Crestron TPMC-8X to command your home

CEDIA is just getting started, where there's a flurry of new products already hitting the show floor, and a few have caught our eye -- especially this one, the Crestron TPMC-8X. This tablet integrates Yahoo Widgets into a touch screen, making stock prices, weather or any other glanceable information accessible via a finger click. This magnesium-encased device is packed with Bluetooth as well, but better yet has biometric software, and will restore preferences based on each person's fingerprints. This $3,800 offering also has a pair of microphones and echo-cancelling built-in to improve your VoIP call. It also has a do-not-disturb option so you won't be interrupted by other applications a pesky Skype call when you're curled up catching up on your "Lost" DVDs. No word on when the TPMC-8X will be available, but while you're waiting you can peep the screen grabs on the flip side.

[Mike @ Sep 14th 2006 6:05PM]

This looks realy nice, but you probly wont need it.

[John Wilkes Booth! @ Sep 14th 2006 6:41PM]

It looks like a point of sale device more than a personal thing... which is it intended to be?
-Taylor

[cobalt @ Sep 14th 2006 7:35PM]

The Chumbo is going to kick this thing's ass all over town.

For this price, you can have a wifi Skype handset, Chumbo, and ... a fully loaded dual graphics card Conroe PC... and ... a 42" 1080p HDTV ... and at least a few margueritas.

[connektek @ Dec 26th 2006 12:36AM]

Wow, where do you buy your gear? Wal Mart? Keep using your Hyundia and the rest of us professional installation companies will continue to use the Mercedes Benz of the industry! And while your having problems getting those ugly panels to work and your doing work for people on a Hyundia budget I'll be counting my profits from high end installations that people are blown away by!

[jason @ Sep 14th 2006 7:36PM]

Crestron cant be programed by anbody other then a dealer or certified programer. so you'll have to figure that cost in.

[chumbo @ Sep 14th 2006 8:21PM]

So WTF is a chumbo?

[Prime @ Sep 14th 2006 8:43PM]

In response to the first post: If you're buying anything branded "Crestron", you don't need it.

To the second post: If you're buying anything branded "Crestron", it's expensive.

Those are Crestron's mantras ; )

[cobalt @ Sep 14th 2006 9:48PM]

I meant Chumby.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/05/hands-on-with-the-chumby/

Chumbo is an online etailer. It has nothing to do with this.

[nick @ Sep 14th 2006 11:54PM]

My apologies to all you self proclaimed home automation gurus out there; but Crestron is a few tiers higher than your X10 alarm clock with some VisualBasic software you threw together. Just because you can't afford it, don't understand it, and can't program it, isn't any reason to bash it. Flame on!

--Crestron and AMX certified programmer.

[connektek @ Dec 26th 2006 12:35AM]

I completely agree with you! Well put!!!

[Krimzn @ Sep 15th 2006 1:55AM]

Here Here! Its good to know im not the only one sick of people home automation or high end A/V Equipment on here. Crestron/Amx makes great equipment. If you care about the price, go find something else, if you care about quality and the best systems integration money can buy, look no farther than Crestron/Amx.

-Crestron Programmer

[sean @ Sep 15th 2006 2:02AM]

Well said nick, you're dead right.

[Kris @ Sep 15th 2006 4:06AM]

Things get cooler and cooler as the years move on.

[robert @ Sep 15th 2006 8:10AM]

Crestron/AMX is cool...
Control4 is cool (and cheaper and better for DIYers)...
HTPCs low/no cost software, X10 sucks, but newer technologies like zigbee are really cool and becoming available...
Crestron/AMX (and for now Control4) will continue to loose market and support except for $100,000+ installations (just ask them)...

More power to the DIYers and their innovation...

- Control4 owner and certified DIYer

[John Shields @ Sep 15th 2006 4:02PM]

You DIYer's are the reason why Crestron and AMX are still in business. There's a difference between hardware designed to run 24-7 and garage-built products.

Keep up the good work!

Our sales have not slacked in 5 years.