My KickStarter Project: A Low Cost AirPlay Receiver | Hacker News Reader

My KickStarter Project: A Low Cost AirPlay Receiver

kickstarter.com

15 pointsfierrogt12 comments

Hey Hacker News!

I wanted to share with everyone my first KickStarter project: the TuneBridge. TuneBridge is a simple, easy and affordable audio streaming device. Using Apple's AirPlay, TuneBridge lets you stream your music or podcast from a wide variety of devices to just about any speaker or receiver out there. No need for special speakers or receivers, no more wires to contend with.

What I think is most exciting about the TuneBridge is the affordability. The target retail price is $59.99. This opens AirPlay up to just about anyone and any device.

This project is a huge leap for me to move out of a 9 to 5 engineering role and into the world of product startups. I'd love any feedback you guys may have.

Best, Brandon

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Eh, AppleTV is 100$, your device 60$. Not much savings if you consider that AppleTv got far more features and it is already available.

Factor in the time spent creating this Kickstarter project and he could have just bought the Airport Express and saved himself a lot of money and already been listening to streaming music!

At this price, I'd question whether this is using the hacked Airplay encryption key that was posted on the internet. I can't see Apple being to happy about losing sale on AppleTVs because of this device.

So you have to connect to a wifi network that is created by the TuneBridge? Isn't this highly inefficient? When a user does this they will not have internet on their phone/ipod any more, it will make the device un-usable.

I got excited about this due to the cheeper price but lack of internet is a huge problem and it essentially "breaks" the device functionality. These devices were not meant to connect to wifi hotspots lacking internet conductivity. I have created wifi-hotspots with no internet conductivity in the past and it is hard to keep a device connected to it due to the device trying to find a real source of internet.

Josh, Thanks for checking out the TuneBridge! You have two options to connect to the TuneBridge with your iOS device:

1. Existing Network: You can configure the TuneBridge to connect to your existing home wifi network. This allows any iOS device, Mac, or PC connected to your home network to stream to the TuneBridge.

2. Direct: You can also connect directly to the TuneBridge. The TuneBridge will create an ad-hoc network that your device can connect to. This network is configured in a way that allows iOS devices to continue using their 3G data for the internet connection.

If you have any other questions, just let me know!

Nice idea, but we had a similar need a year ago and we bought the Sony wireless transmitter. It works flawlessly with pairing. (without pairing interferes with wifi). The sony just doesn't work with Mac, but it works through a USB connection because we use it for non iTunes stuff. We play live feeds most of the day on it. Your device would only be for itunes because it connects directly to wifi.

Can't the Raspberry Pi run an AirPlay receiver via XBMC? It costs less, and can stream 1080p video. The 3.5mm jack for audio output isn't ideal, but it can also run audio over HDMI if you're set up for that.

TuneBridge definitely looks like a more consumer focused option, but for the price you could put RPs in a nice case with custom software and still make a profit.

A refurbished AirPort Express is $69 with free shipping and has an internal power supply. In what we do you feel your product improves on ab AirPort Express?

Maybe I missed this... What is the target retail price? I see that a contribution of $60 will get you one; is that the target price too?

You can buy an Airport Express for $99.

That's 67% more than tunebridge.

Without even having used the TuneBridge product, the price difference is worth it. The $99 airport express (less if you buy a used one) just works. Period. Same with Apple TV.

Why introduce a device from a different manufacturer ... in this case a Kickstarter project from someone with no track record of producing successful consumer electronics.

There are two products out there already that provide this exact functionality, from the same company that produces your devices you want to stream from, and everything works together seemlessly.

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