Samsung Galaxy Tab as in-home music device
I purchased my T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Tab in December of 2010.
Since then, I have primarily used it to check email, surf the web, watch TV using Android’s SlingPlayer Mobile application, and play games (mostly Words with Friends). But over the past several weeks, I have added to the Tab’s functionality by using it as my primary in-home music device.
In this setting, the tablet's 7-inch screen is perfect for searching for, selecting, and playing music. However, the process of connecting my system and having it physically tethered to the Tab’s audio out jack was limiting. So I began to think bigger.
I wanted to make using the device easier for my family, especially my young children. To do this I decided that I needed to cut the cord.
First, at a cost of about $100 I purchased a Sony S-Air bundle from 1 Sale A Day. The S-Air bundle includes a transmitter, receiver, four wireless socket speakers, and three remotes. This deal was available because Sony is discontinuing its S-Air devices in favor of its new Wi-Fi based DLNA technology called HomeShare.
At some point, I may try to bridge my S-Air devices to Sony’s new technology, but for now my budget (aka: my frugal wife) won’t permit it.
After unpacking and plugging in the system, I installed the S-Cast software on an unused Acer Aspire Revo PC. I attached the included S-Air USB transmitter, waited for the device drivers to install, and paired the PC to both the S-Air speakers and the S-Air receiver I had attached to my Bose home theater system.
Next, I paired and connected the Tab via Bluetooth to the PC, selected a song, and pushed play. Presto, “Big Time Rush” (a teen boy band with their own show on Nickelodeon) was playing throughout the house. My 8-year-old daughter loved it.
But wait, it gets better.
This set up is even more useful when paired with a subscription music service like Rhapsody or a music discovery service like Pandora. With our Rhapsody subscription, for about $15 a month, we are able to enjoy and discover new music on all of our PCs, the Tab, and two other mobile devices.
Amazon’s release and my addition of the Amazon Cloud Player to the Tab was the final piece in the puzzle. By using this service, we now have access to our personal music collection as well. But the key piece in my set up is the Tab; its size, weight, and ease of use make it ideally suited for this new function.
Audiophiles may not approve, but for my family, the Tab makes music even more fun.
