RTI at CEDIA: Sleek Remotes, New Apex Platform, HDBaseT, More

Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI) introduced 20 new products at CEDIA Expo 2012, in celebration of the company’s 20th anniversary.

The highlight was the new Apex control platform. Among other useful features, the platform supports remote programming and project management.

Projects can be stored in the cloud so anyone in the company can access the most current file from any Web browser. Programs then can be automatically downloaded to a customer’s devices including universal remote controls, keypads, and other whole-house controllers.

Take RTI’s new T2X handheld controller, for example, which features WiFi, ZigBee and RTI’s 433 MHz RF technology.

When an integrator pushes a program remotely to the handheld controller, the ZigBee wakes it up and the software is automatically updated over WiFi.

Speaking of “automatic,” the Apex programming platform automatically populates a controller with the right buttons, depending on which devices are selected. It’s a feature that is available in RTI’s newer Pro Control line. Now RTI faithfuls can have it, too.

The hardware star of the RTI booth was clearly the T2X. It’s nice looking for sure, with its thin design and edge-to-edge touchscreen.

The cool factor comes from the built-in accelerometer, which allows users to control the home with gestures. For example, to fast-forward the DVR, just flick the remote to the right.

RTI showed a few other controllers, including the CX7 hardwired tablet controller with a mic and speaker. The company will launch software to enable the product to serve as an intercom (perfect for under the kitchen cabinet, too).

Another innovation from RTI this year is the XP-4 processor, which includes an HDMI video output to deliver an on-screen display (OSD) for a TV – ideal for the hospitality industry.

In other big CEDIA 2012 news from RTI, the company is now in the video distribution business. RTI introduced two new HDMI video matrix switchers that employ HDBaseT. The 4x4 VHD-4 and 8x8 VHD-8 extend HDMI, IR, and RS-232 signals up to 230 feet over a single Cat 5e/6 cable.

At the same time, RTI enhanced its existing AD-4 and AD-8 distributed audio systems, adding pre-outs and IP control to the units. The new models are called AD-8X and AD-4X.

Click here for RTI product images and features.

CE Pro Blog Mobster Richard Fregosa snapped this video of Marketing VP Pete Baker during CEDIA.



For more news from CEDIA Expo visit www.cepro.com/cedianews.