That solution does not fit the bill. The average music lover is not going to go through all that.
What I want is a small box around $200 or less that will stream HD AV from any streaming site on the NET.
The problem is that our symphony orchestras are in trouble and need to sell seats outside the concert hall. The BPO have a superb program, but unless you build an HT your restricted to a mobile deice or whatever speakers are connected to a computer. They are yet to make money with this. Met player same issue.
What is required is an arts version of Netflix for the musical arts and Opera houses. However we have to get started and we won't get an icon on Boxee, Apple TV, Popcorn hour etc. until we have volume.
The device needs to be plug and play, dead simple, reliable and not glitchy. On TV screen menu, find the site you want, and stream the production you want. I suppose we might end up having to design the device and manufacturing it. I'm certain one of my sons could design it. He was part of the design team for the chip in your Pi. It would require a really micro mother board with integrated processor, and a small SD drive for the operating system. Windows would need to be loaded from an external drive after assembly and before sale.
I would just rather avoid the hassle. This whole area is pop culture dominated and a lousy fit with the classical music and opera scene. It is killing the our orchestras, as most no longer have recoding contracts, which used to be a big source of revenue. They are going to have to be their own recording companies like the LSO, BPO and some others.
It will work much better if digital distribution is centralized.
The huge stumbling block is an easy way of getting the programs from the Net to the customers AV system with no hassle. This looks tougher than setting up the site at the moment.
Both the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra have been locked out for months over financial issues. The SPCO want to get going. I'm certain on reviewing the classical blogosphere, that this is the major stumbling block. There are lots of comments like watching opera on a PC among the stale coffee cups!
