# Standalone Pandora Player? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770 "2010-12-03T05:08:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/1 "2010-12-03T05:08:26Z")
I’d like to give a friend a standalone Pandora player (like an internet radio) for Christmas. He’s not very technology savvy so I’m looking for one that’s not very difficult to set up. I’ve been looking on the 'Net but there are so many choices…so I turn to the experience of the Dopers for help. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/2 "2010-12-03T06:04:41Z")
> [@Caractacus\_Pott](#): > > I’d like to give a friend a standalone Pandora player (like an internet radio) for Christmas. He’s not very technology savvy so I’m looking for one that’s not very difficult to set up. I’ve been looking on the 'Net but there are so many choices…so I turn to the experience of the Dopers for help. Sweetie and I have [this one](http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-audio-receivers-dars/livio-radio/4505-6470_7-33658724.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody), a Livio, and we are pleased with it. We got it specifically so his 81 year old dad could listen to certain European internet radio stations without having to deal with the computer, and if he can figure it out I don’t know who couldn’t. As the review says, it doesn’t do everything, but it is geared towards playing Pandora stations and is easy to use. eta: I should say, his dad didn’t set up his own stations, but they weren’t difficult, and once they’re in there, it’s a breeze to switch between them. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/3 "2010-12-03T06:36:14Z")
If he doesn’t have a stereo, then I’d suggest something like the [Squeezebox Boom](http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-audio/wireless-music-systems/devices/4707). Downside is that it is requires a bit of tech savvy to set up, but dead easy to use after that (and I’d guess that most internet radios are at least somewhat techie to do the initial set up). Plus side is that the audio is really good. If he has a stereo that he can connect a player to, then it’s the iPod touch. Pandora is a super easy app to use, plus there are many other options too (Rhapsody, iHeart Radio, SOMA FM, Slacker, Last FM and more). A 1/8" to RCA cable is all you need to make the connection. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/4 "2010-12-03T06:51:00Z")
Should add that if he doesn’t have wireless internet access, the iPod is useless. Both the Livio and the Squeezebox have both wired and wireless connections. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/5 "2010-12-03T17:18:04Z")
Thanks you two. I didn’t know the Squeezebox Boom did Pandora. The Boom is definitely on the list. The Livio is nice and small. I’ll have to look at it more closely. **Dag** , he doesn’t have a stereo. That’s a plus for the Boom. Out of curiosity, can the Boom be controlled by an Ipod Touch? I’m looking for an internet radio myself but want an RF remote. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/6 "2010-12-03T20:02:53Z")
I only recently got a Touch, but there is an app called[iPeng](http://penguinlovesmusic.de/ipeng-the-iphone-skin-for-squeezecenter/) that controls the squeezebox. I have not tried it though, it’s a $10 app. But you can also control the squeezebox through either server software on your own computer, or through a browser at [mysqueezebox.com](http://www.mysqueezebox.com/user/login?redirect=settings/favorites). [Mysqueezebox.com](http://Mysqueezebox.com) works OK on Firefox on my desktop, but only so-so on the Ipod Safari browser. I’d expect the iPeng app to be much better. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/7 "2010-12-03T20:50:01Z")
Cool! I’ll have to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standalone-pandora-player/562770/8 "2010-12-06T02:45:51Z")
I just ordered a Boom for my friend and a Duet for myself. Thanks for all the help.