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Squeezebox Touch

Squeezebox Radio

The success Logitech’s lineup of networked audio players Squeezebox was expanded by two new devices – Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch.

The Squeezebox Radio allows to listen free Internet stations, subscription music services like Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora, Sirius, LastFM and audio files from the network shares including DRM-free iTunes Plus downloads. It sports integrated amplifier, speakers (woofers and tweeters), 2.4-inch 24-bit color display to show album art, track and station information and photos. The radio supports both wired (10/100 Mbps) and wireless (802.11g) connections. Additionally it’s equiped with auxiliary input to connect iPod or any MP3 player. The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Accessory Pack which includes a battery pack and IR remote will be available separately. Using battery pack you can easily move the Squeezebox Radio in any place you want. Even without power cable. The Squeezebox Radio will be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in September for a suggested retail price of $199.99. The Accessory Pack should be available later, on November for $49.99.
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The first real photos of the new generation of Logitech’s Squeesebox Touch appeared on Picasa. The device looks pretty cool. I’d like remind you that Squeesebox Touch has a 4.3-inch 24-bit color LCD with capacitive touch, 802.11b/g WiFI, Ethernet, supports USB drive and SD card and offers a full bunch of analog and digital audio interfaces. Logitech is planning to sell it at about €330.

[via Engadget]

Automated Home yesterday published a photo and brief description of new Sonos controller CR200. It has portrait orientation and sports color touchscreen display. To simplify charging of the device it comes with dock.

There is no word about price and availability of the CR200. But Sonos already created a new bundle – BU250, which is actually BU150 but with new controller. Zoneplayers hardware will be the same. They just will get a new color to meet with the CR200.

Chinese company EKON produced its own automation system to control home or office. It uses proprietary Power Line protocol (not X10 as I understand) to send data between controller and execution units. The EKON controllers are embeded into touchscreen control panels. The consumer can choose between wall-mounted, table-mounted and wireless ones.

Together with managing of electrical stuff in your home of office EKON system allows to make security and CCTV using Alarm&CCTV Controller add-on. Using the touch panels consumer can see the alarm signals and watch video from the security cams.

The EKON system is a ready-made software and hardware solution. From one hand it’s good because the system contains only tested and working parts. But the its big disadvantage is proprietary technology and devices. It’s impossible to use switches or dimmers produced by other manufacturers. Another aspect which can be very important is integration EKON with other systems to have, for example, multi-room control. Have no idea how easy or hard to do that. In any case it’s good to have alternatives. Especially in the area of DIY home control systems.

Korean producer DignLab announced Atom based all-in-one nettop AIO A1. It has 19” LCD touchscreen display with resolution 1280×1024 and response time in 5ms, the Mini-ITX motherboard, unspecified Atom CPU and 3.5-inch hard-drive and run Windows XP. Additionally it ’s equiped with integrated 5W stereo speakers, two USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out and a custom 170W power supply. The DignLab AIO A1 is priced at the equivalent of $300 in Korea.

That device is amazing. A couple years ago I made a search of Windows touch panel for Plutohome Orbiter. The best variant was 12″ TableKiosk Sahara priced by $1700. The AIO A1 looks very attractive to use it as LinuxMCE Orbiter or control panel for some other home automation system. Hope DignLab will sell its device worldwide. So, home automation professionals and enthusiasts will have a chance to get a big touchscreen control panel for their systems.

[via SlashGear].