Are there external wifi-receiver devices I can plug into an iPod?

June 1, 2004 10:53 PM

Are there external wifi-receiver devices I can plug into an iPod? If so, can you please direct me to some choices?
posted by timyang to computers & internet (8 comments total)

Uh...why?

Are you under some belief that the iPod has a TCP/IP stack and some kind of Web browser or streaming audio software built-in, awaiting activation if it finds a network port?
posted by mdeatherage at 1:05 AM on June 2, 2004

Such devices do not exist for the iPod and probably never will - at least, not until the iPod changes a great deal.
posted by adrianhon at 1:34 AM on June 2, 2004

Yeah, I was trying to see if it could get internet radio. So it can't do that?
posted by timyang at 3:03 AM on June 2, 2004

As far as I know, no. The streaming audio makes sense, though. I was trying to figure out why you'd want wifi on an iPod, but that's about the only reason you'd want wifi on one as the iPod functions today.

You could of course rip shows for later playback.

You could also consider getting a good pair of Rf wireless headphones considering you're most likely to be around a central location of some sort if you're streaming audio off the net.

What I really want is one of these newfangled third or fourth generation WiFi capable PDAs. I'd like to be able to browse, check email, do IM and stream audio from a central local source or remote streams. Carrying the laptop around the house is getting tiresome.

Well, I really want a super PDA. Something that combines a whole ton of gadgets in one pocket sized box. Think uber-tricorder. Full featured computer, camera, GPS, radio transmitter and reciever, musicbox, multi-function phone (think multi-zone cel, LAN, home phone) and more all rolled into one.

(I'll take a spot and ambient thermometer, a spectrograph, a pH meter, compass, infrared, whatever else you wanna jam in there as well. I'm serious. Throw it all in there. You could fit a crapload of stuff on a few custom chips these days.)
posted by loquacious at 3:26 AM on June 2, 2004

Haha, that was funny! Thanks Loquacious.

I think I will look into one of those wifi pdas you mentioned. What would you recommend?
posted by timyang at 4:05 AM on June 2, 2004

If all you're looking for is streaming radio on a wireless device, the Treo 600 can do it. It can do full TCP/IP over the cellular connection and can stream 56k shoutcast with very few hiccups (as long as you're in an area with good network coverage). On my Sprint plan, I get unlimited data transfers for 15usd/month, although I hear tell that if you go over a certain unpublished amount of throughput they bill you per megabyte. Also, the bluetooth/wifi secure digital adapters are getting closer all the time, and there are the perennial rumors that the upcoming Treo 610 will have both technologies rolled in.

It's not the fantasy gadget that loquacious is pining after, but it is a really solid convergance device. If you pick up a set of earbuds for it (the phone has a cellphone earpiece jack, so regular five dollar headsets won't work) it works as a really nice flash based MP3 player if you buy a big enough Secure Digital card.

Also, it's not outrageously huge, like some of the PocketPC phones I've seen. It fits comfortable in my hand, but then again, I'm sort of a tall/largish fellow. Look into it if you're interested in dropping some cash on a nifty toy, er, personal digital assistant with integrated phone and camera.
posted by mmcg at 5:00 AM on June 2, 2004

iPod can't do that, but the Rio Karma can. It has a built in ethernet port and web server.
posted by falconred at 8:19 AM on June 2, 2004

Thanks falconred and mmcq!
posted by timyang at 9:46 PM on June 2, 2004