Originally Posted by JoeBloggs80

You have Chromecast now, which does all the wireless stuff for Windows/Android. I believe it supports Apple too actually. Sonos is best for music.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Music is an interesting one... for stored music an Ipod classic surely has to be the way to go... over 120 gigs on mine. When it comes to broadcasting new music around the home, then youtube is very capable, especially if you have a decent home network. Youtube has content that you'll never get on Spotify or other streamers. In fact if you cant find it on Spotify.... then look on youtube and it almost certainly will be there.

You can put a 250gig mini harddrive in a ipod classic.

Got to admit I dont like Itunes, but for convienent large offline capacity storage then the ipod classic is still worth having to use Itunes.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Since I got Spotify I've never looked back. For $12 a month I can listen to basically everything that has ever been made. You can download songs for when you are out of wifi coverage, but with the 3.2Gb of 4G that I now get with Virgin, I can listen via that

Originally Posted by renth

I'm with you in the Spotify thing but I've found that there are quite a few tracks that appear to be available to the US but not available to Australia for licensing reasons which I find annoying. Also some labels put their stuff out on Rdio but not Spotify and vice versa. On the whole Spotify (or similar music streaming services) is the way of the future.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

I've never experienced that but would be annoyed if I did, and I know that there is some stuff (like Led Zappelin I believe) that is not available on Spotify

I'll have to see what is available on Amazon Prime

Originally Posted by knockoff nige

Hmm massive lack of understanding of Apple devices. Also, streaming movies to a TV is mostly done wirelessly these days. Of course the MacBook Air can do it via cable as well. Your gripe might be the required adapter for this but these thunderbolt ports are far more versatile, not to mention super fast, than a HDMI port. Apple TV is not required to stream either. An such as plex is mac compatible and free. It can stream to any DLNA device, even tv's directly. I'm currently watching Noah this way to my Bravia.

I work in IT and have supported Windows OS's for far too long. OSX as a consumer platform is as good as anything Microsoft have ever released. Many people are opposed to Apple products because they see the trap of their ecosystem and would rather a much wider scope of options. Well, I really don't know what is missing as, from a Mac perspective, most peripherals are Mac compatible, it's easy to dual boot a Mac and OSX is just simply nicer to use than Windows 8 which just seems to me like its. Tablet OS that's just awkward to use as a laptop/desktop. Unless you're ok with constant finger prints over your screen.

I don't really understand the gripe on Apple devices working together. They do it as good if not better than other vendors do it. Samsung devices working with their tv's is a scam. They can't compete with Apple in this regard. Neither can Sony. So
If it works so well, what's the problem? It's not like anyone's holding a gun to your head when you go to buy an iPhone and so you walk out with the works.

Originally Posted by JoeBloggs80

You have Chromecast now, which does all the wireless stuff for Windows/Android. I believe it supports Apple too actually. Sonos is best for music.

Fact is the differences between apple and android/windows is pretty marginal these days. There is no clear 'winner' ,it comes down to personal preference. You find people who love both and people who have had issues with both.

I personally dislike apple due to their ethos but have given up caring about it really. The fanboys on both sides are pretty pathetic it must be said.

Originally Posted by Beoz

I did read, you can order a Roku Streamer from the US (similar to Chromecast) and during installation, register on the UK site, where it picks up a UK IP address and there's your BBC iplayer streaming.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

I'd pretty much discounted Chromecast due to all the restriction that I have posted about re Australian content, getting Netlfix etc. But I was reading yesterday that it now has the ability to cast an exact replica of your Android phone display. That is a great function to enable you to quickly view your phone's photos, videos, other content

I'll probably get one now given its cost and evolving capabilities

Originally Posted by irishbloo

I didn't get Chromecast because you told me not too.

Originally Posted by Beoz

I know we are focusing on home use here, or at least the OP is, but how would you go swapping your work over to a Apple environment. How many apps would not run?

I have never said Apple is not easy to use. That was always the ethos of Apple - ease of use, bring it easily to the consumer. And that in itself should be admired.

Apples competitors are coming out with the whole "ease of use" thing now and leaving the flexibility with it. What was Apple for home, Windows for office is no longer the case.

BTW - desperate times call for desperate measures.

Apple Expands iPhone and iPad Trade-In Program to Australia - Mac Rumors

When Apple's current user base looks for an upgrade, they have options now. They have no new products, so how to keep them in the ecosystem and get them coming into the stores?

Originally Posted by knockoff nige

Just as easy to switch to an Mac at home when you need to keep working. Most places offer published applications via VPN. There is really no restriction.

The 'ease of use' thing is done best on Apple. But the devices working together is in a different league on Apple. AirPlay being the best example. Chrome aft, Roku, Samsung, Sony, Microsoft. None of them do it as flawless as Apple do. That's probably why there are more airplay devices coming on the market.

Apple have always done the trade in offer, just not for iPhones/iPads in Australia. This is great news and I have no idea why you'd mock it. It beats all these millions of phones lying around and probably getting disposed of incorrectly.

What is the inflexibility problem you have with Mac's?

Originally Posted by Beoz

Well for starters I can't install any of my work applications the Apple OS. Therefore from a work point of view its out. I have a Samsung phone, so does the wife who was an avid iphone user for years. She hasn't looked back. I can charge my phone with an array of cables and other mini usb plugs. Which means I don't have to go out ans buy more power leads. I could keep going but there's good news for you ..........

I read today that apple are teaming up with IBM to break in the business market. ..... I guess the consumer market is hitting the wall. Everyone else is figuring out how to do consumer 'ease of use' and apple may have figured out how to take 'ease of use' to the business market.