Smart Home Blog

Roku - a leader in Internet-connected digital media players, has selected Qt for Embedded Linux® to be integrated into a soon-to-be-announced multimedia streaming product:

Roku chose Qt because of its ability to quickly create a rich user interface, providing an important time-to-market advantage. Qt also delivers the ability to support multiple operating systems and devices from a single codebase. As with all versions of Qt, developers are able to focus on building the core value of each product, instead of platform-specific maintenance. Qt also eliminates the need to invest resources in multiple languages, toolkits and environments.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

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Nuvo has released its Wireless USB Syncing Device (NV-USBW), which enables homeowners and installers to sync music from PCs throughout the home to NuVo’s NV-M3 server without the need for a hard-wired connection. It provides a USB device connection over Wireless-G that is specially “tuned” for the NV-M3. As result PCs syncing to the NV-M3 music server no longer need to be close to the NV-M3.

The Wireless USB Syncing Device will be available in December for $399.

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The web interface is the best UI IMHO. Many producers of A/V and computer equipment offer it to configure and control their products or provide API at least to give a chance to third-part developer produce it. Sonos Digital Music System also provide a way to use the web controller. It allows to control Sonos boxes in the same Sonos Network from any PC which has web browser. You can easily find song, re-index music library, manage music playing. The controller has a plug-in structure. So, its functionality can be extended without touching a main part. You have a choice between nine themes including version for mobile phones.

The controller for Sonos Digital Music System is available for both Linux and Windows. It open source. So it grows fast and you can help by addigng bug report, sending a patch or developing new plug-in or theme.

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ReQuest is going to introduce Freedom, new application software for the iQ Intelligent Music System. Freedom allows to use Nokia N800 as handheld controller with full command over a multiroom iQ system, using the familiar commands, graphics, and icons of the ReQuest TS35 in-wall touch panel controller. Since many Nokia770 applications work well on N800 I suppose that it might be possible to use it as well.

I already wrote a few posts about using Nokia770/N800 as control panel for music distribution or whole house automation systems. The iQ Intelligent Music System is another good example of success of Nokia’s Internet Tablet.

The Freedom will be available in September and carry a suggested retail price of $500.

[via CePro]

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Using powerline devices you can avoid additional wires to connect two devices in the different rooms. For example, it’s so popular powerline adapters to organize home LAN. You may know that whole-house music system needs additional wiring. But Russound - well-known producer Hi-End A/V distribution systems, offers another way to bring music in all rooms of your home. Its new system Avenue distributes high-quality music to multiple rooms using HomePlug technology. The system contains two pieces: the Avenue Hub and Avenue Points. The Hub is placed in the equipment room with Russound’s CAV 6.6 music distribution system. Each line output from the CAV plugs into a port on the Hub, which plugs into a standard AC outlet. The Avenue supports up to six different zones. The powerline also provides a return path for control signals from the keypads, touchscreens or any other interface that uses Russound’s RNET protocol.

Each music zone is supplied by its Avenue Point that plugs into the powerline to communicate with the Hub and delivers music to the speakers (thanks to built-in amp) and RNET control signals to and from the keypad or touchscreen.

The price of Avenue is not finalized but it might cont about $4000 including one hub with three points of audio.

[via CePro]

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