You may notice that the BrainDrain is running a little slow today, and that's because I've installed the Ampache media server on the box so's that I can get to my audio collection from anywhere. There's even a Pre app for Ampache (a couple of them, in fact) which means that once I get it setup I should have access to my music collection via my phone. And that means that my Pre will have just taken one step closer to being that "all-in-one" media device that I keep talking about because I can leave the iPod in the car or at home more often - so long as I can get to my music collection via wi-fi or EVDO on the Pre, that is.
The only bugaboo here is that whole network availability thing - I'm not sure if my signal will be strong enough to stream the files while I'm driving or if I happen to be in a cell-blocking building. I don't know where I'm going to land on the IBM campus next week, and there's a good possibility that I'll be in a location that has poor cell reception. The Pre defaults to the old Sprint network - which I call "1x" due to the icon on the phone - when the cell signal is weak and it cannot connect to the EVDO "Sprint Speed" network, and I'm not sure that the old data network can stream the music fast enough to make Ampache useful. Plus, the more I use my phone as an iPod, the more often I have to charge it up, although I suppose that if I just keep it on the Touchstone or plugged in I won't really have to worry about that.
Anyway, if I can get this thing setup like I believe I should be able to, I am hoping that this will make the Pre my One Device to Rule Them All (to borrow from Mr. Tolkien) and may relegate my iPod to the center console of the G35 for roadtrips and Pre backup. With this 1-2 combo, coupled with the coming of Flash to the Pre later this year, I think that Apple is starting to look a little rotten if all works as I envision that it will.
I'll keep you posted.
