Search CE Pro





Print  |  Email  |  Comments (12)  |  Share  |  News  |  Follow with Twitter, Facebook or RSS

SpeakerCraft to Launch ‘Media Center Products’?

Vague press release from UI partner Fluffy Spider Technologies refers to TV-based server that integrates and distributes music and video throughout the home
image

NOTE: This is NOT SpeakerCraft’s UI, just a sample of another UI from the company’s platform developer.

SpeakerCraft, developer of loudspeakers and multiroom audio systems, seems to be coming out with a media server.

A vague press release was issued today from Fluffy Spider Technologies (FST), "provider of award-winning FancyPants user interface (UI) technology for consumer electronics."

While the release was not specific about the SpeakerCraft products, it did say this:

SpeakerCraft media center products employ FancyPants as the central element in the user experience. Displaying on the home TV and remote control, FancyPants, seamlessly ties together multiple sources of audio, video and distributing multimedia throughout the home.

Burkhardt told CE Pro a couple of weeks ago, "We're going to CEDIA [2009] with the largest product introduction ever."

image
Digital Media is one of the 6 Pillars of EHX Spring 2010: The New Opportunities Show. Save the date: March 24-27, Orlando, Fla.
Could this be it?

Burkhardt was quoted in the press release: "Fluffy Spider, a clear leader in embedded graphics and multimedia, gives SpeakerCraft the edge needed to engage and excite consumers. The unique capabilities of FancyPants, combined with its incredible performance, make it a perfect solution for SpeakerCraft home media products."

Burkhardt was not available in the wee hours that the press release was issued, but we should have an update later today.

The FST Web site is confusing, but we discovered a demo of a media server product that integrates music, photos, videos … the usual suspects. In the demo, FancyPants was running on a Linux settop box.

Here are some screens from the demo, which is not to say that SpeakerCraft products will look anything like this:

UPDATE: Let me stress, this is NOT SpeakerCraft's UI. It is just an illustration of other UIs from FancyPants. Sorry for any confusion.

image

image

image

image

AND AGAIN: This is NOT SpeakerCraft's UI. It is just an illustration of other UIs from FancyPants.

image

image

image

http://www.speakercraft.com
http://www.fst.net

Subscribe to the CE Pro Newsletter

Article Topics

News · Product News · Multiroom Audio · Media Servers · Multiroom Video · Media Server · All topics

About the Author

Julie Jacobson, Editor-at-large, CE Pro
As a co-founder of EH Publishing in 1994, Julie has edited and contributed to all of the company's publications at one time or another. An authority on home automation, networking, integration, digital convergence and the CE pro channel, Julie speaks often about these subjects at industry events. She graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan, and received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Julie is a washed-up Ultimate Frisbee player.

12 Comments

Posted by Jez Hildred  on  07/14  at  08:39 AM

And I thought they were just going to be the US outlet for Imerge servers;
http://www.imerge.co.uk/WhereToBuy/USA.htm

Now it looks more like they’ve teamed up with Monty Python.

Posted by boogersonyourBD  on  07/14  at  12:35 PM

Speakercraft: Could you jump onto the bandwagon like everyone else and make some more ugly UIs please?

Posted by UglyUI  on  07/14  at  01:09 PM

I have to agree with booger on this one.  That is a very unelegant and juvenile UI if I’ve ever seen one.

Posted by RChaykil  on  07/14  at  01:31 PM

Good thing that’s not the SpeakerCraft one then right?

Posted by Julie Jacobson  on  07/14  at  02:17 PM

As indicated in the story THIS IS NOT SPEAKERCRAFT’S UI. It is only an illustration of a UI from the company’s platform partner. I will make that clearer in the article. Sorry to have misled.

Posted by Steve  on  07/14  at  03:19 PM

I knew they were up to no good and being sneeky when they showed a crestron, apple TV, Vudu,Lutron lighting,iTunes interface that all worked off a remote that you wave like a wand.  They want to obsolete programing by making simnple GUI’s.  Jeremy is behind this and he hates his Crestron system.

Posted by Phil L  on  07/15  at  04:51 AM

“Fluffy Spider Technologies”....

“Fancy Pants” UI ????

Serioulsy, is this a later April Fools post???

Posted by Julie Jacobson  on  07/15  at  04:57 AM

Phil, I took the liberty of mocking the brand names ... off site.

Posted by Phil L  on  07/15  at  05:05 AM

Dont get me wrong, I love SC products, but I feel really out of the loop lately.

I only found out about the Imerge assocation by accident, and I still dont quite understand the details.

The iTouch/IPhone interface for the MZC was a step in the right direction.

The “new” internet marketing made me a little uneasy, and I am now hearing they are opening up their product line to “box stores” in my region.

I REALLY hope they are not going off the rails this year. I would hate to have to dump them from my lineup.

Posted by Jeremy Burkhardt  on  07/15  at  04:55 PM

Our goal of being the easiest to install, most profitable and best sounding line of products for the specialty market is unchanged.  We are not in “box” stores.  Phil my email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), send me what you think is up as well as you account info, happy to help you understand any confusion.

Our rails are so deep in the CEDIA channel there is no way we can get them out and will not mess up our amazing dealer network, we have Niles for mass merchant and distribution lines, not our interest.  We are the specialty brand of choice and are honored to keep this position.

Posted by ray casey  on  07/19  at  02:00 PM

jeremyB at speakercraft i think that the brand that you created can stay where it is, but your experience and track record ought to be channeled into something “boxed”, perfect example would be Wolf Gang puck food or Paul Newman salad dressing (ya might have to think about that one for a bit…)

really, jump on a different band wagon sooner than later, trying to ride this pony all the way to the finish line may end up playing out like the fate of the horse and carriage…. 

so what’s your next gambit?  this media player… think again…

Posted by Wade b  on  07/28  at  09:11 AM

Too many band wagons playing copy and chase already. Nice to hear about new products from a company that still supports the independents and their services. Products can only take your business so far; it’s the people that carry you the greatest distance.

Also, people still pay good money to ride on the horse and carriage which many today would consider a luxury. Isn’t luxury what we sell?

Using a TV interface for system programming sounds too simplistic for today’s standards but then again experts said landing on the moon was simply not possible..

Can’t wait to see the Cedia booth this year!!

Page 1 of 1 comment pages
Post a comment
Name:
Email:
Choose smileys | View comment guidelines
Remember my personal information
Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please answer the question below:

Type the 3rd letter of the word "woofer":


Sponsored Links

  About Us Customer Service Privacy Policy Contact Us Advertise With Us Dealer Services Subscribe ©2010 CE Pro
  EH Network: Electronic House ChannelPro ProSoundWeb Church Production Worship Facilities Electronic House Expo Worship Facilities Expo