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with recently released version 2.0 software-update, Sonos integrates support for Rhapsody’s music-subscription service with their network audio-player. while competitor Slim Devices supports playback of Rhapsody on their Squeezebox-players only when looped through a Windows XP PC running Rhapsody software, Sonos goes a big step further by enabling stand-alone access to the library. Rhapsody offers 2millions of tracks, genre-based- and customized radio and music recommendations - all browsable on the sleek Sonos remote. other than Rhapsody-integration, the software upgrade includes more internet radiostations, an alarm-clock & scheduled music feature, enhanced language support (french, italian, spanish) and several minor additions regarding format- & metatag-support.

update: Jeremy Toeman has an extensive hands-on review.

customers of Real Networks’ Rhapsody music subscription-service can now integrate audio-content from Rhapsody with Slim Device’s Squeezebox (a fine network music player I reviewed for PLAY.FM). depending on the type of Rhapsody-account, users may only consume Rhapsody-Radio (free accounts) or access all their playlists and full-albums (unlimited accounts). either way, Rhapsodys back-catalog of 2mio. songs can’t be browsed on the Squeezebox directly, but can only be accessed through the Rhapsody Jukebox-software (currently only available for Windows XP). unlike the integration of Pandora earlier this year, content from Rhapsody is streamed through the SlimServer-software, which basically means that this only works when the PC remains turned on. one last limitation: due to licensing-issues, Rhapsody is only available to US-customers.