09.06.2007 — It could be the industry's Holy Grail -- reliable home control that's sophisticated enough to execute a variety of commands and manageable enough for installers to implement consistently at a scalable series of price points.

In the past few years, many have tried, but it appears that Exceptional Innovation (EI) will become the first company to deliver a turnkey system that combines its newly launched LifeMedia media center servers with its LifePoint touchpanels and LifeController products and the company's control software solution.

Focusing on the company's latest hardware, the LifeMedia media center servers will feature options such as four CableCard tuners and a single-room, entry level media center that will be fully LifeWare ready.

"These products solidify Lifeware's position as the leading Windows Media Center technology developer, from the entry level to the high end," comments Mike Seamons, EI vice president of marketing.

"Whether a Lifeware dealer wants hardware from us or one of our certified third-party partners, we are positioned better than ever to deliver best-of-breed home automation and entertainment solutions to the marketplace."

Additionally, EI also showed a completely wireless control system designed for retrofit applications and a new construction whole-house control system that's hard wired.

Within these homes the company demonstrated the seamless connectivity of its partnerships with companies such as Russound, Microsoft, Lutron, Cooper Wiring Devices and DSC.

According to representatives of these manufacturers, the purpose of demonstrating the products and technologies during in these model homes is to show custom electronics installers what they can do with the combination of EI's product line-up and the alliances that EI has forged.

Highlighting the products of EI's exhibiting partners is the new Avenue System from Russound. This powerline-based system will enable installers to retrofit a home with a multiroom audio system without having to pull new cabling.

Russound further supported its EI partnership by showing its new SMC media server that comes pre-loaded with LifeWare to help facilitate its dealers ability to deliver a whole-house control solution.