streaming

Roku HD Player
$99.99
A truly amazing idea. Keeper. Future of video on demand in making.
A few salient features:
1. Easy installation, took me about 5 minutes to set it up.
2. I can watch movies instantly.
3. I am using netflix movies on demand with this box, using Netgear MoCA technology to bring internet to my Roku box.
4. Lightning fast speeds, blows any other technology in market(especially power line).
5. Video quality is crystal clear HD.
6. Used for a month, not even one glitch, extremely reliable.
7. All this without any new wires, MoCA with Roku makes a great combination.

I wish this technology(Roku + MoCA)gets built into TVs in future.

Streaming
$16.98
there are no themes here so there are no variations, and without themes there is nothing to improvise. cecil taylor has passed through this musical territory from time to time, and don pullen has skirted the borders, but this isn't avant garde or free jazz. there have been pioneers, mahler, harry partch and quite a few 19th century pianists/composers, so only (kind of) traditionally can streaming be considered experimental music. keith jarrett has visited the territory. settlers have been anthony braxton and anthony davis, check out his middle passage. that's about as close as i want to get with a description of abrams' streaming.

this is a highly sophisicated cd, an extraordinary achievement. and i like the terse statements, mostly on the art of improvisation, by the players george russell, roscoe mitchell and abrams for linear notes.

and i also like the cover painting by muhal richard abrams.

Parrot Mk6000/Pf220001Aa Bluetooth��� Hands-Free Kit With Audio Streaming
$149.00
So I have multiple Parrot products. Installation is dead simple, especially if you buy the pre-wired T harness to install in your vehicle. They pair quickly and work very well, with excellent sound quality. Why am I only rating it a 3? Because I'm on my second of this model, and third of the 3200LS in my wife's car.

I've gone through all sorts of troubleshooting - updating the software in the unit, trying multiple phones, etc. The first one just quit working one day - it would power up, flash lights, but would not respond to any commands by bluetooth or from the buttons. This was after about a year, so I had to go buy another one. The second one now is connecting and works fine for about a minute, and then power cycles and shuts down. Again, it's been about a year. Both times with this Parrot has directed me to a local dealer, who shakes their heads sadly at it.

So in conclusion, when it's working it's a great device.

Sony MEXBT5700U CD Receiver Bluetooth Hands-Free and Audio Streaming Capability (Black)
$299.95
I just bought the MEX-BT577U and installed it. I really like the unit but iPhone 3GS users will be disappointed that they cannot connect via the the USB port like they can with their iPods. Sony's advertisements are misleading the consumer by saying that the unit offers iPhone connectivity. It's not unreasonable to assume that when they say iPhone 3G compatible that means the latest 3G iPhones being sold. I would also like to mention that I bought directly from Amazon and when the product arrived, despite being marketed as new, there was evidence that it had been opened (e.g., dusty faceplate, wrinkled installation manual, etc.). Other than those problems the unit is working good, a great price for all that it can do.