMULTANEOUS DUAL-N BAND WIRELESS ROUTER

Media Optimised Networking technology automatically prioritises network traffic to provide better multimedia experience for consumers

SYDNEY, Australia – October 1, 2008 – Linksys®, a Division of Cisco, and the recognised leading global manufacturer of wireless and networking hardware for the home, today announced the availability of its first simultaneous Dual-N Band router for the Australian market. The Linksys by Cisco Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router (WRT610N) is designed to offer true Wireless-N performance in both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. It is like having two N band routers in one device. The WRT610N works with any DSL or cable broadband connection and offers a great entertainment experience when streaming video and music around the home1,2.

True Simultaneous Wireless-N Performance
Dual-N Band Wireless networking is designed to allow consumers to utilise both the 2.4GHz wireless spectrum and the wider, less crowded 5GHz wireless spectrum. The 5GHz band is ideal for streaming media and provides more than seven times the number of non-overlapping wireless channels, allowing for clearer transmissions. The 2.4GHz spectrum allows older network devices like print servers, cameras or older notebooks and PCs to access the network. As opposed to other solutions, the WRT610N is designed to allow consumers to achieve full Wireless-N network speeds on both bands at the same time2.

“There are products in the market that are positioned as Dual-Band that allow access to only one band at a time or lose transmission speeds when both bands are in use,” said Graeme Reardon, Linksys Regional Director, Australia and New Zealand. “The Linksys by Cisco WRT610N is a Dual-N Band broadband router that is designed to support simultaneous, separate Wireless-N radio bands. As we foresee consumers starting to use the 5GHz spectrum for their multimedia devices, it becomes more important to have access to the full capabilities of both bands.”

Media Optimised Networking
The Linksys Media Optimised Networking technology helps deliver a premium experience when WRT610N users share and access multimedia content. The network performance is fine-tuned to give priority to media such as High-Definition video without the need for manual configuration. Consumers can also customise their network to give priority to certain devices like gaming consoles over others.

Easy Network Setup and Management
Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) provides consumers with a flash video-based guided installation for PC and Mac users. LELA uses simplified terminology that does not require knowledge of networking jargon, and helps make setting up a wireless network easier than ever before.

With LELA a visual overview of all the devices connected to the network is presented, providing an easy way to quickly view the status of the network. When a new device is connected, LELA will automatically add it to the network map and notify the user.

Next to LELA the WRT610N comes with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) support. WPS is an optional certification program from the Wi-Fi Alliance that is designed to make devices on wireless local area networks more secure and to make the set up as easy as possible. The WRT610N features a button that enables consumers to add additional devices to their network by simply pushing it and the corresponding button on the other certified product.

Pricing and Availability
The Linksys by Cisco WRT610N is available from authorised distributors, quality retailers and resellers at a recommended price of AU$349.95. The matching Dual-Band Wireless-N USB Network Adapter WUSB600N is also available for AU$139.95. For more information about the Linksys by Cisco WRT610N, please visit: www.linksys.com.au/dualNband

About Linksys
Founded in 1988, Linksys, a Division of Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the recognized global leader in voice, Wireless and Ethernet networking for consumers. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award-winning products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices and applications. Linksys provides award-winning product support to its customers. For more information, visit www.linksys.com.au

The Gadget: Linksys’ Dual-N Band Wireless Router just became official, giving users simultaneous 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands so 802.11N users and 802.11G users can coexist without N users having to use the crowded 2.4GHz space. Also, since it’s dual N-band, two N users can connect (one to each frequency) without interfering with the other. It’s styled in Linksys’ new form factor, which helps emphasise that Linksys is more for consumers (especially compared to their parent company Cisco).