I'd say that any time you can buy a PC for ~ $20 it's effectively "free" ... so even if it doesn't do what you'd like you're not exactly out anything.

 

The PiZero effectively costs in that range ... in addition to the board you need a USB hub, a few cables, and a USB WiFi dongle.    Many folks will already have at least some of those, but realistically this is a $20-30 setup, not $5.

 

I have absolutely no use for one of these, but they're nevertheless intriguing ... not so much for the cost as for the insignificant power draw (about 1 watt on idle).

 

Hence my original question... what can you use it for...? Considering we have Dockers, and VM's that can probably outperform most of what the PiZero can do.

 

I use RaspPic's as clients for whole house audio using the LogitechMediaServer docker as a backend...  Not Pi Zeros admittedly but the RaspPi is a useful piece of kit...

 

I cannot believe I did not know about this functionality. Logitechmediaserver+rpi's for whole home audio. Looks like I have a new weekend project. I was about to invest in googles chromecast audio dongles, at a cost of $35 a pop. If I can plop for $5 for some of the pi zero's.....

 

Any links or a direction to start me in, which has worked for you?

 

So I installed the LMS container as a backend.  Then downloaded Picoreplayer for my two Raspberry Pi's

 

The first is a Raspberry Pi 1 Model B which I've mounted to the back of one of these Sony stereos, (powered by the USB port on the stereo and feeding into the 3.5mm input on the back)

 

The second is a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B which is in the bathroom cabinet, the previous owners of the house had installed speakers in the ceiling and the cables were fed down into the cabinet, but no power.  I bought a 5m power cord which is plugged into a socket in the loft and fed it down the same channel as the speaker cables.  To connect bare speaker cables to the Raspberry Pi and provide some amplification I bought one of these. and it's all powered by one of these PSUs.

 

When time & finances permit we've got an old CD/Tape Deck that I'm going to see if I can integrate a Rasp Pi into as well.

 

It's all controlled via apps on our Android phones.  We use Squeezer. (Don't bother with the official Logitech app, I couldn't get it to work..)

 

As much as I'd love to use a Rasp Zero, until there is some way to get audio out without resorting to hdmi it's not a viable option for what I need.

Well, given that I haven't had much luck with the quality of audio output from vms (pci or FireWire audio interfaces)' I'd add a hifi berry to this and have a cheap as chips squeezebox replacement.

 

I've been using RaspPi's very successfully as SqueezeBox clients using LogitechMediaServer docker container as a backend.  Been running PiCorePlayer on them..

Do all the various sites around the house sync accurately, or are there varying buffering delays if you tell them all to play the same material?

My wife thought she was being tech saavy and bought Sonos for 3 rooms in our apartment (without asking my opinion). I slapped my forehead at how much she spent and what you get for that.      It is RARELY used... SOoooo what other uses for the Pi are there??? I am not a big gamer (old or new) and music is more than taken care of thanks to my wife who thinks we are rich.

Well, given that I haven't had much luck with the quality of audio output from vms (pci or FireWire audio interfaces)' I'd add a hifi berry to this and have a cheap as chips squeezebox replacement.

 

I've been using RaspPi's very successfully as SqueezeBox clients using LogitechMediaServer docker container as a backend.  Been running PiCorePlayer on them..

Do all the various sites around the house sync accurately, or are there varying buffering delays if you tell them all to play the same material?

Hi jonathan, it's rare we actually play them at the same time, but I haven't noticed any sync problems and there is a function in the squeezer app to sync the playback.  I'll test it in the morning when I get home from work and post back.  If I don't then send me a PM to remind me though, I get forgetful on nights.....