Universal Remote Control (URC) is coming out with the KP-4000 in-wall touchscreen and it looks cool.

The company will be showing the product, but not demonstrating all of its capabilities, at CEDIA Expo 2009.

URC, a leader in remote-control technologies, is not making any formal announcements on the KP-4000, but marketing director Jon Sienkewicz gave CE Pro a few details about the product.

The nice form factor not withstanding, the key thing about the touchscreen is that it is URC's first product with two-way RS-232 and IP communications. The company is rapidly developing drivers for two-way A/V components, cameras, thermostats, lighting and other home control products. So not only can you operate your A/V gear with this thing, you can check on the baby cam, change the temperature in…

Control4 dealers: How would you like to design a project and create a proposal … and then import the system directly into Control4's Composer programming software.

That's the premise behind a new application from Simply Reliable, developer of proposal and design software for custom installers.

The company's SmartOffice is a popular project management application that takes dealers through initial customer contact, the proposal process, design, project management, labor integration, accounting and billing.

The only thing it doesn't do is program a system for you … until now.

"It would sure be nice if we could take everything we have in quotes and push it right into the [Control4] box," says Simply Reliable's Tom Coffin. "You build the proposal, press 'yes,' and it gets loaded into Composer."

And that's just what Simply Reliable has done.

Control4 drivers are linked to products in the SmartOffice software. Just click the…

Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI) is coming out with a slick new ZigBee-compatible touchscreen that can mount on the wall, sit on the coffee table, and perform numerous feats of remote control-ness.

The forthcoming ST-7 features two-way wireless via ZigBee RF technology. It also includes wireless Ethernet and an IP intercom.



A seven-inch widescreen capacitive LCD touchscreen combines multitouch capacitive touchscreen and an integrated trackball.

We don't have all the details yet, but presumably the ST-7 will be compatible with other ZigBee-enabled products in the RTI lineup.

The universal remote control will be demonstrated at CEDIA Expo 2009.

SpeakerCraft is entering the A/V receiver market with the SCR710 and SCR910 receivers, both of which will be shown at CEDIA Expo 2009 (booth 2418).

The SCR710, designed for dealers "trying to do more with less," is an 80-watt stereo receiver that includes a high-current output stage that can drive low impedance loads.

The SCR910 is a full-featured 7.1 channel receiver that includes:

• 130-watt per channel power rating
• A/V switching and upconverting functions
• Numerous surround-sound modes

"Many of our dealers have expressed a desire to be able to support us in additional categories, and this was a a perfect opportunity to expand our offering and allow them to do just that," says SpeakerCraft president Jeremy Burkhardt. "The closer we come to being a complete solution provider the better we can service our dealer base."

SpeakerCraft, which is going to CEDIA Expo 2009 with the "largest product introduction ever," will ship the SCR710…

Savant Systems will be showcasing its new Rosie Desktop Docking Station at CEDIA Expo 2009 in booth 327.

The docking station integrates iPods and iPhones with a Savant multiroom A/V system. The Rosie Desktop Docking Station connects to a Rosie Controller via CAT5 cable.

Features include:

• Two-way functionality
• Displays menu info from iPod, including artist, album, track, etc.
• Playback functions available via the Rosie user interface
• Docking station charges iPod when docked

The Rosie Desktop Docking Stations works with all iPod models that have a docking connector.

Savant will ship the docking station in the fourth quarter of 2009.

MSRP: TBA

Since CE Pro broke the news on Crestron Prodigy, we've had an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the new low-cost control system from the company best known for pricey products.

During a recent tour of Crestron, led by CEO and founder George Feldstein, I got to see all of the little goodies that will comprise a Prodigy home automation system.

First of all, Crestron wants to make it perfectly clear that the company did not launch Prodigy to "go after" Control4 or any other low-cost home automation provider, according to executive VP Randy Klein.

"We developed a line that is consistent with what we've been doing," he says. "Prodigy broadens the market."

Klein acknowledges that some Crestron dealers also offer lower-cost lines. "We would love to have them use us," he says.

Klein believes Crestron can beat out other players in the world of affordable automation because of the company's heritage.

ReQuest may be the first manufacturer in the custom channel to incorporate Netflix into its media servers, and the new application will be shown at CEDIA Expo 2009.

Sure you can find the streaming video service in numerous TVs, settop boxes, and Windows Media Center (see our digital media roundup), but our favorite integrator-friendly servers have been slow to adopt the service … until now.

ReQuest is incorporating Netflix into its high-end Intelligent Music and Movie Client (IMC), which connects to a ReQuest media server.

What started out as a nice way to access your own movies and music from a server has emerged to become a nice vehicle for streaming media – all through a single streamlined user interface.

First there was YouTube, then came Hulu (definitely a first in our industry) and now Netflix.

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Posted by Julie Jacobson on 07/31 at 07:14 AM
News, Product News, CEDIA, Digital Media, Media Servers, Permalink