Roku SoundBridge Gets Free Software Update

Roku Labs has added a free software update to their SoundBridge product line which makes the media player compatible with the RealNetworks' Rhapsody Service.

Roku today released a new version of free software for all Roku SoundBridge network music players. The new Roku SoundBridge 2.1 software adds support for RealNetworks’ award-winning Rhapsody digitalmusic service. Now, Roku customers with a Rhapsody subscription can effortlessly browse their personal Rhapsody library by artist, album, and song title, or quickly review the custom radio stationsand playlists they have created using Rhapsody, and enjoy this music on their home stereos. With Rhapsody compatibility, Roku SoundBridge is the only network music player to seamlessly work with allWindows Media Audio (WMA) based services.

Just last month Roku added support for Windows Media Connect, Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10 and Windows Media Player 10. Roku SoundBridge can play any song in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, including protected WMA content from music services like Napster, MSN Music and Wal-Mart. Roku SoundBridge is also part of the Microsoft PlaysForSure logo program, which gives consumers an easy way to identify devices and services verified to work together.

Other Roku SoundBridge features now include more support for Windows Media Connect and “Favorite Internet Radio.” With the new 2.1 software, Roku SoundBridge can play any of a list of 10 “favorite” Internet radio stations even when there are no music servers running on the network — their PC can be turned off. Simple HTML Web page support means that consumers can now browse SoundBridge with a Web browser for basic status information, playing track information, playback control, setting of the UPnP “Friendly name,” and configuration of the Internet radio favorites.

“Roku SoundBridge is the perfect holiday gift for any music lover who wants to enjoy all their digital music on their favorite speakers,” said Roku Founder and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood. “Since SoundBridge is so easy to use and works with Rhapsody, all of the other WMA-based digital music management services and iTunes, it’s guaranteed to be the holiday gift that will work right out of the box.”

Roku SoundBridge integrates easily into any home computer network, either through Wi-Fi or Ethernet so that customers can listen to music from their computers, on powered speakers or through any stereo system. Roku SoundBridge can access playlists from both Windows and Mac-based computers, and supports the most digital music of any network music players, by streaming music in WMA, AAC, MP3, AIFF and WAV formats. Roku SoundBridge is the only network music player to automatically stream music from iTunes. Roku SoundBridge has a bright vacuum florescent display (VFD) and a remote control so consumers can browse and select music by song, artist, album, genre or composer from across the room.

Pricing and Availability

Roku SoundBridge comes in three models. Roku SoundBridge M500 is 10 inches wide x 2.37 inches in diameter, comes with a liquid crystal display and Wi-Fi for just $199. Roku SoundBridge M1000 is 10 inches wide x 2.37 inches in diameter and comes with a vacuum florescent display. It sells for $249.99 with Wi-Fi and $199.99 without Wi-Fi. Roku SoundBridge M2000 is 17 inches wide x 2.75 inches in diameter and sells for $499.99. Consumers can purchase Roku SoundBridge and accessories, including a mounting kit at www.rokulabs.com. Roku SoundBridge is in consumer electronics retail stores nationwide including Best Buy, Crutchfield, Fry’s Electronics, Magnolia Audio Video, RadioShack and Tweeter.